[sacw] SACW #2 (27 Oct. 01)

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire | Dispatch #2.
27 October 2001
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex

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

#1. Winning the battle, losing the peace (Praful Bidwai)
#2. Helpless in the eye of the storm (Ayaz Amir)
#3. Bangladesh: Attack on Minorities: Why This Pretension? (Ali Ahmed Ziaud=
din)
#4. India: PROTEST PROCESSION AGAINST WAR
#5. India: Chennai to Hold Anti-War Meet
#6. Public Lecture in Bombay: "Political Islam: yesterday, today and tomorr=
ow"
#7. 'People's Film Festival on South Asia' , Bangalore

________________________

#1.

Frontline (India)
Volume 18 - Issue 22, Oct. 27 - Nov. 09, 2001

Winning the battle, losing the peace
by Praful Bidwai

The West is set to lose the struggle for the hearts and minds of the=20
global public unless it radically and substantially reforms its=20
policies.

AS the first fortnight of the United States-led military operation in=20
Afghanistan draws to a close, none of its stated strategic objectives=20
has been achieved, barring the establishment of Western air=20
supremacy, and destruction of Taliban air defences. The Al Qaeda=20
network remains in place, Osama bin Laden is untraced, and their=20
Taliban military support-base virtually intact. Contrary to certain=20
expectations, the Taliban regime is not about to disintegrate or=20
"collapse upon itself". The Northern Alliance has not made a decisive=20
advance upon Kabul. The morale of America's adversaries remains=20
remarkably high, while an anthrax panic prevails in the U.S.

Meanwhile, the "collateral damage" (read, avoidable death of 300-400=20
noncombatants, and damage to civilian life and property) continues to=20
mount. "Smart" bombs, meant to reliably hit targets within a 12-metre=20
diameter, are straying 1,600 metres away. United Nations personnel=20
have died and Red Cross food depots have been destroyed. More than=20
200 innocent people have died in Khorram (also spelt Karam and=20
Kharam), 40 km from Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan, in unexplained=20
bomb attacks.

The peace movement is gathering momentum even as the U.S.-led=20
"international coalition" frays at the edges, amidst confusion in=20
Western capitals, and with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia entering strong=20
reservations. There have been hundreds of demonstrations in numerous=20
cities - not just in the "Muslim world", but in "Catholic" Italy,=20
"Protestant" Germany and America, "Buddhist" Korea and "Hindu" India.=20
(In Italy, a broad Left-led alliance spectacularly mobilised 300,000=20
people in a march from Perugia to Assissi.) The U.S. is in no hurry=20
to bring about the fall of Kabul and facilitate the Northern=20
Alliance's takeover of Afghanistan. It is under pressure from=20
Pakistan on this count and at the same time badly dependent on it for=20
intelligence on the Taliban.

Under the circumstances, the "other" war, the fight for the hearts=20
and minds of the world public, or as many Western leaders see it, the=20
"propaganda war" (the tile of The Economist's cover story of October=20
6-12) has become crucial. Many American and European leaders have=20
made public statements to that effect. There are sharp differences in=20
their approaches - ranging from outright censorship, to subtle=20
distortion of news, to calls for transparency. Following President=20
Bush's recent remark that "anybody who discloses classified=20
information could literally endanger somebody's life", orders have=20
been issued to U.S. officials to be circumspect in their remarks.

Government websites are being sanitised and vital information about=20
military operations withheld. No "official" casualty figures have=20
been put out. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice's attempt to=20
muzzle U.S. television channels in respect of relaying footage from=20
independent Arabic channel Al Jazeera was the most widely reported=20
manifestation of the new censorship approach. The extraordinary claim=20
that video sequences from Al Qaeda may contain "coded messages"=20
speaks of paranoia. It is surely far-fetched to imagine that bin=20
Laden would need to communicate with his followers through Western TV=20
channels rather than through means which were presumably established=20
before September 11, assuming that Al Quaeda was indeed involved in=20
that terrorist carnage.

Equally deplorable is the U.S. government's attempt to buy up all=20
imagery from the commercial satellite Ikonos, containing one-metre=20
resolution pictures of what's happening in Afghanistan. The U.S. does=20
not need these pictures. Its own "Keyholes", military satellites,=20
produce photographs which are six to ten times superior. The decision=20
to purchase exclusive rights to Ikonos' pictures was taken to prevent=20
the international media from getting them - after the heavy civilian=20
casualties of October 10-11.

