[sacw] SACW #1 | 26 April. 02

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire Dispatch #1 | 26 April 2002
http://www.mnet.fr

__________________________

#1. India: Public Hearing of Gujarat Genocide survivors (April 26,=20
2002, New Delhi)
#2. India: Appeal to help build Bridges of Hope and Peace in Gujarat
#2. India- Pakistan: Let's collaborate on heinous crime! (Praful Bidwai)
#4. Sri Lanka: Dilemmas of the Peace Process (Sunil Bastian)
#5. VHP in Sri Lanka (N. Shanmugaratnam)
#6. India: How Has The Gujarat Massacre Affected Minority Women The=20
Survivors Speak - Fact-finding report by a Women's Panel
#7. Frantic Search For British Lost In Gujarat Riots (Luke Harding)
#8. UK report censures Gujarat rulers (BBC - Jill McGivering )
#9. India: Letters to the editor (Yousuf)
#10. Gujarat: return to the deadly past (Sultan Shahin)
__________________________

#1.
Communalism Combat/ Sahmat

GUJARAT GENOCIDE-2002
Testimony of Survivors

Communalism Combat and SAHMAT are organising a Public Hearing of=20
Gujarat Genocide survivors Today April 26, 2002 from 3.00 pm to 6.00=20
pm for the media and concerned citizens and on April 27 , 2002 from=20
10am-1 pm for political leaders at the Speaker's Hall, Constitution=20
Club, Rafi Marg, New Delhi-110001

>From amongst over a lakh of victims of communal carnage living in=20
relief camps in Gujarat for over six weeks now, around 40 victims=20
reached Delhi early this morning to narrate their harrowing=20
experiences.

We request you to come and meet the victims today from 3 pm to 6 pm=20
at the Speaker's Hall, Constitution Club, Rafi Marg, New Delhi-110001

Your support and solidarity as well as the fight for the cause will=20
go a long way in ameliorating their conditions.

Shabnam Hashmi/ Teesta Setalwad

3711276/ 3351424

PS

1.We are also organising a contributory community dinner in the late=20
evening at the VP House lawns. A token contribution of Rs 50 would be=20
appreciated .
2. Exhibitions on Gujarat would be on display at the lawns.
3. Please circulate the information as due to security reasons this=20
is the first information being sent out about the public hearing.

_____

#2.

APPEAL TO HELP BUILD BRIDGES OF HOPE AND PEACE IN GUJARAT

The following appeal has been issued by Aman Ekta Manch, a=20
Delhi-based initiative of concerned individuals and groups.

9 yr. old : Who all in your family=8A?
11 yr. old : My father was killed. My mother and sister are in=20
hospital. My uncle=8A What about you?
9 yr. old : Everyone, my father, mother, two brothers and three=20
sisters=8A I have no one and nowhere to go=8A

Overheard At A Relief Camp

The orgy of communal violence that has engulfed Gujarat has killed=20
over 2000 citizens and turned 100,000 more into refugees in their own=20
country. Terror-stricken women, men and children are living in=20
sub-human conditions in 102 refugee camps. There are new-born babies=20
and orphans who need to be fed, clothed and cared for. Unfortunately,=20
there is a dearth of everything, especially food, water, medicine and=20
clothing. And in the unsanitary conditions caused by overcrowding,=20
widespread disease threatens to engulf the camps.

These people have lost everything, their homes, their near and dear=20
ones, their life-savings and their livelihoods. Housing complexes=20
have been turned to rubble. Business establishments, including=20
hundreds of restaurants, bakeries, factories and shops have been=20
reduced to ashes.

Hidden behind these statistics are the real costs of the carnage.=20
Children who have lost their childhood: left with no family, no food,=20
no water, no school, no books, no play. Women who have borne the=20
trauma of sexual assault and rape. Young adults on the threshold of a=20
promising future, seeing nothing but darkness ahead.

Trust and hope have been other major casualties along the way.

The need of the hour is to augment the resources and strength of=20
those who are working round the clock in relief camps to provide=20
succour to people, and to restore peace, amity and trust.

Down the years, as concerned citizens from all walks of life, we have=20
come together in times of tragedy. Can we look within and draw upon=20
our feelings to reach out to the people of Gujarat? