[sacw] SACW #1 (27 Sept. 01)

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire | Dispatch #1
27 September 2001
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex

[ Interruption Notice: SACW posts will be interrupted during period=20
28-30 Sept. 2001]

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#1. Statement from India - WOMEN AGAINST WAR
#2. Global Peace Vigil in New Delhi on October 2
#3. Princeton University peace rally draws 400
#4. The creation called Osama (Shamsul Islam)
#5. A Statement by South Asia Solidarity Group (UK)

________________________

#1.

Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001

Friends,

Please circulate this statement as widely as possible. Do get more=20
women/women's groups to
endorse it and return copies to us at this address. The statement=20
can be released to the press,
sent to various heads of state, published in newsletters, used as=20
pamphlets for campaigns and so on.

In solidarity
Bina Srinivasan and others in Gujarat

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

WOMEN AGAINST WAR

We are women from different autonomous women=92s groups, NGOs,=20
development organizations,
academia, and individual women. We come from different states,=20
cities or villages, having different
political persuasions, belonging to various cultures, from different=20
class, caste and religious
backgrounds, and speaking diverse languages. We are bound together by=20
a vision that upholds
equality, gender-justice, peace and democracy. For decades now we=20
have been engaged in
multi-faceted struggles that aim to bring about a world where every=20
individual has the right to life
with dignity and equality.

It is with great shock and horror that we have witnessed the=20
developments that have unfolded the
world over since the attacks on the US on 11th Sept 2001. We condemn=20
the loss of innocent lives
and offer our sympathies to those bereaved in this tragedy.

Yet, we note with regret that this recent act of violence is one that=20
has had many precedents all over
the world: Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Iran, Iraq, Bosnia, South Africa=20
to name only a few. In this
context the US has been a major world player and cannot absolve=20
direct responsibility for acts and
policies that have brought the death of thousands in other parts of=20
the world. If terrorism is to be
blamed for the WTC attacks then the US would have to recognise the=20
role it has played in nurturing
the very terrorists that it seeks to bring to book today.

In the past tens of thousands of innocent lives have been=20
exterminated when a handful of people
have decided to settle political scores and establish power through=20
violent means. Each one of these
violent incidents have had far-reaching consequences for the rest of=20
the world, particularly on
women and children.

One way or another we have all been part of these violent histories:=20
as witnesses, as those affected,
as pawns in the hands of leaders, as citizens, as women.

In the past, we have continued with our struggle to create a world=20
that respects human life and
dignity. We have continued to hope that there will be new beginnings:=20
in big and small ways we have

moved forward. We have dared to hope in the midst of all the hatred,=20
all the anger.

Today, all of this is threatened. Our work, our struggles, our=20
visions, our hopes. The threat of war
looms over the future. This is evident in the belligerent and=20
aggressive postures that are permeating
official language, in the imagery that is being created and consumed=20
the world over. In announcing a
witchunt against terrorists and in expressing determination to=20
=91smoke=92 them all out=92, the US and
other nations will end up targetting far too many innocent people=20
who will end up paying a heavy
price for no fault of theirs. This cannot be condoned. We reject all=20
such posturing, including that of
the Indian state as we fear that such blind aggression will increase=20
terror and the incidence of
violation of democratic rights of ordinary people.

The deployment of military forces, the resurfacing of racist hatred,=20
the blind vengeance that seeks to
legimitise itself in the name of justice and retribution: all of=20
this, we believe is another face of the same

violence that hit the United States on 11th Sept 2001.

We also offer our solidarity to the people of Afghanistan who have=20
already suffered 23 years of
war. Caught between the Taliban and the US, we are afraid that the=20
women, men and children of
Afghanistan will be pushed to breaking point.

There is nothing heroic about war; this =91new war=92 or the ones waged=20
in the past. We have seen the
aftermath of war and related crimes; thousands of women have lived=20
through the burden of bearing
the =91honour=92 of community and nation in war after war. Bruised minds,=20
battered bodies: that is all
that war will achieve. We know this, just as surely as we know that=20
our futures are threatened by
any possible war now.

