[sacw] SACW | 8 June 02

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire | 8 June 2002

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

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

__________________________

#1. Peace Convention (June 8, 2002, Karachi)
#2. Seminar on ' Make Peace, not War' (June 8, 2002, Bombay)
#3. "Indian and Pakistani organizations held a joint peace vigil at=20
the two embassies" (Washington)
#4. India-Pakistan Amity Concert (June 16 2002, Massachusetts=20
Institute of Technology)
#5. Peace Demonstration against the possible war between India and=20
Pakistan (13 June, Lahore)
#6. UK: Contact your MP and ask to support an immediate weapons=20
embargo on India & Pakistan
#7. Nuclear War in South Asia (Matthew McKinzie, Zia Mian, M.V.=20
Ramana, and A.H. Nayyar)
#8. After Rumsfeld and Armitage (M.B. Naqvi)
#9. 'Deterrence will not always work' - Interview with Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy
#10. Arms and education (C. Rammanohar Reddy)
#11. Who commissioned the Mori Survey? (John Dayal)
#12. Web pages of "AntiBJP"
#13. Workshop on The Changing Face of Communal Violence (8 June, Bangalor=
e)
#14. Genocide In Gujarat - Film and Public Forum (8 June 2002, London)
#15. India Pakistan Arms Race & Militarisation Watch (IPARMW) # 84 |=20
7 June 2002

__________________________

#1.

Peace Convention

Date : June 8, 2002 (Saturday)
Venue : Karachi Press Club, Karachi=20
Time : 5.30 pm=20

The convention is being organized by Pakistan-India People's Forum=20
for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) and National Trade union Federation=20
along with several other civil society organizations and individuals.=20
Please pass on the message to all your contacts. Join Peace=20
Initiatives - say no to war!
Bring your friends and families to the convention.

In Solidarity,

Shahid Fiaz
PIPFPD - Karachi

____

#2.

Friends,
Pakistan India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy
(PIPFPD) has organised a seminar on ' Make Peace, not
War' on saturday June 8, 2002 at Press Club , at 3.00
pm opposite BMC Head quarters, VT, Mumbai 400 001.
Admiral (retd.) L Ramdas & Former Flying Squadron Anil
Segal will make a presentation on the subject. Seema
Saigal will sing anti war songs written by Indians &
Pakistanis. The photographic exhibition of destruction
ravaged in Hiroshima & Nagasaki by N bomb will be
displayed at the venue.
Please spread the word.
Thanks,
jatin desai

____

#3.

Wednesday, June 5, 2002

Pakistanis and Indians for Peace

Washington, D.C. -- In a first for the Washington, D.C. area, local Indian
and Pakistani organizations held a joint peace vigil in front of the two
embassies. Supporters turned out to urge the two governments to find a
peaceful solution to the current crisis.

"We oppose war of any kind, conventional or nuclear," said Chaudhary Shafi
of the Pakistan Association of Greater Washington Metropolitan Area. "We
have fought three wars already and they've produced no solution. More
fighting will mean more death, more refugees, and more misery but won't
solve the problems." Speakers emphasized that even threats of war were
counter-productive in the quest for solutions.

The groups also delivered petitions to the embassies, calling for military
de-escalation, a resumption of diplomatic negotiations, and investment in
people's basic needs in both countries.

"We urge our governments to reach a just, constructive and realistic
solution to the crisis. In our opinion, a military =EBsolution' is no
solution at all," said Shivani Chaudhry of the DC Collective, a South Asian
coalition for peace and justice.

Others at the vigil emphasized that the governments of Pakistan and India
must seek alternative approaches to the problems facing both countries.
"Peace means no war; but peace also means a guarantee of food, employment,
health care, and personal freedom," said Lubna Ejaz. "These are the
priorities of most people in both countries."

As the vigil shows, Indians and Pakistanis are united in their desire for
peace. One of the vigil organizers, Indira Ravindran, summed up by saying,
"This is our message to our governments: people to people, we are one. Any
solution to the current crisis must reflect this."

Contacts:
Lubna Ejaz (202) 262 0565=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=
=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD Shivani=20
Chaudhry=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD (202) 785-8700
Neil Tangri (202) 387 8030=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=
=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD Chaudhary=20
Shafi=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD=DD (240) 605 4200

_____

#4.

India-Pakistan Amity Concert
Kresge Auditorium, MIT
Sunday, June 16 2002

South Asian Rhapsodies

5:30 PM
IKHLAQ HUSSAIN, renowned Pakistani Sitar player
accompanied by NARENDRA BUDHAKAR on Tabla

7:00 PM
INDIAN OCEAN
Indo-rock fusion with Jazz-spiced rhythms
Transcend boundaries with music that integrates Sufism, Shlokas,
environmentalism, mythology and revolution
<http://www.indianoceanmusic.com>www.indianoceanmusic.com

Tickets
General: $50, $20
Student: $15
Tickets available at:=20
<http://www.ersvp.com/reply/indianoceanbos>www.ersvp.com/reply/indianoceanb=
os
Contact: <mailto:iotix2002@y...>iotix2002@y... or 617-470-8308

Organized by:
Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia

Co-sponsors:
MASALA (Massachusetts Area Lambda Association)
MITHAS (MIT Heritage of the Arts of Southasia)
Navrasa Dance Theatre
Pakistan Association of Greater Boston
SANGAM (Indian Students Assocation at MIT)
South Asia Forum at MIT

Proceeds will be donated to Citizens Initiative for relief of
the victims of communal violence in Gujarat, India
______

#5.

Peace Demonstration against the possible war between India and Pakistan

Four progressive political parties of Pakistan have decided to organize a
joint peace demonstration on 13th June. The parties are National Workers
Party,
Labour Party Pakistan, Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party and Peoples Party
Shaheed Bhotto group.

Several trade unions and social organization will join this first unity
demonstration of the parties of the left in Pakistan.

Similar actions will be taken in other cities of of Pakistan. The left
parties have appealed to the Indian left parties, trade unions and social
organizations to take up the question of peace and demonstrate the
majority wish of
the masses on Indian sub continent as a peaceful region.

Details:

Demonstration for Peace
Thursday, 13th June 2002 at 5 pm
at Lahore Press Club Shimla Pehari Lahore

our slogans

Anti War - Pro-Peace - Dialogue - Disarmament
Kashmir Solution as Kishmiris want
Anti Religious Extremism
Exit of Foreign Troops
Anti Nuclear Weapons

The demonstration will be lead by Abid Hasan Minto, Farooq Tariq, Syed
Azam,
Dr. Mubashir Hasan.

Come and join the peace demonstration. If you are not in Lahore, please
send
a solidarity message to be read at the demonstration.

Comradely,

Yousaf Baluch
information secretary
Labour Party Pakistan

_____

#6.

Date: Thu, 06 Jun 2002

Dear friend,

As soldiers trade mortar fire across Kashmir's disputed border
and peasants flee the area, British leaders are at odds about
whether they should continue to allow the sales of weapons and
aircraft to India and Pakistan. Roger Berry, the chairman of the
Commons committees investigating arms exports, has said that the
conflict between the two countries was "as clear a case you could
get" for an arms ban. But Jack Straw continues to justify the
sale to India of 66 Hawk aircraft -- which can be used to train
soldiers for nuclear bombing raids -- on the basis of "British
commercial interests."

It's time to embrace a policy of common sense: Britain will not
aid and abet this war mongering; "commercial interests" do not
take precedence over the lives of thousands of Kashmiris and
millions of Indians and Pakistanis. As long as British arms make
their way into the arsenals of these nuclear rivals, attempts to
broker peace are hypocritical. As the Guardian points out, the
UK would be "making peace in conflicts which our own arms exports
may have helped to exacerbate."

Given the rift in the national leadership, we have a real
opportunity to make a difference if we act quickly.

Please contact your MP and ask him/her to support an immediate
weapons embargo on India and Pakistan and to make your concerns
known to Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

You can do this at:

http://www.faxyourmp.com

If that doesn't work, you can look up the relevant contact
information at:

http://www.locata.co.uk/commons/

You can also contact Jack Straw directly:

Fax: 020 7272 2144
Mail: House of Commons, London SW1A OAA
Email: strawj@p...

Patricia Hewitt, Dept Trade and Industry, can be reached at:

Fax: 020 7215 5468
Mail: House of Commons, London SW1A OAA
Email: npst.hewitt@d...

Even a short message is better than none at all. And the more you
communicate in your own words, the more attention will be paid to
your call to action.

