[sacw] SACW #1 | 1 June 02 [India Pakistan Standoff + Sri Lanka]

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire Dispatch #1 | 1 June 2002
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex

All are Invited to visit the Updated web pages of South Asians Against Nuke=
s:
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/NoNukes.html
__________________________

#1. Avert A War, And Worse, in South Asia: J.Sri Raman, Achin Vanaik and ot=
hers
for Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace [India]
#2. Ground for joint India-Pakistan action against terrorism (M. B. Naqvi)
#3. Ground zero hour for India-Pakistan (Editorial Times of India)
#4. Invoke Hague Art 8 To Prevent Nuclear War Over Kashmir! (Francis A. Boy=
le)
#5. BJP and its constituency enmeshed in the politics of violence=20
(Neera Chandhoke )
#6. We need this passion, but for another battle
Let this cry for war be a cry for a war against poverty (N. P. Setlur )
#6.1 Letter to the Editor, Indian Express (Raja Swamy)
#7. Upcoming Protest & Human Chain Against War and Communalism=20
(london, UK | 8 June 2002)
#8. Sri Lanka: Parents of Families of Soldiers Missing in Action and=20
the Association of War-Affected Women Speak Up

__________________________

#1.

Date: Fri, 31 May 2002 10:12:11 +0500

From: ACHIN VANAIK=20=20

AVERT A WAR, AND WORSE, IN SOUTH ASIA: CNDP

The Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace
(India) calls attention once again to the urgent and
imperative need for all concerned to act in order to
avert a full-scale India-Pakistan war and a nuclear
holocaust in South Asia.

On behalf of the peace-loving people of India, the
CNDP calls upon the government of the country to end
war preparations and rhetoric and expedite a return to
normalcy in relations with Pakistan. In concert and
cooperation with the peace movement of Pakistan, the
CNDP also calls upon the government of that country to
reverse its course of reckless provocation and pave
the way for a speedy return to normalcy.

We deplore the unprecedented aggravation of tensions
by India=EDs massing of nearly a million troops on the
borders and deployment of missiles that represent a
potential nuclear menace. The Prime Minister of India
did not promote the prospects of peace when he told
Indian soldiers on the Kashmir border of the need for
'a decisive war'. The government of Pakistan has not
reassured the people of the region by retaliating with
a massing of troops on the borders and deployment of
missiles, and refusing to rule out a nuclear strike in
the country=EDs defence. The President of Pakistan has
not acted to allay the tensions, either, by presiding
over a threateningly timed test-firing of the Ghauri
and Ghaznavi missiles.

The Indian Prime Minister's subsequent assurance that
the war clouds have disappeared is, of course,
welcome. More is expected of him and his government,
however, than the prediction that there will be no
strike of 'lightning' to belie the promise of 'clear
skies'. The President of Pakistan has not stilled the
fears of the people of the region with his
government=EDs declaration that the Ghauri and Ghaznavi
testing had nothing to do with the current war
preparations. More is expected of him, too, than
statements (as in his latest address to the nation on
May 27) of opposition to terrorism long harboured in
Pakistan.

We are amazed and outraged at the unrestrained and
utterly irresponsible nuke-rattling underway for days
now. The fact that even a 'limited' nuclear war can
cause the loss of three million lives in the two
countries, and that the situation is actually fraught
with greater and graver dangers, has apparently made
no difference to the war-mongers on both sides.
Complacency on this score is criminally unwarranted.
The CNDP calls upon both governments to renounce,
first and forthwith, the option of nuclear war in
clear and credible terms.

We reiterate our demand for an immediate pull-back by
both sides from the borders and a return of their
missiles to their peacetime sites. Nothing less can
convince the people that the danger has passed. This
should be followed up by other normalisation measures
including the resumption of people-to-people contacts
as well as transport and trade between the two
neighbouring countries.=20=20

The CNDP reiterates, too, its strong opposition to all
forms of terrorism in all places including Jammu and
Kashmir. This is a reiteration also of its conviction
that the problem of terrorism, with its cross-border
component, cannot be solved by an India-Pakistan war
but must be tackled through peaceful, political means.

We note the international pressure being exerted upon
New Delhi and Islamabad in order to avert a war. We
gratefully acknowledge, in particular, the role being
played by the global peace movement. The CNDP calls
upon the governments of India and Pakistan to
recognise and respect the weight of the world public
opinion in this regard and to act accordingly.

J.Sri Raman, Achin Vanaik and others
Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace [India]

_____

#2.

