[sacw] SACW #1 | 5 April. 02

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire - Dispatch | 4 April 2002
http://www.mnet.fr

__________________________

#1. Pakistan demonstration to protest against the killings of doctors=20
and sectarianism is being organised on Friday April 5
#2. Bangladesh: The Far Eastern Economic Review banned
#3. A tale of two Presidents (Praful Bidwai)
#4. India: Minorities Cannot be at the Mercy of RSS (Asghar Ali Engineer)
#5. India: Communal Upheaval as the Resurgence of Social-Darwinism (Jan Bre=
man)
#6. Statement by Network of Women In Media, India
#7. An effort to heal the wounds (Deepika Sahu)
#8. Silence of The Lambs (Anosh Malekar)

__________________________

#1.

PRESS RELEASE

KARACHI, April 4: A demonstration to protest against the killings of=20
doctors and sectarianism is being organised on Friday April 5 at 4.00=20
pm in front of the Press Club [Karachi]. The demo is being organised=20
by the Joint Action Committee for Peace, to coincide with the=20
Pakistan Peace Coalition's call for protest against sectarian=20
violence on the same day. The demo is also supported by the PPP, PML=20
(Q), MQM, JSM, Pakistan Medical Association, Tehrik-Insaf, NWP, ANP,=20
the Reformers, Labour Party, Socialist Group, HRCP, WAF, WAR, Shirkat=20
Gah, Aurat Foundation, URC, Idara Amn-o-Insaf and others.

____

#2.

Press Freedom
April 4, 2002

International Secretariat
Asia-Pacific Desk
5, rue Geoffroy Marie 75009 Paris France
Tel: (33) 1 44 83 84 70
Fax: (33) 1 45 23 11 51
E-mail: asie@r...
Websites: www.rsf.org
www.press-freedom.org=20

BANGLADESH

The magazine Far Eastern Economic Review banned because of an article on
the upsurge of Islamism

In a letter addressed to the Information Minister Tariqul Islam,
Reporters Without Borders (RSF =82 Reporters sans fronti=CBres) protested
against the seizure and banning of the latest issue of the weekly Far
Eastern Economic Review published in Hong Kong. "After banning the weekly
Newsweek in February, your government has again censored an international
news magazine. This is not how it is going to improve its image abroad",
said Robert M=C8nard, RSF general secretary. The organisation urged the
minister to do everything in his power to ensure that this issue of the
Far Eastern Economic Review was made available on news stands.

According to information gathered by RSF, on 3 April 2002 the Bangladeshi
government banned the 4 April edition of the Asian magazine Far Eastern
Economic Review. The Home Affairs minister announced that copies had been
seized and that its "publication, sale, distribution and possession" were
banned. According to the authorities, the article by Bertil Lintner
entitled "A Cocoon of Terror" was "baseless". The journalist, based in
Thailand, described the upsurge of Islamist groups in Bangladesh, a
country with a vast Muslim majority. In particular, he wrote that in
Bangladesh there were "radical groups linked to international terrorist
organizations".

During a session in parliament, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia denounced
those who "were trying, at home and abroad, to tarnish the country's
image by spreading false and malicious information". The article in the
Far Eastern Economic Review was headline news in the country's main
dailies. Some Bangladeshi editorialists confirmed the emergence of an
Islamist tendency but also noted certain errors in Bertil Lintner's
report.

RSF wishes to point out that the Dhaka authorities banned the February
2002 issue of Newsweek which contained an illustration of the Holy
Prophet. In September 2000 it banned an issue of the same magazine for an
article on Islam.

_____

#3.

"The News International", Pakistan, April 04, 2002

A tale of two Presidents

Praful Bidwai

Suddenly, the Presidency has become front-page news-in India, because=20
elections to that position are due in July; in Pakistan, because=20
Pervez Musharraf seems strongly inclined to hold a referendum on=20
extending his present tenure by five years. Both processes will=20
involve reference or consultation with the people to broadly=20
ascertain their will. But that's where the similarities end.

In India, a second term for President K R Narayanan-should he opt for=20
one-will strengthen democratic institutions and buttress healthy=20
pluralistic political processes, which are today menaced by the=20
Bharatiya Janata Party. In Pakistan, a fresh term for President=20
Musharraf would bear testimony to the weakness of the party system,=20
and might further enfeeble or distort it. It could potentially set=20
back the agenda of full democratisation. Consider this.

In India, a major change has quietly come about through the BJP's=20
successive defeats in state and municipal elections (the latest being=20
Delhi, where it sank from absolute majority to a miserable 17 seats=20
out of 134).

Although the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance rules at the=20
Centre, anti-NDA parties rule in more than half the states. The=20
Congress alone rules in 14; the Left in two. However, the BJP rules=20
in just three; and its biggest allies, Telugu Desam and Biju Janata=20
Dal, in one state each.

