[sacw] SACW #1. (10 Oct. 01)

[Harsh Kapoor]

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

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

#1. Developments in Pakistan ( MB Naqvi )
#2. Pakistan: What about our own backyard? (A.B.S. Jafri)
#3. India: Arrests of AIPRF Activists and raid on AIPRF central=20
office in Delhi
#4. Activists in India put together a book entitled "Voices of Sanity"
#5. India: People For Peace - Press Release
#6. India: Seminar on Secularism

________________________

#1.

MB Naqvi Column
Karachi October 9:

Events have moved swiftly since the tough talking British Prime
Minister's four-hour visit to Pakistan on Friday, October 5. The visit
served to publicly elucidate the terms of the cooperation between the
leading members of the anti-terrorism alliance and Pakistan --- the kind
of aid Pakistan can expect from the west and the extent of what Pakistan
will do. Pakistan had already committed to cooperate in getting Osama,
had allowed the use of its airspace for attacks on Afghanistan, qua
hosts of Osama, and other "logistic support". The hectoring tone and an
analysis of what the articulate Mr. Tony Blair said in the joint press
conference with a seemingly beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf shows
that there was something more than what was then disclosed that he had
achieved in those few hours.

A major achievement of west and especially of Mr. Blair was the gradual
whittling down of Pakistan=92s blind support to Taliban regime to the
point where President Musharraf is now striving to convince the US and
UK planners that Pushtuns of Afghanistan --- 60 per cent of
Afghanistan=92s population and concentrated in the east and south ---
ought not to be left out of the new post-Taliban government. The best
course will be, according to him, for the west not to instal the
Northern Alliance as the new government in Kabul; that will bring in
anarchy. He wants the west to include Pushtuns in it and no one knows
them better than Pakistan.

Cynics here have said that now that Blair has declared that Pakistan has
=91valid concerns in or about the next government in Kabul=92 --- a good
consolation prize --- Islamabad would be able to nominate some Taliban
turncoats or other Pushtuns from the ISI stable on the new broad-based
government. The share of these Pushtuns, likely to be Pakistan nominees,
will depend on the quantum and nature of cooperation Islamabad extends
to the Allies. That will have to be negotiated, if it has not already
been decided.

There is no doubt about the quid pro quo Blair promised for Pakistan's
cooperation: US President George W. Bush had already promised to
stabilise President Musharraf's Presidency. Blair spelled out the
financial goodies Islamabad can expect. There was also the formulation
about Pakistan's "valid concern about the government-making in
Afghanistan". The so called security establishment will be quite happy
with it, though what intrinsic value is to be attached to what is now a
matter of grace is hard to say --- after the Anglo-American forces have
already wrenched Afghanistan from the supposed grip of Pakistan by
force.

On Monday Oct 7, the President reconstituted the military high command.
He gave himself a till-further-orders extension as Chief of Staff of
Pakistan Army. He virtually sacked his number two, Lt. Gen. Osmani, by
promoting his junior to the rather honorific post of Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee after giving him the fourth star. The
biggest surprise is similar sacking of Lt. Gen. Mahmoud, the ISI chief.
Both these two generals were long time personal friends of Musharraf.
They were also, along with one other officer who has now been made the
Army's number two, Vice Chief of Staff, the officers who staged the coup
on Oct 12, 1999 and put Musharraf on the throne. Sycophants have called
it a great sacrifice: he has preferred merit and national interest to
personal friendship.

Observers have noticed other facts --- and in print too. They attribute
this to the relentless pressure of the west and finally exerted directly
through Blair. The west was greatly worried about some top ranking --- 3
star generals --- who were thought to be too Islamic minded and too
thick with the Taliban and soft on extremist religious parties. Western
experts wanted to see at least some symbolic change at the top. It
coincided with the felt needs of President Musharraf as a dictatorial
ruler: he had had to kick the ladder on which he climbed into power
anyway. This is a well-rehearsed historical practice. Then this change
will relieve western pressure. It will, what is more important, change
the image of the Army: from one who was thought to too soft on Islamic
fundamentalists which might not be able to hold off the Talibanisation
process of the country to a more moderate one.