We believe that war in any part of the world will affect each one us=20
profoundly. The possibility of
nuclear warfare also alarms us. We are only too aware of the=20
conditions in South Asia, as in large
parts of the world. Hunger, poverty, starvation, disease and all its=20
concomitants have already placed
immense pressures on scarce natural resources, on human capacities.=20
We cannot afford the loss to
human lives nor can we condone any more strain on finite=20
environmental resources or on human
capacities already pushed to the brink in the struggle for survival.

War will increase regional hostility, fan communal hatred and=20
violence, and deepen inequality and
prejudice. This has already begun in the US and other parts of the=20
world where Muslims and people

of colour are being targetted for WTC attacks. This, for a crime that=20
has not even been proven.

We therefore urge all national leaders and politicians to refrain=20
from taking any steps that will
jeopardise peace and democracy in South Asia and the rest of the=20
world. We urge extreme caution
and wisdom in formulating strategies to tackle the present situation.=20
Such a situation could also be
turned into an opportunity for dialogue by informed leadership. All=20
relevant issues must be
addressed with due recourse to democratic norms and non-violent=20
dialogue. We believe that armed
conflict can never be, and never has been a substitute for dialogue.=20
Failure to pursue democratic
dialogue is to betray the aspirations of millions, to jeopardise the=20
future and to put into question the
very existence of democratic institutions and mechanisms.

This is not our war. We reject it unequivocally. We stand together in=20
our opposition to war with
others: with peace groups, people=92s movements, civil liberties=20
organisations, students groups,
environment groups, and ordinary women, men and children. We do not=20
believe in this war for it
snatches away from us one of the most basic rights: the right to life.

Signed:
Gujarat Forum of Women=92s Studies and Action Groups, Sahiyar, Olakh,=20
Jagori, Forum Against
Oppression of Women, Nandini Manjrekar, Bina Srinivasan, Bhavana=20
Mehta, Neeraben Desai,
Sophia Khan, Shiney Verghese, Viraj Pandit, Sonal Mehta, Chirashree=20
Thakkar, Subha De, Nilima
Shiekh, Hina Desai.

Say No to War!
Condemn all forms of terrorism!
War: The Infinite Mistake!
We stand for Peace, Justice and Democratic Rights!
Justice for victims of the terrorist attacks on the WTC!
Justice for victims of US-sponsored terrorism!
No to US wars of retaliation and aggression!
No to discrimination and racism against Muslims and peoples of colour!

_________

#2.

Dear Friends

You might already have received information about this vigil in=20
Delhi, which is part of a Global Peace Vigil. Friends and=20
organizations in different parts of the World have already confirmed=20
that they will be meeting for peace on October 2.

The Global Peace Vigil in Delhi is being supported by over 50=20
organizations and many individuals in Delhi.

We feel it will be very nice if organizations and people could have a=20
vigil for peace and understanding in their areas and communities.

In addition we will all gather at Raj Ghat from 1600-1700 (4 to 5 pm)=20
again for a SILENT PEACE VIGIL. Friends from different countries will=20
be with us at Raj Ghat.

Although it will still be day light, let us bring a candle each and=20
light it at Raj Ghat as a symbol of our resolve to spread the light=20
of peace, compassion, understanding in the increasing darkness of=20
jingoism, aggressive nationalism, hatred, violence and war.

Looking forward to seeing you and gaining strength and courage from=20
our togetherness.

Kamla (Bhasin) Juhi (Jain) Syeda (Hameed)

Aayo aman ki ek nayi shamma jalaayen hum
Nafrat ka, dushmani ka, andhera mitayen hum

________

#3.

http://www.pacpub.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=3D2404309&BRD=3D1091&PAG=3D461&d=
ept_id=3D425695&rfi=3D6

The Princeton Packet
Princeton University peace rally draws 400

By: Andrew M. Romano, Special Writer
September 25, 2001

The Princeton Peace Network, architects of Friday's rally and=20
march, decried the president's declared "war on terrorism."