The electoral college that chooses India's President consists of all=20
Members of Parliament and State Legislatures, with each vote valued=20
broadly proportionately to the population represented. Today, within=20
the college, the votes of the NDA's opponents outnumber its=20
supporters' total. The NDA's 44 percent superiority in Parliament,=20
revealed in the vote on the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, will=20
be overwhelmed in the regions.

Clearly, an unusual situation has arisen, in which a Centre-Left=20
candidate can today become India's President without any support from=20
the ruling national coalition! This, in the first place, speaks well=20
of the strength of federalism despite the considerable difficulties=20
the ruling Establishment has had in acknowledging and adjusting to=20
federal/regionalist aspirations, especially in the Northeast and=20
Kashmir.

Secondly, Narayanan's re-election will be very good news indeed.=20
Narayanan is an outstanding and sagacious leader-one is tempted to=20
say, statesman-, a former diplomat and scholar of distinction, and a=20
pillar of rectitude and probity. His commitment to Constitutional=20
values is as solid as are his secularist convictions. Originally=20
recommended to the Indian Foreign Service by Nehru, no less,=20
Narayanan is a Dalit who imbibes Kerala's best traditions of=20
compassionate humanism and social reform.

To this day, Kerala remains unmatched, not just in India, but almost=20
the entire Third World, in human development achievements. China's=20
most prosperous provinces have taken decades of coercive family=20
planning to reduce the birth-rate broadly to the level Kerala had=20
sustainably reached by the 1970s-without force or lucrative rewards.

Narayanan is an enlightened leader. He often counsels sober advice=20
upon the government, albeit discreetly. He has repeatedly warned=20
against predatory globalisation and mindless neo-liberalism, and=20
their effects upon the poor. He once asked the Vajpayee cabinet to=20
reconsider its decision to impose Central/federal rule upon=20
Bihar-successfully.
Ideally, Narayanan would like to be a "consensus" candidate, one=20
supported by all major parties-as he was in 1997. But sections of the=20
BJP are uncomfortable with him both because of his=20
progressive-liberal views and his upright character. They thus=20
exaggerate or distort reports of his poor health, or falsely claim=20
there is a "norm" for a single term for President. In reality, this=20
isn't a convention, although only one Indian president (Rajendra=20
Prasad) has enjoyed two terms.

One can only hope Narayanan expresses his desire for a second term,=20
and that the Left, Congress, and other secularists support him,=20
overcoming the BJP's resistance. It would be a pity if India's=20
highest public office went by default to a partisan, less able or=20
principled person, like former Shiv Sena MP-BJP apologist Ram=20
Jethamalani, or the adventurist, unbalanced, Farooq Abdullah. India's=20
democracy-and its people-will gain from Narayanan's second term.

One can be much less sanguine about any extension of Musharraf's=20
Presidency, when his current incumbency lacks Constitutional sanction=20
or a democratic imprimatur. From a principled democratic standpoint,=20
Musharraf's 1999 coup can at maximum be rationalised as an=20
unfortunate, (hopefully) short, transient, aberration.

To say this is not to condone Nawaz Sharif's terrible misgovernance,=20
or confuse democracy with civilian rule. Democracy is more than rule=20
by periodically elected leaders. It involves indispensable freedoms=20
such as those of expression and association, institutional=20
arrangements such as separation of powers, accountable=20
decision-making, and observance of Constitutional norms and the rule=20
of law. Sharif didn't fulfil these conditions.

I am also acutely aware that Pakistan's progressive political, and=20
civil society, activists are divided over how, and with what=20
alternative arrangements, the present dispensation might be replaced.=20
Some would like a thorough cleansing of all jehadi elements from the=20
system before democratisation is resumed. Others cannot countenance=20
military rule-even briefly.

Ultimately, it is for Pakistan's people to decide what kind of=20
government they want. But one cannot help recalling one lesson of=20
history and some facts. The lesson is quite simply that nobody has an=20
effective solution to that basic paradox: how to "domesticate" or=20
"civilise" military rulers once they take over, however noble their=20
intentions or even early deeds. Who is to make them accountable? The=20
problem becomes all the more acute where the context comprises=20
crisis-ridden societies and states-typical of South Asia.

The paradox has repeatedly defied solution in Pakistan-under Ayub=20
Khan, Yahya Khan and Ziaul Haq. The military's continuing intrusion=20
into civilian and political life has imposed horrible burdens upon=20
democratic institutions, and eventually, the people. Take the=20
dangerous mix, evident till September 11, between the state and=20
religion, by way of sponsorship of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and=20
murderous groups in Kashmir (admittedly in conditions created by the=20
Indian state's own misguided policies). Mercifully, that trend was=20
sought to be reversed, raising new hopes since January 12.