Even more pernicious is U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's=20
declaration from the Pentagon podium that he does not "intend to lie"=20
to the press about military operations, while repeatedly citing=20
Winston Churchill's infamous words: "In wartime, truth is so precious=20
that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies!" Rumsfeld=20
turned so paranoid in the first week of operations that he refused to=20
confirm that U.S. personnel had landed in Pakistani bases at=20
Jacobabad and Pasni - even after Islamabad confirmed this (while=20
claiming they are not combat troops).

The spin that Western TV channels are putting on news, analyses,=20
interviews, even headlines pertaining to the "anti-terrorism war" has=20
become increasingly crude. CNN has emerged as the biggest outpost of=20
the U.S. government's propaganda apparatus after it shamefully=20
declared that it would submit sensitive material to the "appropriate=20
authorities". Even the BBC has presented news from a distinctly=20
Western, rather than an international, point of view. Its=20
preoccupations make more sense in Western capitals than in Kabul or=20
Karachi, Delhi or Islamabad, Kuwait or Jakarta. It is a disgrace that=20
the Indian media has been uncritically reproducing the worst of these=20
biases.

A subtler approach to information is to be found in Tony Blair's=20
statement after his recent visit to West Asia that the West must=20
improve its media management if it is not to lose the propaganda war=20
in the Arab world. Blair said the West's message, that its war is not=20
against Islam or Muslims, is not getting through: "One thing becoming=20
increasingly clear to me is the need to upgrade our media and public=20
opinion operations in the Arab and Muslim world." More impressively,=20
Blair said the West cannot hope to win "hearts and minds" in the=20
Muslim world unless there is a fair settlement of the Palestinian=20
issue.

Blair probably felt chastised by the snub delivered by Saudi Arabia's=20
refusal to receive him. Amidst the poverty of global leadership, many=20
people may want to elevate him to the level of "statesmanship", just=20
as some did with New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Even while strongly=20
disagreeing with this assessment, one must concede Blair is right.=20
But can the West, in particular the U.S., address misgivings in large=20
parts of the world about the war - not just through manipulation of=20
the image, but through real changes in the object? This entails=20
confronting ugly realities, and redressing them through thoughtful=20
policies and practical measures.

THERE are at least four areas of wide divergence between U.S.=20
self-perception or self-understanding, and perceptions elsewhere,=20
especially in the Global South. The first is highlighted by Bush's=20
response to the suspicion, distrust and hatred that America inspires:=20
"I just can't believe it because I know how good we are." But=20
millions see the U.S. as an imperial power, which has repeatedly=20
imposed its will upon the world through overt military force or=20
covert operations. This history is so rich that it doesn't need=20
recounting. And yet, America has long had people like Jesse Helms=20
promoting aggressively unilateralist policies, whose incomprehension=20
is as stunning as their hubris: they don't even possess passports=20
because the world outside the U.S. isn't worth visiting!

A second area is the brazen disregard, indeed contempt, with which=20
the U.S. treats international opinion and institutions like the=20
United Nations except when it is expedient to get their endorsement=20
for decisions and actions it has unilaterally taken anyway. The U.S.=20
under Bush has recklessly torn up international treaties, including a=20
protocol to the Biological Weapons Convention and the Kyoto protocol=20
on global warming. It showed such disdain for the Human Rights=20
Commission that it lost its seat on that body. Washington has not=20
even bothered to obtain U.N. Security Council authorisation for the=20
use of armed force in Afghanistan. It had the temerity to tell the=20
Council that it intends to target countries other than Afghanistan=20
too - something that its closest allies, including super-loyal=20
Britain, had no choice but to oppose. Thus, while waging a "global=20
war against terrorism", Washington cannot possibly convince many that=20
it is acting in the universal interests of humanity. Its invocation=20
of the "civilised" world, and now increasingly, the "free world",=20
sounds hollow, self-serving and dangerously duplicitous. Given=20
America's history of world domination to control precious natural=20
resources, it is hard for people to believe it will not pursue its=20
own narrow interests in Central Asian oil if and when it establishes=20
a friendly regime in Kabul.

Third, the U.S. is seen as the principal agency which has=20
consolidated the present unequal global economic order, which has=20
caused suffering and deprivation in more than 100 countries. It is no=20
accident that the policies that have made the world even more skewed=20
than it was a quarter-century ago are called "The Washington=20
Consensus", representing a confluence of interests between the U.S.=20
treasury department, World Bank and International Monetary Fund,=20
reinforced by the World Trade Organisation. The resentment,=20
discontent and anger bred by these policies, and the collapse of=20
state after Third World state caused by them, strongly influence=20
perceptions of the U.S. as the principal cause, agency and guarantor=20
of global injustice and inequality. It is wholly incredible for the=20
U.S. to be speaking for justice in such a world - unless it reforms=20
its policies and role.

