[sacw] SACW #1 | 24 June 02 [ India: Gujarat - The Mayhem continues]

Harsh Kapoor aiindex@mnet.fr
Mon, 24 Jun 2002 02:21:21 +0100


South Asia Citizens Wire Dispatch #1. | 24 June 2002

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

South Asians Against Nukes:
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/NoNukes.html

__________________________

#1. U.K.: Letter from South Asia scholars re the genocidal violence 
in the Indian state of Gujarat
#2. The Second Gujarat Catastrophe (Upendra Baxi)
#3. Report on Chitrakoot to Ayodhaya padyatra
#4. Public Meeting on Gujarat the Pogrom : Emerging Fascism (26 
June, New Delhi)
#5. Movement For Secular Democracy: Draft of Resolution
#6. Reconstruction of tomb of Sufi saint disallowed (Manas Dasgupta)
#7. Activists resume call for action against Gujarat government (Sukrat Desai)
#8. Modi Govt Defies Governor on Camps

__________________________

#1.

[The below has also been published as Letter to the Editor, The 
Guardian (UK), Friday June 21, 2002.]

o o o o

June 19, 2002

We are scholars of South Asia and human rights advocates in the U. K. 
who are deeply perturbed by the genocidal violence unleashed against 
Muslim citizens in the Indian state of Gujarat.
A systematic and brutal targeting of the minority Muslim community 
has been under way in Gujarat since March this year, claiming over a 
thousand Muslim lives including those of women and children. The 
nature and extent of the violence in the state have been horrific, as 
attested to by the eye-witness accounts recorded by the National 
Human Rights Commission, citizens' groups as well as the internal 
report of the British High Commission in India. The attacks on the 
community have not stopped and the fate of over a hundred thousand 
refugees in temporary camps, now threatened with closure, hangs in 
the balance. The Central Government, in flagrant disregard of all 
norms of governance, continues to support the Gujarat administration 
and its Chief Minister Narendra Modi despite their culpable role in 
the events.
We believe that a strong commitment to the protection of the lives of 
minorities and the defence of their rights is urgently called for. To 
this end, we have joined efforts with those working in India to bring 
about the following:
- the dismissal and legal indictment of the Chief Minister of Gujarat;
- the identification and initiation of criminal proceedings against 
the perpetrators of crimes;
- the safety of the survivors living in the camps as well as those 
who return to their homes, and their adequate rehabilitation;
- the monitoring of the situation in Gujarat, upto and including the 
coming elections, by international human rights observers.
These genocidal events must not be passed over in silence by the 
international community. We ask that the initiatives for the defence 
of human rights be supported worldwide. We urge the British 
government to consider declaring Mr. Modi and his cabinet members 
persona non grata, and to send a strong signal by refusing to host 
Indian Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, now or in the future. 
To contribute to relief operations, please visit: 
http://www.onlinevolunteers.org/gujarat/action/donate/index.htm

Signed by:

1. Mr. Burjor Avari MBE
Multicultural Studies Co-ordinator
Academic Division
Manchester Metropolitan University
All Saints
Manchester M15 6BH

2. Dr. Mukulika Banerjee
Dept. of Anthropology
University College London
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT

3. Professor Upendra Baxi,
School of Law
Warwick University

4. Dr. Shailendra Bhandare,
Asst. Keeper, South Asian Numismatics
Heberden Coin Room
Ashmolean Museum
Oxford University

5. Dr. Chetan Bhatt
Senior Lecturer
Department of Sociology
Goldsmiths College
University of London

6. Dr. Anuj.Dawar,
Robinson College, Cambridge

7. Lord Meghnad Desai,
London School of Economics,

8. Dr. Meena Dhanda,
University of Wolverhampton

9. Dr. Priyamvada Gopal,
English faculty,
University of Cambridge

10. Dr. Sudeshna Guha
Research Associate
Photographic Collections
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
University of Cambridge

11. Dr. Suman Gupta
Senior Lecturer in Literature, The Open University U.K.
Charter Fellow, Wolfson College Oxford

12. Dr. David Hardiman
Senior Research Fellow,
Department of History,
University of Warwick

13. Professor Barbara Harriss-White
Queen Elizabeth House
University of Oxford,

14. Dr. Ananya Jahanara Kabir
Centre for History and Economics, King's College, Cambridge CB2 1ST
Clare Hall, Cambridge

15. Dr. Eivind Kahrs,
Faculty of Oriental Studies,
University of Cambridge

16. Dr. Sudipta Kaviraj,
Professor, Political Science,
SOAS,
London.

17. Professor Sunil Khilnani
Professor of Politics, Birkbeck College, University of London
and Fellow, Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington DC

18. Dr. Amala Mahadevan
University of Cambridge

19. Dr. Perveez Mody
King's College

20. Dr. Subha Mukherji
Fellow and Director of Studies in English
Fitzwilliam College
Cambridge

21. Dr. Parita Mukta,
Senior Lecturer,
Dept. of Sociology,
University of Warwick

22. Dr. Priyamvada Natarajan,
Research Fellow,
Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge
Trinity College,
Cambridge.

23. Dr. Uttara Natarajan,
Lecturer, English Dept.
Goldsmiths' College, U. of London.

24. Dr. Fransesca Orsini,
Faculty of Oriental Studies,
University of Cambridge

25. Professor Tapan K Raychaudhuri'
Professor Emeritus of History,
St.Anthony's College,
Oxford University

26. Dr. S. S. Saxena,
Low Temperature Physics
Cavendish Laboratory 
University of Cambridge

27. Dr. Ursula Sharma
Department of Anthropology,
University of Manchester

28. Pritam Singh
Oxford Brookes University

29. Professor Sanjay Subrahmanyam,
Professor-elect, Chair of Indian History and Culture,
University of Oxford.

30. Dr. Rajeswari Sunder Rajan
Reader, English faculty, and
Professorial Fellow, Wolfson College,
Oxford University

31. Dr. David Anthony Washbrook (MA, Ph.d. Cantab.); 
Reader in Modern South Asian History at Oxford University
Professorial Fellow of St Antony's College, Oxford.

32. Professor Robert J.C. Young
Professor of English and Critical Theory
University of Oxford

_____

#2.

The Second Gujarat Catastrophe
Upendra Baxi [May 27, 2002]

http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/2ndGujaratCatastrophe.pdf

_____

#3.

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2002 04:08:53 +0100 (BST)
From: bobby ramakant <ramakantbobby@y...>
Subject: Chitrakoot-Ayodhaya Padyatra : Update (5) : June 21 : 
padyatra comes to an end.

Dear friends,
Chitrakoot to Ayodhaya padyatra came to an end
yesterday on June 21. Below is a piece by padyatris
themselves, with a little additions from our side.
Sandeep bhaiya has decided to sit on the fast, for
now, as he says it is a token fast for two days. Many
padyatris are participating in this token fast for two
days TO PROTEST THE VHP MEETING in Hardwar to discuss
future plans on Ram Mandir issue. But probability of
him continuing this fast beyond two days, is quite
high. I will keep you all updated on this issue.
best regards
bobby
FOR
SANDEEP & ARUNDHATI
National Alliance of People's Movements
A-893, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-16. India. Ph 347365

===============================================
Chitrakoot to Ayodhaya padyatra concludes today
===============================================
June 21, 2002

written by the padyatris themselves.

The March for Peace and Communal Harmony, from
Chitrakoot to Ayodhaya which commenced from
Chitrakoot, on May 27, 2002, concluded in the twin
cities of Faizabad of Ayodhaya-Faizabad district
today. The conclusion of this march was marked by the
entry of the marchers in the town of Faizabad via
Darshan Nagar, where they were warmly welcomed with
cheers and flowers by the citizens, looking for peace
and harmony in their city. The marchers then walked
singing songs of peace and harmony to Forbes Inter
College compound, to join a meeting of the local
citizens, distinguished by the presence of Swami
Agnivesh, Pramukj Arya Pratinidhi Sabha and President
of Bandhua Mukti Morcha, Maulana Rafiq Kazmi, the
chairperson of Jamaat-i-islami Hind, Phalhari baba
alias Mahant Kaushal Kishore Sharan, Dharam Das,
Trustee Ram Janam Bhoomi Nyaas, Bhagwaan Das,
ex-sarpanch Hanuman Garhi, Sanjay MG, National
Coordinator of NAPM (National Alliance of People's
Movement), and Ms.Kavita Srivastava, General Secretary
of PUCL Rajasthan (People's Union for Civil
Liberties).

The marchers covered a distance of over 500 Kms in
26 days making 40 major halts en route. Ordinary
citizens welcomed the marchers warmly right through
their march. The average distance covered in a day was
20 Kms, and a total of about 100 marchers participated
in the march for peace and communal harmony.