Insofar as Gen. Mahmoud=92s ouster is concerned, according to a Dawn
story, it was virtually forced by American FBI. The latter is supposed
to have linked him to a certain Mr. Shaikh --- who was one of the
hijackers of the Indian airliner from Kathmandu in Dec. =9299 --- who had
transmitted $ 100,000 to one of the main suspects in the WTC tower
attacks on Sept 11 in New York. If so, it is a sensational discovery. At
any rate, Mahmoud is now out of the Army and it would seem that this
might explain the hectoring tone and overbearing demeanours of Mr. Blair
at the join press conference on Friday. It is to be feared that the
matter will not be allowed to rest with Mahmoud=92s retirement; American
judicial processes might want his evidence, if nothing more.

On Oct. 8, President Musharraf telephoned Indian PM A.B. Vajpayee,
asking him over for resuming the Agra process. The immediate backdrop is
high alerts of the Indian and Pakistani armies, the Srinagar suicide
bombing outside Kashmir Assembly building the other day, Islamic
supporters of Osama and Taliban raising political temperature by
protests and the exceptionally strong anti-Pakistan sentiments being
promoted by the Indian media with hardliners demanding an invasion of
Pakistan. No one can object to either side asking for the resumption of
negotiations between estranged neighbours. But this initiative,
irrespective of its genuine necessity, is being taken here as a diktat
of western powers who would like to see both India and Pakistan yoked
together to carry forward the western agenda in Central Asia. This too
might possibly have been Blair's achievement.

The point that escapes many in India and also Pakistan is that bad blood
between these two, given the media projection of either's stances, can
only poison their domestic political lives. They cannot --- unless they
take leave of their rationality --- go to war. Bellicose media can only
go on inflaming opinions if the two governments keep working at cross
purposes --- one encouraging Jehad and the other trying to suppress it
by brute force. It creates an impossible situation. Both sides, in an
excess of inimical emotion, went nuclear over three years ago. No one
had foreseen its primary consequence: India loses the liberty to bring
its stronger (conventional) military force to bear on Pakistan when the
going get rough. Pakistan had all its disputes with India, mainly
Kashmir, put in deep freeze. It cannot now countenance any resort to
force. A nuclear exchange is the end of imagination, Arundhati Roy has
put it.

The Musharraf move is timely and praiseworthy, if it is his own, or his
government's initiative. But if the west has insisted on it, it loses
its moral quality somewhat, though it should still be welcomed. As one
observer here put it: it is already too late for India and Pakistan; the
decisive factor in South Asia now is the US, with its forces deployed
all around. If India and Pakistan had acted together, taking the rest of
South Asia with them, outsiders would have stayed out. Now outsiders
have acquired a decisive say over the future of South Asia; both New
Delhi and Islamabad are stragglers who have to desperately protect their
minimum, not maximum, national interests; the hiatus between what might
have been and what is likely now has increased. And it is going to
increase more.

_______

#2.

DAWN | 9 October 2001

What about our own backyard?