Last, but not least, many among the world's 1.2 billion Muslims nurse=20
a grievance against America for depicting Islam as the West's new=20
post-Cold War "civilisational" enemy, and for protecting and=20
colluding with regimes (such as Israel's) which deny Arabs their=20
legitimate rights, especially the right to a Palestinian homeland.=20
Although only a fifth of the world's Muslims live in the Arab world,=20
Palestine has become a symbol of injustice, which provokes strong=20
Muslim emotions everywhere. Equally important is U.S. treatment of=20
the people of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and a host of other=20
Muslim-majority states. The untold suffering visited upon them is a=20
source of powerful popular discontent too.

This is precisely what explains some of Osama bin Laden's ideological=20
appeal. Even a cursory glance at Al Qaeda-related websites would show=20
that bin Laden's programme capitalises on popular resentment at the=20
dispossession, oppression, and daily humiliation of the Palestinian=20
people at the hands of the Israeli state (which has expanded its=20
borders in each war starting 1967); the continued presence of U.S.=20
troops in Saudi Arabia, Islam's Holy Land; U.S. exploitation of West=20
Asia's oil, and so on. This "negative" appeal is far more important=20
than the "positive" appeal of Islamic nationalism or pan-Islamism, or=20
of bin Laden's perverse ideal of a "full" Muslim life which consists=20
in fighting and dying for Islam.

Al Qaeda strikes resonance when it attacks the monumentally corrupt=20
Saudi regime with its Wahabbi fundamentalism and its dependence on=20
the U.S., or when it recalls U.S. betrayal of Afghanistan's=20
mujahideen after 1989.

Al Qaeda has no analysis of imperialism. It is basically=20
anti-American, without being critical of economic globalisation, the=20
highly uneven distribution of world power, U.S. cultural domination,=20
or global inequalities. But its anti-American posture strikes a chord.

Al Qaeda is able to convert the largely secular issue of Palestine=20
into an Israeli-U.S. expansionist "conspiracy" against Islam and thus=20
drum up jehadi fervour. By citing the ruthlessness of Israeli and=20
U.S. policies, it tries to legitimise its own ruthlessness and its=20
grotesquely irrational methods of fighting injustice. It is also able=20
to yoke male-supremacist notions of Rambo-style heroism and=20
"martyrdom" to rationalise violence - just as the U.S. media do.=20
Indeed, one of Al Qaeda's greatest triumphs is that it has compelled=20
much of the Western media to work against their own professed=20
commitment to freedom, impartiality and objectivity, and to use=20
double standards on violence.

In the larger, real world, Al Qaeda's irrational appeal cannot be=20
effectively countered without addressing the root-causes of today's=20
global order, to the shaping of which the U.S. has contributed so=20
much. The more the U.S. responds to terror with its own Wild=20
West-style machismo, the more it will strengthen the sources of=20
sub-state terrorism. Changing such an approach means radically=20
altering the power relations on which U.S. dominance is based. Only=20
then can the real war for hearts and minds begin.

What we are likely to see instead is the perpetuation of the present=20
system of domination, and a botched-up, partial, compromised war=20
against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, which will leave the bulk of their=20
network unaffected and their sources of sustenance virtually intact.=20
Afghanistan will be further brutalised. New power equations will=20
emerge, based on the narrow self-interest of governments, including=20
America's, Pakistan's and India's. But in the absence of radical=20
political reform, the real war of ideas will not be joined.

______

#2.

DAWN (Pakistan)
26 October 2001

Helpless in the eye of the storm
By Ayaz Amir

Why do we pick such useless heroes? During the Gulf War, Saddam=20
Hussein. During the present crisis, Osama bin Laden. Osama t-shirts,=20
Osama posters, Osama as David to the US's Goliath. As counterpoint to=20
the glorification of Osama is the demonisation of the US. Then we=20
complain about being branded as a nation of fanatics.
The Taliban at least are consistent about word and action. What they=20
say is what they do. It is not so with us. Although there is no=20
shortage of people here who deify Osama as a hero, the paradox=20
remains that all these rooters for Osama would not put their money=20
where there rhetoric is. The anti-American protests are confined to=20
the religious parties. So they are likely to remain even if the=20
attacks on Afghanistan stretch into winter and beyond.
Time was when Pakistanis were good at agitation. Not any more. They=20
may be anarchic in their general behaviour but ever since Bhutto's=20
fall they have lost the habit of protest. The agenda of protest has=20
passed from the left and the centre - where it was once securely=20
lodged - to the extreme right.
The left has ceased to exist. The centre has been represented by such=20
incandescent figures as Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. Any fire and=20
passion that exists is only on the right. But the religious right=20
does not inspire most Pakistanis. Hence the picture we see in=20
Pakistan today: professionals and other members of the middle class=20
capable of great verbal extremism but keeping their indignation=20
confined to the rooms in which they watch television. Chocolate=20
subversion: that's what these armchair agitators are good for. On the=20
streets, meanwhile, march the cadres of the religious parties -=20
striking figures on television but nowhere near strong enough to make=20
things really hot for Musharraf and his fellow-generals.
This is not a case for mass agitation or for saying that we should=20
rise from our couches and man the barricades. If the premise is=20
accepted that we have a talent for choosing useless heroes, it=20
follows that any agitation which has Osama as its central figure is=20
equally useless. Since when was Osama's ideology ours? Since when=20
have we espoused such a narrow brand of incendiary Islam?
We do ourselves no favour by placing ourselves in an extremist=20
corner. The attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon were an act=20
of frenzied madness. There is no way to justify them, much less to=20
see them in an ennobling light. Just as there is no way to justify=20
the slaughter of Jews in the Second World War or the killing of=20
Palestinians at the hands of Israeli soldiers. There are some things=20
which lie not just beyond the pale of civilization - a word in danger=20
of being misused in these trying times - but beyond the pale of human=20
acceptance.
It is no good therefore for Muslims, wherever they may be, to get=20
into the game of accusing the US of double standards or of trying to=20
explain why the US evokes negative feelings in many parts of the=20
globe. This is not the time for it. For to indulge in such an=20
exercise now is to play into the hands of the very forces which are=20
trying to demonize the Muslim world and suggest connections between=20
Muslim anger and the attacks on the US. There are many charges that=20
can be levelled against the US. Just as there are many things that=20
can be said about the Muslim world. But the attacks on the US have to=20
be seen on their own terms and not against the backdrop of any wider=20
discontent.
Why then the Osama t-shirts and the accompanying hero worship? The=20
religious parties live in a world of their own. Much before the=20
present troubles began they believed that the Taliban had brought=20
true Islam to Afghanistan. Supporting the Taliban is therefore=20
entirely consistent with their world view. But what about the rest of=20
Pakistan? Pakistanis cannot be expected to applaud the bombing of=20
Afghanistan. But between this and the glorification of Osama lies a=20
world of difference.
Who should have taken the lead in pointing out this distinction? Why,=20
the government of Pakistan. But this was hardly possible when the=20
government was playing as much of a mug's game as the mullahs. If the=20
mullahs are at one extreme, glorifying Osama, the government is at=20
another, succumbing to US pressure and accepting every last American=20
demand without being sure what the quid pro quo will be for all this=20
scraping and bowing.
That hesitation of any sort would have spelt Pakistan's ruin is an=20
insidious myth spread as much by the Americans as our own government.=20
True, we were not asked for help, no such courtesy being extended to=20
us. We got what was little better than an ultimatum. Still, if we had=20
said, "We are with you but let us discuss the details and what all=20
you expect Pakistan to do" - would we have qualified for punishment=20
by Tomohawk missiles?
The Americans could not have done without the use of Pakistani=20
facilities. An offer to discuss options would have enhanced, not=20
diminished, our importance. It could certainly not be read as=20
refusal. Nor was there any danger of India taking advantage of the=20
situation and ganging up with the US to flatten our cities (and our=20
precious nuclear facilities). But like so often before, we sold=20
ourselves cheaply this time too: throwing away our geographic=20
indispensability for vague promises of future assistance. Even=20
streetwalkers, the readiest of them, haggle.
On this occasion we fell below the level of the accredited=20
streetwalker. Now we are hoping for a major financial bail-out but=20
having put a low value on ourselves to begin with, we can blame no=20
one else if the US is taking us for granted. We are in the eye of the=20
storm but with little control over the action. Does the Pentagon=20
consult us or give advance warning of its military plans? Do we have=20
any control over the airbases we have given to the Americans? We said=20
these would not be used for offensive action. What are the Americans=20
using Jacobabad, Pasni and Dalbandin for? Not to lift mineral water=20
into Afghanistan.
There may be some refuge for the wicked, none for the weak or=20
faint-hearted. What we have been reduced to is to plead our various=20
concerns: that the war against Afghanistan should be short and=20
focused; that the Northern Alliance should not be given a free run to=20
Kabul; that hostilities should end before Ramazan. As if our=20
reservations matter. As if the Pentagon loses any sleep over them.
Granted these are strange times. The men who carried out the=20
September 11 attacks may have been infected by a peculiar frenzy but=20
in what may yet turn out to be their biggest success; they have=20
passed on a portion of their frenzy to the US as a whole.
Bad as those attacks were, they do not come close to the scale of so=20
many other tragedies the world witnessed in the last century: the=20
first great war, the second, the Holocaust, Stalin's purges, the=20
Chinese dead in the Korean War (nearly half a million), the American=20
atrocities in Vietnam, the destruction of Cambodia because of=20
American intervention, Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians.=20
But because it is the US which is at the receiving end of this=20
particular tragedy, the entire world is expected to behave as if the=20
Apocalypse has been at hand.
At Stalin's rallies audiences went on clapping forever, for to be the=20
first to cease clapping meant a trip to the Gulag. In America's hour=20
of grief the world is expected to forget history and weep endlessly,=20
for not to do so risks incurring imperial displeasure. Just consider=20
why American officials hinted at the possible bombing of Iraq after=20
the September 11 attacks: because Iraq had not been sufficiently=20
clear in its condemnation.
In its undoubted grief and agony the US is in danger of forgetting=20
what the Greeks taught: that hubris, or excessive presumption,=20
invites retribution. While there is no denying America's distress, it=20
will only help America's cause if this distress is not clothed in too=20
excessive an arrogance.

