[sacw] SACW #2 (03 January. 02)

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire - Dispatch #2 | 3 January 2002
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex

------------------------------------------
#1. Asiapeace Implores: Give Peace a Chance
#2. South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) - Journos do their bit for p=
eace
#3. India: COMMUNAL RIOTS - 2001
#4. Pakistan: Social Democratic Movement for revival of democracy

________________________

#1.

Asiapeace Implores: Give Peace a Chance
28 December 2001

To
General Pervez Musharraf
President and Chief Executive of Pakistan
And
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
Prime Minister of India.

Dear Sirs,

The 13 December dastardly attack on the Indian Parliament which=20
claimed more than a dozen lives, including that of the five=20
perpetrators, has rudely reminded the world that terrorism continues=20
to flout all norms of civilized behaviour and is a threat to regional=20
and world peace. No effort should be spared to trace out the culprits=20
and bring them to justice. The Indian Government alleges that the=20
terrorists were members of two Pakistan-based militant jihadi groups,=20
the Jaish-e-Muhammad and the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba. It has also been=20
suggested that the Government of Pakistan was in the know about plans=20
to attack the Indian Parliament. On the other hand, the Government of=20
Pakistan has condemned the attacks and promised fully to co-operate=20
in any investigation aiming to capture the culprits and bringing them=20
to justice. General Musharraf has taken steps to curb the activities=20
of those two above-mentioned groups. However, Pakistan has also=20
alleged that the attack was masterminded by the Indian intelligence=20
agencies with a view to giving Pakistan a bad name and reputation in=20
front of the world community.

As usual, India and Pakistan have taken up belligerent stands=20
threatening to inflict death and destruction upon each other rather=20
than working together as good neighbours to sort out the=20
complications which have arisen as a result of this latest outrage.=20
Troops have been amassed on both sides of the India-Pakistan border=20
and the Line of Control in Kashmir, nuclear missiles have been=20
mounted and both sides seem to be inching towards a major armed=20
confrontation that is likely to include an exchange of nuclear=20
strikes.

It is our plea to both governments not to act irresponsibly and=20
plunge South Asia into a war which neither side can win. On the=20
contrary it is likely to render South Asia into an uninhabitable=20
desert filled with radioactive sands and winds that will erase all=20
signs of life and civilization in that region and beyond.

We, therefore, urge the two governments to consider all peaceful=20
means of resolving the latest crisis. If India has strong evidence to=20
support its charges it should consider the Pakistani offer to=20
co-operate in the investigation of that crime. If it can prove that=20
the Pakistani intelligence agencies were somehow involved in that act=20
of terrorism it should provide such evidence to the world. It can=20
also try to seek redress through relevant United Nations agencies.=20
Even the Security Council can be approached for action. On the other=20
hand, Pakistan should once and forever do everything in its power to=20
weed out the militant networks and organizations that have for years=20
been terrorizing its own citizens and those across the border. It=20
should by now dawn upon all Pakistanis that the Kashmir Dispute can=20
only be resolved through dialogue with India. The Lahore Declaration=20
(February 1999) and Agra Summit (July 2001) were steps in the right=20
direction. It should be followed by similar initiatives immediately=20
so that the basis of a lasting peace can be laid in South Asia.

I am submitting this statement on behalf of members and friends of=20
Asiapeace, which is a world-wide network of concerned individuals=20
dedicated to working in the interest of peace, democracy, human=20
rights, justice and enlightened humanism in South Asia.

Sincerely,
1. Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed
Moderator and Co-Chair, Asiapeace
Associate Professor
Department of Political Science
Stockholm University
Tel: work: 00 46 8 16 26 24
Ishtiaq.Ahmed@s...

2. Pritam K. Rohila, Founder and Co-Chair, Asiapeace
Retired Psychologist, Keizer, Oregon, USA
Portland, USA.

Statement supported by:

3. Owais Hasin , (Member Asiapeace) architect, Pakistan
4. Prof. Asghar Ali Engineer, (Member Asiapeace) Mumbai, India
5. Parwez Wahid, (Member Asiapeace), USA.
6. Ikram Rabbani Rana (Member Asiapeace), Former Minister of Health,=20
Punjab, Pakistan.
7. Karamat K. Ghori, Former Pakistani Ambassador, Toronto, Canada
8. Prof. Sukhpal Singh, (Member Asiapeace), Ahmedabad, India
9. Prof. Tom Hart, Stockholm School of Asian Studies, Sweden
10. Prof. Ram Puniyani, (Member Asiapeace), EKTA, Committee for=20
Communal Amity, Mumbai, India
11. Dr. Zafar Iqbal, (Member Asiapeace), Washington, USA
12. Prashanth K.A. (Member Asiapeace),Asst.Director,CISRS, Mumbai-400008.
13. Mustafa Hussain, (Member Asiapeace), Copenhagen, Denmark
14. J. Sri Raman, India.
15. Prof. Mubarak Ali, (Member Asiapeace), Lahore, Pakistan.
16. Sukla Sen, (Member Asiapeace) Human Rights Activist, Mumbai, India
17. Dr. Ajay K Mehra (member Asiapeace), Delhi, India
18. Rafiq Mangi [Development Professional], Pakistan
19. Harsh Kapoor (South Asian Citizens' Website), France
20. Prof. Maneesha Tikekar, (Member Asiapeace), Mumbai, India
21. Dr Manzur Ejaz, (Member Asiapeace), Washington D.C, USA
22. Ameek Ponda, (Member Asiapeace), USA
23. Prof. Kamal Chenoy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
24. Renu Madan, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02238, USA
25. Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, Editor, The Milli Gazette, New Delhi
26. V. Kripa Sundar, USA
27. Dr. Ambrose Pinto s.j.Principal, St. Joseph`s Night College,=20
Bangalore, India
28. Sharmila Gopinathan,(Member Asiapeace) Boston, USA.
29. Lalita Ramdas,(Member Asiapeace) India
30. Prof I.K.Shukla,(Member Asiapeace) Co-founder:Coalition for an=20
Egalitarian & Pluralist India,US
31. Syed M. Shahed (Member Asiapeace), USA
32. Asha R. Shahed, (Member Asiapeace), USA
33. Robin Khundkar, (Member Asiapeace), USA
34. Syeda Khundkar, USA
35. Imran Khundkar, USA
36. Prof. Ahmad Faruqui, Fellow, American Institute of International=20
Studies, USA
37. Prof. Bilal Hashmi,Western Washington University, USA
38. R. Arul, Chennai, India
39. Prof. Qamar-ul Huda Boston College, USA
40. Fr. Cedric Prakash s.j. (Member Asiapeace) Ahmedabad, India.
41. Prof. Neera Chandhoke, Political Science, Delhi University, India
42. Gulzar Ahmed, (Member Asiapeace), USA
43. Meliha Ahmed, Sollentuna, Sweden
44. Sahir Ahmed, Sollentuna, Sweden
45. Ahmed Faqih, Urdu and Punjabi Poet, Norrviken, Sweden
46. Zubair Ghazi, (Member Asiapeace) Manchester, UK
47. Prof. Dr Anis Alam, Punjab University, Physics Department, Lahore, Paki=
stan
48. Dr. Mohammad Tanveer, Journalists Resource Centre, Lahore, Pakistan
49. Jaspal Singh Sidhu, Journalist, UNI, New Delhi, India.
50. A. Shakoor Rana, Saf/Pak, Lahore, Pakistan

Supporters who joined after 10. a.m. on 28 December 2001
51. Shamsul Islam, Street Theatre Group Nishanth, India
52. Neelima Sharma, Street Theatre Group Nishanth, India
53. Dr Anoop Saraya, Street Theatre Group Nishanth, India
54. Anand Saroop Verma, Street Theatre Group Nishanth, India
55. Shirin, Street Theatre Group Nishanth, India
56. Sameer Dossani, Street Theatre Group Nishanth, India
57. Dr Aparna Sareen, Street Theatre Group Nishanth, India
58. Ashok Nath, Stockholm, Sweden
59. Ammu Abraham, Women's Centre, Mumbai, India
60. Kaleem Khawaja, Washington DC, USA
61. Prof. Paul Wallace(member Asiapeace), Missouri, USA
62. Akhila Raman,USA.
63. Neeti Belliappa, USA
64. Prof. Vipin Tripathi, New Delhi, India
65. Group Captain (Retd) CECIL CHAUDHRY, SJ, SBt, St. Anthony's=20
College, Lahore, Pakistan
66. Dharmendra Vahalia, USA
67. Liaqat Ali, advocate High Court, Director Legal Awareness=20
Watch(LAW), Lahore, Pakistan

_____

#2.
The Hindustan Times
Thursday, January 3, 2002
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/030102/detNAT05.asp

Kathmandu Diary: Journos do their bit for peace
Vinod Sharma

Parallel to the SAARC summit, over 150 journalists from the=20
seven-nation regional grouping have assembled here under the aegis of=20
the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA). The organisation's=20
agenda: To promote peace in the face of a rising threat of war.