Ground for joint India-Pakistan action against terrorism, Kashmir=20
especially included

M. B. Naqvi

Karachi May 31

The world is still essaying to figure out what did General Pervez
Musharraf say in his May 27 televised address. The difficulty arises only
when people go merely by the wording he has used, his tone and the body
language that went with the words. His message has to be deciphered in
terms of indicated of action as well as the pressures impinging on him from
various quarters.

The outside pressures are of course clear. They pertain to separate
facets of Pakistani policy, though there is linkage between these. One
deals with the still continued mopping up operations in Afghanistan as also
inside Pakistan where fugitive Taliban and al Qaeda people are said to have
infiltrated. The reports the Americans receive from the media and by the
spooks say that these elements are hiding in the Federally Administered
Tribal Areas of NWFP and are said to be now engaged in regrouping with a
view to organising operations against the International Coalition that has
defeated them. Pakistan has been under intense American pressure to permit
them a more or less free hand to use their Special Forces and its CIA and
FBI in pursuing and nabbing them.

Earlier reports said that Pakistan was hesitant to allow them this freedom
to operate on their own account. An adverse local reaction was feared.
That pressure seems to have abated somewhat. It does seem as if the
Americans saw the danger and have arrived at some kind of a compromise
formula, though it may be under fresh threat from the reported Pakistani
intention of withdrawing some of its army from NWFP's FATA so as to deploy
it on the borders with India and on the LoC. It would seem as if the
American interests in dissipating India Pakistan tension have been
reinforced by the need of joint Pakistan-American operations inside
Pakistan.

At present an unending line of high level envoys is visiting Islamabad and
New Delhi and all of them demand restraint from both Pakistan and India.
It was likely to be climaxed with the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State
Richard Amitage. Now the Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has also decided
to use his personal clout with these two recalcitrant nuclear powers.
Meantime US Secretary of State Colin Powell has been bombarding New Delhi
and Islamabad with phone calls. Even the US President got into the act and
said twice in two days that Pakistan should do more. This is the refrain of
almost all envoys for whom the focal point for 'doing more' is Islamabad.

Chances of Pakistan saying no to the international chorus for=20
'doing more'
to stop "cross border terrorism" are slim, despite brave words. The fierce
warlike rhetoric, according to most international observers, has been a
cover for a political retreat on the vital question of Kashmiri Jihad. The
kind of assurances that Pakistan has been giving to major donor countries
would show that the Musharraf'reiteration of Jan 12, speech was not
proforma. Moreover, he had to mean it. Or else the rest of the world would
make his life miserable and soon. He has to employ verbal furies to impress
domestic audience with his steadfast and patriotic stand. A military regime
cannot but believe in the politics of God and country. But when it comes to
the details of what has to be done, even the military cannot be unmindful
of the facts of life. And these are clear and are forcing Pakistan to
extend the logic of its post 9/11 decision to Kashmir also.

The litmus test of this would be if the Indians do launch a military
operation of some kind, no matter howsoever limited or unlimited. Most
international observers however do not expect such an Indian action both
because the dynamics of military action now would involve an all-out war,
which probably might be nuclear also. But they also see no reason why
Pakistan would necessarily wish to convert a limited action into a nuclear
exchange. After all the two sides are supposed to have already deployed
tactical nuclear weapons even inside their respective areas of Kashmir.

The stories that are coming out of Islamabad speak of=20
Pakistan being as
much a target of terrorism and by approximately by the same set of people
--- the elements of Jaish-i- Mohammad and Lashkar-i-Taiba who seem to have
reorganised themselves into the Alami Hizbollah --- as is India. The many
terrorist attacks in Pakistan, the latest being on the French personnel in
Karachi earlier in May, is said to be by this new Hizb. Its aim is claimed
to be the overthrow of Musharraf regime. But it is not restricted to just
this. Its terrorist attacks on Indian targets are meant to incite a war
between the two countries. It has been claimed that their minds somehow do
not flinch from the thought of a nuclear winter descending on many parts of
India and Pakistan.

It would seem that Islamabad has found a new ground for joint
India-Pakistan action against terrorism, Kashmir especially included.
Probably more is likely to be heard of this idea in future.

Meantime, President Musharraf is also vigorously playing the domestic
political game. He is taking full mileage out of the warlike rhetoric
emanating from India, with appeals to the opposition to eschew its politics
and to line up behind him for the sake of patriotism. This is standard
conservative politics in situations like this. President's actions at home
are telltale .