______

#3.

The Daily Star (Bangladesh)
27 October 2001

Attack on Minorities: Why This Pretension?

Ali Ahmed Ziauddin
Over the past ten years, two elected governments failed to build any=20
consensus on several vital issues including our national identity. It=20
results in persistent political turmoil, which in turn cripples the=20
economy that begets massive unemployment-the recruiting ground of=20
terrorist activists. This along with the other two factors mentioned=20
above is rapidly turning Bangladesh ungovernable.

Several weeks since the election communal atrocities continue=20
unabated. How does one explain this? Retribution? For what? Voting=20
Awami League? In that case they should be targeting 40 percent of the=20
electorate. Instead, it is safe to pick on a community who are long=20
branded as AL vote bank and somewhere deep inside the national psyche=20
suffer the stigma of not being loyal enough to Bangladesh. So what's=20
new? The Pakistani ruling elite accused them of the same crime ever=20
since 47 and they were the main targets of ethnic cleansing by the=20
Army in 71. It seems the same agenda has crept back once again in=20
national focus. What a shame! What led to this juncture when despite=20
regular conscientious protests and editorials the government goes on=20
denying while the wider society is silent amidst cries and moaning of=20
rape victims and harassment of whole communities? Is it because we=20
couldn't care less if some Hindus got bashed up somewhere for just=20
being a Hindu or are we deliberately delivering a clear message that=20
either thy don't belong here or must remain at the mercy and whim of=20
the majority if they choose to stay at all. Either way, as a nation=20
we should be ashamed of such vandalism.

Constitution and social values

A well-formulated written constitution is imperative for a nation to=20
grow and strengthen its democratic credentials. Equally important is=20
the unwritten one embedded in a nation's psychology woven over a long=20
period of time spreading its roots deep in the society. In most cases=20
it breeds ignorance, prejudice, and jingoism and abhors cultural and=20
ethnic diversity, which gives rise to a host of paradoxes. However,=20
it is this unwritten psychology of a society that conjures opinions=20
on a wide range of issue, which plays a dominant role in building the=20
national psyche. Bangladesh is no different. One such frame of mind=20
of the main stream is the inborn suspicion and prejudice against the=20
Hindus in general and the Hindus of Bangladesh in particular. And the=20
worst is, it is ingrained in the mental landscape of the educated=20
middle classes all across the subcontinent who are unfortunately the=20
opinion builders of the society. Besides the enlightened and=20
progressive section among them the silence, innuendoes and=20
insinuations of the larger society creates a hostile atmosphere,=20
which at times of convulsions translates into communal vengeance at=20
the grassroots level. Landslide victory of the four party alliance=20
with a clear tilt towards majority chauvinism provided one such=20
impetus. They (middle classes) will perhaps vehemently contradict=20
this statement but how can they otherwise explain going about their=20
business as usual while the moral and social fiber of the nation is=20
being ripped apart by a handful of hooligans.

True, since early 12th century, Islam in Bengal spread mainly as an=20
anti thesis to Brahminical tyranny. As a result, tension and often=20
friction between the two communities ensued over centuries. The=20
British took advantage of this divide and actively promoted it by=20
pitching one community against the other, which resulted in the=20
growth of communal politics in pre partition Bengal among both the=20
communities. While the communal trend in both the communities was=20
dominant a very weak secular current was also visible with limited=20
social and political influence. After partition, the main stream=20
communal force now in state power of the then East Pakistan tried its=20
best to implement its policy of systematic disenfranchisement of the=20
minorities of every kind and gag the secular aspirations of the=20
rising middle class. Despite employing all kinds of machinations,=20
terror and repression they failed and the secular forces emerged=20
dominant through intensive social, cultural and political struggle=20
that culminated in the liberation war. A time comes in the lifetime=20
of a nation when through tumultuous upheavals it can free itself from=20
decadent prejudicial moorings. Communalism is a subcontinental malady=20
but Bangladesh made a quantum leap in getting rid of this old malice=20
by waging a secular nationalist movement against Pakistani=20
occupational forces in 71. Or so it was imagined. For the first time,=20
among numerous nationalities of South Asia it emerged as a nation=20
based on ethnic, linguistic and cultural identity. Here was the=20
golden opportunity to nurse its nascent secular and democratic polity=20
and become a unique example for the whole region. Instead, over the=20
past thirty years we drifted and discarded these hard earned=20
credentials. A whole range of national and international factors is=20
responsible for this degeneration among which two can be considered=20
crucial.

First, a shared history culture and Himalayan ecosystem makes India=20
and Bangladesh indispensable neighbours. Anything other than friendly=20
and mutually beneficial relationship between them can be catastrophic=20
for Bangladesh and irritating and expensive for India. Beating all=20
reason this is precisely what has happened over the past three=20
decades. Bilateral relation between the two neighbours is any thing=20
but smooth. A number of reasons, some genuine others rhetoric has=20
contributed to this sad state of affair. Over the years main stream=20
opinion across party lines have grown an anti Indian feeling while=20
circumstances compel them to interact with India at every level on a=20
regular basis. Not being able to resolve this paradox they have=20
chosen the easy option of equating anti Indianism with anti Hindusim,=20
totally forgetting Nepal being a Hindu state share the same=20
misgivings with India. What a pity! It is nothing but rabid muddle=20
headed prejudice. True, India is also distancing itself from the=20
secular charter but its no reason for Bangladesh to follow suit.

Turmoil in the Islamic the World

Second, since the shooting of oil prices in early seventies Islamic=20
resurgence is visible all across the world especially in countries=20
with a Muslim majority population. It has ignited a series of serious=20
debates within the Islamic world as how to relate and connect Islamic=20
traditions with the modern world and all its manifestations in the=20
social, political and economic domain. The response ranges from=20
extreme to moderate conservatism to secular approach to life and=20
society. Nearly all the Muslim countries whether willingly or forced=20
into are enduring this dialogue through intensive debate and practice=20
often blotched in blood. Bangladesh is no exception. From around mid=20
seventies, in order to get a piece of the petrodollar pie and also to=20
counterbalance Indian influence our ruling class slowly discard=20
secular outlook and consciously implanted singular religious=20
indoctrination in the body politic citing the logic of sheer brute=20
majority. This creeping trend eventually led to establishing Islam as=20
the state religion that relegates other minorities into second grade=20
citizens (if not in letter but in spirit) and breeds intolerance of=20
ethnic and cultural diversity. And this state of mind creates space=20
for the goons to trample on basic human rights of the minorities at=20
the slightest pretext and the middle classes in adopting a nonchalant=20
attitude. It was amply demonstrated in 92 and is being repeated at=20
the moment. What is even more alarming is the denial from the=20
government that such crimes are being committed at all. The acts of=20
the gangsters only expose the symptoms and not the disease itself.=20
And when the symptom is not acknowledged the disease is bound to=20
become cancerous. Why this pretension?

No consensus

Over the past ten years two elected governments failed to build any=20
consensus on several vital issues including our national identity. It=20
results in persistent political turmoil, which in turn cripples the=20
economy that begets massive unemployment-the recruiting ground of=20
terrorist activists. This along with the other two factors mentioned=20
above is rapidly turning Bangladesh ungovernable. Warlords have=20
virtually carved up regions into zones of influence. In the process=20
the heart and the soul of the nation gets violated on a regular=20
basis. Lip service to democracy imprisons the weak at the mercy of=20
the rich and the powerful and enforces the will of the majority over=20
the minorities. Litmus taste for democracy is not how many election=20
it has gone through rather in demonstrating how well it can secure=20
the rights of the minorities of various kind.

Ali Ahmed Ziauddin is a social and development activist.

______

#4.

26 October 2001

PROTEST PROCESSION AGAINST WAR

Dear Friend.,
Following the deplorable events of 11th September in=20
USA and subsequent war on Afghanistan, several initiatives in the=20
city have formed 'T h e Coalition for Peace & Democracy'. The main=20
objective of the Coalition is to oppose the present War and reign of=20
Terror let loose by America and its allies on the hapless people of=20
Afghanistan.

The Coalition has organized a protest procession against=20
War on Tuesday, the 30th October 2001 at New Delhi. Procession will=20
start at 11 AM from Ring Road (behind the Red Fort & near Kotwali=20
Daryaganj) and will proceed to Ferozshah Kotla via Daryaganj.

You are requested to join in large numbers alongwith=20
your friends. Please inform your friends and others, if you happen=20
to be out of Delhi on 30th October.

The following statement will be distributed for the=20
public during the procession.

N.D.Pancholi for CHAMPA- The Amiya & B.G.Rao Foundation
Prof. Iqbal Ansari For Minorities Council
B.D.Sharma For Indian Radical Humanist Association
Abdul Qayyum For Forum For Democracy and Communal Amity

STATEMENT : NO TO WAR, NO TO TERRORISM

We oppose and condemn the US military=20
assault on Afghanistan. This has already taken the lives of=20
innumerable people who are in no way responsible for, or connected=20
to, the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. We=20
unequivocally condemn those actions as a crime against humanity and=20
demand that its perpetrators be brought to justice. But the US and=20
its alliance must give up their blatant double standards. If the=20
calculated killing of ordinary, innocent people is terrorism, and=20
doing so outside one=EDs borders is a form of international terrorism,=20
then we oppose this wherever it takes place and whosoever is=20
responsible for it.

An effective campaign against=20
international terrorism can only take place by upholding=20
international law, establishing an International Criminal Court=20
(ICC), strenghthening the International Court of Justice and=20
democratizing the United Nations(UNO). Only legitimate international=20
bodies like these can carry out adjudication and enforcement in a=20
principled and impartial manner.=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20

The global coalition of states=20
that the US is setting up to undertake its self-declared =ECWar on=20
Terrorism=EE is illegitimate. It comprises governments that are the=20
major profiteers in the global arms trade, possess virtually all the=20
world=EEs stock of weapons of mass destruction (nuclear,chemical and=20
biological), have caused great ecological devastation, and are also=20
responsible for many acts and campaigns of ethnic cleansing and=20
international terrorism, even genocide, that have taken place over=20
the last fifty years. That this coalition should now be authorized=20
and empowered to wage War on one of the poorest countries in the=20
World violates the most elementary principles of justice and offends=20
basic values of decency and concern for our fellow human beings.

The Indian government has=20
shamelessly endorsed this Coalition. We oppose and condemn this stand=20
of the Indian government and demand that this Coalition be=20
immediately disbanded. This War will bring immense suffering to the=20
people of Afghanistan and destablize the whole South Asian region.=20
Already lakhs of innocent Afghans have become refugees, and their=20
numbers will increase to millions.=20=20

As always women and children will be among the principal victims of=20
the War and also of the reinforcement of masculinist andriarchal=20
attitudes and structures, that the ideology of War always always=20
brings with it. Un deterred by all this, the Indian and Pakistan=20
governments are using the situation to foment mistrust and xenophobia=20
among their respective populations and to deepn mutual tensions. We=20
strongly oppose this and affirm our commitment to promoting goodwill=20
, cooperation and peace between India and Pakistan.

The US government =EBs claim that =ECfighting global=20
terrorism=EE gives it the right to militarily intervene anywhere it=20
judges fit, is contrary to international law. And it arouses=20
suspicions that US designs have little to do with terrorism. In this=20
regard,=EE the 8 to 10 year program=EE that the US is embarking upon is=20
completely unjustified . It will lead to many more conflicts and=20
wars the world over, generate more bitterness about the arbitrary use=20
of American power, and cause destruction, casualities and deaths on=20
an ever widening scale.=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20

