[sacw] sacw dispatch #2 (26 May 00)

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Web - Dispatch #2
26 May 2000

------------------------------------------

#1. Sri Lanka: Ruthless supremo keeps Tamil Tigers Inc. roaring
#2. Pakistan Action Alert: victims of Blasphemy Laws - Pakistan May 25, 2000
#3. Pakistan: Announcement from City Press Book shop Karachi
__________________________

#1.

=46inancial Times
26 May 2000 09:13GMT

RUTHLESS SUPREMO KEEPS TAMIL TIGERS INC. ROARING

NEW DELHI, May 26 (Reuters) - Twenty years ago they were an upstart band
of no more than two dozen barefoot fighters.

Today, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are a formidable army
of at least 5,000 men, women and even children equipped with anti-aircraft
missiles, rocket launchers, long-range artillery guns and gunboats to
patrol the sea.

They are backed by millions of dollars, pounds and francs from Tamils
around the globe, a shadowy underworld of extortion, drug smuggling and
forgery, and a slick propaganda machine.

But it is their ruthless military genius leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran,
and his single-minded determination to carve a separate Tamil state out of
the northern and eastern rim of Sri Lanka, that has kept the Tigers roaring
through 17 years of war.

As fighting rages between the rebels and government troops on the Jaffna
peninsula at the northern tip of the Indian Ocean island, Colombo is
calling for talks to end the bloodshed that has cost more than 60,000
lives.

"Is it not time to say I have fought a good battle... bring it to an
end and seek a political solution?" Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Lakshman
Kadirgamar said in an open appeal to the LTTE chief this month.

There was no answer from Prabhakaran's jungle hideout.

His guerrilla forces -- although heavily outnumbered by some 30,000
troops, almost a third of the Sri Lankan army -- have since tightened their
grip on the Jaffna peninsula.

"Prabhakaran thinks talks are only tactics, he never takes them
seriously," Dharmalingam Siddharthan, leader of the Peoples Liberation
Organisation for Tamil Eelam. "He doesn't operate in a political way, he is
only interested in his organisation."

A one-time rebel and acquaintance of the LTTE supremo who joined the
political mainstream in the early 1990s, Siddharthan said the movement
would crumble if their cult hero died.

FASCINATION FOR GUNS

The LTTE are divided into a military wing and a political wing that, among
other things, run a clandestine radio station and raise funds through the
Internet.

Their cadres are barred from smoking and drinking, and they need their
reclusive leader's permission to get married.

Prabhakaran was born in 1954, four years before a wave of violence against
the minority Tamil community swept the country.

As a teenager, Prabhakaran was caught up in the ferment of the Tamil youth
rebellion. He dropped out of school and became part of the LTTE's
forerunner, the Tamil New Tigers, who were better known by their explosive
acronym TNT.

He dabbled in manufacturing bombs and developed a fascination for guns,
astonishing his comrades by breaking down and reassembling a jumble of
automatic weapons blindfolded.

It is said that "Thamby" -- the affectionate Tamil name for "younger
brother" by which Prabhakaran is known -- had taught himself how to handle
a gun by watching Clint Eastwood movies.

Scholar and writer Rohan Gunaratna said the LTTE chief had also come up
with the idea of suicide bomber body suits after watching "Death Wish II"
in which an attractive woman carrying a bouquet of flowers explodes herself
and a world leader.

In his book, "International and Regional Security Implications of the Sri
Lankan Tamil Insurgency", Gunaratna said that in one year alone an LTTE
tailor stitched 125 body suits.

The LTTE never claim responsibility for attacks against political or
civilian targets.

But former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is widely believed to have
been a victim of the kamikaze "Black Tigers" in 1991. Sri Lankan President
Ranasinghe Premada and a string of other political and military leaders met
the same fate.

Last December a suspected LTTE woman suicide bomber blew herself up at an
election rally in an attempt to assassinate President Chandrika Kumaratanga
-- she escaped with injuries.

CYANIDE CAPSULES

All Tigers carry cyanide suicide capsules, around their necks or in the
lining of their clothes, which they bite if captured.

One "Black Tiger" captured alive last year described how, as a practice
for the assassination of a VIP, a stray dog was strapped into the driver's
seat of a car and two more were strapped into the back with a goat between
them.

"An explosive-laden suicide jacket... is detonated," said The Sunday
Times, which carried his confession. "The blast forces the white car to
roll over and break in pieces. The blood-spattered, pellet-riddled bodies
of the four animals are thrown out."

The LTTE owe much of their military savvy to India, which quietly
supported the insurgency movement and trained their fighters until 1987,
when it sought to broker a peace accord.

The Indian army intervened after the LTTE refused to accept the deal, and
it pulled out in 1990 after losing over 1,000 men.

A MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION

Since then, the Tigers have been sustained by the many tentacles --
including shipping companies and registered charities -- of an organisation
one former Tamil militant likened to a "multinational corporation".

The LTTE's international wing operates from London and Paris.

Not least among LTTE supporters is the Tamil diaspora, which numbers about
half a million in Europe and Canada alone.

Siddharthan said he was sure that since the rebels wrested control of the
strategic Elephant Pass, opening a route for their advance up the Jaffna
Peninsula, at least $20 million will have been collected from Tamil
expatriates.

Most of the LTTE's arms are bought from countries of the former Soviet
Union, though they have also captured large quantities of arms from the
security forces.

Extortion is another alleged route of funding.

Kumaratunga told a meeting of political leaders recently that a man dying
of cancer in Australia was being forced to give half his salary, which left
him with no money for medicine.

The Toronto-based Mackenzie Institute warned in a report at the end of
1995 that the LTTE's crime web could widen.

"The Tamil Tigers' political spokespeople are found in every refugee
community," it said. "Their extortion rackets, narcotic traffickers and
forgers are international in scope. It may be that their gunmen and suicide
bombers are not far behind."
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________

#2.

HOTLINE ASIA
URGENT APPEALS
UA 000525(8)

GIVE JUSTICE TO THE VICTIMS OF BLASPHEMY LAWS - PAKISTAN May 25, 2000

SUMMARY

Rashid Masih and Saleem Masih two Christian brothers were accused of having
said derogatory words about the Prophet Muhammad during a dispute

with a street vendor. On May 12, each of them was sentence to 35 years
imprisonment and fined Rs.75000 (US $1500) on the charge of 'offering
insult to Prophet Muhammad and Holy Quran'. Recently, on May 2 2000, in

another case Ashiq Masih (not related to Rashid or Saleem and also known

as Kinghari) has been charged with 'offering insult to Holy Prophet
Muhammad'. He is under arrest and awaiting trial.

In October 1990, Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) was
amended. Under the law change, the offense of blasphemy, including speaking
or writing against Prophet Mohammed or Islam, 'shall be punished with the
death sentence or imprisonment for life and shall be liable to fine.' Human
rights groups have long demanded that Section 295-C of the PPC (or the
"Blasphemy Laws") be repealed because it is often used against religious
minorities or in personal vendettas and land disputes. There is a call for
the international community to express their concern on the unjust effect
of the "Blasphemy Laws" and especially to call for justice for the recent
victims.

ACTION REQUESTED

Please write polite letters expressing your deep concern and requesting the
government:

1. to re-try the case against Rashid Masih and Saleem Masih in a fair and
open court, and guarantee that they will be free from any ill-treatment
while in prison;

2. to speed up the process for a fair and open trial for Ashiq Masih alias
Kinghari;

3. to re-examine the effect of Sections 295-B & C and 298-B & C of the
Pakistan Penal Code (see below for more information) against religious
minorities in Pakistan and consider repealing these laws.

Send Letters or fax to:

H.E. Pervaiz Musharaf
Chief Executive of Pakistan
Chief Executive's Secretariat
Islamabad, Pakistan

=46ax. 92-51-9270205
E-mail: ce@p...

CC Copies To:

1. Mr. Derick Cyprian, Federal Minister of Minorities Affairs Secretariat,
D - Block, 2nd Floor, Room No. 213, Islamabad, Pakistan

=46ax. 92-51-9206050

2. Diplomatic representative of Pakistan in your country.

Sample Letter

I/We write concerning the recent sentence of 35 years of imprisonment and
Rs.75000 fine to each of two brothers, Rashid Masih and Saleem Masih, on
charges of offering insult to Prophet Muhammad and Holy Quran on May 12,
2000 in Pasroor district Sialkot. I/We received reports saying that the
prosecution relied only on the verbal testimony of the complainant and no
circumstantial evidence has been provided to prove the allegation against
Rashid Masih and Saleem Masih. This seems to be a case of social
discrimination. I/We also request the government of Pakistan to take action
for Ashiq Masih who is charged under a case of blasphemy in Faisalabad on
May 2, 2000. We trust the good will of the government to uphold and protect
the rights and dignity of every individual in the community. We hereby urge
you ensure a fair and open re-trial for Rashid Masih and Saleem Masih,
while ensuring the speedy but fair trial of Ashiq Masih.

The introduction of Sections 295-B & C and 298-B & C of the Pakistan Penal
Code (the "Blasphemy Laws") sparked widespread controversy and concern that
the laws would be abused by certain sectors in the community over the
others, namely other religious groups other than the mainstream Islam. In
the meantime, given the many alleged abuses of these laws, it is important
that the government consider repealing these

sections of the Penal code.

*** Please remember to send copies of your letters to Hotline Asia for
monitoring purpose. Thank You for Your Continued Support!!

