[sacw] SACW | 29 Dec. 00

[Harsh Kapoor]

SOUTH ASIA CITIZENS WIRE
29 December 2000
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex)

#1. Enforcing Islam by force
#2. Tragedy on Indo-Bangladesh Border over Prayer
#3. India: Film premiere called off after Hindu fanatics attack
#4. India: play and public meeting in memory of Safdar Hashmi (1st Jan.,
New Delhi)
#5. India: Support writer, film maker Suma Josson on her upcoming film 'Sar=
ee'

--------

#1.

The Nation
28 december 2000

ENFORCING ISLAM BY FORCE

by Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

That fundamentalist forces should be increasingly turning their attention
to enforcing sharia inside Pakistan through extra-parliamentary methods is
not something altogether unexpected. The ruling elite has over the last two
decades patronized a militant version of Islam rather than promote
moderation in matters or religion. Those who were egged on to wage jihad
abroad do not need an extra incentive to turn their guns towards their own
government if they perceive it to be deviating from their concept of Islam.
The chickens have finally come home to roost.=20

Five years back, Sufi Muhammad raised the banner of the enforcement of
Shariat-e-Muhammadi in Malakand division. He declared the legal system
prevailing in the country as being kufr, a term widely used to denote
something which is the opposite of Islam, and called upon his followers to
replace it by force. There were numerous clashes in the area. The armed
workers of the organization kidnapped two legislators, and killed one of
them. All attempts to persuade them failed. Paramilitary forces had to be
called out to suppress those spreading lawlessness. Last week, Maulana
Akram Awan's Tanzim al-Ikhwan announced a march on Islamabad in order to
force the government to immediately implement sharia, or the complete
Islamic code. The adventure has now been put off till March. The
postponement can, however, provide government only temporary satisfaction.
Last Thursday, the Amir of the organization had reminded Gen. Musharraf 's
government that any rejection of the demand would be considered as an act
of kufr and force the al-Ikhwan to issue a call for jihad. Maulana Akram
Awan maintained that by sending the ultimatum to Gen. Pervez Musharraf, he
was in fact following the example of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who had sent
a similar message to another Pervez, the fire-worshipping Sassanid
emperor.=20

The Tanzim al-Ikhwan is different from Tehrike-Nifaz-Shariat-Muhammadi in
one vital aspect. The latter was centred in a remote region of the NWFP,
far away from the centre of power in Pakistan, while the former draws
support from the military districts of Potohar in Punjab and reportedly
has numerous adherents among army personnel, thanks to the efforts
undertaken by Zia to radicalise the institution, and the rhetoric indulged
in by his successors. Among the negotiators nominated by Maulana Akram Awan
are two army officers. The government has tried to wriggle out of the
situation by assuring the organization that a committee appointed by it
would look into their demands and take necessary action in less than three
months. An elected government can claim that demands made by any section
of the society can be accepted only by the Parliament. No such excuse is
available to the military government which has made its intent known to
bring about constitutional amendments through executive diktat, bypassing
the Parliament. It cannot convince the fundamentalist lobby that it is
beyond its power to oblige them.=20

The military government faces a dilemma now. On the one hand, it has to
convince the West of its moderation while on the other hand satisfy the
fundamentalist lobby that it has so far kept with it. It cannot just eat
the cake and have it too. In case the government yields to the pressure,
it will be required to make hard choices for the economy, national defence
and relations with the rest of the world. If the government decides to ban
interest on foreign loans, it will have to live without these. In case it
refuses to pay interest on arms purchased on deferred payment, it will
have to defend the country with primitive weapons. If the Pakistani banks
shift over to riba free banking, it will lead to large scale capital
flight, leaving little for domestic investment.=20

Another group of fundamentalists that has recently sprung up in Pakistan is
the al-Mohajiroun. The organization which has been banned in most of the
Muslim countries was non-existent in Pakistan before the military
take-over. It has now launched a full scale publicity campaign. It has a
website and is organizing public seminars. Its principal demand is the
enforcement of Islamic sharia through the resurrection of khilfah, or the
caliphate system.=20

The al-Mohajiroun does not believe in realizing its objectives through
normal democratic process. The task can, therefore, be performed either
through executive orders issued by the military government or, if that
fails to happen, through a militant struggle. The organisation regards
democracy as an evil system violative of the injunctions of Islam.
Incidentally this is exactly the position taken by al-Dawah wal Irshad, the
umbrella organization of the Lashkar-e-Tayba. Both want democracy to be
replaced by khilafah. Both oppose the concept of a nation state, which
they want to be replaced by a world Islamic government headed by a caliph.=
=20
"All the states in the Muslim world", declares the al-Mohajiroun,
"including Sudan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt are members of the
UN. The UN is a kufr organization because the UN Charter recognizes the
territorial boundaries that exist in the world as well as those that
divide the Muslims". What is important for these organizations is the
export of the Islamic revolution. It matters little to them if a Muslim
state was to disintegrate as a result of their activities launched in
order to achieve the objective.=20

The al-Mohajiroun regards modernity as kufr. So personalities like Kemal
Ataturk, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Syed Amir Ali, idealized by many Muslims
on account of spreading enlightenment in their countries, are categorised
by the organisation as traitors to Islam. Maulana Akram Awan shares the
concept of enforcement of sharia with these organizations. Khisro Pervez,
to whom he had ominously referred while sending his message to the Chief
Executive, represented the forces of kufr in the days of the Holy Prophet
(PBUH). The jihadis regard the US as having assumed the same role in the
contemporary world. It will be quite logical for an Islamic government run
by these organisations to send President Bush, who according to them is
the chief representative of kufr today, the same ultimatum i.e. embrace
Islam or face jihad.=20

The Islamic militants are not bothered about the need on the part of a
Muslim country to adhere to responsible behaviour in international
relations. The struggle of Lashkar-e-Tayba, according to Maulana Muhammad
Saeed, will not end with the liberation of Kashmir. It will continue till
the whole of India is turned into a Muslim state. And then will come the
turn of other centres ruled by non-believers. Whether the Islamist groups
succeed in destroying the states under non-believers remains highly
doubtful. They can, however, do enough harm to their own states, as is
exemplified by Afghanistan and Algeria. There is enough weaponry in
possession of well-trained militant groups in Pakistan to turn the country
into another Somalia. The fact that some of the fundamentalist groups have
suddenly directed the energies to replacing the system inside the country
through extra-parliamentary means should worry anyone who wants to
strengthen Pakistan as a modern democratic nation state, as visualized by
Quaid-i-Azam, the great believer in parliamentary democracy.

=A9The Nation Group of Publications Pvt Ltd

_____

#2.

The Telegraph
29 December 2000

TRAGEDY ON BORDER OVER PRAYER=20
=20=20=20
=
=20
FROM PROBIR PRAMANIK

Siliguri, Dec. 28: At least four persons, including a Bangladesh
national, were killed when a scuffle spun out of control and forced the
Border Security Force to open fire on a group which tried to enter Indian
territory to offer Id prayers.

However, the BSF put the toll at two. The incident happened on Indo-Bangla
border at Maidan Danga zero-point in Coochbehar district around noon today.

The additional director general of the BSF, Yogendra Singh Sikoar, told
The Telegraph that at 11.30 am, several Bangladesh national were trying to
enter into Indian territory probably to attend Id prayers at a mosque at
Maidaner Danga, 100 yards inside the Indian side at Fulbari village.

"Our border outpost personnel tried to stop the intruders from entering
when a mob of both Indian and Bangladesh nationals attacked and manhandled
the jawans. The BSF personnel were pelted with stones and their uniforms
were torn in the scuffle that ensued. Finding no other alternative, a
jawan opened fire," he said.

Sikoar said that a 55-year-old villager, David Chaudhury Mia, died on the
spot, while another villager, 55-year-old Sayeed Mia, succumbed to bullet
injuries at a hospital in Matabhanga.

