[sacw] Pakistanis Protest May 98 Nuclear Explosions(28 May 00)

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asians Against Nukes - Post
28 May 2000

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The Citizens Peace Committee (CPC) [Pakistan] held a protest demonstration
at the F-6 Spermarket traffic junction
on the second anniversary of the May1998 nuclear test explosions.
The highlight of the protest demo was the large banner, sewn from about 70
yard-length banners, each containing on the average about 25 signatures. The
signed banners had come from various cities of Pakistan; Karachi, Quetta,
Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The pieces were put together in
the form of a long banner supported by some 17 bamboo poles. It was
impressive. In addition there were placards and other smaller banners. A
statement, in both English and Urdu, was issued to the press on this
occasion, copies of which were also distributed among the onlookers. The
English version is being pasted below this report.

It was Sunday for which the market and offices were closed. There wasn't
much traffic either. Yet quite a few onlookers gathered and talked to the
demonstrators. There was a program to march around the market area after the
demo. The police, including the SHO of the area police station, did not
allow that for the fear that the traders on strike may join and use the
march to create law and order problem. Consequently, the march was
abandoned. Instead, the time of the demo was extended for another half hour.

The national press was present there in good numbers. Including the dirty
press. You should not be surprised by some negative coverage.

The participants this year were fewer. Only about 50. Many of the usual
anti-nuclear campaigners of Islamabad were absent. The good news is that a
large fraction of the protestors this year consisted of new and young
people.

Two persons put in special efforts this year: Shandana Mohmand and Foqia
Sadiq Khan. Shandana was the proposer and organiser of the plan for the
large banner. We have decided to keep the banner and to keep enlarging it
with support from peace campaigners all over the country. Perhaps by the
third anniversary we may have some ten thousand signatures to show on the
banner, which may come to measure a mile long. We can do it.

[A.H.] Nayyar

----------------------------------------------------
The statement issued on the occasion
NUCLEAR TESTS HAVE SOLVED NOTHING FOR US

Two years ago loud claims were trumpeted that the Chaghai tests had made
Pakistan impregnable, assured national security for all time to come, and
put Pakistan in the ranks of the big powers. We were told that Pakistan was
now a safe, stable, and proud nuclear power.

Every one of these claims was a lie. Instead the truth now stares us in the
face:

=B7 The nuclear tests have inflicted misery and further deprivation on our
people. The economy is in a state of virtual collapse, investments have
dried up, electricity and fuel costs have sky-rocketed, and retrenchments
have increased the already huge unemployment factor. Pakistan is fatally
indebted to international lenders and cannot be considered a sovereign
country in economic terms. The bomb tests have shattered the future of the
country's economy.

=B7 The false sense of security which the nuclear tests gave to our leaders
was the direct cause of Pakistan's misadventure in Kargil. This stunning
political and diplomatic defeat has left deep scars on Pakistan's image and
credibility. Today Pakistan's only remaining allies in the world are
countries like Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. The danger of becoming a pariah
and outcast nation is increasing by the day.

=B7 The daily carnage in Kashmir and artillery exchanges along the LOC show
that relations with India have dramatically worsened since May 98, leaving
war just around the corner. Nuclear weapons have done absolutely nothing for
liberating the people of Kashmir and brought the solution no closer.

=B7 National integration and control of sectarian violence are as distant as
ever. The drought has exacerbated anti-Punjabi feelings in Sindh and
Baluchistan, and religiously motivated killings have steeply increased after
a brief lull.

=B7 Worst of all, there is grave danger of nuclear adventurism by either sid=
e.
The threat of nuclear weapons was made several times by highly placed
individuals on both sides of the border during the Kargil crisis. This
senseless act of actually using nuclear weapons will devastate Pakistan and
grieviously damage India.

Common sense demands that Pakistan and India should resolve their disputes
peacefully through negotiations and stop beating the drums of war. The
confrontation across the LOC must cease immediately. We call upon both sides
to stop production of nuclear weapons and missiles, and declare May 11 and
May 28 as days of national mourning.

Protest the Bomb. Don't celebrate it!

______________________________________________
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