In your message, you may want to highlight some of the following
talking points:

* The British government is hardly a passive bystander in the
arms trade. To the contrary, as author Arundhati Roy put it:
"Tony Blair's 'peace' mission a few months ago was actually a
business trip to discuss a one billion pound deal . . . to sell
Hawk fighter-bombers to India. Roughly, for the price of a single
Hawk bomber, the government could provide 1.5 million people with
clean drinking water for life."

* By most estimates, a nuclear exchange between the two
countries would leave 12 million dead and over 7 million
seriously wounded. Britain must do everything in its power to
restrain the two countries from such violence; an arms embargo
would emphasize that the nation is serious in its demand for a
peaceful resolution.

* Even if a nuclear attack doesn't occur, a conventional war
would still devastate Kashmir and result in the deaths of
thousands of innocent non-combatants. In these deaths, the UK
would be especially culpable, since some are likely to be
inflicted with British-made weaponry.

* According to scotsman.com, the military firm BAe has sold
fighter jets to India and is also currently training Pakistani
troops in air combat. Providing such aid to both sides can only
increase the damage that will occur if war breaks out.

* In 2001, the combined military expenditure of India and
Pakistan was 18 billion dollars. Yet over 40% of their
populations -- 450 million people -- live below the poverty line.
Britain shouldn't encourage this irresponsible spending behaviour.

Once you've taken action, please let us know at:

http://www.9-11peace.org/embargo.php3

Keeping a good count will help us enhance this lobbying effort.
You can also sign up there to receive future email alerts on
this and other peace-related topics.

And please encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same
by forwarding this email to them.

Thank you for your help. Together, we can ensure that Britain
stops fanning the flames of South Asian conflict.

Sincerely,

--Eli Pariser
9-11Peace Campaign
MoveOn.org
Thursday, June 6, 2002

P.S. If you'd like to make even more of an impact, consider
attending this event on Saturday at 10 Downing St:

South Asia Solidarity Group:

"No 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

Contact by telephone at 020 7267 0923 or by email at
southasia@h... for more information

_____

#7.

FOREIGN POLICY IN FOCUS
June 6, 2002

Nuclear War in South Asia
By Matthew McKinzie, Zia Mian, M.V. Ramana, and A.H. Nayyar

The extensive history of war between India and Pakistan suggests that=20
wars followed misadventure driven by profound errors of policy,=20
political and military judgement, and public sentiment. Nuclear=20
weapons do nothing to lessen such possibilities and there is reason=20
to believe they may make them worse in South Asia. During the 1999=20
Kargil War, nuclear threats were made publicly by leaders on both=20
sides. It took international intervention to stop the slide to a=20
larger, more destructive war. This policy report explores the human=20
costs if such intervention fails to prevent a nuclear war on the=20
subcontinent.

(Matthew McKinzie is a Project Scientist at the Natural Resources=20
Defense Council, Zia Mian and M.V. Ramana are researchers with the=20
Program for Science and Global Security at Princeton University, and=20
A.H. Nayyar is an Associate Professor of Physics at Quaid-i-Azam=20
University in Islamabad. This is a updated version for FPIF=20
(www.fpif.org) from their chapter in Smitu Kothari and Zia Mian,=20
eds., Out of the Nuclear Shadow (Lokayan, Rainbow Press, and Zed=20
Books.)

See new FPIF Policy Report online at=20
http://www.fpif.org/papers/nuclearsasia.html

_____

#8.

After Rumsfeld and Armitage
by M.B. Naqvi
(Karachi June 7, 2002)

South Asians seem to have succeeded in making world diplomacy look like a
hopeless a charade. It seemingly impresses neither India nor Pakistan. A
succession of world's Presidents, Prime ministers, Foreign Ministers and
special envoys have either spoken to or visited New Delhi and Islamabad to
urge restraint on India and to ask Pakistan 'to do more to stop
cross-border terrorism' in the Indian-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan says it
has done that and India says we have shown exemplary restraint for six
months. International opinion remains confused and appalled because all can
see the looming threat of a nuclear exchange.

Talking of nuclear war elicits answers in Delhi and Islamabad on two
levels. Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes, who doubles as a hawkish
Indian nationalist ever ready to punish Pakistan and a nuclear dove, has
issued a certificate of sanity, good official behaviour and being
responsible leaders to Pakistan's rulers. That was to allay outside world's
fear of nuclear weapons being used. His aim seemed to include the
expectation that the outside world will thereby leave the even more sane
and responsible Indian government alone to 'teach Pakistan a lesson', as
many hawkish Indians regularly put it.

In Pakistan the government uses the same two tracks. At one level it says
being smaller and weaker side, Pakistan cannot surrender the right to use
nuclear weapons first, just as America and NATO could not give up the No
First Use right vis-=E0-vis Warsaw Pact powers. At another level or in othe=
r
context, it says these mass destruction weapons are so obnoxious that no
sane person can contemplate their use at all; please don't worry. It looks
as if both sides were addressing heavy outside pressure, and maybe each
other.

Indian authorities continue to inspire stories in foreign press that Indian
Army is too keyed up for offensive action and that Indian government will
have to permit a 'limited action' in Azad Kashmir before the onset of the
monsoons in that area. Apparently, this is good psy warfare. Anyhow the
situation remains wholly uncertain after the return of the two American
envoys from South Asia: Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Deputy
Secretary of State Richard Armitage. Hitherto the Indians and Pakistanis
have not been able to go to war or to begin any dialogue --- a position
that has obtained for six months. Some Pakistani commentators say that the
Indian government does not know how to de-escalate without being able to
show to its supporters and voters some achievement (victory) for this six
month long verbal offensive.

This is however mistaken. India has made solid gains: first, Pakistan
President has been at pains to assure every visitor to Islamabad that
'nothing is happening across the LOC'. There is a world of difference
between what he used to say even in the spring of this year --- that
terrorism is one thing and freedom fight is another --- and what he is
saying now. One way or another, President Pervez Musharraf has paid a heavy
domestic price for slowly moving away from his earlier Kashmir stance. The
terms of discourse between outsiders and Pakistani rulers are different
now: earlier a policy change was demanded; now, under Mr. A.B. Vajpayee's
goading the world demands a 'proof' that the change of policy has taken
effect.

That said, the business of keeping Pakistan under pressure does not seem
likely to end anytime soon. At this point the bottomline of India has been
met: Pakistan has ceased to send infiltrators across LOC. That does not
automatically end the insurgency in Kashmir. First there are an indefinite
number of local Kashmiri Jihadis who might carry on with their campaign;
some (earlier) Pakistan-supported Jihadis might still be on the wrong side
of the LOC; but above all else Syed Salahuddin, the President of the TU of
all Jihadi outfits and of Hizbul Mujahideen, has said that the Jihad in
Kashmir will continue no matter what policy does the Pakistan government
adopt. This declaration has to be taken seriously.

At this point the domestic political situation of Pakistan requires to be
taken into account. Musharraf's policy switch on Taliban in October last
year is still sending shockwaves. Pakistan's Rightwing as a whole is
teeming with lovers of Taliban while few knew anything about Al-Qaeda or
even Osama. The more west-oriented upper class rightists clearly understand
why Musharraf made the U-turn on Afghanistan. But many religiously-oriented
people remain wholly unreconciled. A backlash against Musharraf's policies
is building up. The new Kashmir policy will make many more rightists
irreconciled to the changes. Most regarded the early May suicide bombing
attack in Karachi that killed 12 French engineers as a warning shot across
Musharraf's bows. More attacks are expected.

The overall situation for the General-President is not easy: he faces a
revolt in his own constituency. The fact that there is now again a military
government in Pakistan may be its greatest weakness. The Army regime is
politically isolated. It can neither make big decisions and sell them to
the people nor can it keep the people united and reasonably inclined
towards its new foreign policy. Why? because the military regime is unable
of appreciating the complexities of the political situation while it
undertakes the sickeningly familiar exercises of entrenching the Army in
the political and economic life of Pakistan by fiat --- as if nothing has
changed in 55 years. The effort is bound to divide the people further.

It is true that there is a wide open exit door for the military to depart
rather than to entrench in power. This is what the national situation and
interest demand. There can be any number of expeditious ways of beating
retreat from a vulnerable political position that is clearly hurting the
country. But personal security of generals --- not of one but of many
generals, perhaps of the whole institution --- may be involved. Pakistan's
biggest misfortune is the narrowness of mind and political illiteracy of
its Army's officer corps.

_____

#9.