The routine bustle of Nassau Street at rush hour was interrupted=20
Friday evening as 400 Princeton University students, staff and=20
faculty members marched to protest the Bush administration's=20
threatened use of military force to combat international terrorism.=20
The demonstrators staged a peace rally outside the university's Frist=20
Campus Center and then descended on Palmer Square, carrying a=20
message of nonviolence and signs pleading "Drop Food, Not Bombs."=20
The demonstration came in the wake of President Bush's address to the=20
nation Thursday night in which he demanded Afghanistan's Taliban=20
rulers turn over suspected terrorist leader Osama bin Laden to=20
United States authorities or face military action. The Princeton=20
Peace Network, architects of Friday's rally and march, decried the=20
president's declared "war on terrorism," claiming, "It is immoral, it=20
fosters racism and bigotry, (and) it will cause more terrorism."=20
"Our new cause is to fight against the war itself," said Dr. Zia Mian=20
of Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International=20
Affairs to the cheering crowd assembled on the south lawn of the=20
Frist building. "We must stand up and say, 'Not in our name, not in=20
our time.' " Several other Princeton professors spoke at the rally,=20
including Dr. Richard Falk and Dr. Frank von Hippel, both colleagues=20
of Dr. Mian at the Wilson school. All condemned the Sept. 11=20
terrorist attacks-which destroyed the World Trade Center and parts of=20
the Pentagon-but argued against the use of retaliatory military=20
force. "It was a crime against humanity and the sanctity of human=20
life. It was not an act of war against the American people," said=20
Dr. Negin Nabavi, professor of Near Eastern Studies. "We must calm=20
our emotion, seek reflection and not rush to action and judgment,"=20
cautioned Dr. Mian. "There is a slow road to peace and justice. And=20
we must learn to walk that road." Each speaker said a re-evaluation=20
of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East would be a constructive,=20
nonviolent reaction to the Sept. 11 tragedy. "There is widespread=20
feeling in the Islamic world that the U.S. is not on the side of=20
ordinary people," said Dr. von Hippel. "And this atmosphere makes it=20
easier for some to become terrorists." Quoting Kofi Anan, the=20
secretary-general of the United Nations, Dr. Von Hippel continued, "=20
'We need to address the conditions that permit the growth of such=20
hatred and depravity.' And that should be part of our response."=20
But the clamor of bongo drums, cowbells and marching feet soon=20
overwhelmed any strains of academic dialogue as the crowd began its=20
move to Palmer Square. Buoyed by chants of "no war, peace now" and=20
"one world, one people," the demonstration stopped window shoppers=20
and evening strollers in their tracks. A father hunched over at a=20
street corner, explaining the scene to his sons. "I think this is=20
great," said one area woman. "I'm a child of the '60s, so it really=20
reminds me of my youth." Many Princeton residents, however, did not=20
agree with the demonstrators' message. "If there is no cause to go=20
to war now," said the father as he grasped his sons' hands, "Then=20
there will never be a cause." Princeton resident Joe Jenkins sighed=20
as the demonstrators began a chorus of John Lennon's "Give Peace a=20
Chance." "This is hopelessly naive," he said and walked away.
=A9Packet Online 2001

_______

#4.

The Hindu
Thursday, September 27, 2001
Opinion

The creation called Osama

By Shamsul Islam

THE UNPRECEDENTED deaths and destruction in two cities of the U.S. on=20
September 11 has stirred the conscience of the world. It was the most=20
lethal, ruthless and daring terrorist strike on the nerve centre of=20
the world's most powerful nation today. The U.S., which promises to=20
guarantee security to the world, was found wanting in checking the=20
terrorist strikes at home for more than 40 minutes when the=20
terrorists had the free run of its major airports, highjacking not=20
one or two but four domestic planes to be used as flying bombs.

It did not take long for the U.S. establishment to identify the=20
culprits who masterminded these terrorist acts. These were the `evil'=20
forces of `Islamic terrorism' led by Osama bin Laden. The mainstream=20
U.S. media went on to explain these terrorist attacks in the context=20
of the `clash of civilisations' thesis of Samuel Huntington. There=20
were urgent calls for ``forming a global alliance that will use all=20
tools - diplomatic, political, economic, educational, investigative,=20
and where appropriate, force - to pursue and root out the terrorist=20
criminals and their supporters...''

But it is really surprising that the U.S., mecca of information=20
technology with its super computers and all kinds of data bases,=20
should be so greatly short of memory about Osama bin Laden. The media=20
in the U.S. these days is full of biographical sketches of Osama bin=20
Laden in which he appears on the world scene in 1990 opposing the=20
Gulf War and then is shown growing into an anti-West monster,=20
finally, targeting the U.S. on `Black Tuesday'.

However, it may be news to many ears that Osama's journey as a=20
terrorist did not start in 1990-1991. Any honest biographical=20
description of Osama should not overlook his activities in the 1980s=20
when he was deputed by the CIA to Afghanistan to finance and oversee=20
the resistance to the Soviets. He was groomed as a=20
theocratic-terrorist by the U.S. openly. In fact, there is lot of=20
weight in the thesis that the modern Jehadi-Islam is a byproduct of=20
intrigues by the West to keep the Islamic world under its suzerainty,=20
devoid of any kind of democratic processes. And also to use it as a=20
whipping boy occasionally whenever attention needs to be diverted=20
from issues raised by anti-globalisation campaigners.

The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA),=20
which has a long tradition of opposing the Taliban regime and paying=20
for it with blood, raised this issue in its September 14 press=20
statement. While condemning the terrorist attack, the statement went=20
on to underline the fact that ``the people of Afghanistan have=20
nothing to do with Osama and his accomplices. But unfortunately we=20
must say that it was the Government of the United States who=20
supported Pakistani dictator Gen. Zia-ul-Haq in creating thousands of=20
religious schools from which the germs of Taliban emerged. In the=20
similar way, as is clear to all, Osama has been the blue-eyed boy of=20
the CIA''.

How the U.S. and the CIA created Osama and his network has been=20
well-documented in the book ``Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and=20
Fundamentalism in Central Asia'' by Ahmed Rashid who is the Pakistan,=20
Afghanistan and Central Asia correspondent for the Far Eastern=20
Economic Review and The Daily Telegraph of London. This book which=20
has been published by the Yale University Press clearly shows who in=20
reality created Osama. Ahmed Rashid in his superb expose is able to=20
present the factual linkages between the U.S. and the `monster' which=20
it created. Some of the excerpts are too revealing too be missed.

``In 1986, CIA chief William Casey had stepped up the war against the=20
Soviet Union by taking three significant, but at that time highly=20
secret, measures. He had persuaded the U.S. Congress to provide the=20
Mujaheddin with American-made Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to shoot=20
down Soviet planes and provide U.S. advisers to train the guerrillas.=20
The CIA, Britain's MI6 and the ISI (Pakistan's Inter-Services=20
Intelligence) also agreed on a provocative plan to launch guerrilla=20
attacks into the Soviet Socialist Republics of Tajikistan and=20
Uzbekistan, the soft Muslim underbelly of the Soviet state from where=20
Soviet troops in Afghanistan received their supplies. Casey was=20
delighted with the news, and on his next secret trip to Pakistan he=20
crossed the border into Afghanistan with President Zia to review the=20
Mujaheddin groups.

``Thirdly, Casey committed CIA support to a long-standing ISI=20
initiative to recruit radical Muslims from around the world to come=20
to Pakistan and fight with the Afghan Mujaheddin. Washington wanted=20
to demonstrate that the entire Muslim world was fighting the Soviet=20
Union alongside the Afghans and their American benefactors.''

