[sacw] S A A N Post | 27 Nov. 00

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asians Against Nukes Post
26 November 2000

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#1. "Pen for Peace" Conference in Sindh Pakistan
#2. Pakistan: Regulatory authority for N-arms demanded
#3. India's Interest is Not Electricity but Nuclear Bombs (SP Udayakymar on
Rediff)
#4. Nuclear Reactors may be set up in Meghalaya

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#1.

Dawn
25 November 2000

SINDH, THE LAND OF PEACE, HOLDS "PEN FOR PEACE" CONFERENCE

Pen for Peace Conference

KARACHI, Nov 24: Participants at a "Pen for Peace Conference" have stressed
the need to create awareness among the peoples of India and Pakistan of the
horrors of nuclear war and to prevail on their rulers to end the arms race,
sign the CTBT and to bring a durable peace in the region.

The speakers, who were writers, intellectuals, poets, artists and academics,
called upon the rulers of both the countries to start dialogue to resolve
outstanding issues, including Kashmir, cut their defence expenditures and
use their scant resources for the welfare of their peoples. Citing the
example of the former Soviet Union, they said it could not sustain itself in
spite of having a big stockpile of nuclear weapons. The overspending on
building up military might resulted in economic collapse. As a result, the
country disintegrated.

The three-day conference, which opened at Karachi Press Club on Friday, has
been sponsored by over a dozen organizations of writers, journalists,
literary bodies and political and social forums. The opening session was
presided over by renowned journalists Zamir Niazi and M. H. Askari. Hasan
Abidi presented the address of welcome.

Zamir Niazi, in his paper, highlighted the importance of peace between the
two countries, which was now more important than ever before, considering
the fact that India and Pakistan had become nuclear powers.

He referred to the nuclear holocaust after nuclear bombs were dropped on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and said following the advancement of technology the
use of nuclear weapons would inflict unheard-of destruction on mankind.

"If nuclear bombs are dropped on Bombay and Karachi, these big cities would
turn into a rubble, and even if nuclear weapons are not used, their presence
would pose a danger to human beings if leakages from nuclear reactors
occur," Mr Niazi said.

He said Pakistan by signing the CTBT could get a moral victory over India
and show to the world that Pakistan is prepared to end the arms race in
South Asia. Later, this would compel India to sign the CTBT.

M. H. Askari, in his presidential remarks, pointed out that the most
powerful country of the world had dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, but Pakistan and India, occupying a low place even among the
developing countries, would inflict extreme destruction on each other if a
nuclear war broke out between them.

However, he expressed optimism that on both sides of the border there were
sensible people who were not only against nuclear weapons but against all
kinds of weapons.

Comrade Sobho Gyan Chandani recalled that fascist elements in the two
countries had been creating hatred against each other. He said the peoples
of India and Pakistan shared a lot in common, therefore they could very well
live in harmony. He stressed the need for declaring Kashmir a demilitarized
zone and said Kashmiris should be allowed to have their own system.

Dr Jamil Jalibi warned that if there was a nuclear war between India and
Pakistan, there would be such a great holocaust that for centuries the
region would be repenting the consequences of this insanity. So writers owed
a major responsibility to play their role in creating awareness among the
people.

Intellectual Hamza Alvi said after turning into nuclear powers, the two
countries were sitting on a pile of nuclear bombs which could go any moment.
Therefore, he said, it had become all the more necessary for writers,
intellectuals and for all to play their parts in influencing public opinion
that could lead to elimination of the fear of a nuclear holocaust.

Ghulam Kibria said we should not pride on being nuclear powers, as it is
achievements and excellence in philosophy, science, economy, and morality
that bring pride and honour to nations. He said the Kashmir issue can be
resolved through dialogue.

Dr Anwar Sadeed said security of the country is important, but nuclear
weapons could not provide security but rather take the nations towards
destruction

Poet Fehmida Riaz said except for the lunatic fringe, the majority of the
people in both Pakistan and India want to live with each other in peace.
Some how there voices are not powerful, so they are an invisible entity.

Tahir Mohammed Khan, human rights activist, stressed the need for peace not
only between the two countries but between nations, provinces, societies and
in South Asia.

He said it augurs well that the peace mission has been initiated from
Karachi which should not be only the city of lights but also a cradle of
peace. Peoples in entire South Asia, in the whole world, need peace, he said.