The six constant marchers who walked the entire
distance were Shri Sandeep of NAPM and Asha, Shri
Gurdayal Singh Sheetal of IDP (Internationalist
Democratic Party), Mahesh Bhai and Ram Sagar of Asha,
Suresh Bhai from Sarvodaya Shodh Samiti and Vivek
Umrao, a final year engineering student from Kanpur
University. On average 25 support marchers walked with
the peace march every day. People from MP, Rajasthan,
Punjab and Bihar also joined the march in addition to
those from UP.

The various events held by the citizens where the
marchers stopped were marked by the participation of
National leaders committed to the cause of peace and
secular values : Ms.Nirmala Deshpande, Admiral L
Ramdas, Shri Kishen Patnaik and Dr.Banwari Lal Sharma.

The March was taken out to question the use of
religion for political ends and to raise concern about
the repeated incidents of communal violence in the
country as a result of the so-called 'Ram Mandir
andolan'. It was also to establish the fact that the
common citizen is religious but not communal; and used
various opportunities of dialoguing with the people to
warn them about elements who used the garb of
religious discourse to spread fanaticism and violence.

The overall experience of the peace march was
extremely good. Majority of the people condemned the
violence in Gujarat and the praxis of the Sangh
parivar, based on hatred for minorities. This included
even those who had earlier participated in the Kaar
Sewa in Ayodhaya and those who are in favor of
construction of Ram Mandir. Some people even believed
that the 'Hindutvawaadi' organizations had crossed all
limits now.

The people took great interest in the literature
being distributed by the marchers and contributed
fiscally to the march. In fact, the arrangements for
boarding and lodging of the marchers were made either
by local organizations or at many places by the people
themselves.

During the halt at Raja Talab, Varanasi, on the
8th and 9th of June 2002, a "Manav Dharam Sammelan"
was organized, at which a resolution was passed,
clearly stating the belief of the marchers and the
people they met on their way. The marchers also made a
declaration aptly named the Ayodhaya Declaration,
which demands a complete ban on all organizations that
practice communal politics.

============================
MESSAGE FLASH FROM SANDEEP :
============================
Now, a combined meeting of representatives of various
organizations is taking place on 22nd and 23rd june in
ayodhya after the padyatra concluded there. You may
call Huma or Arundhati at (05278) 23096 to find out
about the venue of these meetings. the info. will also
be available with Sheetla Singh, editor of Jan Morcha.
his numbers are (05278) 22747, 22777, Mobile:
9838065243. you may also call suman gupta who works
for the same newspaper. her mobile number is
9838065345.

During the 22nd june meeting, the focus of
discussion was on the communalism question, and it
took place in Press Club of Faizabad. 23rd june
meeting, in which we'll focus on indo-pak relations
question, the nuclear weapons question and related
issues, will take place in Jan Morcha Sabhagaar in
Faizabad.

Please remember 22-23 june coincides with a
meeting of VHP in Hardwar to discuss the next phase of
Ram Mandir
construction movement. a number of the padyatris are
observing a fast on these two days as a mark of
protest.

love, sandeep

_____

#4.

ANTI-EMERGENCY DAY: 26TH JUNE
(Procession & Public Meeting)

PUBLIC MEETING ON :
GUJARAT POGROM : EMERGING FASCISM

AT 4.30 pm,26th June,2002, at Gandhi Peace
Foundation,
223, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi-2

Speakers include Justice Rajinder Sachhar (Retd.),
Sidhharth Varadrajan, Aditya Nigam, Murli Manohar Prasad
Singh, Darshan Singh Khatkar & others.

PROCESSION : To assemble at 3 PM at Ferozshah Kotla
Ground (near Delhi Gate) on 26th June.
Procession will start at 3.30 PM, via Bahadurshah
Zafar Marg,New Delhi,and will terminate at Gandhi
Peace Foundation.
PLEASE JOIN.

PUCL(Delhi), Jan Hastkshep, CHAMPA-The Amiya and BG
Rao Foundation,CFD, Forum For Democracy and Communal
Amity, Human Rights Trust, JP Centenary Committee,
Indian Radical Humanist Association & others

_____

#5.

MOVEMENT FOR SECULAR DEMOCRACY: Resolution for Vasant-Rajab conference
Dear Friend,
We attach the draft resolution to be adopted at the meeting convened 
on the eve of the martyrdom day of Vasant-Rajab (1st July). The 
details of the meeting are as under: -
DAY & DATE: - SUNDAY, 30TH JUNE 2002
TIME : - 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
VENUE: - MEHNDI NAWAZ JUNG HALL, PALDI, AHMEDABAD.
REGISTRATION: -FROM 9.15 a.m. ONWARDS (REGISTRATION FEE: Rs.10/- PER 
PARTICIPANT)
We earnestly request you to
1. please participate at the meeting on 1st July 2002 and also 
inform the concerned friend about it.
2. kindly do attend the meeting to discuss the draft resolution 
will take place at MSD premises, Narmad-Meghani Library, Mithakhali 
Crossing, Ahmedabad on Monday, 24th June 2002 at 6.00 p.m.
3. in case you are not able to attend the meeting at 2. above, 
kindly send your comments and views for modification of the draft 
resolution before 23 June 2002.
Yours truly,
PRAKASH N. SHAH

o o o

DRAFT OF RESOLUTION

This meeting of concerned citizens fondly and respectfully remembers 
the martyrdom of the friendly duo Vasant and Rajab who were wedded to 
communal harmony and just society and determinedly resolves to follow 
values worthy of civil society for which the duo.
The meeting takes serious note of the Gujarat scenario following the 
events after 27 February 2002 (which in the opinion of this meeting 
is much beyond the communal riots seen hitherto) and resolves to 
mobilise and support with vigour all efforts to come out of this 
unfortunate situation.
It is a new phenomenon that the Government and the rulers in concert 
have exhibited the psyche of ethnic cleansing. The ground reality, 
however, is that despite National Human Rights Commission's (NHRC) 
specific findings and recommendations, the State Government and the 
ruling party have not only expressed sense of remorse and much less 
initiated the process of correction of the gross dereliction.
The situation of complacency of the state amounting to the state 
supported violence, perhaps pogrom and therefore fascism has almost 
impaired the initiatives of voluntary sector and the Mahajan 
tradition. Providing security and justice to the affected apart, even 
providing alternatives of average standard life and normal 
rehabilitation have also not been the priority of the rulers.
This meeting expresses a sense of appreciation and solidarity with 
all those small and large voluntary organisations and also with 
concerned citizens who have come forward with compassion and 
commitment during these difficult times. The meeting hopes that the 
combined efforts of all of us will meet with success in overcoming 
the disorder created by the rulers.
During these days the rulers have exhibited the wicked tendency to 
encash the communal polarisation based on brutal bloodbath. The 
rulers unashamedly vouch for early elections!!! It is at this 
juncture when rulers are dreaming of winning the elections in the 
blood-soaked environment, it becomes bounden duty of the people 
forces to raise their voice and demand explanation from the rulers as 
to how they desire to renew their licence to rule when they have 
proved to be totally untrustworthy of the public faith in protecting 
the Constitution of India both on political and moral grounds.
While the immediate concern is rehabilitation, the long-term 
programme is to bring the common citizens out of the psyche of dread 
and terror through the process of educative-social and societal 
planning.
Towards the first step in the direction of overall and permanent 
rehabilitation, peace, harmony and justice this meeting emphatically 
demands that the government publicly accept within fifteen days 
hereof to undertake all measures necessary arising out of the 
findings and recommendations of NHRC. Failure of such public 
assurance on part of the Government within this timeframe will make 
it incumbent upon all of us to initiate agitation for implementation 
of the recommendation of the foremost important constitutional 
institution of the nation.
MOVEMENT FOR SECULAR DEMOCRACY, C/o, Narmad-Meghani Library, Opp. 
Natraj Railway Crossing, Mithakhali, Ellis Bridge, 
AHMEDABAD-380006.Tele/Fax: - (079) 6404418. E-mail: - 
<mailto:dnr@i...>dnr@i...

___

#6.

The Hindu
Monday, Jun 24, 2002

Reconstruction of tomb of Sufi saint disallowed

By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD JUNE 23. Reconstruction of the tomb of noted Gujarati poet, 
Wali Gujarti, which was destroyed during the communal riots here, has 
been disallowed.

The All Gujarat Minorities Association had planned to lay the 
foundation stone for the tomb of the 18th century Sufi saint on 
Sunday.

The tomb, which was situated in the middle of a road near the office 
of the Police Commissioner, was destroyed during the riots and the 
municipal corporation, though controlled by the Congress, had widened 
the road overnight.

While the foundation stone laying ceremony was planned today, it had 
organised a programme on Tuesday in which litterateurs and others 
from all over of the country would bring a brick to contribute for 
the reconstruction.

The association was initially given the clearance by police for the 
foundation laying ceremony. However, last night the police informed 
them that the permission had been cancelled.

Police sources said that it was the municipal corporation which had 
withheld the permission because the reconstruction in the middle of 
the road could again create law and order problem.

The civic body, apparently, was under pressure from the Government 
not to allow any such reconstruction which could open trigger demand 
for reconstruction of temples which were removed for encroachment.

The association had planned the programme in keeping with the 
assurance given by the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, that all 
mosques, mazhars and other places of worship would be restored back 
to pre-Godhra carnage status.

_____

#7.

Activists resume call for action against Gujarat government

By Sukrat Desai, Indo-Asian News Service

Ahmedabad, June 23 (IANS) Rights activists Sunday renewed their demand for
action against the Gujarat government for its failure to control sectarian
strife that killed over 950 people in the state.

The activists said reconciliation between sections of people in Gujarat
would not be possible if action was not taken against those responsible for
the sectarian violence.

"Reconciliation is not possible without truth. So let the truth prevail,"
said noted lawyer Indira Jaisingh. "The truth is that the (Narendra) Modi
government is accused of carrying out genocide."

Rights activists have accused the Gujarat government headed by Chief
Minister Narendra Modi of not doing enough to control violence against
Muslims who bore the brunt of sectarian violence in the state since
February.

Jaisingh was speaking at a meeting convened here by NGOs. Former federal
minister Arif Mohammed Khan and writer Joseph Macwan also attended the
meeting.

"The meaning of justice is to punish the guilty. And the National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) has stated very clearly in its report that the
constitutional machinery of the state has broken down completely," Jaisingh
said.

In a recent report, the NHRC had indicted Modi's government for failing to
control the law and order situation.

The torching of 58 Hindus in a train at Godhra February 27 triggered the
violence. Over the next three months, hundreds of Muslims were killed and
thousands rendered homeless.

Jaisingh accused the federal government of double standards in dealing with
the Gujarat violence.

She said Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani had used the word "genocide" to
describe the Godhra killings, but objected when voluntary groups used the
same term to refer to the violence that followed.

Jaisingh said other developing countries like Brazil and Chile had laws
against genocide, but India lagged behind.

Former federal minister Khan, expressing concern at the deepening rift
between Hindus and Muslims in Gujarat, asked why meetings had to be
organised for communal harmony even after five decades of independence.

He, however, said he believed the country's judicial system was capable of
punishing the culprits.

"I have full faith in the Indian judicial system," he said. "The victims of
the 1984 riots in Ahmedabad were recently heard by the Supreme Court.

"These are trying times and will soon pass. Muslims shouldn't worry about
them."

--Indo-Asian News Service

____

#8.

The Telegraph (India)
24 June 2002

MODI GOVT DEFIES GOVERNOR ON CAMPS
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Ahmedabad, June 23:
State officials are said to be forcibly evicting inmates of relief 
camps, defying Governor S.S. Bhandari's instruction to the Narendra 
Modi government not to close down the camps until alternative 
arrangements are made for the riot victims.

Bhandari had informed Congress Legislature Party leader Naresh Rawal 
that he has directed the government not to shut down the camps till 
the houses of the victims are repaired and adequate compensation 
provided to them.

Last week, Rawal, along with Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee chief 
Amarsinh Chaudhary and the party's chief whip in the Assembly, 
Sidharth Patel, had walked out of the All-Party Relief Committee, 
headed by the Governor, in protest against "forcible closure of eight 
relief camps without properly rehabilitating the inmates". Bhandari 
assured Rawal that he would take up the issue with Modi.

But the Governor's directives seem to have fallen on deaf ears. 
Chaudhary alleged that government officials are employing coercive 
methods to force inmates to return home.

The relief committee has so far held four meetings, the first being 
presided over by the Prime Minister during his visit to the state on 
April 4. It was apparently due to his presence that Modi had agreed 
with all the suggestions put forward by the Congress at that meeting.

The party had proposed the creation of a "material bank" to supply 
building materials to the victims who wanted to repair their damaged 
houses in order to return home. "The chief minister, though accepting 
the suggestion in principle, did not set up the bank," said Chaudhary.

At a recent meeting of the committee, Modi had also agreed to 
consider the Congress demand for alternative sites to house those 
made homeless by the riots. But later he told a group of pro-BJP 
minority community leaders that the government would not provide any 
land to settle the victims, who would have to return to their 
original homes.

The Congress has also insisted on rehabilitation of victims from the 
worst-affected areas, namely Naroda-Patia, Gulbarg Society and Best 
Bakery. But the government, Chaudhary alleged, is keen on shutting 
down all relief camps across the state and more than 35,000 inmates 
have been told to move out.

-- 
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