[sacw] SACW #1 | 26 July 02

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire #1 | 26 July 2002

>From South Asia Citizens Web:
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex

__________________________

#1. Pakistan: Is Terror Worse Than Oppression? (Ahmed Rashid)
#2. India: From the heart of darkness (Mukul Mangalik)
#3. India: "Summary of the findings", [in] State of Ruins - A report=20
on present conditions of the victims" (Gauhar Raza & Shabnam Hashmi)
#4. Indians in the US to demonstrate against Sadhvi Ritambra of the=20
RSS at the Ganesh Temple in Flushing, New York
#5. Canada: Press and Public Release Vancouver Forum on Gujarat Genocide
#6. India: 'Stop The Hatred' Campaign launched...240 cinema halls,=20
all television channels, and many radio stations

__________________________

#1.

Far Eastern Economic Review (August 01, 2002)

PAKISTAN
Is Terror Worse Than Oppression?
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has profited from the American=20
view that the world's greatest threat today is terrorism. But within=20
his country there is growing anger that U.S. support is allowing his=20
military regime to delay the promise of democracy

By Ahmed Rashid / LAHORE

FROM THE MOMENT last September that President Pervez Musharraf=20
declared that his country would no longer support the Taliban, the=20
world has wondered if Pakistan's own Islamic extremists would somehow=20
rise and topple him. That threat echoed again on July 15, as=20
extremist groups threatened to assassinate government leaders over=20
the conviction and death sentence of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh for the=20
murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl.

After a Hyderabad court sentenced him to death and three accomplices=20
to life imprisonment, Saeed issued a direct threat to Musharraf=20
through his lawyer: "I will see whether who wants to kill me will=20
first kill me or get himself killed."

Police officials believe Saeed's supporters have even created a new=20
terrorist group named after him--Lashkar-e-Omar, or the Army of=20
Omar--with links to the Al Qaeda terrorist network and recruits from=20
at least three Pakistani groups who have fought in Afghanistan and=20
Kashmir.

Saeed's lawyers have appealed against the judgment, ensuring that=20
tension over the case could go on for months. Security was tightened=20
across the country, especially in Karachi and the capital Islamabad,=20
where five terrorist attacks against Westerners have taken place in=20
the past four months.

But there is little public support for Saeed, and the threat of=20
assassination is nothing new to Musharraf. In fact, ask any citizen=20
what the greatest threat is to Pakistan today and chances are they=20
will say it is Musharraf himself.

Pakistan's entire political spectrum, its media and its middle=20
classes are protesting against Musharraf's attempts to ensure a=20
permanent political role for the military before general elections,=20
mandated by the Supreme Court, are held on October 10. The question=20
of whether civilians or soldiers are going to prevail in the new=20
post-October political set-up will have far-reaching implications,=20
not just for Pakistan but for the entire region.

As long as Musharraf can ignore his critics, he has little to fear.=20
He and his military regime have so far been able to manage=20
international pressures, and can bank on the continued backing of the=20
United States because of its commitment to fighting terrorists like=20
Saeed.

Of course, Washington is less concerned about Pakistani politics than=20
it is about Al Qaeda, and ensuring that Musharraf prevents Islamic=20
militants from crossing into Indian-controlled Kashmir and provoking=20
a war. But the U.S., by backing Musharraf in his efforts to repress a=20
small minority of extremists in Pakistan, is allowing him to ignore=20
the pleas of the larger majority.

The military has introduced for public discussion new amendments to=20
the 1973 constitution that will virtually turn Pakistan's=20
parliamentary form of government into a presidential system headed by=20
Musharraf, who won a controversial referendum in April making him=20
president for five years. The amendments would give Musharraf the=20
power to sack the prime minister and the cabinet, and make all senior=20
appointments in the provinces, the judiciary and the bureaucracy. A=20
National Security Council dominated by the armed services chiefs=20
would override the cabinet and parliament. The U.S. State Department=20
has not commented on the constitutional amendments.

As elections approach, Musharraf is determined that the army will=20
prevail--putting his popularity at its lowest ebb since he seized=20
power in a coup in 1999. Already, civil and military intelligence=20
agencies are hard at work in the districts influencing the polls by=20
offering their favoured candidates government support. Through a raft=20
of new laws, known as presidential ordinances, the army can control=20
who can stand for the elections.

The goal of the army's strategy is to ensure that former prime=20
ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif and their followers do not=20
stand for elections. The two largest parties in Pakistan today are=20
Sharif's faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and Bhutto's=20
Pakistan People's Party (PPP), even though their leaders are in exile=20
and barred from returning home.

