[sacw] SACW #1. (23 July 01) (Pak-India Signature Campaign for Peace)

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire / Dispatch No. 1
23 July 2001
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex

Pak-India Signature Campaign for Peace

[Please feel free to send signatures to SACW at <aiindex@m...>=20
these would be forwarded in Bulk to Pakistan-India People's=20
Solidarity Conference coordination. Let us all join in to make this=20
campaign successful]

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

From: sonia jabbar <sjabbar@v...>

Dear Friends,

Thanks for all your inputs and encouragement. We've received hundreds=20
of emails over the last few days, which makes us believe that the=20
groundswell for peace is real and needs to be chanelled so that our=20
leaders will sit up and take notice instead of slipping into apathy.

We've prepared material to launch a massive Signature Campaign for=20
Peace, which will take place simultaneously in India and Pakistan.=20
This, as I have explained in my earlier email, is to get more people=20
to endorse the resolutions of the Pakistan-India People's Solidarity=20
Conference.

Each endorsing organisation would commit to collecting x number of=20
signatures, say a minimum of a hundred from the smaller groups, and a=20
thousand from the larger organisations. Plus, each organisation could=20
campaign in colleges, for example, and recruit Peace Campaigners, who=20
would in turn commit to say 20 signatures each. In this way we should=20
manage a few hundred thousand signatures, if not a million by the=20
time we gather for Peace Celebrations at the Wagah Border on=20
14th/15th August, and present the wishes and desires of the people to=20
both our governments.

Please print out the 9 attachments and make a dossier which can be=20
used and circulated in the campaign. These include:

1. Just Look At Us!: an introduction to the campaign written as a=20
popular 'parcha'

2. Final Declaration: The language has been modified slightly to make=20
the document up to date. This is what we are asking people to=20
endorse. It is a fairly simple, yet comprehensive document, and the=20
act of getting someone to endorse it means a chance to educate the=20
person on some of the key issues of our times. We're not simply=20
asking people to blindly sign on a piece of paper for peace, but=20
providing an opportunity to engage seriously and even debate these=20
issues. In the end, if they sign, then great! But even if they don't,=20
we've had a chance the introduce this perspective to the person.

3-6. Messages of support: From the Dalai Lama, Jose Ramos Horta, Cora=20
Weiss and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

7-8. Participating/supporting Organisations: In India, Pakistan,=20
South Asia, and S.Asian groups abroad. Please check the list and if=20
your organisation's name is not there make sure you send us a mail so=20
that we can update the list. Also make sure that you don't forget to=20
sign the form yourself!

9. Signature Form: These can be xeroxed and distributed among the=20
members of your organisation but please ensure that you keep a record=20
of how many pages have been distributed as indicated on the top right=20
hand corner of the form. It's also not so important to have the full=20
address of the person signing. Just the city or area would do. If=20
people want to join more actively and would like to be informed of=20
future activities then pl. do take addresses/emails and indicate=20
their request.

It is not necessary to use the whole dossier all the time. It's=20
simply resource material. It's up to you how you'd like to use it.=20
For instance, some groups may like to make posters or pamphlets based=20
on the material, some may want to use it for a street play or songs,=20
or on their websites or articles. You're welcome to do what you'd=20
like with it, there's no copyright and its everyone's movement. But=20
the Declaration is important. Please don't attempt to get signatures=20
on Just Look At Us!
We would also need to make an enormous effort to contact the groups=20
and NGOs that were left out of the earlier email effort, as many of=20
our friends and colleagues can only be contacted through the post.=20
Will organisations take the responsibility in disseminating this=20
information to rural areas? If translations need to be done will you=20
do it? Currently, we're just translating into Hindi and Urdu. Please=20
let us know your plans for the campaign, where you will be operating,=20
the scope of your activities, your rural outreach, etc. so that we=20
can coordinate better. For example, there maybe someone already=20
translating the material into Marathi, so we could direct you to them=20
if the need arose.
The Delhi-based groups are meeting to do a mid-term assessment on=20
July 31st. It would be good if other cities/areas did the same. It=20
would also be good if coordination cells were set up in Calcutta,=20
Bombay and Madras, besides Delhi, as centralised collection points.=20
So that, for example, Calcutta handles all the signatures collected=20
in the eastern region before sending the whole lot to Delhi by the=20
11th/ 12th August. Please let us know if this is possible.
Our website will be ready in a day or two (www.pakindpeace.org), so=20
friends living abroad will be able to endorse the declaration via=20
email, and direct others to do the same. Many of you have already=20
emailed me endorsing the declaration, but I'm sorry I'll have to ask=20
you to do this again through our website as it'll be easier to work=20
out the numbers through a submit form. Please check on the site by=20
Wednesday or Thursday. It should be up and running. Once it is,=20
please inform all the Desis you know.

Now let's get to work and make this wonderful thing happen!

warmest regards,
sj

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The Pakistan-India People's Solidarity Conference
New Delhi, July 12, 2001
Declaration

I. Preamble:

For over half a century now, the people of India and Pakistan have=20
borne the burden of hostilities between the two States. We, the=20
representatives of numerous civil society groups, which have=20
endeavoured for years to reform relations between India and Pakistan,=20
welcome the Summit between General Pervez Musharraf and Prime=20
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and urge that they seriously engage in=20
a sustained dialogue. The resources of the two countries must be=20
transferred from bombs to books, from submarines to schools, from=20
missiles to medicines, from frigates to food, from runways for=20
bombers to railroads for people. The two leaders must also pledge to=20
eliminate the terrifying nuclear menace that threatens the people of=20
the entire South Asia region and the whole world.

***
II. The Pakistan-India People's Solidarity Conference has identified=20
and arrived at an agreement on three major areas of concern between=20
India and Pakistan, which we feel need to be addressed by the two=20
Governments. These are as follows:

Nuclear Weapons
The nuclear weapons programmes of India and Pakistan have heightened=20
mutual tensions and placed the entire South Asian region in grave=20
danger. The two countries must commit themselves to total nuclear=20
weapons elimination in the world and to the complete dismantlement=20
and destruction of their own nuclear armaments and associated=20
systems, and jointly return to the agenda for global disarmament.

Democracy
We affirm that peace, democracy and justice are indivisible.=20
Hostilities between India and Pakistan have dangerously fuelled=20
religious fundamentalisms and national chauvinisms. The support=20
extended to these forces by the Indian and Pakistani States seriously=20
undermine democracy, the rights of working people, marginalised=20
communities, minorities and women, and threaten intellectual freedom=20
and free speech. We call for Pakistan's return to participatory=20
democracy and representative rule based on the principles of=20
non-exclusion of any section of society, respect for universal human=20
rights and freedom, and speedy empowerment of the people. We also=20
call for the strengthening of democracy in all parts of India to=20
attain the same objectives. These acts are crucial for a lasting=20
peace between the two countries. We call on the two leaders to=20
recognise that today's needs and tomorrow's great possibilities are=20
more important than yesterday's sad injuries, and that old mindsets=20
need to change with the times.

Kashmir
The Kashmir issue is not only a territorial dispute between the two=20
States but involves the people of Jammu and Kashmir (which includes=20
Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Muzzafarabad, Mirpur, Gilgit, and Baltistan).=20
Therefore, a just and democratic resolution of the Kashmir dispute=20
demands the involvement of the people on both sides of the LoC in a=20
non-sectarian solution. A Kashmir solution can work only in the=20
atmosphere of Pakistan-India friendship, which both Governments must=20
guarantee.

For fifty-four years the Indian and Pakistani States have not only=20
failed to resolve the Kashmir dispute, but have also been responsible=20
for grave Human Rights violations. The leaders of India and Pakistan=20
should focus attention on the plight of the widows and half-widows,=20
the orphans, the bodily wounded, the psychologically traumatised, the=20
socially ostracised, and the physically uprooted-irrespective of=20
religious, ethnic or political background. Let all sides reflect=20
upon the tremendous suffering in Jammu and Kashmir caused by the=20
denial of political, social, economic and human rights by India and=20
Pakistan, and guarantee the implementation of full democratic and=20
political rights to the people in all these areas.