Frontline, Volume 19 - Issue 12, June 8-21, 2002

'Deterrence will not always work'
Interview with Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy.
http://www.flonnet.com/fl1912/19121250.htm

_____

#10.

The Hindu
Jun 08, 2002

Arms and education
By C. Rammanohar Reddy
http://www.hindu.com/stories/2002060800501000.htm

_____

#11.

[7 June 2002]

Who commissioned the Mori Survey?

Survey officials fight shy of naming client =96 was it Government of J=20
and K, Government of India, the notorious RAW, big business, or was=20
it the Government of the United Kingdom?

By John Dayal

Euphoric newspapers flashed the PTI news on page One, and next day,=20
Editorial writers said the UK based market research company Mori had=20
been quite right in stating that most Kashmiris (in the Indian part=20
of Kashmir) would rather stay with India than go to Pakistan.=20
Unfortunately, the unpublished fact was that only nine (9) per cent=20
of the people in Srinagar thought so, while 13 per cent preferred a=20
Pakistani citizenship. The happier figures came from Jammu.

Many questions remain about the survey, including the one as to who=20
financed it. Mori does not do things for free. Their interest at all=20
times, it makes clear, are commercial with a bottom line it must,=20
correctly, meet. Interestingly, there is no record if Mori ever=20
conducted a similar survey in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, or Azad=20
Kashmir as Islamabad described it. If the Indian government did not=20
finance the survey, further questions are raised as to how such a=20
sensitive survey was permitted to be conducted at a time when India=20
and Pakistan are threatening a nuclear war and the state of Jammu and=20
Kashmir is at the epicenter of the confrontation.

Tracing the India link of Mori was not difficult, but getting an=20
answer was impossible. Mori does its India work through. Prakash=20
Nijhara, of an outfit based in Mumbai and called "Facts Worldwide=20
India Pvt Ltd." Prakash, reached on his mobile phone refused to give=20
any details, other than saying that the company as a matter of policy=20
keeps the identity of its clients a close secret. He would neither=20
confirm nor deny speculation on whether the client was a corporate=20
one, or Indian or foreign government.

Perhaps he has reason to keep that matter confidential. The report=20
sent by PTI and used by the India media patriotically, has larger=20
dimensions than the ones published. While Indian newspapers published=20
all that favoured India, the PTI report did not mention the extent of=20
polarization on the basis of religion the survey revealed in the=20
Indian Kashmir between people living in Jammu, the valley and in Leh.=20
Jammu is largely Hindu, the Valley largely Muslim (more so after the=20
forced exit in the last ten years of the Kashmiri Pundits who fled in=20
the face of terrorist violence which began when Jagmohan was governor=20
of the state), and Leh has a substantial Buddhist flavour.

The report shows perceptions differ on almost every issue. The people=20
of Jammu oppose greater autonomy for Kashmir, an ardent desire of the=20
people of the valley. On human rights violations by militant groups=20
in Jammu and Kashmir, 96% of those in Jammu believe such violations=20
are widespread whereas only 2% of those in Srinagar believe they are=20
widespread (although 33% believe they are 'occasional'). Perceptions=20
of the role of Pakistan are also mixed. Those in Jammu and Leh mostly=20
blame Pakistan, while those in Srinagar more think it has made no=20
real difference (41%) than that it has been has been either good=20
(35%) or bad (23%).

On the issue of citizenship, 99% of respondents in Jammu and 100% in=20
Leh felt they would be better off as Indian citizens, 78% of those in=20
Srinagar said they did not know while 9% felt they would be better=20
off as Indian citizens and 13% as Pakistani citizens.

In the interests of the full truth, the following is the full public=20
text of Mori's public statement on their survey, as also details=20
about Mori and its affiliate in India:

FULL TEXT OF MORI SURVEY ON KASHMIR 2002: The vast majority of=20
Kashmiris, 63%, oppose India and Pakistan going to war to find a=20
permanent solution to the situation in Kashmir and believe the=20
correct way to bring peace to the region is through democratic=20
elections (71%). They also believe the unique cultural identity of=20
the region should be preserved in any long-term solution (81%), and=20
there is virtually no support for the state of Jammu and Kashmir=20
being divided on the basis of religion or ethnic group (8%).

There is also widespread consensus on the types of proposals, which=20
will help to bring about peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Among the things=20
that more than 85% of the population believe will help bring peace to=20
the region are: economic development, free and fair elections, direct=20
consultation between the Indian government and the people of Kashmir,=20
an end to militant violence, and the stopping of infiltration of=20
militants across the Line of Control.

An overwhelming 92% opposed the state of Kashmir being divided on the=20
basis of religion or ethnicity. There was also overwhelming support -=20
91% - for a forum in which Kashmiris from both sides of the Line of=20
Control can discuss common interests. Views were split on the issue=20
of granting more autonomy to Kashmir. Overall 55% supported 'India=20
and Pakistan granting as much autonomy as they can to both sides of=20
Kashmir to govern their own affairs. However, while the majority in=20
Srinagar and Leh supported this, the majority in Jammu opposed this=20
policy.

There are clearly different perceptions of the behaviour of the=20
security forces. Nobody who was interviewed in Leh or Jammu believed=20
human rights violations by Indian security forces in Jammu and=20
Kashmir are widespread, whereas in Srinagar 64% of the population=20
believe they are widespread. Perceptions are different with respect=20
to human rights violations by militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir.=20
96% of those in Jammu believe such violations are widespread whereas=20
only 2% of those in Srinagar believe they are widespread (although=20
33% believe they are 'occasional'). A very clear majority of the=20
population - 65% - believes the presence of foreign militants in=20
Jammu and Kashmir is damaging to the Kashmir cause, and most of the=20
rest take the view that it is neither damaging nor helpful.

Perceptions of the role of Pakistan are also mixed. Those in Jammu=20
and Leh mostly take the view that Pakistan's involvement in the=20
region over the past ten years has been bad, while those in Srinagar=20
have much more mixed views. More think it has made no real difference=20
(41%) than that it has been has been either good (35%) or bad (23%).

On the issue of citizenship, overall, 61% said they felt they would=20
be better off politically and economically as an Indian citizen and=20
only 6% as a Pakistani citizen, but 33% said they did not know.=20
However, all the 'don't knows' were concentrated in Srinagar. Whereas=20
99% of respondents in Jammu and 100% in Leh felt they would be better=20
off as Indian citizens, 78% of those in Srinagar said they did not=20
know while 9% felt they would be better off as Indian citizens and=20
13% as Pakistani citizens.

Details: http://www.mori.com/polls/2002/kashmir.shtml

Technical details: Fieldwork was carried out by FACTS Worldwide,=20
MORI's affiliate company in India, between 20 - 28 April 2002. In=20
total, 850 interviews were completed, face-to-face, with adults aged=20
16+ across 55 localities within Jammu and Kashmir. This comprised 22=20
localities in Jammu City, 20 in Srinagar City and 6 in Leh (urban=20
areas), as well as in 3 villages around Jammu and 4 villages around=20
Srinagar (rural areas). Quotas were set by gender, religion (assessed=20
by observation) and locality, according to the known population=20
profile of the region. A random selection procedure was used to=20
select individual respondents.

Mori's international offices: MORI House, 79-81 Borough Road, London=20
SE1 1FY. Tel: 020-7347 3000, Fax: 020-7347 3800

India Affiliate Prakash Nijhara (Mobile 09821034703), Facts=20
Worldwide India pvt Ltd, 11 Unique Industrial Estate, twin towers=20
Lane, Off Veer Savarkar Marg, Prabhadevi Mumbai 400025, 022 4602097,=20
4366822

Mori's profile: MORI (Market & Opinion Research International) claims=20
it is the largest independently owned market research company in the=20
United Kingdom. Founded in 1969 MORI has seen a fast growth.=20
Following a management buy-out in March 2000, MORI's UK staff and=20
directors hold over half the company's equity - the remainder being=20
held by 3i, Europe's leading venture capital company. MORI says it=20
provides a full range of quantitative and qualitative research=20
services "and we aim to earn a superior reputation for creative=20
research in our areas of expertise. We specialise in both private and=20
public sector research and are particularly strong in the areas of=20
corporate communications, business to business, consumer, e-MORI,=20
employee opinion and social research." Its chairman is Professor=20
Robert M Worcester, Chief Executive Brian Gosschalk and Managing=20
Director is Mike Everett.

_____

#12.

AntiBJP
http://members.tripod.com/antibjp/

_____

#13.