The third victim was identified as 30-year-old Mohoshin Mia. The police
said Mohoshin Mia died of a heart attack, probably from shock, at the
Sitalkuchi hospital.

"We have received an unconfirmed report that a Bangladesh national with
bullet injury may have managed to cross the international border. We are
not sure whether this person has died or not," Sikoar added.

Several Bangladesh nationals who maintain close ties with villagers across
the border cross over to Indian territory regularly.

Full text at: http://www.telegraphindia.com/national.htm#head1

_____

#3.

Tehelka.com

GAJA GAMINI PREMIERE CALLED OFF AFTER BAJRANG DAL ATTACK

Hindu fanatics attacked a multiplex featuring the M F Husain film and
destroyed sets worth Rs 100,000, reports A Special Correspondent

Ahmedabad, December 27

About 20 Bajrang Dal activists attacked the City Pulse multiplex on the
Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar highway on Wednesday (December 27) afternoon and
destroyed a special set created for the premiere of M F Husain's film Gaja
Gamini.

The incident, which has resulted in the cancellation of the premiere
scheduled for Thursday, December 28, was, in the words of a Vishwa Hindu
Parishad (VHP) leader, in "retaliation to Husain's objectionable portrayal
of the goddess Saraswati" some years ago.

The set was a recreation of the Dalmandi ki Gali sequence in the film in
which Madhuri Dixit plays the role of a blind singer. Husain had left for
Mumbai to be with his family for Id just before the attack. Organisers
have decided to cancel the premiere on Thursday and the film has also
been withdrawn from several other cinemas for the time being.

The miscreants also sprayed black paint on the billboard to which Husain
himself had given the final touches. Sources put the total damage at about
Rs 100,000. The multiplex owners have lodged a complaint of rioting
against unidentified persons.

The Hindu fundamentalist brigade's attack on Husain in Ahmedabad is not
a new phenomenon. Two years ago, Bajrang Dal activists objecting to the
artist's nude potrayal of goddess Saraswati ransacked the Husain-Doshi
Gufa, a unique lightweight architectural structure made in collaboration
with well-known architect B V Doshi. After Bajrang Dal activists tried to
torch the Gufa, Husain's name was taken off the structure and it was
renamed Amdavad ni Gufa.

City Pulse owner Ashok Purohit said the screening of the film was only
"indefinitely postponed" and declined to make any further comment.

_____

#4.

Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 18:00:13 +0530
Organization: Jana Natya Manch

To mark Safdar Hashmi's martyrdom, to reassert the unity of artists and
workers come to Jhandapur, Sahibabad on 1 January 2001 Jana
Natya Manch will perfrom its latest play Voh Bol Uthi Act One will
also perform its street play. The plays will be followed by a public
meeting addressed by Brinda Karat (Secretary, All India Democratic
Women's Association) buses will leave from 15 Talkatora Road (near
Central Secretariat) at 12 noon(please note that Janam has shifted out
of 14 Ashoka Road)=20=20

Moloyashree Hashmi

Jana Natya Manch
J 147 RB Enclave, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi, INDIA
Phone: (91-11) 526 4822
Email: jananatyamanch@y...

_____

#5.

[Please share the below with your friends & colleagues and contribute
financialy to make this project possible - SACW compilers]

ooo

Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 08:19:45 -0800 (PST)
From: suma josson
Subject: saree project

Dear ...,

This has reference to [...] my feature film project. I am Suma Josson.

Here is a short note on my work. I make both documentaries and feature
films. My film 'Bombay's Blood Yatra' is on the communal riots which broke
out in Bombay in '92-'93. It exposes the BJP-VHP-Shiv Sena axis, as well as
the role of the police during the riots. My other documentaries are, '47
Seconds and After:Latur, Osmanabad'. This is on the '95 earthquake in
Maharastra' and the role of the state in the relief operations. Others
include a film on V.P.Singh, Akbar Padamsee (the painter), 'Waste' on a
German installation artist and a rag picker. I have made more than 50 short
documentaries for television networks in India, on social, political and
cultural issues

My first feature film, 'Janmadinam' (or 'The Day of Birth') won three
Kerala State awards and was also selected for various international
festivals, including the prestigious Berlin Film festival. The film toured
5 German cities in the year 2000.