Abid Hasan Manto, lawyer and political leader, said there was contradiction
in the thinking of rulers and peoples of India and Pakistan. "The people
want peace, but the rulers' attitude is aggressive," he added.

He said during the past 50 years conspiracies had been hatched against peace
not only at the official level but at every levels. The rulers should change
their attitudes, he said.

Mehmoud Qazi from Gujranwala said there was a need to tell the truth about
the destructive potential of nuclear weapons which were being propagated as
weapons necessary for deterrent.

Prominent Artist Ali Imam recalled the role of painters in creating
awakening against war. In this connection, he referred to Picasso's
"Anti-war paintings" and "Dove of peace." He said in Pakistan Sadequain did
paintings on "War and peace." Salima Hashmi and Prof A. R Nagi also did such
paintings.

He said there was not only the need for peace with the neighbouring country
but between individuals, families, neighbours, and various groups.

Mubarak Machuka said some outlet can be found for peace through the power of
pen and brush.

Intellectual Hamid Akhtar said writers and journalists have a special
responsibility to forewarn the people of the consequences of nuclear war.

Prof Khwaja Masood said eternal neighbours cannot be eternal enemies. We can
solve our problems in the spirit of peaceful co-existence.

Fateh Mohammed Malik said Sindh is a land of peace and it has the honour of
hosting the "Pen for Peace Conference."

Prof Ghani Parwaz said we have to wage a concerted effort against the forces
promoting obscurantism.

Prof Shamim Akhtar was the moderator.

Source: <http://www.dawn.com/2000/11/25/nat15.htm>

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#2.

Dawn
26 November 2000

REGULATORY AUTHORITY FOR N-ARMS DEMANDED

KARACHI, Nov 25: Speakers at the first session on the second day of the
"Pen for Peace" conference on Saturday urged the government to set up an
independent regulatory body to monitor the activities of the government
bodies which are authorized to make nuclear weapons.

The conference, which began an hour late with renowned columnist Prof
Khawaja Masood in the chair, was attended by only three of the six speakers.

The first speaker, Dr Inayatullah, a social scientist, said the possibility
of the outbreak of nuclear war between India and Pakistan could not be
ruled out. He said it was mistakenly believed that since the presence of an
atomic arsenal in the West had not brought about war, there would no
nuclear war between India and Pakistan.

He cited four reasons which could lead to nuclear war in the subcontinent.
There had been no territorial dispute between the US and the former USSR.
There had been no long history of hostility between them. A nuclear arsenal
in the US and the former Soviet Union had been built up to establish
supremacy. Both had avoided brinkmanship.

He said all these reasons showed that nuclear war could break out between
India and Pakistan. He cited five reasons which might lead to war between
the two countries. There was no trust between India and Pakistan. People
with jingoistic mentality were powerful on both sides. Either side could
initiate war intentionally. They might drift into war - as they almost had
during the Kargil crisis. Both sides might declare war owing to a
miscalculation. "Pakistan should declare unilaterally that it will not have
nuclear weapons," he demanded.

The title of Dr Inayatullah's paper was "Is Pakistan-India nuclear war a
real possibility and is nuclear arming a real deterrent?"

The second speaker, Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy, a professor at Quaid-i-Azam
University in Islamabad, said before May 1998, certain intellectuals and
retired army officers had maintained that if Pakistan detonated its nuclear
device it would be better off - both financially and politically. He added
that events after May 1998 had proved the proponents of this theory wrong.

He said people of Pakistan, including the chief executive, the finance
minister, the foreign minister, and the governor of the State Bank, wanted
to sign the CTBT. But, he added, "we know where decisions in Pakistan are
actually taken. They are taken in Mansoora and Akora Khattak. It is a very
dangerous situation."

He said one way of minimizing the danger of war was to disseminate
information about nuclear war. He maintained that signing the CTBT would
not suffice. He pointed out that the CTBT banned testing of nuclear
devices. It did not forbid governments to acquire nuclear arsenal. The
title of Dr Hoodbhoy's paper was "Implications of nuclear arms."