The book also goes on to show in graphic detail how harmless=20
madrassas were turned into factories for breeding religious=20
guerillas. ``... between 1982 and 1992, some 35,000 Muslim radicals=20
from 43 Islamic countries in the Middle East, North and East Africa,=20
Central Asia and the Far East would pass their baptism under fire=20
with the Afghan Mujaheddin. Tens of thousands more foreign Muslim=20
radicals came to study in the hundreds of new madrassas that Zia's=20
military government began to fund in Pakistan and along the Afghan=20
border. Eventually more than 100,000 Muslim radicals were to have=20
direct contact with Pakistan and Afghanistan and be influenced by the=20
jihad...

``In camps near Peshawar and in Afghanistan, these radicals met each=20
other for the first time and studied, trained and fought together. It=20
was the first opportunity for most of them to learn about Islamic=20
movements in other countries, and they forged tactical and=20
ideological links that would serve them well in the future. The camps=20
became virtual universities for future Islamic=20
radicalism''.Interesting details of Osama's recruitment by the CIA=20
for jehad in Afghanistan are also available in this book. ``Among=20
these thousands of foreign recruits was a young Saudi student, Osama=20
Bin Laden, the son of a Yemeni construction magnate, Mohammed Bin=20
Laden, who was a close friend of the late King Faisal and whose=20
company had become fabulously wealthy on the contracts to renovate=20
and expand the Holy Mosques of Mecca and Medina. The ISI had long=20
wanted Prince Turki Bin Faisal, the head of Istakhbarat, the Saudi=20
Intelligence Service, to provide a Royal Prince to lead the Saudi=20
contingent in order to show Muslims the commitment of the Royal=20
Family to the jehad. Only poorer Saudis, students, taxi drivers and=20
Bedouin tribesmen had so far arrived to fight. But no pampered Saudi=20
prince was ready to rough it out in the Afghan mountains. Bin Laden,=20
although not a royal, was close enough to the royals and certainly=20
wealthy enough to lead the Saudi contingent so when Bin Laden decided=20
to join up, his family responded enthusiastically.

He first traveled to Peshawar in 1980 and met the Mujaheddin leaders,=20
returning frequently with Saudi donations for the cause until 1982,=20
when he decided to settle in Peshawar. In 1986, he helped build the=20
Khost tunnel complex, which the CIA was funding as a major arms=20
storage depot, training facility and medical center for the=20
Mujaheddin, deep under the mountains close to the Pakistan border.''

The book also demolishes the CIA claim that after 1990 there were no=20
contacts with Osama. Surprisingly, just a few weeks before the U.S.=20
Embassy bombings in Africa, the book tells us, ``the Saudi conundrum=20
was even worse. In July 1998 Prince Turki had visited Kandahar and a=20
few weeks later 400 new pick-up trucks arrived in Kandahar for the=20
Taliban, still bearing their Dubai license plates''.

This all shows that any meaningful fight back against world terrorism=20
today will have to begin from the backyard of the U.S.

(The writer is Reader, Department of Political Science, Satyawati=20
College, University of Delhi.)

_______

#5.

A Statement by
South Asia Solidarity Group

20th September 2001

We in South Asia Solidarity Group would like to express our deepest=20
sympathies with the families and friends of all those who have died=20
and been injured as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Centre=20
in New York on Tuesday 11th September. We condemn those responsible=20
for these horrific attacks.

However we believe that it is important not to simply react but to=20
ask the question why. Why does the US attract such intense hostility?=20
How have these 'terrorists' been created? What will a 'war on=20
terrorism' mean for ordinary people? What are the experiences of=20
Muslims in Britain?