By A.B.S. Jafri

Now that we are a full member of the grand anti-terrorist coalition,=20
it is important more than ever to be fully and constantly vigilant=20
about extremists in our own home. As things have turned out,=20
containing extremism has become absolutely the highest priority for=20
this country. Failure to do the needful, and to do it firmly and=20
fully, may cost us wholly unaffordable and also perhaps irreparable=20
damage and loss.
No useful purpose would now be served by harping on the historically=20
correct but worn-out theme that this is a problem that was, in the=20
first place, created by the United States' own war in Afghanistan.=20
Yes, it was. Does it mean that we should let this canker eat into our=20
vitals simply because we insist that it is America's and not our=20
creation?
Whether they have the courage to admit it or not, the creators of=20
this pernicious and self-defeating brand of extremism are now forced=20
to see what an egregious folly it was. What we have here is poetic=20
justice. "This even-handed justice commends the ingredients of our=20
poisoned chalice to our own lips," said the English bard more than=20
five centuries ago. Now Dr Jekyll is dealing with Mr Hyde, the doctor=20
has on his hands the disease he created.
So, the United States has formally declared war on extremism at its=20
most extreme, that is terror. That being the world commitment, must=20
we fight this battle abroad and continue to play host to terror at=20
home? This situation only adds to the moral as well as realistic=20
imperative to act against domestic extremism in a relentlessly=20
affirmative way. For doing this we need mince no words, offer no=20
apologies to anyone at home or abroad. This must be our sovereign=20
decision and it ought to be taken now.
No doubt, the present government has been sensitive to the existence=20
of a strong streak of extremism and the risks it posed to the=20
country. Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider is on record recognizing=20
this menace in its various forms and manifestations. He has also made=20
promises to bring all extremist sectarian activity - in deeni=20
madaris, religious seminaries and other centres of congregation -=20
within the discipline of law. However, somewhere down the road he=20
always goes astray, or encounters resistance to which he succumbs.=20
His good judgment remains unsupported by the will to act.
The most powerful citadels of extremism are firmly established in the=20
institutions named 'deeni madaris' - religious schools.
The adjective 'religious' lends these schools a dignity and sanctity=20
that their character and product wholly negate. Time and again, the=20
government has admitted that these schools need to be brought in line=20
with the normal education network.
He has also said that provocative sermons in mosques and fund=20
collecting for militant organizations need to be monitored. Here,=20
again, words have not been followed up by any action at all.
It should be noted that these steps are now integral to the strategy=20
of the United States in its declared "war on terrorism" in which we=20
are on its side. Can our strategy be different while playing a role=20
in that all-out campaign?
Our failure so far to act to contain extremism and to beat it points=20
to some formidable lobbies within the obscure corridors of the=20
present state power structure. Once again we find ourselves thrown=20
back to the origins of extremism and the genesis of the Taliban=20
culture. Its foundations were laid by most powerful forces. The=20
remnants of those forces remain a recalcitrant reality.
This factor suited the sails of the United States in hounding the=20
Soviets out of Afghanistan. For military dictator Ziaul Haq in=20
Pakistan, then in real danger of drowning, it was the straw that=20
would give him ten years in absolute power. He felt strong enough to=20
forget the promise to hand over to an elected government in 90 days.=20
The imperatives of democracy, freedom and civilization were=20
conspicuous by their absence in the original Afghan scenario.
Later governments in Pakistan used the extremist element,=20