Progressive-liberal Indians, who are well-disposed towards the=20
Pakistani people, cannot but be dismayed by recent actions on=20
Islamabad's part which might result in nullifying, even betraying,=20
those hopes. Prime among these is the release of hundreds of suspects=20
arrested in the "anti-terrorist" clampdown that many of us sincerely=20
welcomed, including me.

Musharraf has since said, according to The Washington Post, that he=20
would rather hang Sheikh Omar Sayeed himself than extradite him.=20
Former Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed has just been=20
released. All this looks like serious backsliding from many promises,=20
some reiterated on Pakistan Day.

If Musharraf wants a fresh mandate for his "reform", the logical=20
course would be to wait for the national elections due by October,=20
and then contest for the post Constitutionally. A referendum is=20
liable to be seen as a shortcut-and a distortion of the spirit of=20
democracy. Future attempts to keep a democratically elected=20
government under the "check" of the unelected National Security=20
Council won't redeem the Pakistan situation, already aggravated by=20
the church attack in Islamabad.

Any "expedient" moves that shortcircuit Pakistan's democratisation=20
will encourage India's hawks, and make long-overdue India-Pakistan=20
reconciliation more difficult. What a setback that will be!--end--

______

#4.

MINORITIES CANNOT BE AT THE MERCY OF RSS

Asghar Ali Engineer

[Secular Perspective April 1-15, 2002]

Recently RSS has advised minorities, especially Muslims that their=20
safety depends on the goodwill of the majority community. Such=20
statements by themselves do not create any goodwill among minorities.=20
It almost amounts to veiled threat. All secularists and leaders of=20
minority communities including Christians have rightly condemned this=20
resolution passed at the Banglore session of RSS

In fact all the communities should have each other's goodwill.=20
The safety and security of the country depends on harmony among all=20
the communities. That is self evident. However, no community, whether=20
in minority or majority can insist that its security depends on the=20
goodwill of the other community. All communities and all individuals=20
have equal rights according to the Indian Constitution. Every Muslim=20
has as much rights as every Hindu. And according to the=20
Constitutional theorists these rights do not accrue at the generosity=20
of the constitution makers but they are inherent rights, inherent in=20
individuals as human beings.

It is strange when world is recognising cultural and religious=20
plurality the RSS is rejecting it and going backwards. The West had=20
not known cultural and religious plurality until the first half of=20
twentieth century but when migration began from ex-colonial countries=20
of Africa and Asia to western countries, they (the western countries)=20
began to recognise cultural and religious plurality. The western=20
constitutional theorists not only recognised religio-cultural=20
pluralism but also accorded them equal rights. Let the RSS theorist=20
note that Indians in countries like U.K. or USA or Canada do not live=20
their at the mercy or goodwill of majority of those countries but=20
live there as of their constitutional rights accorded them after they=20
became citizens of those countries.

The rights accorded to Muslims and other minorities in Indian=20
Constitution are no way conditional on goodwill of any community.=20
These rights are absolute in every sense of the word. The=20
Constitution makers like Nehru, Ambedkar, Maulana Azad, Sardar Patel=20
and others were well aware of the modern constitutional theory and=20
the theory of inherent rights as individuals and hence they framed=20
the Indian Constitution accordingly. The Constitution makers were not=20
religious or cultural bigots as to make rights or security=20
conditional on anyone's goodwill.

The RSS which talks of Indian culture, is not aware of the fact that=20
India was always home to various religions and cultures. West=20
accepted plurality, as pointed out above, only recently whereas India=20
was plural in every sense of the word for centuries. India did not=20
owe its plurality to only those who came from outside i.e. Jews,=20
Christians and Muslims, as repeatedly asserted by the RSS but also=20
from within India there has always been plurality, both cultural and=20
religious. In fact there never was one religion or one culture in=20
this country. India has never seen religious or cultural homogeneity=20
in its known history.

It is also not a settled question as to who is Hindu and who=20
constitutes majority community. The word Hindu was hardly used in=20
religious sense in India until 18th century. It was British rulers=20
who began to use word Hindu in religious and homogenous sense. In=20
fact during the first census in 1872 the census commissioner divided=20
Indian population among Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis=20
and others. The census commissioner has hard time defining 'Hindu' in=20
religious sense. The census commissioner's report makes very=20
interesting reading as far as the discussion on the concept of Hindu=20
is concerned. He had very tough time defining it.

The word 'Hindu' in religious sense is a construct of the British=20
rulers who wanted to divide India into religious communities to=20
create animosity between them to make it easier to rule over them.=20
Religious identities in India were never the principal identities of=20
people. It is caste, linguistic and regional identities, which were=20
principal identities, not the religious identities. Religious=20
identities were far from being uniform. Each religion was divided=20
into several sects and sub-sects and these were basis of autonomous=20
communities.