The BJP-led government has also sought to use the=20
current situation to promote communal polarization, and to attack=20
basic democratic rights within the country.. It has tried to identify=20
terrorism as predominantly a phenomena of Islamic fanaticsm. It has=20
painted opponents of the War, and of the Indian government=EDsupport to=20
it, as anti-nationals. In this regard it has deliberately targeted=20
the sections of the Muslim community as well as others such as human=20
rights activists opposed to its own repressive and anti-democratic=20
behaviour. The government has arbitrarily banned selected=20
associations , arrested individuals on a large scale, harassed=20
activists exercising their democratic rightsa of peaceful public=20
protest, and now proposes to bring in more draconian laws like the=20
Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance which is which is modeled on the=20
notorius Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act=20
(TADA). This codification of the government=EDs arbitrary power to=20
arrest, detain, harass and punish on grounds of mere suspicion, can=20
then be used against all kinds of people=EDs movements legitimately=20
mobilizing and opposing government policies of various kinds.

The opposition to the War on Afghanistan is not only a=20
struggle for Peace and Justice on a world scale, or for preventing=20
avoidable human suffering. It is also struggle to reduce communal=20
tensions and to strenghthen India=EDs best traditions of secularism=20
and democracy.=20=20=20=20=20=20

STOP THE WAR
NO TO COMMUNALISM AND FANATICISM
DEFEND SECULARISM AND DEMOCRACY
YES TO PEACE AND JUSTICE

JOIN THE MARCH AGAINST THIS UNJUST WAR AT 11AM ON 30TH OCTOBER.

______

#5.

Ganashakti (India), 22 October 2001
NEWSNOTES

Chennai to Hold Anti-War Meet

Staff Reporter
A BIG gathering is slated to be held on November 9th ,2001 in Chennai=20
as part of the SAY 'NO' TO WAR campaign. It will be co-sponsored by=20
the Frontline and Asian School of Journalism. The speaker will be=20
Noam Chomsky, celebrated author of various books and an authority in=20
linguistics. Serious preparations are underway for conducting the=20
meeting successfully involving all trade unions and mass=20
organisations in Chennai city.

Recently and well before the war broke out, on October 6, in a=20
largely attended public meeting in Chennai, Prakash Karat, CPI (M)=20
Polit Bureau member explained the likely situation that might develop=20
in view of the mindless and inhuman terrorist attack on WTC and=20
Pentagon in USA. While paying homage to the memory of those who had=20
passed away in the attack, he urged upon the need to combat terrorism=20
and apprehended that the haste with which America is proceeding with=20
the war preparations without regard to the international laws, would=20
further complicate the situation than solving it.

Prakash Karat very graphically narrated the background of the=20
international situation which breeds terrorism, both individual and=20
state-sponsored, as a means of conflict resolution. The proposed=20
American war, for that matter any war, will maim and kill thousands=20
of innocent civilians and ruin the economies of the concerned war=20
inflicted states. America, announcing on September 11th itself that=20
"It (the terrorist attack) is a war declared on them", was only=20
expected to react this way.

Prakash Karat condemned, the American war, code-named first as=20
'Operation Infinite Justice' and later 'Operation Enduring Freedom'=20
saying that it would only heap injustice on those who have nothing to=20
do with terrorism and that it is only an operation aimed at=20
establishing its hegemony over the world. He contextually brought to=20
focus the Indian government's response to the so-called Global=20
Initiative Against Terrorism and its likely impact on the internal=20
situation of our country.

All that he spoke has come true with missiles and warheads landing at=20
targets in Afganisthan, provoking fierce anti-war protests world wide.

As per the call of the left parties, while throughout India anti-war=20
demonstrations are taking place, in Tamil Nadu, in view of the local=20
bodies election campaign being at its peak, CPI (M) had conducted a=20
poster campaign against the war.

Movement against Nuclear Weapons (MANW), Journalists Against Nuclear=20
Weapons and Scientists Against Nuclear Weapons together conducted a=20
hall meeting today in Chennai, which was addressed by N.Ram, Editor,=20
Frontline, Samir Nazareth(Peace activist), N.T. Vanamamalai (Peace=20
activist) and Dr.Shankar (Indian Scientists against Nuclear Weapons)

______

#6.

Professor J.P.S. Uberoi, who has recently retired as Professor of Sociology=
,
University of Delhi, will be speaking on "Political Islam: yesterday, today
and tomorrow" at the Little Theatre, National Centre for the Performing
Arts [ Bombay, India] , on Nov. 2, 2001 at 6:30 p.m.

______

#7.

'People's Film Festival on South Asia' begins in the
last week of November 2001 at the Alliance Francaise
de Bangalore [ India] . The festival intends to feature a
selection of documentaries on the Asian region.

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