Though the host country has maximum representation at the meeting,=20
the discussions remained focused on the growing hiatus between India=20
and Pakistan. The curbs on the Nepalese press following imposition of=20
Emergency got little more than passing mention.

The Pakistani and Indian delegates often agreed to disagree.=20
Terrorism was one issue on which there was an obvious divergence of=20
views in the context of Kashmir. But the participants refrained from=20
any direct mention of the dispute towards building a consensus on a=20
'Declaration of Intent.' SAFMA also referred to the heads of=20
government and state of SAARC a Protocol for free movement of=20
mediapersons within the region.

*****

It was media pressure of another kind. Journalists from all seven=20
SAARC nations took out a procession demanding a resumption of the=20
Vajpayee-Musharraf dialogue and toning down of tension in the region.=20
About 150 journalists marched through the city to the SAARC=20
Secretariat near Narayanhiti Palace. The banners they carried read=20
"No to war", "No to terrorism", "No to repression" and, most=20
importantly, "Vajpayee-Musharraf should meet".

*****

"We cannot let terrorism win the war, nor should we let the=20
governments use it as a pretext to abridge freedoms", remarked Madhav=20
Nepal, while opening the conference on Tuesday. Made in the context=20
of a gagged Nepalese media, the CPN(UML) leader's observations=20
applied as much to conflicts in other parts of the subcontinent. But=20
a party comrade of M. Nepal, K. P. Sharma Oli, felt that newspersons=20
in his country could do more for restoration of their freedoms.=20
"Until now, they have tended to accept what has come their way," he=20
said.

*****

Talking of terrorism, the phenomenon is intensely debated in Nepal.=20
The Maoist threat from within, the Kandahar hijack and the recent=20
attack on Indian Parliament seems to be changing the Nepalese way of=20
life. And nothing drives home the message more palpably than the=20
tight security at the Birendra International Conference Centre, the=20
venue of the Summit. Armed securitymen in battle gear are crawling=20
all over the place, sanitising the premises.

*****

Tourist dollars make up Nepal's staple source of revenue. But, this=20
year alone, it stands to lose roughly $30 million by way of depleted=20
arrivals. The slide began in the aftermath of the palace massacre and=20
touched a new low after September 11. To turn the tide, Nepal has=20
come out with a new policy. The rebates include a huge slash - from=20
$40,000 to $5,000 - in the fee charged from filming units head-ed for=20
scenic locales like Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpa.
_____

#3.

COMMUNAL RIOTS - 2001
Asghar Ali Engineer

(Secular Perspective Jan. 1- 15, 2002)

The year 2001 also, like previous years witnessed several communal=20
riots throughout India of which some were minor and some major. The=20
riot broke out in Kolahpur on 31st December 2000, the last day of=20
last year and continued in January 2001. A territorial Army Jawan=20
Abhijt Suryawanshi was killed in Jammu and Kashmir in a suicide bomb=20
explosion. He hailed from Kolahpur Maharashtra. His body was flown to=20
Kolahpur. Shiv Sena gave a call for bandh but some people of minority=20
did not close their shops and stoning began on their shops. The crowd=20
was 10,000 strong pelting stones. The crowd was also protesting=20
against the 'pro-Muslim' statement given by the Minister of State for=20
Textiles Prakash Awde in Icchalkaranji a day ago.

The situation became tense in Kolahpur and Shiv Sena's=20
call for bandh aggravated it. The administration, however, persuaded=20
the Sena to withdraw its call for bandh but many Shiv Seniks did not=20
like it and indulged in heavy stone throwing. Sudden burst of stone=20
pelting sent a wave of panic across the main market and shops and=20
business establishments downed their shutters. However, though there=20
was tension and stone pelting incidents there was fortunately no loss=20
of life.