III. We call on the two governments to:

1. Withdraw all draconian laws in both countries that violate Human Rights=
.
2. While we welcome all measures such as release of fisherfolk,=20
easing of travel restrictions, this must be expanded to allow free=20
movement of people between the two countries, and remove travel and=20
visa restrictions, (including police reporting) through a formal=20
agreement between the two governments.
3. Withdraw the order for prior Government permission and=20
clearance to hold international meetings, conferences, seminars and=20
workshops.
4. Lift restrictions on exchange of newspapers, magazines and=20
journals, etc.
5. Normalise cultural and trade relations between the two countries.
6. Cease hostilities with immediate effect in Kashmir, initiate=20
the process of disengagement of armed forces, and terminate support=20
to armed groups, both State and non-State.
7. Involve the people of both sides of the LoC in finding a=20
democratic, non-sectarian solution to the Kashmir problem.
8. Rehabilitate all those who have been affected by the war in=20
Kashmir, particularly women, and create the conditions for the return=20
of all refugees and exiles.
9. Commit to a Nuclear Freeze. This would entail no further nuclear=20
testing, no development, deployment and induction of nuclear weapons,=20
and no further efforts towards the setting up of Command and Control=20
systems.
10. Take a principled stand against "missile defence" and for global=20
nuclear restraint measures such as de-alerting and separation from=20
warheads from missiles.
11. Develop a pacifist, non-militaristic, non-masculinist view of=20
national security, which would lead to a mutual reduction in the=20
armed forces, and utilise the freed resources for meeting the=20
people's social and economic needs. Both governments should also=20
commit themselves to a time-bound programme for the systematic=20
reduction of military spending, both direct and indirect.
12. Agree to complete transparency in their CBMs.
13. Cease all acts of subversion, overt or covert as well as hostile=20
propaganda and media campaign against each other.
14. Demilitarise Siachen Glacier

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"Dalai Lama's message"

MESSAGE From H.H. DALAI LAMA

I am very happy to greet the participants of the Pakistan-India=20
People's Solidarity Conference being held in New Delhi on July 12,=20
2001.

I have lived in India for over 42 years and I have for many years=20
felt very strongly for the need for understanding and good relations=20
between India and Pakistan. For many obvious reasons it seems=20
senseless for the two countries not to have good relations. It pains=20
me to hear and read about the great amount of suspicion and lack of=20
understanding between the two countries, especially at the=20
governmental level. At the same time I have been greatly encouraged=20
by the friendly feelings that have been expressed and shared at the=20
peoples' level, especially in the fields of culture and sports. I was=20
therefore very happy when Prime Minister Vajpayee visited Pakistan a=20
few years ago. I am now extremely happy that President Musharraf is=20
soon visiting India at the invitation of the Indian Prime Minister. I=20
am sure that these summits will go a long way in contributing to=20
building trust and friendship between the two nations and their=20
peoples.

I have always believed that attempts at various levels should be made=20
in achieving understanding, trust and friendship between India and=20
Pakistan. And in some cases private individuals and non-governmental=20
organizations have a greater role to play. In fact I am quite certain=20
that the contribution from such quarters has to some extent made it=20
possible for the leadership in India and Pakistan to take the=20
initiative in holding the forthcoming summit. I would therefore like=20
to express my special appreciation to people like you who are holding=20
this Pakistan-India People's Solidarity Conference.

May India and Pakistan see a new chapter of friendship and=20
understanding for the peace and prosperity of the peoples of the two=20
countries.

With my prayers and good wishes,

(Signed) Tenzin Gyatso
the Dalai Lama

July 11, 2001
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Message from Jose Ramos Horta:

As you gather today in the Pakistan-India People's Solidarity Conference
I extend to you all my warmest greetings and wishes of success in this
Important and timely conference.

I have read the draft of your joint declaration and I believe it to be a ve=
ry
constructive and balanced document that could be easily endorsed and
implemented by peoples and leaders of the region.

Civil society is playing an increasingly important role in shaping policies=
the
world over and it could have a positive decisive impact on this seemingly
intractable conflict. In this globalised community interconnected by=20
the electronic
media and the internet, foreign policy and the fate of nations can no=20
longer rest solely
in the hands of a small group of diplomats and politicians. You can make a
difference, you can succeed where others have failed.

The peoples of Kashmir, India and Pakistan deserve the peace, tranquility a=
nd
prosperity they have dreamed about for decades. Some of the best brains in
the world originate from your region. They have excelled in every field
of human endeavor. So it is natural that their combined intelligence and
common sense will lead to some simple and creative solution.

In solidarity,

Jose Ramos-Horta
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (East Timor)

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Message from Cora Weiss:

Congratulations to every one of you assembled in this extremely important
gathering at this extremely important moment in history. The Hague
Appeal for Peace learned early on that governments will not move until
and unless organized civil society leads the way. The heads of state of
India and Pakistan should thank you. We also learned that no agreement
can be sustained unless both government and civil society are at the
table, with all the players, not just "the sides". Thus women, youth,
the religious sector, diverse civil society bodies that will have to
implement the agreement need to have a stake in creating the agreement.
The South Asian conflict has gone on for far too long, with far too much
waste in life and destruction of land and property. As two of the
players are nuclear powers it has the potential of ending up destroying
life on earth, unless it is contained and resolved.

At the Hague Appeal for Peace conference in May l999, Indians and
Pakistanis and Kashmiris read each other's poetry, exchanged views for
hours into the night, and demonstrated not just an ability to get aong,
but a passionate desire to live together, side by side in peace.

I salute you for your constancy, for your dedication to seeing this
unnecessary conflict resolved, for your courage and determination to
help the governments which, like any people in trouble, often need third
parties to show the path to peace.

We support the Agra summit. We support the statement of the Pakistan-India
People's Solidarity Conference. We wish you every success.

With warm wishes,
Cora Weiss, President
Hague Appeal for Peace

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[Message to] Pakistan-India People's Solidarity Conference, July 12, 2001

Message from His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Human evolution is to move from limited boundaries to unlimited=20
potential. For centuries, human race has made progress in the fields=20
of science, technology and politics, and now it is time to bring back=20
the human values that were somehow ignored in the past.

We need to remember first and foremost that we are part of one=20
divinity and secondly that we are part of one human family. Right=20
education is that which unites us in love and peace and takes us=20
beyond the political, social, racial and religious boundaries.

I wish this conference reaches the people in both the countries and=20
clears the misgivings by educating the people in our common heritage.=20
I also wish this conference opens a new chapter in cooperation and=20
brotherhood by reminding us that we need to live in harmony, enrich=20
our diversity and forget and forgive all the past misgivings.

I congratulate the organizers of this conference for fostering=20
brotherhood and peace in our continent.

Signed,
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Art of Living foundation
www.artofliving.org

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List of Indian Organisations:

=85 Action India, New Delhi
=85 Akhil Bharat Rachanatmak Samaj
=85 Akshara , Mumbai
=85 All India Bank Employees Association
=85 All India Central Council of Trade Unions
=85 All India Christian Council
=85 All India Democratic Women's Association
=85 All India Federation of Trade Unions
=85 All India Insurance Employees Association
=85 All India People's Resistance Forum
=85 All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation
=85 All India People's Science Network
=85 All India Progressive Women's Association
=85 All India Students Association
=85 All India Students Federation
=85 All India Trade Union Congress
=85 All India Youth Federation
=85 Alternate Lawyers Forum
=85 Anti-Nuclear Movement, Nagpur
=85 Anglo-Indian Guild
=85 Ankur, New Delhi
=85 Anumukti, Vedchhi (Gujarat)
=85 ASHA, Lucknow
=85 Association for Advocacy and Legal Initiatives, Lucknow.
=85 Association for Communal Harmony in Asia
=85 Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons, Kashmir
=85 Association of Peoples of Asia (India)
=85 Bank Employees Federation of India
=85 Bangalore Platform Against Nuclear Weaponisation
=85 BEL Employees Union, Bangalore
=85 Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Bangalore
=85 Centre for Education and Documentation, Bangalore
=85 Centre for Dialogue & Reconciliation
=85 Centre of Indian Trade Unions
=85 Centre for Social Work and Research, Tripura
=85 Centre for Women's Development Studies
=85 Centre for Peace & Progress, Kolkata
=85 Citizens Against Nuclear Energy, Bangalore
=85 Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons, Kolkata
=85 Champa Foundation, Delhi
=85 Chhattisgarh Anu Mukti Manch, Chattisgarh
=85 Citizen's for Democracy
=85 Delhi Forum
=85 Delhi Science Forum
=85 Democratic Teachers Front, Delhi
=85 Democratic Youth Federation of India
=85 Documentation & DisseminationCentre for Disarmament Information
=85 Ekta, Mumbai
=85 Eklavya, Madhya Pradesh
=85 FARR, Kalahandi, Orissa
=85 Federation of Medical & Sales Representatives Association of India
=85 Federation of Voluntary Organisations for Rural Development
=85 Focus on the Global South, Mumbai
=85 Forum Against Oppression of Women, Mumbai
=85 Forum for Confederation in the Sub-Continent, Delhi
=85 Forum for Science and Development, Karnataka
=85 Forum of Scientists, Engineers and Technologists, West Bengal
=85 Forum for Women's Health, Mumbai
=85 Foundation for Integrated Research in Mental Health, Thiruvanantpuram
=85 Free Legal Aid Committee, Jamshedppur
=85 Gandhi Peace Centre
=85 Gandhi Peace Foundation, Delhi
=85 Gandhi Seva Sansthan, Bihar
=85 General Insurance Employees Union
=85 Global Women's Lib (India)
=85 Greenpeace, India
=85 Harijan Sevak Sangh
=85 Haryana Gyan Vigyan Samiti
=85 Himachal Vigyan Manch
=85 Human Rights Forum, Hyderabad
=85 India Centre for Human Rights & Law, Mumbai
=85 India Peace Centre, Nagpur
=85 India-Pakistan Friendship Society
=85 India-Pakistan Soldiers' Initiative for Peace
=85 Indian Council of Trade Unions
=85 Indian Federation of Trade Unions
=85 Indian Institute for Peace, Disarmament and Environemntal Protection, N=
agpur
=85 Indian National Social Action Forum
=85 Indian Scientists Against Nuclear Weapons, Bangalore
=85 Indian Scientists Against Nuclear Weapons, Chennai
=85 Indian Social Institute, Delhi
=85 Indian Society for Cultural Co-operation & Friendship, Delhi
=85 Initiatives Women & Development, Mumbai
=85 International Energy Initiative
=85 Institute of Women's Development, Orissa
=85 Jan Natya Manch, Delhi
=85 J&K Public Commission on Human Rights, Srinagar
=85 Jagori, New Delhi
=85 Jan Vigyan Vedica, Andhra Pradesh
=85 Jharkhand Organisaiton Against Radiation, Jaduugora
=85 Journalists Against Nuclear Weapons, Chennai
=85 Kali for Women, New Delhi
=85 Kinnaird College Old Students' Association, (India)
=85 Karnataka State Peace and Solidarity Organisation
=85 Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad
=85 Lawyers Collective, New Delhi
=85 Legal Resource Centre, Palampur, Himachal
=85 Left & Democratic Teachers' Forum, Delhi
=85 Lok Abhiyan, Lucknow
=85 Lok Raj Sanghatan, Delhi
=85 Lok Sahet Manch, Punjab
=85 Lokayan, Delhi
=85 Mahila Samakhya State Office, UP
=85 Mahila Sarvangin Utkarsh Mandal, Pune
=85 Manasa, Bangalore
=85 Madhya Pradesh Vigyan Sabha
=85 Media storm, New Delhi
=85 Movement in India for Nuclear Disarmament, Delhi/Mumbai
=85 Movement Against Nuclear Weapons, Chennai
=85 Muslim Women's Forum
=85 Nari Samata Manch, Pune
=85 Nirantar, Delhi
=85 Narmada Bachao Andolan
=85 National Alliance of Peoples Movements
=85 National Confederation of Officers Associations of Central PSUs
=85 National Council of Churches in India, Nagpur
=85 National Federation of Indian Women
=85 Naujawan Bharat Sabha
=85 New Entity for Social Action
=85 Nirantar, New Delhi
=85 Nishant Natya Manch, Delhi
=85 North East Network, Assam, Meghalaya.
=85 Oxfam India Trust
=85 Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy
=85 Partners for Law and Development, Delhi
=85 Paschimbanga Vigyan Manch, West Bengal
=85 PEACE, Delhi
=85 People Tree
=85 People's Rights Organisation, Delhi
=85 People Union for Civil Liberties, Delhi
=85 People Union for Civil Liberties, Jaipur
=85 People's Union for Democratic Rights
=85 Physicians for Peace, Chennai
=85 Pondicherry Science Forum
=85 Pravah, New Delhi
=85 Public Interest Research Centre, Delhi
=85 Raqs Media Collective, New Delhi
=85 Revolutionary Youth Association
=85 Saheli, Delhi
=85 SAHMAT, Delhi
=85 Sama, Delhi
=85 Samvada
=85 Sangini, New Delhi
=85 Sandarsh, Goa
=85 Science for Society
=85 Shramik Mukti Dal, Maharashtra
=85 Shakti Shalini, Delhi
=85 Society for Citizens Concerns, Delhi
=85 South Asian Network for Alternate Media
=85 Stree Sangam, Bombay
=85 Student Christian Movement, Trivandrum
=85 Students Federation of India
=85 Tamil Nadu Science Forum
=85 Tarshi, New Delhi
=85 Vachan, Nasik, Maharasthra
=85 Vanangana, Banda, UP
=85 Vikas Adhayan Kendra, Mumbai
=85 Visthar, Bangalore
=85 Wan Kamgar Sanghathna, Nagpur
=85 Women's Association for Mobilisation and Action, Lucknow. UP
=85 Women's Centre, Mumbai
=85 Womens Initiative for Peace in South Asia
=85 Workers Solidarity, Delhi
=85 World Conference on Religion and Peace
=85 Youth for Nuclear Disarmament, Delhi
=85 Youth for Unity & Voluntary Action
=85 Youth Welfare Association of Haryana

SOUTH ASIAN & Pak-India groups based abroad
=85 Ambedkar Centenary Trust, London, UK
=85 Asian South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education
=85 Association for India's Development (AID)
=85 India Development Service, Chicago.
=85 INFORM, the Women and Media Collective and the Movement for=20
Inter-Racial Justice and Equality, Sri Lanka.
=85 Nuclear Disarmament Conference, Dhaka.
=85 South Asia Peace Coalition.
=85 Coalition for a Egalitarian and Pluralistic India(CEPI), Los Angeles
=85 Pakistanis for Peace and Alternative Development (PPAD)

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List of Pakistani Organisations

National Workers Party (NWP)
Jeaye Sindh Mahaz
Saraiki National Party
Tehreeki Istiqlal
Baluchistan National Movement (B.N.M)
Labour Party Pakistan
Baluchistan National Party (BNP)
Balochistan National Congress (BNC)
Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER)
Railway Mehnatkash Union
Railway Inqilabi Union
Railway Workers Union
Muttahida Labour Federation
Pakistan Trade Union Federation
National Trade Union Federation
All Pakistan Federation of Labour
Workers, Employer Bilateral Council of Pakistan (WEBCOP)
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
Anjuman Taraqqipasand Musannifeen
Progressive Writers Association
Social Democratic Movement
Forum for Peace & Development
Idara-e-Aman-o-Insaf
Tehrik-e-Niswan
Forum for Social Studies
Centre for Pakistan Studies (Karachi University)
Catholic Social Services
Hamdard institute of Information Technology
The News, Daily
Centre for Women's Studies
Dawn, Daily
Sustainable Development Policy Institute
Quid-e-Azam Universaty
Khaldunia High School, Islamabad.
Pakistan Medical Association (PMA)
International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War (Pakistan=20
Chaper) (IPPNW)
Pakistan Doctors for Peace and Development (PDPD)
Wokers Educations and Welfare Association Peshawar
Baluchistan Institute of Development Sciences and Practices (IDSP)
Pakistan Women Lawyers Association (PAWLA)
Aurat Foundation
Baanh Beli
Women Action Forum (WAF)
Urban Resource Centre (URC)
Sungi Development Foundation
South Asia Partnership - SAP-Pak