Workshop on The Changing Face of Communal Violence
(Women as Victims; Women as Perpetrators)

This will be a part of the Peace Festival being organised by the=20
Bangalore Initiative For Peace, Vimochana is organising this workshop=20
that seeks to initiate discussions on two issues that are starkly=20
confronting us in the aftermath of the Gujarat carnage =85
At : Gandhi Peace Foundation, Kumara Park, 2 - 4 p.m. June 8, 2002
There are two issues involved ... One is the active involvement of=20
women in the growing communalisation, fundamentalisation and=20
militarisation of our societies. A fact reflected in the total=20
participation of particularly Hindu women in the violence, rioting=20
and looting in Ahmedabad. On the other hand is the absolute=20
victimisation of the women in all conflict situations when there is=20
little hope of justice or redressal due to the existing laws and=20
legal processes that are totally inadequate to deal with mass rapes.=20
In Gujarat it was the muslim women who were victims not only of=20
organised rapes but also of a totally indifferent and communalised=20
state machinery. This dichotomy forces us to re-look at empowerment=20
of women and women's roles as peacemakers vis-a-vis given concepts=20
like secularism, communal harmony and the State as the final=20
arbitrator between feuding individuals and communities.
Speakers: Kalpana Sharma, Journalist, Arvind and Roopa, Alternative=20
Law Forum; Geeta Menon, Stree Jagriti Samiti; Chair - Shakun Mohini,=20
Vimochana
Please do come and share your thoughts and concerns with us.
Madhu, For Vimochana < awhrci@v...>

_____

14.

GENOCIDE IN GUJARAT
Please note that Bollywood director Mr Mahesh Bhatt, as originally=20
advertised, in now unable to address this meeting. We apologise for=20
any inconvenience caused.

For peace and justice in South Asia
FILM AND PUBLIC FORUM

"Hey Ram!! - Genocide in the land of Gandhi"
25 min documentary film about Gujarat by Gopal Menon,
Produced by Other Media Communications. English Subtitles
And a presentation by Dr Gautam Appa, recently returned from Gujarat

Saturday 8 June 2002 7pm start
Southall Neighbourly Care,
The Old Featherstone Arms, 32 Featherstone Road
Southall, Middlesex

Since February 2002, Gujarat has witnessed horrific incidents of=20
unparalleled violence that can only be described as genocide of=20
innocent people.

Over 2000 people, mainly Muslims, have been slaughtered with more=20
than 100,000 people displaced in under-resourced refugee camps.=20
Houses have been systematically looted, businesses burnt down,=20
countless women gang raped and many children murdered.

Who is responsible for the genocide? All the evidence suggests that=20
the Gujarat state government and the police orchestrated the=20
violence. Yet not a single prominent individual has been held to=20
account or brought to justice and the violence continues even after=20
three months.

So far the Government of India, led by the right wing Hindu=20
nationalist BJP, has attempted a cover-up and deliberately heightened=20
tensions between India and Pakistan bringing the region to the brink=20
of a war and nuclear threat.

Future Event Includes
MASS PICKET OF THE INDIA HIGH COMMISSION, ALDWYCH LONDON
THURSDAY 27TH JUNE 2002 FROM 4PM TO 6PM
27th June marks the 4th month anniversary of the Godra incident and=20
the beginning of the Genocide in Gujarat

Break the silence. Condemn the Gujarat Carnage. Fight for Peace and Justice
For more information on the meeting, ring
020 8843 2333, 020 8571 9595, 020 8558 6399

ORGANISED BY AWAAZ- South Asia Watch
AWAAZ- South Asia Watch is a newly formed secular network of=20
individuals and organisations including Aaaj Kay Naam, Asian Women's=20
Refuge, Dalit Forum for Social Justice (UK), India Forum, Indian=20
Muslim Federation, Muslim Parliament, National Civil Rights Movement,=20
SEWA Southall, Southall Black Sisters, Socialist Alliance, The=20
Monitoring Group and others. We wish to be an inclusive and broad=20
based alliance that challenges religious hatred and fascism. We would=20
welcome others to join us. If you would like to lend your voice or=20
become active, please contact Arif or Suresh on 020 8843 2333.
AWAAZ-South Asia Watch, PO BOX 304, Southall, Middx UB2 [UK]

______

15.

India Pakistan Arms Race & Militarisation Watch (IPARMW) # 84
7 June 2002
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IPARMW/message/95

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