Similarly there was communal violence in Ranchi, Bihar on=20
30th December which too spilled over to the month of January 2001. On=20
29th December which happened to be an Eid day (Ramzan Eid) police=20
fired and three Muslim youth were killed. Though it was not clear why=20
police had to resort to firing but it resulted in killing three=20
Muslim youth. It led to unrest among the Muslims and Minority Front=20
and other Muslim organisations gave call for Ranchi Bandh on 30th=20
December. The demonstrators set fire to two police chowkies and also=20
RAF vehicles were heavily damaged. Many Muslims came out on roads=20
after the Friday prayers and indulged in violence. The administration=20
then imposed curfew at 3 P.M. The army also had to do flag march to=20
restore normalcy. Chief Minister of Jharkhand Babulal Mirandi ordered=20
an inquiry into the police firing. The violence, however, continued=20
on 1st January also.

The death of Deputy Superintendent of police who was=20
injured in brick batting and subsequently had ordered firing on the=20
incited mob in which three Muslim youth were killed, died on 1st=20
January 2001 which again gave rise to fresh bout of violence on 1st=20
January 2001 in Ranchi. The death of Mr. Jha was deemed ominous as=20
the police had threatened to paralyse the state police=20
administration. However, nothing untoward happened as the situation=20
was controlled.

Next Kishtwar in Jammu witnessed communal violence on 2nd=20
January after Jama Masjid was gutted apparently by short circuit. The=20
people in the town turned violent after entire Masjid complex=20
including the library and madrasa were reduced to ashes. The mob=20
turned violent after police lathicharge to disperse swelling mob. The=20
mob manhandled the SDM and AP. The office of SDM was set ablaze. The=20
administration had to impose curfew on Kishtwar.

Ahmednagar in Mahararashtra witnessed communal incidents=20
after two dead animals were thrown into a mosque on 5th January. The=20
mob collected on hearing the news and stoned the passing vehicles.=20
The authorities took no chances and deployed 300 Jawans of state=20
reserved police to control the situation. All shops downed their=20
shutters in several localities. The police was alerted in the region.=20
Mr. Gopinath Munde of the BJP alleged that ISI and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba=20
were involved in the incident.

On 6th January communal incidents occurred at a very=20
unlikely pace - Goa where BJP Government was caught unawares. The=20
BJP's one time electoral ally, the Shiv Sena stoked communal fire in=20
the north Goa town of Mapusa in a dispute over a make-shift prayer=20
hall set up for Ramazan. The Muslims accused the Sena of damaging the=20
religious book. The Sena also lodged a Shivaji statue with saffron=20
flags in the area. However, communal tension did not erupt in major=20
violence.

On 29th January Nasik witnessed communal flare up after=20
demolition of a part of the mosque. The violent mob, on hearing of=20
demolition of part of the mosque indulged in stone throwing. Noorani=20
Masjid's ablution house and imam's residence were not the plan=20
approved by the Municipal Corporation and hence were demolished and=20
this led to violet incidents. Fifty persons were injured in stone=20
throwing incidents, which included two police constables and three=20
fire brigade workers. The police authorities took immediate steps and=20
increased police bandobast. Some Muslims from Nasik told a delegation=20
of Raza Academy that we have no quarrel with our Hindu brethren but=20
we have complaint about the police brutalities. Muslims are afraid of=20
coming out of their houses. The police also had to impose curfew when=20
a peace march was stoned on 1st February in Kazipura locality. The=20
curfew had to be re-imposed in riot affected Bhadrakali. Shops,=20
establishments and schools remained closed for the day fearing=20
violence. The police arrested 96 persons. The number of persons=20
injured after these incidents reached 75. The police had fired nine=20
rounds to control the mob.

The police re-arrested many Muslims in the riot affected=20
Bhadrakali area after they were released on bail. These Muslims were=20
re-arrested on 8th February. They were re-arrested on rioting=20
charges. This led to unrest among the Muslims and some lawyers=20
appealed to the judge to direct the police to arrest on all charges=20
at one go.

On March 5 communal violence broke out at Moradabad in=20
U.P. which claimed two lives on the occasion of Iduz Zuha (Bakar Id).=20
A Hindu neighbour opened fire on Muslims performing ritual of animal=20
sacrifice on the occasion of Id in Sambhal town in Moradabad district=20
killing two persons. In the ensuing violence many houses were set=20
ablaze, which sent communal tension soaring up. Eighteen families=20
were rendered home-less as houses were set afire. The police arrested=20
five persons on charges of murder. Those who hit by firing were=20
bystanders and onlookers. Those whose houses were looted and set=20
afire complained that everything including jewellery was destroyed=20
and that the PAC Jawans did not act and remained mute observers.