Also, religion was never an important factor in medieval feudal=20
politics. Land relations and class were far more important factors=20
than religion in feudal politics. Religion was made an important=20
factor only in colonial period, as religion was far more emotionally=20
divisive than land relations or class. It was again during colonial=20
period that the concept of religious majority and minority became=20
important.

This divisive concept on the basis of religion was countered by our=20
freedom fighters and Congress leaders by adopting secularism. Thus=20
secularism was our only guarantee for unity and integrity. The RSS=20
leaders on the one hand, and Muslim Leaguers, on the other hand, were=20
not happy with the concept of secularism. Both rejected it. The RSS=20
was never comfortable with the concept of secularism. It is not even=20
today. Time and again they have denounced it as 'western concept' not=20
in keeping with the Indian cultural and religious ethos.

In fact the Sangh Parivar has always denounced secularism. The BJP=20
began to call Nehruvian model of secularism as 'pseudo-secularism'=20
and ridiculed it as amounting to 'appeasement of minorities'.=20
Throughout eighties the BJP attacked Nehruvian secularism though=20
while merging with the Janata Party in 1977 they had accepted=20
secularism and 'Gandhian socialism' and had taken pledge at Gandhi's=20
Samadhi to this effect. Since they wanted to come to power with the=20
help of Janata party they accepted secularism without questioning it.=20
But when they went out of power and separated from Janata Party they=20
began attacking secularism. Is it not sheer opportunism. And the=20
Sangh Parivar acts on advice from the RSS.

Since the RSS rejects Nehruvian model of secularism which is the=20
Constitutional secularism also, it talks of 'Hindu majority' as=20
hegemonic and minorities at the mercy of the hegemonic majority. In=20
fact this concept is totally undemocratic. Religious majority and=20
religious minority are a different category from political majority=20
and political minority. We have firmly rejected the concept of=20
separate electorate for the same reason. Religious minority has some=20
safeguards in the Constitution only to the extent of preservation of=20
its religion and religious identity. Politically it may be part of=20
political majority or political minority. The Indian Muslims have=20
always been voting for secular parties, which, constitute political=20
majority either in the Centre or in the states. Though a religious=20
minority they have always been part of political majority.

The Indian national Congress firmly rejected the concept of two=20
nation and it was this notion which resulted in division of this=20
country. The two- nation theory came into being because of this=20
attitude on the part of Hindu Mahasabha and RSS that religious=20
minorities should be at the mercy of religious majority. It is a=20
well-known fact that Vir Savarkar had propounded two -nation theory=20
before Jinnah did in the Ahmedabad session of Hindu Mahasabha in 1938.

We have entered a period of globalisation. Today no nation is=20
mono-religious or mono-cultural. Due to economic migrations all=20
nations are becoming pluralistic and hence pluralism is called a=20
post-modern concept. All religious and cultural minorities are=20
enjoying equal constitutional rights throughout the world. How can=20
then RSS maintain that Muslims should earn goodwill of Hindus in=20
order to secure their safety in India. It is totally against our=20
Constitutional ethos and an insult to our Constitution makers and=20
freedom fighters.

Such an attitude poses danger not only to Muslims but also to many=20
others in India. Many dalit organisations maintain that they are not=20
Hindus. Many followers of Ambedkar have renounced Hinduism and have=20
embraced Buddhism. Will they not be on firing line after Muslims and=20
Christians? And who will define who is Hindu? The RSS? It stands by=20
only Brahmanical Hinduism and Brahmanical culture, Vedic religion and=20
Vedic culture. Hinduism can be confined to any one scripture or any=20
one cultural stream. Whenever you associate religion with politics=20
religion tends to get more and more sectarian. The believers then=20
cannot decide authenticity of their belief, it is politicians who=20
will decide it. This is precisely what is happening in Pakistan and=20
Jehadi Islam is becoming more and more 'authentic' Islam.

And goodwill, it must be noted, should be multilateral, not=20
unilateral in a genuine democracy. If it tends to become unilateral=20
intolerance will grow and you cannot build democratic culture on=20
intolerance. Violence and intolerance will destroy democracy and=20
democratic culture. Unfortunately violence and intolerance is growing=20
in India today as never before. The genocide in Gujarat is not a=20
sudden development. It is the result of years of hate propaganda=20
against minorities. What the Sangh Parivar is doing will not be=20
acceptable by any modern democratic country. It is systematically=20
destroying India's age-old tolerance and pluralistic ethos. India had=20
never witnessed such communal violence as it is witnessing in Gujarat.

India cannot become great nation by having nuclear weapons. It can=20
become great only by ensuring implementation of Constitutional=20
provisions. It cannot prosper by creating one controversy after the=20
other against minorities. It can become great only by winning the=20
hearts and minds of all, including minorities.

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

_____

#5.

Communal Upheaval as the Resurgence of Social-Darwinism
by Jan Breman
http://www.onlinevolunteers.org/gujarat/social-darwinism.pdf

_____

#6.

STATEMENT BY NETWORK OF WOMEN IN MEDIA, INDIA

The Network of Women in Media, India strongly condemns the attack by the
local police on its Ahmedabad coordinator, Ms Sonal Kellog, a reporter
with the "Asian Age" on the eve of the Prime Minister's belated visit to
Gujarat.

Ms Kellog was abused and hit by policemen yesterday (April 3) in the
course of a reporting assignment in the walled city area of Gomtipur.=20
Ms Kellog
was talking to women who had themselves been beaten by the police. Before
she could begin taking down their testimonies, policemen surrounded her
and a male journalist with her, abused her and hit her and her colleague.

This is not the first such incident that has taken place in Gujarat since
the communal carnage was let loose on February 28. And given the
indifference of the police, including the police commissioner of the city
who brushed off Ms Kellog's complaint, it is clearly not the last.

The attack on Ms Kellog and other journalists in the state exposes the
Gujarat government's complicity in attempting to silence the media and
thereby suppress information about the extent of the brutality and
violence in the state. Particularly worrying is the fact that the=20
law enforcing
machinery, which is supposed to protect citizens, is turning on them and
even on journalists doing their assigned task of reporting news. In such a
situation, the very concept of "freedom of the press" is put at risk.

_____

#7.

The Times of India

An effort to heal the wounds
DEEPIKA SAHU
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ THURSDAY, APRIL 04, 2002 3:31:17 AM ]
Even as violence continues in Ahmedabad, the larger question of=20
relief, rehabilitation and most importantly building a society=20
without barriers, looms large over the horizon. It's a difficult=20
task, undoubtedly.
Almost one lakh people living in 64 camps across the city present a=20
disturbing picture. Beyond the immediate question of relief, the=20
issue of building a society bereft of any mistrust, prejudices and=20
stereo-typed images also worries many. Is there any scope for=20
rational thinking in a society ravaged by communal hatred?
In this moment of darkness, there is a ray of hope in the form of=20
rational individuals, non-governmental organisations and some=20
spirited citizens. One such endeavour is Society for the Promotion of=20
Rational Thinking (SPRAT).
A humble effort to reassert the supremacy of reason over religious=20
faith, to encourage secular values and social transformation at the=20
grass-root level. As an immediate reaction to the mindless violence=20
and destruction, SPART has swung into action. Immediately after the=20
riots, the organisation has been involved in the relief work.
"Initially we provided the victims with food, medicine and clothes=20
Our resources are limited so keeping that in mind we have chalked out=20
a specific plan. In Gomtipur camps, we provided slates, pencil and=20
books to children who showed an interest to study. It was quite=20
encouraging to see their enthusiasm to study even though these=20
children have lost their homes and family members in the riots," says=20
an official of SPRAT.
The Citizen's Initiative (collective body of 30 NGOs) has also been=20
actively involved in the relief and rehabilitation work. 'We have=20
been involved in relief work from the day one. Our medical team went=20
to violence affected areas and treated the victims. We have built=20
toilets in the camps to provide for better sanitation facilities. As=20
part of the relief package we have also started day care centres in=20
these camps also. There are special teams for giving trauma=20
counselling to the children," says Father Victor Moses. Citizen's=20
Initiative is also collaborating with Unicef for relief work. They=20
are providing play-kits and music kits for the children in camps.
Disha is also actively involved in the relief work. "As part of the=20
relief package we have provided sanitary kits to the victims in=20
Sabarkantha district. We also provided kitchen kit for 3,000 families=20
in the camps. We have also given school books and bags to the=20
children," says Madhusudan Mistry.
Even outside the state, different organisations are involved in=20
raising help for the riot victims. Sahmat recently organised an art=20
exhibition in New Delhi to raise funds for relief work. "We had given=20
call to artists all over the country to send their works for this=20
special exhibition. 125 works were displayed in this special=20
fund-raising exhibition at Gallery of Fine arts and literature, New=20
Delhi. Hakubhai Shah, noted painter from Ahmedabad also participated=20
in the exhibition. We managed to raise Rs 4 lakh from this exhibition=20
which will go to Committee for Justice and Peace. This is an effort=20
to show our solidarity for principles of communal harmony," says=20
Rajan Prasad of Sahmat.
Even as relief work goes on at different levels, SPRAT is all geared=20
up for creating awareness on principles of rationality. As the=20
organisation strongly believes that "Communal hatred is a=20
manifestation of lack of rationality. The entire spectre of violence=20
is nothing but a set of illogical and irrational values which only=20
spreads myths, prejudices about different communities."
SPRAT proposes to organise popular lectures, issue newsletters and=20
pamphlets in print and via email, raise its voice against fanaticism=20
and generally to popularise greater understanding of virtues of=20
rationality. It also believes that education and awareness is the key=20
to building a society without hatred. Their immediate response,=20
therefore, has resulted into RIOTINFO, a communication portal on=20
these riots that betray complete insanity.
A project of SPRAT, Riotinfo is an effort to share views and=20
information. As the city slowly moves forward to put the threads of=20
life together, it is time for like-minded individuals and=20
organisation to join hands together for building a society where the=20
mind will be held high without any fear. A society where one will not=20
be sacred to reveal his/her identity.