BACKGROUND

The law on blasphemy had existed since 1927. However, before the last
decade, rarely had anyone heard of the law ever being used. Ever since the
vague and arbitrary definition of blasphemy was inserted into the Pakistan
Penal Code in the 1980's and punishment increased from two years
imprisonment to the death sentence, the incidents of alleged blasphemy have
suddenly risen. The victims are both religious minorities and Muslims.

In April 1998, a victim of the "Blasphemy Laws" was sentenced to death amid
several calls were made to re-try the case in a fair and open court

(UA980505-3). The following month, Bishop John Joseph (66), Catholic Bishop
of Faisalabad, committed suicide in the corridors of a Sessions Court in
Sahiwal (700 km from the capital Islamabad) in protest against the
injustice created by the "Blasphemy Laws" (Hotline UA Supplements No

1, 1998). That incident raised international awareness of the problem. In
1998-1999, however, more than 70 cases of blasphemy (victims being both
religious minorities and Muslims) were recorded by local press and human
rights organisations. They were mainly charged under Sections 295-B, 295-C
and 298-B & C of the Pakistan Penal code (PPC):

Section 295-B - Defiling etc., of Holy Quran; whoever willfully defiles,
damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Quran or of an extract

therefrom or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose
shall be punishable with imprisonment for life.

Section 295-C - "Use of derogatory remarks in respect of the Holy Prophet,
whoever by the words, either spoken or written, or by visible
representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly

or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad shall
be punished with the death sentence or imprisonment for life and shall be
liable to fine". The condition for imprisonment for life came to an end in
1990, and the death sentence was made mandatory for blaspheming the name of
the Holy Prophet.

Sections 298-B & C - In 1984, legislation was passed as section 298-B & C
which makes it a criminal offences for Ahmadis (a religious minority) to
call themselves Muslims, to employ nomenclature appellation

associated with Islam, to use Muslim practices of worship and to propagate
their worship. " Persons who call themselves Ahmadis or any other name ...
in manner whatsoever outrages the religious feelings of Muslims, shall be
punished with imprisonment of either description for a

term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.

The Recent Cases: In June 1999, Rashid Masih and his brother Saleem Masih
were arrested under Section 295-C of the PPC. The complainant, Maqsood
Ahmed - a street vendor, had a scuffle with them, as he did not allow the
two non-Muslims to use his utensils. The complainant first charged them of
destroying his merchandise (ice cream) and snatching Rs.1000 (US$20). The
two brothers were arrested but set free after a compromise was struck. Two
days later, Maqsood Ahmed filed another complaint against them under
Section 295-C. The police, in order to ensure the arrest of the two
brothers, took their sisters and her infant

child into custody. Both the brothers were arrested in the first week of
June 1999 and have been in prison since.

On 2 May 2000, Faisalabad police registered a case against Ashiq Masih
(alias Kinghari) on charges of 'offering insult to Prophet Muhammad'. His
brother informed that Ashiq had converted to Islam three years ago and Rana
Nisar Ahmed, the complainant of this case, had a brawl with the

accused on 17 March 2000, because Ahmed did not want Ashiq to meet his
Christian relatives. Six weeks after the incident he registered the case of
blasphemy.

Recent Effort to Change the Blasphemy Laws: On 21 April 2000, during a
human rights convention sponsored by the military government ruler General
Pervez Musharraf, who came to power after the 1999 October's coup, promised
to 'end abuses of the controversial Blasphemy Laws'. It

was intended that the law would be changed in order to make the process
more official and harder to abuse. Under the law change, anyone with a
blasphemy grievance had to register a complaint, called a first information
report, with the area administrator or district commissioner, instead of
with the local police chief. A month later, it

was reported that the General withdrew a key change to the controversial

Blasphemy Laws to appease Islamic religious parties.

Yours sincerely,

Kata Lee
Hotline Asia
Project Coordinator

Hotline is a service for Justice and Peace irrespective of class, race,
religion, culture and political affiliation. We issue "Urgent appeals"
(UAs) on request from our network. As you receive UAs free, we welcome

contributions towards postage costs.

Asian Center for the
Progress of Peoples 52 Princess Margaret Road, 1/F, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel:
(852) 2712 3989 / 2714 5123
=46ax: (852) 2711 3545
E-mail: acpp@p...
________

#3.

4th Fortnightly Club Evening
at City Press Bookshop

Saturday, 27 May 2000
6:00 p.m.

Poems
Saeeduddin

=46ilm
Kanchenjhunga
by Satyajit Ray
(Colour, 102 min. Bengali with English subtitles)

Note:
Each participant is expected to contribute
Rs.50 to meet the expenses.

=46or information:
City Press Bookshop
316 Madina City Mall, Abdullah Haroon Road, Saddar, Karachi
Tel: 565-0623 521-3916 E-mail: aaj@d...

________

#4.

______________________________________________
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