The burning of the Qur'an on 9th March in Delhi led to=20
widespread communal incidents in various parts of the country. In=20
Aurangabad the police were forced to open fire in air and lob tear=20
gas shells after 13 persons were injured in stone pelting. The mob=20
also tried to set fire to a police van. Similar incidents were also=20
reported from Nander and Parbhani in Marathwada. Hyderabad also=20
witnessed stone throwing from Mecca Masjid in Charminar area at=20
passers by. Four persons were injured including one photo journalist.=20
Mumbai also was tense, some stray incidents took pace

Pune city was also affected by communal violence.=20
Incidents of arson and burning of buses occurred after a group of=20
people that had gathered for namaz at Mecca Masjid in Gani Peth in=20
Pune turned violent Stone throwing began and all shops in the area=20
were closed. Gani Peth and Ghodpade Peth areas were badly affected.=20
More than 78 people had been arrested. The mob looted a bakery and=20
ransacked a medical shop in Gani Peth and Lohiyanagar. The rioters=20
also burnt an autorickshaw and a moped. Number of other localities=20
like Swami Vivekanand Society, PC Staff Colony and Ghafur Takiya were=20
also affected. It should be remembered that Pune is comparatively a=20
peaceful town.

'Holi' usually witnesses many communal incidents. On 10th=20
March 8 persons were killed and 6 others injured in the Shambhu=20
village of Nalanda district, Bihar when two groups clashed with each=20
other. The clashes occurred between the two groups on the question of=20
singing Holi songs. The Police Superintendent Shri Geeteshwar Pande=20
reached the spot and brought situation under control.

Kanpur is a very communally sensitive area. It comes=20
under communal spell repeatedly. In March after the Qur'an burning=20
incident in Delhi SIMI (Student Islamic Movement of India) took out a=20
protest march and put up objectionable posters in the city. The=20
procession was fired upon by the AC killing more than 12 persons, all=20
young Muslim boys. Several shops were set afire in Beconganj. It is=20
reported by the eye-witnesses that the PAC was itself part of looting=20
shops. A religious place and 12 shops were set ablaze. It is said=20
that properties worth several lakhs were damaged. The role of PAC was=20
so notorious that it had to be withdrawn from several Muslim areas=20
for its involvement in violence. An additional District Magistrate=20
(Finance) was also killed. He was killed in very suspicious=20
circumstances. It is alleged by Muslims that the PAC killed him=20
because he refused to order firing on the procession. The police,=20
however, alleged that he was killed by a bullet fired from near the=20
mosque. The issue remains contentious as no hard evidence either way=20
is available. Only a thorough judicial inquiry will reveal the truth.

It is true that the SIMI had a hand in taking out=20
procession in protest against burning of the Qur'an in Delhi and for=20
putting up objectionable posters in the city, the role of PAC was=20
highly communal. The Muslims suffered heavily. According to The Times=20
of India report, dated 28 March, 2001 "Muslims undoubtedly suffered.=20
Be it chemist shop owner Liyaqat Ali of Warsi Market cloth merchants=20
like Atiq Ahmed, Mohd. Arif, Rais Ahmed, Haroon Ahmed or Farhan=20
Ahmed, all testify that their business establishments were looted by=20
PAC Jawans in broad day light. The PAC behaves like the Hindu=20
chauvinist force and on one does anything about it.

The SIMI has over the years spread communal poison among=20
the unemployed Muslim youth. Its posters were also highly=20
provocative. There was no need for such procession and poster=20
campaign. Innocent Muslims had to pay heavy price for the provocation=20
by SIMI. All sensible Muslims condemned the provocative postures of=20
SIMI. The BJP Government of U.P. did not take any action against the=20
PAC Jawans for its indiscriminate firing on the procession and for=20
looting Muslim shops and terrorising them. In all U.P. riots the PAC=20
plays such ant-Muslim role. But riot after riot it is posted the=20
moment riots break out in U.P. After Kanpur riot some prominent=20
Muslims demanded a composite police force to tackle the riots. But it=20
is an old demand. The rioting in Kanpur, looting and murder was so=20
intense that the Times of India headline in its 24th March issue=20
says, "Gutted streets in Kanpur resemble a 'Shamsan' (where dead=20
bodies are cremated).