_____

#8.

The Week, April 7, 2002
COVER STORY

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

As Hindu fanatics mount a campaign for economic boycott of Muslims,=20
the fear-stricken community thinks of living in ghettos

By Anosh Malekar/Ahmedabad

Allah and Ishwar are one
Do not fight over a temple or mosque
Politicians fight for power
The huts of the poor are set aflame
The lust for power is the fuel
Look at what has happened to our city
For someone's fault someone else is punished
If we, the people, live in harmony
Nobody will dare to divide us
This is the message of communal harmony.
Translation of a song popularised in Ahmedabad slums following riots in 199=
2-93

There is enough religion in Gujarat to hate one another. A=20
chain-letter that sneaks into the drawing-rooms in the folds of the=20
morning newspaper invokes the curse of gods on those who do not make=20
copies and propagate it. In the chilling message, 'a true Hindu=20
patriot' exhorts his brethren to pledge never to use a Muslim's hotel=20
or garage, never to buy from or sell to a Muslim, never to see a film=20
of a Muslim hero or heroine, never to employ or work under a Muslim,=20
and never to teach or learn from a Muslim.

"They want to cause our economic breakdown and then play godfathers=20
saying, 'We can save you provided you agree to all our terms and=20
conditions'," says businessman Mehboob Topiwala, even as Vishwa Hindu=20
Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal leaders disown the anonymous leaflets=20
strewn all over the city. "The violence may subside but the=20
psychological battle has just begun," he says. VHP general secretary=20
Pravin Togadia saysit is the psychological assassination of Hindus=20
that they are revolting against.

Refugees at the Chartoda Kabrasthan camp complain that authorities=20
have imposed an undeclared boycott on them (Left, riot victims at=20
Juhapura)

On the physical plane, however, "the miscreants have already=20
succeeded in spreading the hate campaign," as social activist Kiran=20
Nanavati says. On the morning of March 24, an armed mob of 50 waylaid=20
Munna Salim Sheikh, 32, and his wife, Mumtaz Bano, 30, who were=20
riding a scooter at Vejalpur in Ahmedabad. The crowd let Mumtaz go=20
when she told them her maiden name, Geeta. But not convinced by his=20
first name-a common name among the Marwaris-they asked him to expose=20
himself for proof and, finding no foreskin, stabbed him. They then=20
turned on Mumtaz, disrobed her and lynched her.

In Baroda, Raja Masani, an English teacher, was brutally murdered in=20
front of his wife, Poorvi. She had fallen into the 'love-trap of a=20
Muslim', as mentioned in the leaflet, and the accused admitted that=20
they wanted to teach Masani a lesson for marrying a Hindu girl.

During the riots 1,679 houses, 1,965 shops and 21 godowns were burnt,=20
204 shops looted and 76 shrines damaged in Ahmedabad. Most of them=20
belonged to Muslims. At Himmatnagar in north Gujarat, a 5,000-strong=20
mob set ablaze Takiawala Masjid and a dargah before destroying a=20
hotel and a dozen shops. In nearby Modassa, eight trucks owned by=20
Muslims were set ablaze. Minority areas like Kalupur, Dariapur,=20
Shahpur, Karanj, Dani Limbda and Vejalpur were under curfew even a=20
month later.

Even Justice J.S. Verma, chairperson of the National Human Rights=20
Commission, who visited Gujarat on March 20 was not safe for a=20
moment. Just as he got into his car to leave the Circuit House after=20
meeting human rights groups and individuals, a band of activists=20
mobbed his car and raised slogans against him in full view of a posse=20
of police.

Consumed by hatred Mumtaz Bano, who was Geeta before her marriage to=20
a Muslim, was disrobed and lynched

The "sick, perverted mentality", as Nanavati describes it, raised its=20
ugly head in the corridors of power last week when Civil Supplies=20
Minister Bharat Barot sent a letter to Minister of State for Home=20
Gordhan Zadaphia seeking to dismantle three relief camps in his=20
constituency, Dariapur-Kazipur, in Ahmedabad. The camps shelter more=20
than 6,000 survivors of the murderous violence at Naroda-Patia and=20
Chamanpura. "Hindu residents said they felt insecure because of the=20
large number of Muslims in the camps," he explained. Barot's plea,=20
however, was turned down, thanks to vehement criticism of the=20
Narendra Modi government in dealing with the riots and in the=20
selective use of Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance in the Godhra=20
incident.

Young volunteers like Riyaz Sheikh are piqued by Modi's attitude.=20
Pointing to the temple outside the camp at Shahibaug Municipal School=20
No. 4, he says, "We have not touched the Hindus, their temples or=20
business establishments. This is only to provoke us." Ataullah=20
Naimullah Iraqi, instrumental in organising the camp sheltering 700=20
people at Dudheshwar, says there has been not any friction with the=20
Hindu shop owners opposite the relief camp.

The government machinery itself has lent little support to set up the=20
camps at Shahibaug and Mehndikuwa sheltering more than 5,000 Muslims.=20
"Still we remain suspects in the eyes of the police," says Mumbai=20
businessman Rais Khan, who has a home in Jamalpur locality of=20
Ahmedabad. "This is worse than the Mumbai riots."

Refugees at the Chartoda Kabrasthan camp in Gomtipur complain that=20
district authorities have imposed an undeclared boycott on them.=20
"They ask us to make our own arrangements to collect supplies from=20
distant Shahpur," says G.M. Mulla, who manages the camp. "I know when=20
my boys go in vehicles they will arrest them as rioters."

Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Barot sent a letter to the home=20
minister to dismantle three relief camps in his constituency (Right,=20
survivors in a camp)

The nearly 6,000 people at Baqar Shah Ka Rauza prefer the peace in=20
the graveyard-turned-camp to going back home though they get no=20
government supplies as they are not officially refugees. "The=20
graveyard is surrounded by a thick Muslim settlement. Nobody can=20
penetrate here," says Arman Sattar Khan, 21, of Panalal ki Chali.

Many like Fazal Gandhi would like to shift their residence to areas=20
mainly populated by Muslims. A third-generation businessman, Gandhi=20
has decided to shift to Juhapura as miscreants burnt down his=20
third-floor flat in Paldi. "We cannot trust the Modi government and=20
its police anymore," he says. Gandhi had made a conscious attempt to=20
get out of a ghetto like Kalupur after the 1985 anti-reservation=20
riots, hoping for a better future for his three children. But he=20
regrets that they would end up in ghettos again.

Sophiya Khan, a lawyer-activist who runs an NGO Vikas Adhyayan=20
Kendra, relates her first-hand experience of the high-handed=20
behaviour of the police, accused of inaction even at the worst=20
instances of violence. Past midnight on March 16, one of her cousins=20
was injured in a mob attack at Shahpur. She called the officers on=20
duty and arranged to take him to hospital along with other injured.=20
Two of her cousins accompanied them.

The next morning she learnt that the police had picked up the two=20
youngsters on charges of attempt to murder. "On paper they were shown=20
arrested red-handed on the streets. All I could do was to get them=20
out on bail," she says. A senior police officer told her, "When you=20
burn wet wood, the dry sticks too get burnt."

They want to cause our economic breakdown and then play godfathers,=20
says businessman Mehboob Topiwala (Below, the hate message)
Jai Shri Ram

Wake up! Arise! Think! Enforce!
Save the country! Save the religion!

Economic boycott is the only solution! The anti-national elements use the
money earned from the Hindus to destroy us!
They buy arms! They molest our sisters and daughters! The way to
break the backbone of these elements is: An economic
non-cooperation movement.

Let us resolve:
1. From now on I will not buy anything from a Muslim shopkeeper!
2. I will not sell anything from my shop to such elements!
3. Neither shall I use the hotels of these anti-nationals, nor their garage=
s!
4. I shall give my vehicles only to Hindu garages! From a needle to=20
gold, I shall not buy anything made by Muslims, neither shall we sell=20
them things made by us!
5. Boycott wholeheartedly films in which Muslim hero-heroines act!=20
Throw out films produced by these anti-nationals!
6. Never work in offices of Muslims! Do not hire them!
7. Do not let them buy offices in our business premises, nor sell or=20
rent out houses to them in our housing societies, colonies or=20
communities.
8. I shall certainly vote, but only for him who will protect the Hindu nati=
on.
9. I shall be alert to ensure that our sisters-daughters do not fall=20
into the 'love-trap' of Muslim boys at school-college-workplace.
10. I shall not receive any education or training from a Muslim teacher.
Such a strict economic boycott will throttle these elements! It will=20
break their backbone! Then it will be difficult for them to live in=20
any corner of this country. Friends, begin this economic boycott from=20
today! Then no Muslim will raise his head before us! Did you read=20
this leaflet? Then make ten photocopies of it, and distribute it to=20
our brothers. The curse of Hanumanji be on him who does not implement=20
this, and distribute it to others! The curse of Ramchandraji also be=20
on him! Jai Shriram!