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The
Pakistan-India People's Solidarity Conference

Look at Us!
Just look at us. We fought side by side for our freedom, and then=20
decided we couldn't live together, so we fought and parted. We=20
couldn't live together and yet we haven't learned to live apart as=20
civilised neighbours. More than half a century later we are still=20
fighting. We are so obsessed with fighting each other and spending=20
all our resources in destroying one another that nations a tenth of=20
our size are far ahead of us. Ours is perhaps one of the few places=20
left in the world which still suffers from drought and famine. And=20
the rich nations? They grow richer on the blood we spill, on the one=20
hand telling us we must behave ourselves and be friends, and on the=20
other selling weapons we can hardly afford, to kill one another.

Just look at us. Over a billion people in South Asia are affected by=20
the tensions between India and Pakistan. And yet, we are unable to=20
resolve our differences and get on with life. Our leaders claim that=20
they speak for all of us when they say they will not sell out the=20
interests of their people when they talk to the "enemy." But when was=20
the last time they asked you or me what we wanted? When was the last=20
time we told them what we wanted?

When the Agra Summit was announced the people of India and Pakistan=20
were hoping against hope for a breakthrough. In an expression of=20
support for the reconciliation of the two countries hundreds of=20
people gathered in New Delhi on 12th July, 2001. They were=20
representatives of over two hundred broad-based civil society=20
organisations and people's groups from India and Pakistan- many of=20
whom have been working for peace in the subcontinent for years- who=20
spoke for thousands of people at the grassroots level. All day they=20
discussed, debated and even fiercely argued about the various issues=20
that have plagued both countries, but in the end they achieved what=20
their leaders were unable to achieve- a Joint Declaration!

This Declaration has also been endorsed by a number of eminent=20
people: two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates- H.H. Dalai Lama and Jose=20
Ramos Horta of East Timor; Cora Weiss, President of the Hague Appeal=20
for Peace and the International Peace Bureau, and the spiritual=20
leader, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. In fact Jose Ramos Horta, after reading=20
the Draft Declaration called it " a very constructive and balanced=20
document that could be easily endorsed and implemented by peoples and=20
leaders of the region."

We believe that these are extraordinary times, which require=20
extraordinary actions. But instead of seizing the moment, our leaders=20
have allowed the hawks to have their way yet again. They have=20
disappointed us. But can we afford to sit back and see all the=20
goodwill and hopes generated by Agra trickle away before our eyes?=20
Can we allow things to slip back to square one? Is this how we'd like=20
the world to look at us, as people who are unable to resolve their=20
differences?

Join the Signature Campaign for Peace being launched simultaneously=20
in India and Pakistan, which will culminate at a Celebration for=20
Peace at the Wagah Border on the night of 14th / 15th August.

Take five minutes to read the Joint Declaration.
Say YES to Peace by signing the form.
And then let's together say to the world:
Now look at us!

Pakistan-India People's Solidarity Conference Coordination cell in New Delh=
i:
Sonia Jabbar (CNDP)
D41 Jungpura Extn.
New Delhi 110014
Email: sjabbar@v...

Prabir Purkayastha (CNDP)
308 Elite House,
Zamrudpur Commercial Complex
New Delhi 110048
Tel: 6476580.
Email: sagrik@v...

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

[Signature Form]

The Pakistan-India People's Solidarity Conference
Signature Campaign for Peace

Name of Organisation/Person: Page_____of=20
____pages total
City/Town/Village/State:

Name City/Town/Vill/State=20
Signature
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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://groups.yahoo.com/group/act/messages/ . To 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.

[ All interested and concerned by the dangers of Nuclearisation of South
Asia are invited to join South Asians Against Nukes Mailing List. =3D> send=
a
blank e-mail message to : <saan-subscribe@l...> ]
--=20