While we condemn the attacks of September 11 we also cannot forget=20
the many thousands of innocent civilians killed by American bombing=20
of Iraq, or in the U.S-backed massacres in Palestinian refugee camps=20
and destruction of Palestinian villages. And we cannot close our eyes=20
to the fact that when George Bush talks of 'Operation Infinite=20
Justice' today, he means the infinite killing of thousands more=20
innocent people in Afghanistan and beyond.=20

American foreign policy - spreading terror

The reality is that the policies of the U.S. government in the both=20
the Middle East and Central Asia - as elsewhere in the world have had=20
nothing to do with democracy and everything to do with furthering its=20
own economic and strategic interests. The U.S. has installed, backed=20
and sustained a whole range of repressive and anti-democratic rulers=20
(including, for many years, Saddam Hussein). In Afghanistan, it was=20
the U. S. which deliberately created Osama Bin Laden (who is=20
allegedly responsible for the September 11 attacks) and the=20
fundamentalist Taliban itself, after the Soviet invasion of=20
Afghanistan in 1979, with the CIA pumping in billions of dollars=20
worth of arms and ammunition via Pakistan to the mujahideen fighting=20
the Soviet Army. The former US Secretary of State, Zbigniew=20
Brezinski asks contemptuously, 'What was more important in the world=20
view of history? The Taliban or the fall of the Soviet Empire? A few=20
stirred-up Muslims or the liberation of Central Europe and the end of=20
the Cold War?'

Anti-Muslim racism

After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War,=20
however, the West has defined 'Islam' as the new enemy. Global=20
politics are portrayed in explicitly racist terms as a 'clash of=20
civilisations' between the civilised West and the 'barbarism' of a=20
vaguely- defined Islam.

This has fed into the racism experienced by people in working class=20
Asian communities in Britain, with Muslims increasingly demonised as=20
fanatical and violent over the last decade. In the wake of the=20
attacks, Home Secretary David Blunkett has promised to tighten=20
further the draconian asylum laws which have already destroyed so=20
many refugees' lives. The proposed introduction of identity cards=20
will provide a new sanction to the racism of the police and other=20
state agencies. Once again the British state is further fuelling and=20
legitmising racist attacks, branding refugees who have come to=20
Britain fleeing torture and persecution as terrorists and criminals.

As a result, as people of Asian and other Third World origin we are=20
all today under threat more than ever. Already in the wake of=20
September 11th an Afghan taxi driver has been left paralysed from the=20
neck down in West London while a 19 year old Asian woman was hit=20
repeatedly on the head with a baseball bat in Swindon. Many more such=20
racist attacks have gone unreported. We cannot remain silent - we=20
must come together to resist these attacks.=20=20=20=20

A war on the people, a war on democracy

Bush's 'war on terrorism' is terrifyingly open-ended - aimed at no=20
one country, state or organisation. Far from defending democracy,=20
such a war will spell the death of democracy for all those resisting=20
repressive regimes, state forces or the interests of global capital.=20
All resistance to state power will be potentially labelled as=20
'terrorist' and a legitimate target for repression and violence.

The war would have a devastating impact on people's lives across the=20
entire region of South Asia,in particular in Pakistan, Kashmir and=20
India.

America's arm-twisting of the authoritarian Pakistani government to=20
join the U.S.-led 'alliance' in the face of massive popular=20
opposition in Pakistan is likely to plunge the country into an even=20
deeper crisis which may well lead to civil war or the Talibanisation=20
of Pakistan itself. Pakistan, whose economy has already been brought=20
to its knees by the IMF and World Bank, is now being made an offer of=20
aid and debt rescheduling it can't refuse. This is a stark=20
illustration of how, in a so-called 'free market' world, the=20
institutions of global capital are used to coerce Third World states=20
into supporting Western strategic and military goals, at a huge cost=20
to their own people.

Meanwhile the pro-U.S, pro-globalisation Hindu fascist parties=20
leading India's government are competing with Pakistan to offer all=20
possible help to Bush's project of destruction. At the same time they=20
are intensifying communal attacks on India's own Muslim and Christian=20
minorities and using the 'war on terrorism' to legitimise even=20
greater repression in Kashmir and elsewhere.

Oppose imperialism and state racism
fight racist attacks
Say no to war!

South Asia Solidarity Group, c/o Londec, 299 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 =
2TJ.

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

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