The new laws prohibit any prime minister from seeking a third term in=20
office--effectively barring Bhutto and Sharif. More than half of the=20
last parliament, which was dismissed by Musharraf after he ousted=20
Sharif in a coup in October, 1999, will be ineligible to stand in the=20
elections.

Every major political party in the country has vigorously opposed=20
these moves. "It's the murder of democracy," Nawabzada Nasrullah,=20
head of the 16-party opposition Alliance for the Restoration of=20
Democracy, which includes the PML and the PPP, told reporters in=20
Lahore recently. "The majority of the people now hate Musharraf and=20
he should step aside."

Civic groups, lawyers and businessmen have joined the chorus. "Why=20
bother having an election when the army sets the rules and the=20
candidates and will rig the outcome?" asks Hina Jilani,=20
secretary-general of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

The media is almost entirely hostile. "The central problem facing the=20
military is how to inject some enthusiasm into the charade being=20
planned in the name of the October elections," columnist Ayaz Amir=20
wrote in the Dawn newspaper.

Even the small group of minor parties that were once supporting=20
Musharraf are now desperately trying to distance themselves from him.=20
Three months ago the army cobbled together the National Alliance, a=20
group of minor parties, to contest the elections; since then their=20
leaders have either abandoned the alliance or left on long holidays=20
in London to avoid being pressured by the intelligence agencies.

An attempt by the army to split Bhutto's PPP failed, and while=20
Sharif's PML has split into many factions, Sharif's loyalists are=20
holding firm.

Musharraf addressed the nation on television on July 12 in an effort=20
to sway public opinion. "It's not enough just to restore democracy,=20
you have to have a sustainable democracy," he said. "We need checks=20
and balances." But his speech carried little credibility, given the=20
amendments. Likewise, his claim that "I am not power hungry and I=20
want to give power to the people and not take it away," prompted=20
scathing editorials in the Pakistani press.

Public anger is not reserved for Musharraf: The Americans get their=20
share as well, as in many peoples' eyes Musharraf is only getting=20
away with his plans because of unstinting U.S. support due to his=20
cooperation in tracking down Al Qaeda.

Islamic parties are taking advantage of public sentiment by beating=20
the anti-U.S. drum. Qazi Hussain Ahmad, the head of the powerful=20
Jamaat-e-Islami party, says Musharraf is allowing the U.S. to=20
"de-Islamize, demilitarize and de-nuclearize Pakistan." The=20
fundamentalists are fuming at attempts to bring the religious=20
schools, or madrassas, under state control, and called the Pearl=20
trial a set-up.

Even secular parties and civic groups believe that Washington is=20
supporting the continuation of quasi-military rule after October.=20
Secretary of State Colin Powell is due to visit Islamabad at the end=20
of July, to try to cool down another bout of rising tensions between=20
India and Pakistan.

Some politicians are privately urging the U.S. that Powell should=20
also try and rein in the army's ambitions. "Powell's visit is going=20
to be critical, not just for Indo-Pak relations but for the future of=20
Pakistan and how the entire region is going to perceive America's=20
role--propping up dictatorships or supporting democracy," says a=20
European diplomat in Islamabad.

_____

#2.

The Hindustan Times
26 July 2002

>From the heart of darkness
Mukul Mangalik

The Godhra burning - communal, repulsive and criminally punishable -=20
was not the reason why the rest of Gujarat went up in flames. Nor was=20
it the reason why Muslims, especially women and children, have been=20
hunted down, humiliated, forced to look on as family and friends were=20
gangraped, cut up into pieces, blown apart, with the survivors cast=20
away to fend for themselves, being dared to re-build their lives,=20
their work.

Godhra was simply an occasion, the excuse for what has been happening=20
in Gujarat for four months now, just as September 11 was not the=20
reason but the occasion for the launching of the 'international war=20
against terror'. Godhra was an excuse for a butchery binge against=20
Muslims just as faltering secular practices and the only partially=20
attained goals for education and democracy have become excuses in=20
recent years for launching into a slaughter of secularism, democracy=20
and education.