artificially spawned in aid of the United States, as their vanguard=20
and commandos. Benazir Bhutto's interior minister Naseerullah Babar=20
was the Taliban's first patron saint. Benazir promoted Fazlur Rahman,=20
the Taliban generalissimo, and planted him at the top of her foreign=20
office. She was quite at peace with his jurisdiction that cut across=20
the frontiers.
For the last two years this government has opted for the line of=20
least resistance. Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar has been persistently=20
supporting the Taliban in Kabul, his excuse being that the Taliban=20
"control 90 per cent of the country." Kabul has persistently treated=20
Islamabad with cold disrespect and studied scorn.
A telling example of the Taliban arrogance was the outright rejection=20
of Islamabad's advice against destruction of three thousand years old=20
Buddha carvings on mountainsides overlooking the historic routes and=20
passes. Foreign Minister Sattar took the slight in the stride. At=20
least twice, Pakistan mission in Kabul was attacked. Islamabad did=20
not react with so much as a whimper.
With a lifetime of diplomatic experience, Abdul Sattar has remained=20
unable to see that a government that is not able to feed its people,=20
and is not able or willing to arrange for the return and=20
rehabilitation of millions of its uprooted destitute people is not in=20
control of anything, let alone a country.
On the issue of trade and the concessions that Pakistan had extended=20
to the Taliban, they have always insisted on their pound of flesh,=20
regardless of the blood loss to Pakistan. Thanks to Kabul, Pakistan=20
now has an established drug culture. It is awash with illicit=20
weapons. Smuggling from Afghanistan across the border has been to the=20
detriment of this country's economy. But Islamabad has been kind to a=20
fault. And what a fault, indeed!
Our affair with the Taliban has been causing very heavy strains on=20
our relations with two of our best friends, China and Iran. The=20
people of Pakistan appreciate the patience with which these two have=20
borne with our mindless and unabashed gallivanting with the Taliban.=20
While this irrational and insultingly one-sided romance has gone on=20
for years, the extremists have prospered, expanded their power and=20
intimidated this country (and its government) into meek obeisance.=20
Like its predecessors, this government too developed cold feet=20
whenever it came to dealing with the Taliban terror, whether in Kabul=20
or at home.
Can we afford to remain evasive or submissive to this aberration at=20
home? Have we not seen terrorists in our midst, killing and getting=20
away with their crimes? Do we not have extremists who openly declare=20
themselves 'armies' (Sipah), 'brigades'(Jaish), 'army on the move'=20
(Lashkar), 'Tehriks' and 'Harakats' (militant movements), and so on.=20
Only two of the tens of such terror operators have been given a mild=20
rap on the knuckles. Many remain unleashed.
Estimates vary, but it is not unsafe to put the number of these=20
entities above eighty. Imagine the entity that calls itself Milli=20
Yekjehti Conference (National Unifying Conference) has a dozen=20
different units, all unwilling to unify into one. Yekjehti means=20
knit/merge/weld into a unit. The dozen in this MYC caboodle would=20
rather dwell apart.
In this Islamic republic Islam has more than eighty different,=20
irreconcilable, warring factions, many of them armed and given to=20
using them recklessly against one another. Put all this in the=20
background of the fact that Islam is a religion that is committed to=20
Oneness: One God, One Prophet (PBUH), One Book and One Ummah=20
(family). In this Islamic republic alone religious extremism has=20
turned the message of unity into a cruel joke.
Add to this the message of total peace. Islam means peace. When=20
Muslims meet they promise peace, Assalam! It is not unoften in=20
Pakistan today that one Muslim plunges a dozen bullets into another=20
Muslim, when he is supposed to be promising complete peace, and=20
nothing but peace.
We are now committed to fighting terrorism abroad. What about the=20
same fight at home?