A joint women's delegation (All India Democratic Women's=20
Association) also squarely blamed the police which abetted Kanpur=20
riots (See Times of India, 24th March, 2001). The BJP's claim that=20
under its rule no communal riots take place is completely exposed by=20
Kanpur and several other riots, which have taken place under the BJP=20
rule. Also, U.P. has witnessed maximum number of riots after=20
independence. According to one report some 7464 riots and communal=20
skirmishes take place in U.P. every year, which amounts to about 622=20
communal incidents per month.

Moharram is another occasion when communal violence=20
breaks out in several places. On 6th April Ajmer which is centre of=20
Sufi saint Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti witnessed curfew after dispute=20
over the route of taziyah in Nasirabad in Ajmer district. Communal=20
violence broke out and army had to be called in. There were incidents=20
of arson, looting and stoning. When the police could not control the=20
situation, curfew was imposed. In Ajmer on hearing that some=20
miscreants have broken the outer boundary of a temple, a burning tyre=20
was thrown onto taziya procession. But the police controlled the=20
situation.

On 16th April Beawar town in Rajasthan came under spell=20
of communal violence. The police had to impose curfew. More than two=20
dozen people were injured during these disturbances. The disturbances=20
broke out, according to the district collector when VHP and BJP=20
procession was stoned and bottles of acid were thrown to it by some=20
miscreants. The situation became explosive after stoning. The=20
procession was taken out to demand arrest of those people who were=20
involved in construction of a religious place in a village nearby.

On 8th April two groups of people Hindus and Muslims=20
clashed with each other during Muharram procession in Kopargaon,=20
Maharashtra and the police had to open fire in the air to disperse=20
violent groups. More than 8 persons were hurt in these clashes. A=20
police inspector was also injured during the clashes.

Ahmad Nagar is another communally sensitive centre in=20
Maharashtra. On 12th April a Ganesh idol was found damaged and=20
disturbances broke out. On learning of this a religious place=20
belonging to Muslims was seriously damaged. The BJP-Shiv Sena workers=20
collected outside the religious place and started doing maha arti.=20
Several places in town came under spell of violence. According to the=20
police about 12 youth were arrested for damaging the Ganesh idol.

Banswada in Rajasthan, though not communally sensitive,=20
also witnessed communal clashes. Rajasthan these days has become a=20
stronghold of communal forces. The VHP is openly distributing=20
trishuls to Hindus and this trishul has a shape of knife which can be=20
used for stabbing. Thousands of such trishuls have already been=20
distributed by the VHP volunteers.

In Banswada communal violence erupted on hearing that=20
three persons were killed in a road accident who belonged to the=20
other community. This was enough to ignite the situation and the=20
police had to impose curfew on 20th May which continued up to 24th=20
May when it was lifted and there were no untoward incidents. Bhilwada=20
in Rajasthan has also become very sensitive.

Next Chamrajnagar in Mysore district in Karnataka erupted=20
with communal violence after murder of a youth belonging to minority=20
community on 2nd June. Arson and looting began on a large scale. The=20
situation became so serious that the police had to impose curfew.=20
Twelve persons were taken in custody for inquiries.

Lucknow too has found its place now on the map of=20
communal violence during BJP regime. Earlier it was mainly known for=20
its Shia-Sunni clashes. On 5th June trouble erupted near Tilewali=20
Masjid when the police constable accosted a Muslim girl and asked her=20
to accompany him to police station. This led to unrest among the=20
Muslims who had gathered to witness illumination on the occasion of=20
Shab-e-Barat festival. Muslims protested and violence began. The=20
Muslim youth alleged that the constable was misbehaving with the girl=20
whereas the constable maintained that the girl was making obscene=20
gestures.

Many people came out of the mosque and began pelting=20
stones and burnt down the police Chowkie. Some policemen were=20
thrashed. The police opened fire and one young boy Naeem was hit and=20
died on the spot. The police could not control the situation, as=20
there was no adequate force. Most of the police were posted in=20
another locality where madh-esahabah (Sunni Muslim) procession was=20
being taken out. The mob therefore became very aggressive and=20
inflicted lot of damage on properties. Number of autorickshaws were=20
burnt down. Another person who was also hit by the police bullet died=20
next day in the hospital and number of those died rose to two in=20
Lucknow disturbances.