The third speaker, Dr A. H. Nayyar, another professor at Quaid-i-Azam
University, spoke on the subject of "Dangers of nuclear arsenal and plants
and the importance of de-nuclearization in the subcontinent." He said the
mining of uranium and plutonium took place in DG Khan. He said it was
learnt that the level of radiation in atmosphere in DG Khan was higher than
what it should be. He added that miners normally did not wear gloves
because DG Khan was a hot place. This, he said, exposed them to danger of
radioactivity even further.

He said he had asked the chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
to allow him and Dr Hoodbhoy to visit the site and check the level of
radiation. The chairman, he said, did not allow them to visit the site.

Dr Saeed Hassan Khan, an intellectual, spoke on anti-nuclear movements.

Answering a question, Dr Hoodbhoy said scientists were trying to make a
nuclear reactor that employed the nuclear fusion process rather than the
nuclear fission process because it was more environment-friendly.

At the end of the conference, Prof Khawaja Masood called for starting a
signature campaign against nuclearization. Rehana Iftikhar was the moderator.

Source: http://www.dawn.com/2000/11/26/local3.htm

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#3.

Rediff. com

INDIA'S INTEREST IS NOT ELECTRICITY BUT NUCLEAR BOMBS [Part 4]
(George Iype & S.P. Udayakymar)

http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/nov/24nuke.htm

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#4.

From: "Xavier Dias"

Subject: N. Reactors may be set up in Meghalaya
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000 16:20:25 +0530>

Dear [Friends],
I have received this message below from Dino who as part of the Manipur
People's Human Rights Council has been leading the campaign against uranium
mining in the West Khasi Hills for the past five years.

While it has not been the past policy of the Nuclear Industry to have
uranium mines, processing, nuclear plants the statement of C Ganguly
Chairman of the NFC seems plausable especially since transportation cost
during the full chain are high. If this information is true then we need
to do some awareness building in that area. Could you all please respond to
Dino's message below

thanks

Xavier Dias
Mines, Minerals & People
P.O. Bag No 3 - Jamshedpur - Jharkhand - 831 001 -
INDIA
Tel +91 (0)657 22 02 66 - Fax +91 (0)657 22 9023
<mmpnorth@d...>
-----------

Eminent nuclear scientist C. Ganguly who recently visited Meghalaya on the
invitation of the Chairman Cum Managing Director of the UCIl Ltd.dilivered
a Lecture at the UCIL Headquarters, Shillong. In the course of his lecture
Ganguly stated that Meghalaya has been identified as a potential location
for Nuclear power reactors. Further he had exerted pressure to the Govt. of
Meghalaya to set up close to the uranium deposits in the West Khasi Hills
District. The chairman cum chief executive of the Nuclear Fuel Complex
stressed that setting up a plant "right at the source of the uranium" would
minimise "wastage during transportation". He further stated that the
uranium oxide available in the state was "relatively superior" to the ore
found in Bihar. It may be mentioned here that Geologists from the Atomic
Minerals Directorate recently discovered 14,000 tonnes of uranium oxide
reserves at Domiasiat and Wahkhen in the west khasi hillsDistrict.
ganguly, who workedat the Bhaba Atomic research Centre for over 28 years
before joining the Nuclear Fuel complex, said it was imperative to take
the region's seismic history into account while setting up
nuclearreactors. The scientist said that nuclear power could become the
"main source of electricity" reducing the dependence on coal". Stressing
that nuclear power stations had several advantages over conventional
sources of energy the top priority of theGovt. is generation of
electricity without any hassel. Nuclear power is 100 percent environment
friendly. he said that the cost of generating electricity through nuclear
plants was also low in comparison to the expenses involved in maitaining
coal and oil based tharmal power stations. According to the Managing
Director of the UCIL at shillong the State Govt. has already given a green
signal for the uranium extraction at Domiasiat. MPHRC Comments: On hearing
the above imformation we have reacted in the Newspapers expressing our
strong opposition to the green Signal. Besides there are some
orgasnisations based at Shillong who have also opposed the move of the
Govt. However the final touch now lies with the Khasi Hills Autonomous
District Council who is yet to give the final NOC.
Dear Friends, Please send us your comments on this sensitve issue as the
people here are totally against it. We will keep you in touch on the
latest information in due course. We hope you will extend us the support
and campaign in this regard.
Thanking You.

Dino D.G. dympep,
Secretary Genl. MPHRC at Shillong.
[North East - India]