He is softening his own position toward the main opposition parties:
PML(N) and PPP of Benazir Bhutto. It is however true that he still cannot
abide by the persons of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. These two are
still being kept out. But minus these two, both parties are being actively
courted. But more interestingly he is wooing even more assiduously another
alliance of religious parties called MMA ( Muttahida Majalis-i-Amal). It
comprises the same gentry that was supporting Taliban regime and was
opposed to Musharraf's U-turn on Afghanistan. He has just made a gestures
to them, which has significance of its own.

There used to be a certain declaration in the voter registration form.
That declaration said that I am a Muslim and I believe that Prophet
Mohammad was the last Prophet. This was made obligatory because Qadianis
had been declared a non-Muslim religious minority, quite separate from
Muslims. The finality of the prophet was meant to exclude Ahmadis or
Qadianis.

The whole of the declaration had however become redundant after the new
decision of the military government in favour of joint electorates for the
coming elections. If all religious communities, including Qadianis, were
to vote for a common candidate, what was the need for this declaration.
The decision about joint electorates, so far, stands, making the idea of
re-inserting this declaration pointless and foolish. But it has been done
on the insistence of the religious lobby and MMA comprises just this lobby.

The regime had tom tommed its liberal character by opting for joint
electorates. The question is if this trend holds and steady change in the
Musharraf's thinking continues, would joint voters' lists survive? This
trend represents his retreat from the earlier Kamalism in the name of
moderate and modern Islamic state. This would be a more accurate measure of
judging where Musharraf may end up taking Pakistan. But then the idea of
joint fight with India against terrorism will have withered on the vine.

_____

#3

The Times of India, May 31, 2002
EDITORIAL:

Ground zero hour for India-Pakistan
Even at the height of the long and bitter cold war, the N-threat was=20
rarely, if ever, made public. By an implicit consensus, all nuclear=20
speculation was kept outside the public domain, lest it should cause=20
alarm or grant the use of the N-option a semblance of plausibility.=20
Such questions were therefore confined to the anonymous safety of=20
classified dossiers and MAD doctrines. But ignorance, as we all know,=20
is bliss.
Particularly ignorance of the N-kind. This is perhaps the only=20
'rational' explanation for the irrationality that has currently=20
gripped subcontinental leaders and security experts on the question=20
of a nuclear confrontation. Scarcely a day has passed in the last few=20
weeks when the phrase - call it first strike, exchange or engagement=20
- has not been casually invoked as if it was an option like any other=20
in the event of a war.
Admittedly, discretion has often been a rather insubstantial part of=20
political valour in the subcontinent, but blithe N-pronouncements are=20
irresponsible in the extreme. As an accompanying piece on this page=20
makes only too clear, the horrors of a nuclear conflagration are too=20
frightful to even humanly imagine, much less rationally comprehend=20
and, then, learn to live with. Yet this is precisely what our leaders=20
and experts have set out to achieve.
Many have gone out of their way to rubbish as motivated and alarmist=20
the 'scare' stories that have emanated from western academic and=20
military institutions about the human consequences of a nuclear=20
strike. Unfortunately, by focusing on the 'quantitative' dimensions=20
of the holocaust - anywhere between four million and 12 million=20
fatalities - these have failed to bring home the true magnitude of=20
human suffering. But then again this is perhaps an unfair criticism.=20
As N-capable nations, it is not the white man's burden but our own to=20
know what the use of these weapons entails. Equally, if we on the=20
subcontinent are not sufficiently overwhelmed by such doomsday=20
scenarios, then that says something about us and our civilisation or=20
what has become of it.
It reflects the extent to which the two neighbours have demonised the=20
other, that it is possible to even contemplate inflicting such=20
enormous pain and suffering on the other, even at the certain risk of=20
facing an identical fate. Unless we realise that while being two=20
separate nations, both India and Pakistan share a common humanity=20
and, beyond that, a common history and civilisation, the Damocles'=20
sword of N-annihilation will hang over us indefinitely. It is a=20
psychological truism that our most hated enemies are those in whom we=20
recognise something of ourselves.

_____

#4.

Invoke Hague Art 8 To Prevent Nuclear War Over Kashmir!