On 5th June night Jamner in Jalgaon district in=20
Maharashtra became hub of communal violence after an incident of eve=20
teasing in Anand Mela in that town. This was only a triggering event.=20
Many communalists taking advantage of this came out with swords in=20
hands and began looting and burning properties. In all 17 properties=20
were gutted fourteen of which belonged to the Muslims and three to=20
Hindus. In this town the MLA and sarpanch both belong to the BJP. The=20
Muslims of Jamner maintained that it was not really a riot between=20
Hindus and Muslims but an attempt by the communalists to terrify=20
Muslims of the town. The population of Muslims in this town of 65=20
thousand is thirty thousand. It is quite substantial population.=20
Unfortunately those responsible for looting and arson fled the town=20
and had not been arrested even many days after the incidents.

Another town in Maharashtra, Sangamner experienced=20
communal violence. It seems this year Maharashtra saw many communal=20
incidents, more than forty and the opposition members attacked the=20
government for this in the assembly. Sangamner witnessed communal=20
violence on account of the film Ghadar. This film became quite=20
controversial and some Muslims felt that it should be banned. The two=20
groups of people of Sangamner clashed and one person died. In fact it=20
was not film Ghadar which was being shown but another film Lagan=20
during which trailor of the film Ghadar was shown leading to these=20
clashes. This happened on 9th July. After coming out of the theatre=20
the two groups clashed and indulged in stone pelting injuring many=20
people. Irfan Tamboli was seriously injured and died two days later.=20
The Government posted CRPF Company in the area to control the=20
situation.

On 23rd July a gang of miscreants attacked houses of=20
minority community in Saraswa Gor village in Moradabad district in=20
U.P. and killed 6 persons including a two year old girl Shabina. No=20
one was arrested and the whole incident is shrouded in mystery. The=20
Police said the motive could be robbery. This mayhem continued for=20
two and half hours in the village and people were done to death by=20
iron rods. Because of this beating one Anwar Khan, his wife and=20
two-year-old daughter died on the spot.

A deputation of Jamiat-ul-Ulama visited the village and=20
refuted the police theory that the motive could be robbery on the=20
grounds that those killed were very poor and hardly anything in their=20
house worth robbing. It clearly seems to be a communal incident to=20
terrify Muslims. , Maulana Asad Madnai also demanded that the=20
concerned policemen of the Thana should be suspended for neglect of=20
duty. The opposition members also raised the matter in Parliament and=20
demanded thorough inquiry. The parliament session was disrupted.

Muzaffarnagar in U.P. witnessed tension, looting and=20
arson on 5th August when some highly objectionable pamphlets were=20
thrown on a Mosque. This led to clashes between Hindus and Muslims=20
and many people were injured. The Police had to impose curfew in the=20
town in view of the seriousness of the situation. In Meenakshi Chowk=20
when members of two communities came face to face the police had to=20
fire in the air. Stoning continued for some time and properties were=20
set to fire. The matter was so serious that it led to disturbances in=20
Parliament during question hour next day when the members of=20
Samajwadi Party raised the matter in Parliament.

Karjagwant in Malegaon district in Maharashtra on 7th August,=20
Raebareli in U.P. on 3rd August, in Mumbra near Mumbai on 28th August=20
there were communal incidents in which there were instances of=20
stoning and minor violence leading to curfew to avert major incidents.

On 12th August in Amravati, near Nagpur in Maharashtra=20
the Shiv Seniks attacked some Muslims who were taking oxen for=20
slaughter leading to clashes in which two persons were killed and 30=20
persons were wounded seriously. The police arrested 70 persons in=20
this connection. The Bajrang Dal activists were keeping watch near=20
the slaughter-house and preventing the Muslim butchers from taking=20
their animals for slaughter, often attacking them. Because of this,=20
tension was prevailing in the town between Shiv Sainiks, Bajrang Dal=20
people and Muslim butchers which led to eruption of violence on 12th=20
August resulting in two deaths and injuries to several persons.

Ahmedabad witnessed communal incidents on 24 and 25th=20
August. Hawkers belonging to minority community were beaten up in=20
Maninagar area. And since the police took no action a bandh call was=20
given by a minority organisation which resulted in forcible closure=20
of shops and stone throwing in which 10 people were injured including=20
4 policemen. Stone throwing incidents took place in Mirzapur,=20
Kalupur, Garden Chowk and Panchkui areas. Then on 25th August=20
violence broke out in Daryapur area of Ahmedabad and the police had=20
to impose indefinite curfew. The police also opened fire in which one=20
person was killed. The police fired six rounds. The police arrested 4=20
Bajrang Dal people for inciting violence in Ahmedabad after one more=20
Muslim succumbed to injuries thus pushing death toll to two.

There were communal skirmishes in Bhadgaon in Jalgaon=20
district in Mahrashtra on 5th September when Hanuman idol was found=20
polluted with excreta. This desecration of Idol was discovered at 4=20
P.M. and it spread like wildfire in the town leading to soaring up of=20
communal tension. A mob began attacking and looting nearby shops and=20
a religious place was desecrated. Some kerosene tankers were also=20
upturned. The police had a tough time controlling the situation.

On 26th October Malegaon in Maharashtra witnessing major=20
communal rioting in which 13 persons were killed, several injured and=20
properties worth more than 15 crores damaged. A Muslim youth=20
distributing pamphlets outside a mosque calling for boycott of=20
American goods was arrested and taken to waiting police van. This=20
angered Muslims coming out of the mosque after Friday prayers and=20
then disturbances began. The mobs from both sides began attacking,=20
looting and setting fire to properties. The police opened fire=20
resulting in death of three persons on spot. Two persons were killed=20
in stabbing and more succumbed to their injuries later.

The disturbances spread to many villages nearby and=20
members of Shiv Sena attacked Muslims in these villages where they=20
were in small minority. Their properties were looted or destroyed.=20
The riots went on for about a week in these villages. Curfew had to=20
be imposed in Malegaon town for several days and was lifted=20
gradually. Kanpur riot of March and Malegaon riot of October-November=20
were two very major riots in the year 2001 and both these riots shook=20
the country.

Though these riots taking place in Post-Babri demolition=20
period are not as horrendous as those taking place in Eighties, they=20
are still a shame for the secular India. In eighties of twentieth=20
century the average number of deaths used to be more than 250 to 300=20
in these riots, after demolition of Babri Masjid average death has=20
been around 25-30. But this provides hardly any relief. One should=20
see that no riots take place. The West Bengal CPM Government has=20
succeeded in maintaining communal peace. It should become a role=20
model for other states as well. For almost all riots politicians are=20
responsible. It is only in people-oriented politics that riots can be=20
eliminated, not in power-oriented politics.

(Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai:- 400 055. India)

_____

#4.
DAWN
25 December 2001

SDM for revival of democracy
Bureau Report

HYDERABAD, Dec 24: The central president, Social Democratic Movement=20
(SDM), Qaiser Bangali, said that no other system except democratic=20
system could succeed in Pakistan , and added that any attempt to=20
introduce any other system would harm the interests of the country.=20
He was speaking at a gathering at the Hyderabad press club on Sunday.
Answering a question about the definition of 'nation', Mr Bangali=20
said it continued to change with the passage of time. He said that he=20
was against the allotment of land in Sindh to outsiders.
He pointed out that only one province in Pakistan had more than 50=20
per cent population, and added that the decision in the house should=20
not be taken on the basis of population but on the basis of=20
provinces. He said that both Nawaz Sharif and Ms Benazir Bhutto took=20
decisions outside the parliament to protect their own vested=20
interests.
He said the failure of the two leaders should not be construed as the=20
failure of the democratic system. Severely criticizing the law=20
enforcement agencies, he said their corruption had no parallel=20
anywhere, and added that keeping in view the corruption of the law=20
enforcement agencies, "Mr Zardari appeared to be an angel."
CPP: The secretary-general of Communist Party of Pakistan, Comrade=20
Maula Bux Khaskheli, and a central party leader, Comrade Imdad Kazi,=20
have said that the extremist religious forces in India were creating=20
war hysteria against Pakistan and added that this will prove very=20
dangerous for both the countries and the people.
In a joint statement issued here on Monday, the CPP leaders expressed=20
grave concern over the prevailing situation and said that if the=20
people friendly forces were to rise against the fundamentalists, they=20
could foil the designs of the extremist elements.
They said that the Kashmir issue could be resolved through dialogue=20
by restoring peace in Kashmir. They, however, said that the Kashmir=20
issue had become a profitable business for the Jihadis and the people=20
of both the countries had fallen prey to the fundamentalists.
They appealed to the democratic, progressive and peace loving forces=20
of both the countries to perform their due role in stopping the=20
confrontation.
They said that the people must be informed about the war hysteria,=20
which was being created by the BJP, Shiv Sena and RSS in India and=20
the religious extremist forces in Pakistan.
They warned that if the war hysteria was not stopped, the destruction=20
in the region will be far greater than the second world war.

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