_______

#3.

Indian Government tries to scuttle the voices protest against US=20
unjust War on the People of Afghanistan
Condemn the Arrests of AIPRF Activists and raid on AIPRF central=20
office in Delhi.
10/10/2001
The Delhi Police raided the residence (also all India office) of G N=20
Saibaba, the All India General secretary of All India Peoples=20
Resistance Forum (AIPRF) at 11am today i.e. on 8th August at=20
Pitampura, Delhi for taking a campaign against US War against=20
Afghanistan. They confiscicated leaflets of the campaign saying those=20
who are against US war are against Indian national integrity because=20
India Government is supporting US war against Afghanistan. They have=20
also called AIPRF anti- national and attributed links with recently=20
banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Apparently the=20
Delhi cops were acting under direct instructions from the central=20
Home Ministry and IB to quickly suppress the anti-war protests.
The Police arrested on the morning of 8th, six activists of AIPRF,=20
who were distributing leaflets in the residential colonies near=20
Nandanagari colony near Bhajanpura (Jamuna Area of Delhi). The AIPRF=20
activists are Sunil Singh, Sunil (same name) Jeevan, Gurmit,=20
Shahajad, and Naveen all in their twenties. The journalists, other=20
activists and lawyers who went to enquire at Bhajanpura police=20
station were not allowed to meet our activists in the station. The=20
police produced the six activists in their custody before a court the=20
in the evening. The court remanded them for 14 days of judicial=20
custody. They were sent to Tihar Jail.
On 9th, the Delhi police added two more sections of IPC on the six=20
activists including 124 A (Sedition), 153, 153A, 153B, 34 concerning=20
abetting riots, provoking communal riots etc. The bail petition was=20
rejected in the lower court after yesterday=92s bail orders were=20
cancelled. Now the activists are sent to police remand for two days.
The owner of the printing press, where the anti-war literature is=20
printed was also taken into police custody.
Now the BJP-led NDA government is extending their crackdown on all=20
those who are protesting against US war on the people of Afghanistan.=20
In this context, AIPRF calls up on all democratic organizations in=20
the country to come together to protest by forming A Committee=20
Against US War at all places like most of the organizations in Delhi=20
came together to protest by forming Campaign to Stop War (Jung Roko=20
Abhiyan). Many more organistions like MIND; Delhi Science Forum etc=20
are also in the process of joining this initiative Anti-war Campaign.
Mean while, the General Secretary G N Saibaba along with two more=20
activists of AIPRF continued to be almost under the house arrest.=20
Four batches of police officers interrogated him between 11 am and 11=20
pm for 12 hours in the residence-cum office. Finally, they issued a=20
notice that he should attend for further interrogation on the=20
anti-war actions of AIPRF before some top police officers on the next=20
day i.e. on 9th September at 10 am. But they did not arrest him or=20
taken him for discussion on 9th. He is serious surveillance and=20
informed that he might be arrested any time as AIPRF is already=20
facing serious cases in the context of Anti-war protests.
However, despite this swift crackdown on the organization in Delhi,=20
AIPRF resolves to organize countrywide protests against US=20
imperialist war on the people of Afghanistan and on the whole=20
oppressed world in the name of fighting terrorism. AIPRF has been=20
taking up several anti-war actions in various states.
AIPRF shares the grief of the Afgan people who were killed in the=20
US-led military strikes in two rounds in the last 24 hours.
AIPRF also continues to support the religious and national minorities=20
in all parts of India at this crucial juncture of time when they are=20
persecuted by the Hindutva forces in complicity with the ruling NDA=20
Government in the name containing terrorism and supporting US=20
imperialst war for oil and more military bases in the Middle East.
AIPRF appeals to all democratic organsations and individuals to=20
condemn the crackdown on the organization.
Darshan Pal
All India President
G N Saibaba
General Secretary
All India Peoples Resistance Forum, AIPRF

_____

#4.

Dear Friends,
As a next step in our actions for peace following the September 11th attack=
s,
Smitu Kothari, Bindia Thapar and Kamla Bhasin have put together a book
entitled "Voices of Sanity - Reaching out for Peace."

The book presents a diversity of voices encompassing a myriad of
written expression-analysis, emotion, anger, revulsion, hope.
The book is a joint-publication of Jagori and Lokayan with articles
illustrations and short poems

The book will be released by a group of young children at 4,=20
Bhagwandass Road [ New Dellhi] ; between
4:30 and 6:00pm on the 11th of October, one month after it all began.=20
Please do join us in this moment of trial.

In solidarity and peace,
Kamla Bhasin
Smitu Kothari
Juhi Jain

o o o o o

Voices of Sanity
Edited by Kamla Bhasin, Smitu Kothari and Bindia Thapar

Voices of Sanity Smitu Kothari, Kamla Bhasin and Bindia Thapar=20
1
The Theatre of Good and Evil Eduardo Galaeno 3
Thoughts Saheir Hammad 9
Ghosts and Echoes Robin Morgan 15
Inevitable Ring to the Unimaginable John Pilger 23
Black Tuesday: The View from Islamabad Pervez Hoodbhoy 27
Endless War? Walden Bello 33
The US, The West And John Galtung
The Rest Of The World and Dietrich Fischer=20
39
Between Reality and Self-righteousness Susan Sontag 43
Conversations Noam Chomsky 45
Dear Civilised People Sahir Ludhyanwi 57
Reflections on September 11 Arjun Makhijani 59
Nothing to Say to You Sarveshwar Dayal Saxena 65
American Unlimited War Rahul Mahajan and Robert Jensen 67
Put Out No Flags Katha Pollitt 71
To My Seven-Year Old Kavita Ramdas 75
All of a Sudden Our Names have
Become our Liability AH Jaffor Ullah 77
Will Pakistan Jump to US Demands? Tariq Ali=20
81
A View from the Ground Rina Saeed Khan 85
Cloud Over New York? Indira Jaising 87
Solidarity Against All Forms of Terrorism Vandana Shiva=20
89
Counter-Terror Will Not Work Praful Bidwai 93
Victim, Perpetrator and
Innocent Separator Vijay Pratap and Ritu Priya=20
97
US Aggression Would Be
Counter-Productive Maulana Wahiduddin Khan 101
There are Many Islams Edward Said 103
Interview Robert Fisk 107
Peace Movements Prospects Michael Albert 117
Want Hope for the Future?
Learning the Lessons of the Past David Held and Mary Kaldor=20
123
A Call to the Churches and the Nation Rev. Thomas F. Driver 127
Speech in Havana Fidel Castro 129
In Memoriam Jos=E8 Ramos-Horta 135
The Deeper Wound Deepak Chopra 143
Thoughts in the Presence of Fear Wendell Berry 145
Collective Voices 151