Both India and Pakistan are parties to the 1899 Hague Convention for=20
the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes. The United States=20
is also a party to this 1899 Convention. Article 8 is the brainchild=20
of the United States of America. It establishes a procedure for=20
special mediation modeled on the choice of seconds by individuals=20
about to engage in a private duel. The states at variance would each=20
choose a power to which they would respectively entrust the mission=20
of entering into direct communication with the power chosen by the=20
other side for the purpose of preventing the rupture of pacific=20
relations. For the period of this mandate, which could not exceed=20
thirty days unless otherwise agreed, the states in conflict would=20
cease all direct communication on the subject of the dispute, leaving=20
it exclusively to the mediating powers. In case of a definite rupture=20
of pacific relations, the mediating powers were charged with the=20
joint task of taking advantage of any opportunity for peace.

This threatened nuclear war between India and Pakistan directly=20
affects the vital national security interests of the United States:=20
This nuclear fallout will poison America and its People. So the U.S.=20
government joined by others must formally and publicly invoke Hague=20
Article 8 against both India and Pakistan, and demand the required=20
30-day cooling-off period so that this special mediation procedure=20
can take place.

The U.S. government joined by others must also invoke the requirement=20
of Article 33(1) of the United Nations Charter providing that the two=20
parties to the dispute over Kashmir "shall first of all, seek a=20
solution by negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation,=20
arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or=20
arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice." U.N.=20
Charter Article 33 expressly by name requires the pursuit of the=20
"mediation" procedure set forth in Hague Article 8, including the=20
mandatory 30-day cooling off period. Time is of the essence when it=20
comes to invoking Hague Article 8!

Francis A. Boyle
Law Building
504 E. Pennsylvania Ave.
Champaign, IL 61820 USA
217-333-7954(voice)
217-244-1478(fax)

_____

#5.

The Hindu (Chennai), Saturday, Jun 01, 2002

Politics as violence
By Neera Chandhoke

Instead of moving in the direction of governance and management of=20
tensions, the BJP and its constituency are still enmeshed in the=20
politics of violence.

THAT THE leaders of the Sangh Parivar are itching to go to war with=20
Pakistan is, by now, more than evident. Fired by dreams of=20
destruction, they will not rest till they have involved the country=20
in a ruinous war, till thousands of young men have been massacred,=20
till Indian society has been completely de-sensitised to normative=20
concerns - such as respect for the lives of ordinary human beings -=20
and till this society is `unified' by the semantics of national=20
chauvinism and the politics of hate and attrition. [...].
{http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2002060100921000.htm}

_____

#6.

http://www.indian-express.com/full_story.php?content_id=3D3564
Indian Express
May 31, 2002

We need this passion, but for another battle
Let this cry for war be a cry for a war against poverty

B. N. P. Setlur=20=20=20=20

As a non-resident Indian, when I hear this talk about India and
Pakistan going to war, I cannot but think of the shambling state of
the economies of both countries. Yet the cry for war between India
and Pakistan is mounting by the day.

At one point of time, Europe was considered the theatre of war for
the world. Both the world wars were waged on its soil. Now the action
seems to have shifted to South Asia and the Middle East. It is these
two regions that have become the experimental ground for testing
every manner of military hardware, the market place for peddling
every kind of weapons system, both nuclear and conventional.

But let us remember that the West, more particularly USA, has fought
and won the most important war of all =97 the war against poverty. Both
India and Pakistan are still to win that war. We have yet to achieve
the common goal of uplifting Daridra Narayan.

In war, men behave like brutes or beasts. Douglas MacArthur, who had
experienced war at close quarters than most men, in an address to the
US Congress in 1951, stated, ``I know war as few other men now living
know it, and nothing to me is more revolting. I have long advocated
its complete abolition, as its very destructiveness on both sides,
friend and foe, has rendered it useless as a method of settling
internal disputes.''

As I have seen, the wars we =97 Indian and Pakistan =97 as neighbors have
fought over the last 50 years have only made us more impoverished.
Terrorists and terrorism are mainly due to dissatisfied, misguided
youth, who are being led astray by political and religious fanatics.

But we shouldn't allow them to destroy our lives. The common effort
of the developing world, more particularly of Pakistan, China and
India, is to win this battle against poverty. If we achieve success
in this, we could potentially be much stronger than the West. Today,
much of our resources are being spent on maintaining the armed
forces.