A true Hindu patriot

She fears that hundreds of Muslims may have been massacred in rural=20
areas. "It is nothing short of ethnic cleansing," she says. "The=20
VHP-Bajrang Dal campaign has prompted even tribals and Dalits to turn=20
against Muslims," says Sophiya about mob lootings of shops that=20
continue in the predominantly tribal Chhota Udepur town near Baroda.=20
This has put a number of NGOs working for the uplift of the tribals=20
and Dalits in a bind.

"There is nothing more frightening than referring to refugee camps as=20
Hindu Chhavnis and Muslim Rahat," says Father Cedric Prakash of=20
Prashant, a centre for human rights, justice and peace. He says=20
well-meaning individuals are being dubbed as pseudo-secularists and=20
attacked for helping the 90,000 refugees across the state, most of=20
whom are Muslim. "The only option left for the minorities is to get=20
out. How can you trust anybody here?"

Time is not far away when Muslims and other minorities will have to=20
fortify their homes with barbed walls and alarm systems as in South=20
Africa or Zimbabwe, says Prakash. Togadia offers a simple solution.=20
"They will have to go to Pakistan if there are going to be more=20
Godhra-like incidents."

The mindless mayhem has already taken its toll on the state's=20
economy. Discussions in the recent Budget session of the Assembly=20
revolved round Gujarati grit and resilience in the wake of repeated=20
natural calamities. But while Industries Minister Suresh Mehta keeps=20
the losses due to the man-made calamity at Rs 56 crore, the=20
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) estimates it at 35 times that.

Addressing Gujarati businessmen recently, Wipro chief Azim=20
Premji-whose ancestors are from Kutch-warned that multinationals=20
would not set up operations in Ahmedabad or Gujarat for at least a=20
couple of years because of high risk.
But Premji had touched a raw nerve. "A Gujarati needs no schooling=20
from Premji when it comes to garbo (traditional dance) and dhando=20
(business)," said a member of the audience. "As upwardly-mobile=20
individuals, they smell money the way animals smell wind." For the=20
present they are smelling blood. And it is only the dance of death=20
and the dreadful business of destruction that one sees everywhere.

[...]

Justice on the run
Even High Court judges become refugees
Petrol bombs and acid bulbs were being hurled at their flat in Kazmee=20
Apartments in upmarket Paldi in Ahmedabad on February 28 when Justice=20
Akbar N. Divecha and his wife, Maleka, fled their building. "We were=20
thinking of returning once the situation calmed down," says the=20
former judge of the Gujarat High Court who took refuge in a friend's=20
house.

Narrow escape: Justice Divecha wih wife

Later, he received a phone that his flat was on fire. He contacted=20
Health Minister Ashok Bhatt, who assured him that his property would=20
be protected. Officers at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation called=20
back to inform him that the fire had been doused. Two hours later,=20
the couple was shocked to hear that all three floors of the building=20
were up in flames.

"My wife is yet to recover from the trauma," says Divecha, who was=20
Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission chairman and=20
currently heads an expert committee constituted by the state=20
government.

The couple had previously lived at Juhapura, a Muslim locality. "We=20
wanted to stay in a cosmopolitan environment," says Divecha, who=20
moved to Paldi two years ago. "It was a good neighbourhood with the=20
Jain Merchants' Society and Saraswati Society adjoining our building.=20
I would like to go back once normalcy is restored, subject to my=20
wife's approval of course."

"All these years, it never occurred to us that we were Muslims and=20
therefore different," says Maleka. The arsonists did not spare the=20
National Citizen's Award that Divecha had won for outstanding=20
contribution in the field of jurisprudence and consumer protection.=20
They dismantled the iron grille of the front door of their home and=20
set the door on fire. The sofa was burnt and the television, cordless=20
phone and other valuables were stolen.

Divecha was offered a place to stay at the judges' bungalows. "We=20
chose this one because it is away from the gaze of the man on the=20
street." Despite what transpired, the retired judge has not lost=20
faith in humanity and does not regret his decision to shift to a=20
mixed locality.

The plight of Justice M.H. Kadri, a sitting judge of the High Court,=20
was no different in spite of the position he held. According to a=20
written submission before the National Human Rights Commission by=20
retired Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, A.P. Ravani, Kadri=20
and his family had to shift from his official residence to the=20
bungalow of a brother judge on the night of February 28.

When Ravani rushed to meet the judge, he learnt that the Army's=20
intelligence officers felt that the judge's safety could not be left=20
to the local police. "I told Kadri that ground realities proved that=20
constitutional philosophy was only fit for the books. I advised him=20
to shift to a safer place," says Justice Ravani. Later, Kadri and his=20
family, including an ailing mother, moved to a relative's house under=20
Army escort.
AM

--=20
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