The only way we can begin to make sense of Gujarat is to look hard,=20
long and clearly at the RSS family. All other explanatory variables -=20
the long-term worldwide economic slowdown, the collapse of=20
Ahmedabad's 64 textile mills, disrupting 160,000 working lives, the=20
expansion in Gujarat of informal labouring practices with all its=20
attendant everyday insecurities, the class, caste and patriarchal=20
anxieties of the privileged (the Brahmins, Patidars and Banias, for=20
instance), the historical absence in modern Gujarat of strong=20
anti-caste movements, emancipatory women's movements, autonomous=20
labour movements - all these arguments are absolutely necessary, but=20
not sufficient for understanding what we are confronted with in=20
Gujarat today. It is not even enough to argue that Gujarat happened=20
the way it did because the State collapsed or allowed it to happen.

The dangerous singularity of Gujarat 2002 lies in the shameless=20
self-righteous abandon with which the anti-Muslim pogrom has been=20
unleashed and justified by the State, right to this day. This, to a=20
large extent, explains the scale and the extreme viciousness of the=20
continuing violence as also the cold terror that is gripping Muslims=20
in Gujarat and in other parts of the country. The State, not just=20
through the practice of its partisanship but through a=20
rationalisation of this practice, is saying more loudly and clearly=20
than ever since 1947, that everyone is not equal before the law. It=20
is saying openly that it is for the State - not for our republican=20
Constitution - to decide who shall live and how in this country.

Today it is the Muslims and other religious minorities who are at the=20
receiving end of the State's arbitrary brutality. Tomorrow it can be=20
anyone who is seen to be a thorn in the flesh of the wilful exercise=20
of power by the Indian State. The danger lurks not just for Muslims,=20
shameful and impoverishing as this itself is for all of us. The=20
terror that Muslims are living with today, their deep, everyday=20
fears, can become the terror that all of us may face tomorrow, a=20
threat to our collective democratic existence as citizens of this=20
land.

This dangerous singularity of Gujarat, with all its grave=20
implications, may not have come to pass had the RSS not been in=20
command politically and ideologically. No other organised force in=20
this country hates Muslims as deeply and pathologically as the RSS.=20
No other force could have demonised Muslims, projected them as being=20
less than human and deserving of unimagined cruelties - the 'enemy'=20
that must be exorcised from 'our' midst if 'we' are to live in peace=20
and harmony - as effectively as the RSS. No other force could have so=20
shamelessly raided our past, abused and twisted it beyond=20
recognition, played, untiringly over many years on popular prejudices=20
about 'minorityism' and shaken up all this and more into a potent,=20
anti-Muslim potion.

No other force could have revelled in offering up this poison as a=20
simple 'solution' for all kinds of problems facing all manner of=20
people in these times of multiple crises. Only the RSS with its=20
single-minded hatred of Muslims could plunge itself into the lives of=20
Adivasis and Dalits, OBCs and Brahmins, Patidars and Banias, scratch=20
their multi-sourced and differentially complex insecurities and get=20
them to come together as the Hindutva god's army straining to go to=20
war. Only the RSS with its relentless vilification of the Muslim as=20
enemy could have forged this alliance between the dispossessed and=20
the propertied, hurling them in a violent offensive against the=20
imagined 'other', looting, plundering, and in the process subverting=20
challenges to existing social hierarchies, steering minds and=20
energies away from battles concerned with making our earth a better=20
place to live on for all.

Gujarat 2002 comes straight out of the RSS's 'heart of darkness', as=20
clear a warning as we may want about what it means to 'Hinduise India=20
and militarise Hinduism' - the foundational and still the core desire=20
of the RSS.

Take the RSS family away and the Gujarat carnage, the Ayodhya=20
movement, Pokhran II and the rapid downward slide in relations with=20
Pakistan may have all remained far away dreams and not our immediate=20
nightmares.

(Concluded)

_____

#3.

State of Ruins

The Dispossessed at the Vortex of
Communal Whirlpool in Gujarat

A report on present conditions of the victims
Prepared by
Gauhar Raza and Shabnam Hashmi

Summary of the findings:

=85 The findings presented in this report are based on the survey=20
administered in two districts of Gujarat, namely Panchmahals and Dahod
=85 The survey was conducted in the aftermath of Gujarat genocide
=85 Data was collected in four days, i.e. from 8th to 11th July 2002-07-20
=85 The aim of the study was to collect first hand information about=20
the degree of property damage, extent of compensation given to the=20
victims, attitude of police, attitude of neighbours, caste=20
composition and political affiliations of the attackers, range and=20
nature of weapons used.
=85 More than 3500 family heads were interviewed during four days and=20
after cleaning the data 3261 cases were analysed. This number=20
constituted about 60% of those families who were registered as=20
victims in the relief camps
=85 The data analysis has revealed that total loss of immovable=20
property was of the order of Rs. 478 million, however compensation=20
given to the victims adds up to just 5% of the total loss
=85 The loss of moveable property that the victim population suffered=20
was of the order of Rs. 27,00,00,000/-. The estimated average loss=20
per family was about Rs. 90244/-.
=85 The total losses (extrapolated) for the entire victim population of=20
Dahod and Panchmahals when computed were Rs. 1.248 billion.
=85 The compensation figures reveal the insincere efforts being made by=20
the state government agencies in rehabilitating the victims.
=85 The objective of the carnage quite clearly, was to fold, firstly,=20
to loot, burn and completely destroy all the shops owned by the=20
Muslims and secondly to force them out of their habitat. Both the=20
targets were efficiently achieved.
=85 The data revealed that tribal population was mobilised under the=20
leadership of upper caste (Patels and Rajputs) for attacking the=20
members of the minority community.
=85 The attacks were premeditated and well organised. They cannot be=20
construed as a spontaneous reaction to any incident. Organising bands=20
of 1000 to 10,000 attackers requires long duration planning.
=85 Large amount of petrol and other inflammable chemicals were made=20
available to the attackers. This cannot happen without connivance of=20
state machinery.
=85 The data revealed presence of police in sufficient numbers at the=20
time of the attack.
=85 Police, during the carnage, by and large helped attackers instead=20
of saving the life and property of victims.
=85 Attitude of the police has not changed during the past five months,=20
it still refuses to accept any complaint that mentions names of the=20
criminals. Close to 50% of all the victims said that the police did=20
not accept their complaint.
=85 The victims reported wherever the police officers had tried to=20
control the mobs, they were transferred and then free hand was given=20
to the attackers.
=85 19% of the victims interviewed reported that police had supplied=20
petrol to the attackers.
=85 About 80% of the respondents reported that members of VHP. RSS and=20
Bajrang Dal actively participated in the genocide.
=85 84% respondents said that the attacker were wearing Saffron bands=20
on their fore head.
=85 44% of the victims said that still cannot go back to their=20
villages, rest of them expressed that during the day they have=20
started building their houses but cannot take the risk of staying at=20
night.

_____

#4.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact
Chandana Mathur (212 877 0048)
Satish Kolluri (201 521 0230)

NRIs to demonstrate against Sadhvi Ritambra of the RSS at the Ganesh Temple
in Flushing, New York
Temple space should not be used to promote and fund the politics of communa=
l
hatred in India, the group says

New York, July 26, 2002

Non-resident Indians from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachuset=
ts
will hold a demonstration today at the Ganesh Temple located at 143-09 Holl=
y
Ave, Flushing, New York, to protest the meeting and reception being held
there for Sadhvi Ritambra.

Well-known for her inflammatory speeches and poems against Muslims and othe=
r
minorities in India, Sadhvi Ritambra is an RSS activist and the main
demagogue of the Sangh Parivar. Shouting =93Ek Dhakka Aur Do, Babri Masjid =
Tor
Do=94 on December 6th, 1992, the Sadhvi had exhorted =93kar sevaks=94 to br=
ing down
the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, in defiance of the order of the
Indian Supreme Court. More than 3000 lives, mostly Muslim, were lost in the
communal riots that followed. It is widely recognized that the Sadhvi=92s b=
rand
of hate speech had greatly encouraged her co-religionists to indulge in
unspeakable acts of violence at that time. She is in New York now, soon aft=
er
the anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat which has claimed about 2000 lives and
displaced over 100.000 men, women, and children. The murder, rape and
destruction was the work of Sangh Parivar organizations in Gujarat, backed =
by
the collusive BJP government in the state and at the Centre.

What genuine religious leader -- of any faith -- would ever incite their
followers to destroy people belonging to another religious group? Sadhvi
Ritambara, however, actively advocates the torture, rape and killing of
Muslim women, men and children. We are also very troubled by the fact that
this meeting with the Sadhvi is being used to raise money for ostensibly
charitable organizations in India. It has recently been brought to our atte=
nt
ion by the media -- the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal in the
U.S., and Outlook magazine in India, for example -- that donations to chari=
ty
unsuspectingly made by Indian-Americans are often sent by American Sangh
Parivar supporters to violent Hindu right-wing groups in India.

The Ganesh temple is a community institution and should be a place for peac=
e
and prayer. As Indian-Americans of diverse religious backgrounds, we strong=
ly
object to the temple space being used to promote and fund the politics of
hate in India. Many of us are Hindus who visit the temple for spiritual
reasons, and we are deeply offended that the temple authorities should
endorse Sadhvi Ritambara=92s hate-mongering in the name of religion.

Some of the NRI groups involved in today=92s protest are the International
South Asia Forum (INSAF), the SAMAR media collective, the Forum of Indian
Leftists (FOIL), and NRIs for a Secular and Harmonious India. These groups
and others have engaged in several previous protest actions against the
communal violence in Gujarat.

_____

#5.
Dear friends:

With firm resolve to do what needs to be done, in solidarity with you=20
in your own struggles, and with expectant hope to receive your=20
support and encouragement, we send to you a report on the Public=20
Forum we organized on July 20, focussing on the Genocide that took=20
place in Gujarat India.

Thanking you

Hari Sharma
[July] 24, 2002
**********
Press and Public Release

The Genocide in Gujarat will not be forgotten

The Perpetrators of Crimes Against Humanity
Must be Brought to Justice

At the end of a 3-hour long Public Forum, over one hundred people in=20
attendance unanimously approved a resolution demanding that the=20
perpetrators of the genocidal massacres in Gujarat on Feb. 28, 2002=20
and after, including the functionaries of the State who colluded in=20
these crimes, be brought to justice within the legal framework of=20
India.

But given the past record of judicial processes in India, can there=20
be the confidence that the mass murderers, rapists, and arsonists of=20
Gujarat would ever meet the justice they deserve? Those who organized=20
the massacres of Sikhs in 1984, or of Muslims in 1993, or committed=20
many other such atrocities, are still to be punished. Already the=20
first Gujarat verdict came out on July 13, in which all nine people=20
arrested for setting shops on fire were set free, for inadequate=20
evidence provided by the police. Given this background, the Forum=20
further resolved unanimously to join hands with other organizations=20
and people around the world to explore all avenues in order to bring=20
to justice the Gujarat Genocide perpetrators, under the International=20
Humanitarian Law, including the criminal courts in Belgium. It was=20
further resolved to approach the International Human Rights=20
Commission of the United Nations to recognize the large-scale=20
violation of people's human rights and to urgently intervene with=20
appropriate action. The Government of Canada must be lobbied,=20
including individual members of Parliament, to provide support for=20
bringing to justice all parties responsible for the crimes against=20
Humanity committed in Gujarat.

Organized by South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy=20
(SANSAD), the Public Forum was held on July 20, at the Justice=20
Institute of British Columbia. The Moderator of the Forum was Mr.=20
Harinder Mahil, former Chief Commissioner of the Human Rights=20
Commission of the province.

The afternoon Forum began with the showing of Gauhar Raza's powerful=20
film, "Evil Stalks the Land". It brought the reality of the Gujarat=20
carnage close to home, to people's sensibilities.

The Forum had seven panelists: Mrs. Nishrin Hussain (daughter of the=20
slain former MP of Gujarat, Mr. Ehsan Jaffri), and her husband Prof.=20
Najid Hussain of the University of Delaware; Dr. Radhika Desai of the=20
University of Victoria, Dr. Ishtiaz Ahmed of the University of=20
Stockholm, Mr. Abu Ansari, a concerned Muslim from India, Prof.=20
Mordecai Briemberg of Douglas College, and of Canada-Palestine=20
Network, and Dr. Laurie King-Irani of the University of Victoria.

Nishrin Hussain's voice and words showed a tremendous courage in not=20
only expressing her personal grief, but doing so with a calm and=20
heart-rendering sobriety. It was not the personal loss that came=20
through, but the loss of the Gujarati society as she had known it.=20
The cool and dispassionate analysis Najib Hussain gave of the Gujarat=20
carnage, and the manner it was building up, made it clear that the=20
unfortunate Godhra train incident might have only triggered the=20
pogrom, that would have happened anyway under some other excuse. The=20
Hindutava forces were making the plans of this ethnic cleansing for a=20
long time, as a part of their fascistic agenda.

Based on many years of research in the growth of the Hindutava=20
ideology in India as a whole, and particularly in her own home state=20
of Gujarat, Dr. Radhika Desai provided a succinct analysis of the=20
political economy, as it has evolved over the last many years, and=20
has provided the fertile ground for the massive ideological and=20
political growth of Hindutava.

Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed provided the larger South Asian context for viewing=20
the Gujarat Genocide, and the implications it is likely to have on=20
peace in the sub-continent, especially on India-Pakistan relations.

Prof. Mordecai Briemberg gave a historical and global overview of=20
Genocides and Crimes against Humanity, giving many examples, and=20
especially talking about the Israeli attacks on the Palestinian=20
people.

Finally, Dr. Laurie King-Irani discussed the many avenues that could=20
be explored to bring to trial the perpetrators of crimes, under the=20
International Humanitarian Law; focussing on genocides and other=20
crimes against humanity. She described the recent developments in=20
Belgium, where it is possible to file a case even if the crimes took=20
place in any part of the world.

Summing up after the panelists' comments and presenting formal=20
resolutions before the house, SANSAD president Dr. Hari Sharma said=20
that the large-scale massacre of the Muslim people that began on=20
February 28 could not be a spontaneous reaction to the Godhra train=20
incident. It was systematic, coordinated, and planned well in=20
advance. The entire carnage took place in the context of a prolonged=20
build up of hatred toward Muslims and Christians, as well as the=20
promotion of an ideology of an exclusive Hindu nation. The state=20
apparatus under the BJP government was totally complicit in this=20
massacre both through active facilitation and through refusal to=20
defend the citizens. The government has continued to hamper relief,=20
medical care and justice for the victims.

The brutal killing of almost 2000 men, women and children, the=20
special targeting of women for rapes and savage assaults, the turning=20
of over a hundred thousand people into homeless and destitute=20
refugees, the looting and burning of thousands of properties and=20
businesses, and the destruction of over 200 Muslim mosques and=20
shrines - all this amounts to nothing short of Genocide; and must be=20
severely condemned. The Government of Gujarat, and its ideological=20
allies in RSS, Bajrang Dal, and VHP are solely responsible for it.=20
The Government of India must be held responsible for not immediately=20
intervening, and for not forcing the Government of Gujarat to account=20
for it. The Forum unanimously demanded that the Government of India=20
bring to trial the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and members of his=20
government, for their complicity in Genocide.

North American affiliates of VHP, and its Hindutava ideology

The SANSAD organizers of the Forum had approached the president of=20
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Vancouver, Mrs. Madhu Varshney,=20
through a phone call followed with a letter, which stated in part:

>"I was very pleased to hear you say that the local VHP does not have=20
>any affiliation with the VHP in India, and that you yourself do not=20
>approve of the large scale massacres of Muslims that took place=20
>under the full patronage of the state machinery.
>
>You will notice from the write-up which is enclosed here that we do=20
>not condone the burning of the train bogey at Godhra, and clearly=20
>demand that culprits behind that crime must be found and punished=20
>under the rule of law. But this unfortunate event could not justify=20
>the organized pogrom that went on uninterrupted for full 72 hours in=20
>many parts of Gujarat. In our opinion, the VHP in India and its=20
>affiliates (RSS, the Bajrang Dal, etc.) are terrorizing the whole=20
>society, in their fascistic agenda of turning India into a Hindu=20
>Rashtra. What has been happening in Gujarat is clearly a part of=20
>this agenda.
>
>On behalf of the Board of Directors of SANSAD, I respectfully invite=20
>you to come to the Forum on July 20 and state the position of the=20
>local VHP in front of the audience."

In a subsequent conversation over the phone Mrs. Varshney said that=20
she had received the letter, and that she planned to attend the=20
Forum, at least for a part of the time. But she did not come; nor did=20
any explanation arrive.

The Forum took note of the fact that vast sums of money was raised in=20
North America by organizations like VHP or their affiliates and=20
channeled to organizations in India that are committed to the=20
formation of a Hindu nation, and are actively promoting hatred=20
against religious minorities and organizing acts of violence and=20
destruction. The Forum urged the Governments of USA and Canada to=20
exercise vigilance regarding the flow of money from their respective=20
countries to these organizations in India.

Relief to the Victims of Genocide:

The Forum noted that relief materials containing medical supplies,=20
clothes, shoes and household items valued at $650,000.00 sent by the=20
Ottawa-based charitable organization "Human Concern International"=20
has been sitting at Kandla port in Gujarat since May 25, and not=20
cleared by the bureaucrats under one excuse or the other. The Forum=20
unanimously condemned this denial of relief to victims as aiding and=20
abetting in the genocidal violence that took place, and urged the=20
Government of Canada to take this matter up with the Government of=20
India to facilitate the flow of desperately needed relief to victims.
********************
The Public Forum was co-sponsored by:

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology of Simon Fraser=20
University, the Centre for Research in Women Studies and Gender=20
Relations, University of British Columbia, and the Student Societies=20
of Simon Fraser University (Burnaby); Douglas College (New=20
Westminster); and Kwantlen College (Surrey)

And by the following community based organizations:

* Pakistani Canadian Cultural Association of BC * East India Defense=20
Committee * Thamil Cultural Society of BC *Guru Ravidas Sabha of BC *=20
Punjabi Vichaar Manch * Commitee for Racial Justice * India Pakistan=20
Friendship Society * Nepalis Abroad for a Just and Democratic Nepal
--
Hari Sharma, Ph.D.
president, SANSAD
(South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy)
ph: 604-420-2972
fax: 604-420-2970

____

#6.

22 July, 2002
To,
The Chief Election Commissioner
Election Commission of India,
New Delhi

Subject: A report on the ground situation in Gujarat today

Respected Sir,
We hold the Election Commission in highest esteem. The record of the=20
Commission in conducting free and fair elections around the country,=20
at times in quite trying circumstances, has earned in the gratitude=20
of the entire nation. We have complete confidence in the Commission=92s=20
ability to take stock of the ground situation in Gujarat today, and=20
take appropriate measures to hold free and fair elections at a time=20
you consider conducive for such exercise.
We, Arch Vahini are non-governmental organization (NGO) working in=20
the tribal belt of Rajpipla in Gujarat state for over two decades. At=20
present, we are working with the Riot Affected Persons (RAPs) in=20
Baroda and Bharuch districts of Gujarat. During the riots and=20
destruction that followed, we had tried our best to work with the=20
administration to prevent and contain the riots. Since then we have=20
been in contact with the victims in riot camps and elsewhere, trying=20
to help them with relief and rehabilitation.
In view of our experience over the past few months, we would like to=20
share with you our deep concern over the situation in Gujarat. There=20
is a sense of all pervasive fear that has gripped not only the Muslim=20
and other minority communities, but has also not spared the rest of=20
the society.
Every individual Muslim in Gujarat, whether he was a serving police=20
officer, or a judge of the high court of the state, or a small street=20
vender, or a widow or a young girl, and irrespective of his / her=20
place of residence, whether he is from a remote tribal area or=20
resides just 50 yards from the office of the police commissioner of=20
Ahemdabad, whether one resided in predominantly urban cosmopolitan=20
areas, or in one=92s own community neighbourhoods, they are all afraid=20
and feel intimidated. The looting and burning of the property, people=20
hacked to death before the eyes of relatives, rape of women and=20
girls, extreme brutality of unimagined proportions continued for a=20
long time.
Through their acts of commission and omission, the police and=20
administration provided all possible support, directly and=20
indirectly, to the perpetrators of the communal frenzy. The people=20
hold that the administration either remained inactive or kept away=20
from the places where mobs had taken over. At too many places, the=20
police are reported to have provided the mobs tacit support to fan=20
the communal fire. From top to the bottom, both the vital wings of=20
the administration, Police service and Revenue administration,=20
mysteriously remained paralysed. Their common plea being that the=20
sudden outbreak of large-scale riots had stretched their ability to=20
cope and control the situation. We have firsthand experience of many=20
places where the riots were preventable if routine minimum practice=20
of preventive arrest (off course of the right person, in some places=20
police did make arrest of harmless innocent!). So much so that after=20
a long the IPS Association of Gujarat state had to pass resolution to=20
the effect that now onward the police would observe professionalism=20
in it=92s duty!
We also acknowledge that there were responsible officers who had=20
taken all measures to prevent the break down of law and order. With=20
little manpower, but optimal use of information and limited use of=20
force where necessary, these officers had been successful in keeping=20
the situation under control. In these areas, such officers had earned=20
the confidence of the community, and people wanted them to continue.=20
However, the administration, in many such instances, sought to=20
transfer them from their posts since then.
Even for the sake of formality, the administration has not displayed=20
any sense of remorse. The systematic and prolonged breakdown of law=20
and order machinery has generated the current milieu of fear and=20
anarchy. The psychological and emotional imprints of fear, tension=20
and anxiety can hardly be restored overnight. This sense of fear=20
pervades the whole society.
Many people, including those from the majority community who tried to=20
protect the helpless members of Muslim community, were also=20
threatened by the goons with dire consequences if they continued to=20
provide such protection. In fact, such was the level of coercion,=20
that many Muslim families could not even leave some of their=20
valuables for safe keeping with their long-term neighbours and=20
friends from other communities.
Of course there were exceptions, and quite a few instances of=20
individual bravery, and heroism that led to saving of lives and=20
property has been documented. Nevertheless, these were exceptions,=20
rather than the rule.
We are from majority community i.e. Hindus of Gujarat, and we affirm=20
that we have never seen the Muslims so terrified, afraid, intimidated=20
and horrified in our life time. As of today the Muslims are=20
completely broken as an individual or as collective community. The=20
leadership of the community is shattered and so many localities have=20
lost their traditional leaders. The engulfing sense of fear cannot be=20
removed artificially overnight.
While most of the relief camps have been closed, many Muslim families=20
have not been able to return to their homes. Those who have returned=20
have precious little to begin rebuilding their life again. Returning=20
to their homes and staying with the perpetrators and criminals could=20
not be devoid of fear, anxiety and timidity.=20
The atmosphere is still hostile to the minority community. By any=20
yardstick, the situation cannot be termed as normal.
Indeed, it may be not very farfetched to say that what happened in=20
Gujarat was not a breakdown of general law and order, but a fallout=20
of keeping law and order in abeyance, in order to let loose a reign=20
of terror. Clearly then the administration has long way to go before=20
it can reestablish its credibility by improving its performance in=20
enforcing the rule of law.
The present state government has sought to politically manoeuvre the=20
situation in it=92s favour and has called for premature dissolution of=20
the state assembly. The action of the state government suggests a=20
sinister design. This action is totally a breach of constitution and=20
democratic ethics. Under the circumstances, we trust that the=20
Election Commission will examine the prevailing situation in Gujarat,=20
and decide whether free and fair elections can be held in the current=20
atmosphere of fear.
We urge you to decide the issue not in strict narrow technical sense=20
but in the wider perspective of constitutional principals, norms,=20
directives, intent and democratic ethics.
Thanking you,
Rajesh Mishra Dr. Anilbhai Patel
We, the undersigned a team of Arch Vahini,

_____

#7.

'STOP THE HATRED' CAMPAIGN UNLEASHED
...240 cinema halls, all television channels, and many radio stations

A campaign comprising a series of public service messages against
communalism, for television and cinemas, featuring several stars and
personalities including Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Aamir
Khan, Zakir Husain, M.F. Husain and several others has been released
all India recently. The campaign has been conceptualized and produced
by Rohena Gera with funding from Bajaj Auto Pvt Ltd.

There are four 30-second spots that will be on all terrestrial and
satellite channels that are members of the Indian Broadcasting
Foundation. That includes Doordarshan (the messages are already
playing), Star, Zee, Sony etc. There is also one 50-second message
already showing in 240 cinemas nationwide, as well as a series of
20-second radio spots that will be on several radio stations,
including WIN 94.6, shortly. Apart from this the campaign aims at
reaching the Indians outside the country through its website
<http://www.stopthehatred.com>www.stopthehatred.com

"The goal of this campaign is to counter the hate propoganda that is
being disseminated so efficiently throughout the country. The point
is not be controversial or to fight any political party or
personality but to simply reach out to the people and try to stop
this epidemic of hatred. Today, Indians-men and women, old and
especially young-need to hear that we are one people, and that most
of us can and do live as one," says the 29-year-old Rohena who had
the vision to do a campaign like this as an individual, inspite of
not being associated with any group, trust or NGO.

"I want to emphasize that there is no financial gain to anyone from
these commercials," says Rohena. The only body credited on the
television series is the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, a non-profit
organization. Bajaj Auto has given a donation to cover production
costs, but their logo is not on the campaign. There is no branding,
sponsorship or banner attached to the series. The only people who
will benefit from these messages are the audience.

In order to communicate this message Rohena has shot with several
Indian icons who, in their personal and professional lives, are truly
secular. "The point is to reach out to people and say that we can and
do live as one. You do... because in all likelihood, whatever
community you belong to, you love Amitabh and Aamir, or cheered for
Yuvraj and Kaif, or have sung along with Javed Akhtar's lyrics in
Lata Mangeshkar's voice... So, why the hypocrisy?" feels Rohena.

Rohena is currently working on her first book, a work of fiction set
in Bombay, as well as on a film script.

LIST OF PERSONALITIES FEATURED IN Stop the Hatred:
1) Amitabh Bachchan
2) Sachin Tendulkar
3) Zakir Husain
4) Aamir Khan
5) M.F. Husain
6) Ashutosh Gowariker
7) Mamooty
8) Aparna Sen
9) Shabana Azmi
10) Akshaye Khanna
11) Fardheen Khan
12) Abhishek Bachchan
13) Tabu
14) Raveena Tandon
15) Harbhajan Singh
16) Anupam Kher

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

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