Even now there is time to think aloud and come up with common
solutions to our common problems. But for this our leaders will have
to demonstrate a statesman-like vision =97 a commodity that is
extremely rare in these parts.

o o o

#6.1

[ Letter to the Editor, Indian Express]

Dear Editor,

Kudos to N.P. Setlur for an impassioned appeal for sanity in the face
of the incessant warmongering rhetoric. Poverty, that dreaded
terrorist, has stalked the subcontinent without respite for too
long. Not surprisingly, the same BJP government which imposes an IMF
inspired budget, favoring the rich and further impoverishing the poor
working people of India, is going out of its way to march to war.=20
The consequences of such a war, cataclysmic as they could be, will
only make the possibility of a livable life impossible for the
billion and a quarter human beings in the subcontinent.

As Bhagat Singh once said, "it takes a loud noise to make the deaf
hear," perhaps Indians and Pakistanis ought to be screaming for
accountability at their governments instead of repeating tired though
dangerous rhetoric of "decisive war," and "nuclear detterance."

Sincerely,

Raja Swamy
Middletown, CT

_____

#7.

NO TO WAR IN SOUTH ASIA!
STOP BRITISH ARMS SALES TO INDIA AND PAKISTAN!
VAJPAYEE AND MUSHARRAF MUST NEGOTIATE!

Mass Protest outside Downing Street
and
Human Chain Against War and Communalism

Saturday 8 June
11.30am to 2.00pm

The governments of India and Pakistan are once again on the brink of=20
war. While ordinary people in these countries face dire poverty,=20
communal attacks on the basis of religion, gender and caste=20
oppression, those in power seek to maintain this status quo and=20
bolster their legitimacy with claims to protect national honour. And=20
this is to be achieved by resorting to war, by further blighting the=20
lives of innocent civilians, by further diverting precious resources=20
away from their needs. In 2001 the combined military expenditure of=20
India and Pakistan was 18 billion dollars. Yet over 40% of their=20
populations - 450 million - live below the poverty line

The escalation of tension this time is all the more terrifying=20
because of the threat of nuclear war. Already the analysis has moved=20
to counting the number of warheads each side possesses to indicate=20
the likely winner, bypassing any discussion of the millions who=20
potentially face death.
Furthermore, the current situation opens up the region to being drawn=20
deeper into America's so-called 'war on terrorism', thus further=20
endangering national sovereignty in South Asia.
Only sincere and meaningful and independent negotiations between all=20
parties involved can ever bring peace to the region. If these are to=20
succeed, the people of Kashmir must have a central role within this=20
dialogue process, which will determine their future.

Meanwhile, the British government is cynically fuelling this=20
potentially catastrophic conflict by continuing arms sales to India=20
and Pakistan. The government has been pressing India to buy 66 Hawk=20
jets for 1 million pounds and Britain already provides parts for the=20
Jaguar bomber which could be adapted for nuclear weapons. Jack=20
Straw's recent statement justifying his government's policy on the=20
basis of 'British commercial interests' yet again makes a mockery of=20
the idea of an 'ethical foreign policy'.

we demand that the governments of India and Pakistan:

Undertake and relentlessly pursue meaningful negotiations to resolve=20
the issue of Kashmir with the Kashmiri people
End the nuclear arms race in South Asia

And that the British government:
Imposes an immediate blanket ban on arms sales to India and Pakistan

STAND TOGETHER AGAINST WAR AND COMMUNALISM IN SOUTH ASIA!

Asha Lambeth
Asian Women Unite!
Dostiyo Asian Women's Organsiation, Northampton
Hackney Asian Women's Aid
Imkaan
Newham Asian Women's Project
Peace and Human Rights Trust
Punjab Human Rights Internet
South Asia Solidarity Group
Tower Hamlets Asian Women's Aid

Details: South Asia Solidarity Group, tel. 020 7267 0923

_____

#8.