I am also a writer and have published 3 books: two collections of poems and
a novel, 'Circumferences' (Penguin).

I am ready with my next feature film project. With the public stand that I
have taken, and the current political situation there are little chances of
getting government funding from any source within India. The total cost of
the film will be around 8-9 lakhs. I am putting some of my own money as
well raise money from other sources. So I felt that I had to take the
plunge and move on. If you can help, by getting donations in some small
way, from some of your friends who are aware of my work, it would ease out
matters.

I have also decided that whatever profits I get on this film project, will
be ploughed back into another film, the subject of which will uphold the
pluralistic traditions of our country.

I am sending you the outline of the film. I am planning to make this film
either in the last week of April or in the first week of June. Therefore I
will have to start preparations for it immediately.

The title of the film is 'Saree'. It is an 80-90 minutes long film, which
will be made in Malayalam, with English sub-titles. The film is on the
friendship between two 12 year old girls. The reason why I am making it in
Malayalam, is because the costs are less comparatively, and the story is
written in such a way that it fits the cultural ambiance of Kerala.

The total cost of the film, from start to the final piece, will be around
8-9 lakhs. This is a very low-budget film. It will be shot in Kerala.

I will be directing the film, and will be assisted by a handful of my very
efficient team members, who worked with me in my last feature film,
'Janmadinam'. I have written the story, dialogue and screenplay of the
film. While usually it takes about 30 days to shoot a feature film of this
length, I will keep the days of shoot to a minimum of 10-12 days.

This is the short synopsis of the film, 'Saree'. It opens in the morning in
a classroom and ends the same night. It is on a friendship between two
12-year old girls, Gita and Radha, who at the end of the film confront the
death of someone who is close to one of the girls. So one cannot slot it as
a children's film. Rather it ends on a tragic note, with a few other
characters in the film, basically pointing to the young children, that in
life there is space for imagination, friendship and love, besides death. It
is like holding a handful of water to the moon, and then to go on to say,
death is like the reflection, which cannot be erased from existence.

It begins in a classroom where the students are asked to read out their
essays, with both Gita and Radha being asked to read, what they have
written. But the school closes early since the first computer is to be
installed. The two children leave their school and go into the outside
world, where they meet known and unknown persons, move from one level of
experience to another and finally face the death of someone who is very
close to them.

It also in a very subtle way states the fact that India is a pluralistic
society and the answer to this, is life and its realities. This theme works
as sub-texts in the film.

The checks could be sent to either, of the three addresses below.

First address: Maharaj Kaul, INDIA RELIEF AND
EDUCATION FUND, P.O.BOX 14360, FREMONT, CALIFORNIA
94539. The checks will have to be sent in the name of
' India Relief and Education Fund'. The person is
entitled to tax benefits, if the money is sent to
IREF.

Second address: Sajni Josson, 700 WOODLAND AVENUE,
APT F-108, LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY -- 40508. The check
will have to be sent in the name of SAJNI JOSSON.

Third address: Suma Josson, 204, A-10, SECTOR =96 4,
SHANTINAGAR, MIRA ROAD, THANE DIST =96 401107,
MAHARASTRA, INDIA. The check will have to be sent in
the name of Suma Josson.

______________________________________________
SACW is an informal, independent & non-profit
citizens wire service run by South Asia Citizens Web
(http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex) since 1996.
Dispatch archive from 1998 can be accessed
at http://www.egroups.com/messages/act/
////////////////////////////////////
Disclaimer: opinions expressed in materials carried in the posts do not
necessarily correspond to views of SACW compilers.