Lokayan
Jagori
Rainbow Publishers
13 Alipur Road, Delhi 110054 India 011-3969380 [India]
184 pp. Rs. 100, $6 (sea mail), $8.95 (airmail)

______

#5.

PEOPLE FOR PEACE
Contact Address: 20-4-10, Near Bus Stand, Charminar, Hyderabad - 500=20
002 [India]

PRESS STATEMENT

The attack on Afghanistan by America and Britain is unwarranted,=20
unjustifiable and as much a crime against humanity as the terrorist=20
attack on America on 11th September 2001.

Violence remains violence irrespective of whether it is perpetuated=20
by individuals, by groups or by countries and cannot be accepted and=20
condoned. It becomes even more reprehensible when the most advanced=20
countries of the world, claiming to be the paradigms of the civilized=20
world, resort to the use of brute force and terror tactics violating=20
all canons of international law and civilizational values.

The attempt by Taliban and some others to project the American and=20
British attacks as attacks on Muslims are misleading and mischievous.=20
The attacks by America and Britain are attacks on the entire=20
humanity, and the world community, irrespective of religion, race,=20
region, or colour should condemn them unequivocally and do every=20
thing in our power to not only to stop these attacks but to also to=20
create conditions to prevent violence in all forms.

_______

#6.

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 11:10:13 +0530 (IST)
From: "R.R.Punyani"
Subject: Seminar on Secualrism

Date: 5th and 6th October 2001. Place: Chennai.
Topic: Communal Harmony.

Centre for Study of Society and Secularism organized a two-day Activist
seminar for Chennai and nearby Districts on 5th and 6th October 2001. The
topic of the seminar was "Communal Harmony". Around 30 Activists from 2
districts participated in the seminar. Justice A.K.Rajan of Madras High
Court inaugurated the seminar. Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer guided the
inaugural session. Justice Rajan spoke about communal situation in Tamil
nadu .He maintained that communalism emerged in Tamil nadu only in late
80's and politicians are unduly responsible for this sorry state of
affairs. Dr. Engineer threw detailed light on communal problem in general.

Prof. Saraswati, head of the Department of Sociology, Queen Mary College
read out a detailed situation paper on "Emergence of Communalism in Tamil
nadu". It was a very comprehensive paper and was followed by a discussion.
Adv. Bader Sayeed and Prof. I. Nazneen and Sharifa from "All Muslim Women
Activist" organisation also took part in the discussion. Mr. T.N. Mani,
Human Rights Activists also analysed the situation in Tamil nadu.

Retd. General Police of Tamil nadu Shri Laxmi Narayan addressed the
concluding session. Dr. Asghar addressed a 6th Press conference on the
deliberations of the seminar. He also informed the Press about the
formation of All India Secular Manch and its South Zone meeting in
Hyderabad. Dr. Engineer was also interviewed for Sun TV.

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

SACW is an informal, independent & non-profit citizens wire service run by
South Asia Citizens Web (http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex) since 1996. To=20
subscribe send a blank
message to: <act-subscribe@yahoogroups.com> / To unsubscribe send a blank
message to: <act-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com>
________________________________________
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in materials carried in the posts do not
necessarily reflect the views of SACW compilers.

--=20