Asia Times
June 1, 2002

Elite Colombo mothers get an earful
By Feizal Samath

KANDY, Sri Lanka - Visakha Dharmadasa dreads the knock on the door or=20
the midnight telephone call. "Families like us shudder when a=20
policeman comes to our doorstep or when there is a call at night. We=20
fear it is about our sons. It is absolute trauma."
Like thousands of Sri Lankan mothers, Dharmadasa has two sons in the=20
army battling Tamil separatist rebels in the northern part of the=20
country. And like thousands of mothers, her younger son has been=20
missing in action since September 28, 1998.
But the diminutive woman has a bigger job than most of those=20
affected: she leads a campaign on behalf of some 2,000 women whose=20
sons are missing in action. "Whenever I meet the rebels to negotiate=20
their release, I don't talk about my son. I talk about the larger=20
group that is missing and plead for their release," Dharmadasa said=20
at her home in this central hill town.
A ceasefire between government troops and Tamil rebels since last=20
December has brought immense relief to the families of soldiers in=20
the frontlines in the war-torn northern and eastern regions of Sri=20
Lanka. Rural homes, where most of the soldiers come from, are no=20
longer greeted with the sight of soldiers coming home in body bags=20
after being killed in combat.
"There is a sense of relief all around in rural homes, and in mine=20
for that matter. The legs of women shake in fright and uncertainty=20
whenever a policeman comes knocking at the door. Often it is to=20
inform the family that a father or son has been killed in the war,"=20
she said. "The worry and uncertainty is over, at least for the time=20
being. There is relief also on the LTTE [Liberation Tigers of=20
Tamileelam] side. There is relief among civilians in conflict areas=20
that they need not run away from army attacks, etc."
Dharmadasa described how a Tamil mother told her that she was forced=20
to leave her dying child when a village came under attack from=20
government troops. "This incident shattered me and made me feel that=20
this was probably worse than having a son missing in action."
Dharmadasa is chairperson of two groups - Parents of Families of=20
Soldiers Missing in Action and the Association of War-Affected Women=20
- and is campaigning for much more than the concerns of soldiers and=20
their families. She is also an activist for peace. "She has a do-able=20
personality and takes bold initiatives. She is an initiator and=20
bridge-builder," notes Jehan Perera, a well-known peace promoter and=20
media director at the privately funded National Peace Council.=20
Dharmadasa says that while there is a lot of talk of peace at the=20
grass-roots level and support for the Norwegian-led peace process,=20
there is no backing from the corridors of power in the capital of=20
Colombo. "The women in Colombo are more interested about cookery=20
demonstrations or fashion shows. They are not bothered about peace=20
because their sons or daughters don't fight in the war." Dharmadasa's=20
group has been interacting with civic clubs "trying to persuade the=20
ladies to join us in the quest for peace".
"I say, if you want to fight, send your children," she said, adding=20
that she has been pushing for compulsory conscription to the armed=20
forces for all able young persons as a way of ending the conflict.=20
"If people are forced into war, they would put pressure on=20
governments to stop it."
On November 11, 1999, Dharmadasa's association organized a=20
candlelight vigil at her ancestral village of Dantur, about 12=20
kilometers from Kandy, to mark war heroes day. It was also the=20
birthday of her missing soldier-son. Temple bells pealed in a message=20
meant to "remind people that there is a war on", she said. Her group=20
has since organized similar events highlighting the plight of missing=20
soldiers, families of the victims and the futility of the war.
Some 64,000 people have died in the conflict since 1983 when Tamil=20
rebels stepped up their bloody campaign - after widespread attacks on=20
the minority Tamil community by majority Sinhalese hooligans - for a=20
separate homeland for the Tamils in the north and the east where most=20
of them now live.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe's United National Party (UNP)-led=20
coalition has since winning parliamentary polls last December=20
initiated a new peace process, triggering fresh hopes of a peaceful=20
end to the conflict. The government is preparing for talks with the=20
rebels aimed at a negotiated settlement of the conflict in late June=20
in Thailand.
Dharmadasa is very emotional about the war and angry and frustrated=20
over the fact that just a few people, mostly from the rural areas,=20
are fighting it. "It is not fair. If people want war, they must get=20
involved ... not shout from the comfort of living rooms. A few people=20
are fighting for the country on behalf of the others."
Last week she was among civil society groups that met Norwegian=20
Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen, who is handling the peace=20
process, in Colombo. The Norwegians wanted to ascertain the views of=20
civil society on current peace initiatives.
Quoting government statistics, Dharmadasa says there are 4,000 MIAs=20
(soldiers missing in action), but she believes, like many others,=20
that most of them are dead. Tamil rebels have said they have only=20
seven soldiers in their custody. However, she still believes her son=20
is alive and in rebel custody and resorts to ways to remind herself=20
constantly that he is among the living. "Whenever we eat chocolates,=20
we keep my son's share in a plastic container. It reminds us about=20
him. This happens in every home of missing soldiers," she said.
The association's biggest mission is to make it compulsory for=20
soldiers to wear an identification disc that the bearer and the enemy=20
would respect. Identification discs are provided by the army but many=20
soldiers don't put them on. "It is essential to wear it and enable=20
proper identification in case of death. If you see a dead body and a=20
disc, take it and hand it over to the authorities so they know the=20
identity of the missing person. We need to know ... so that we know=20
they are dead," she said.
(Inter Press Service)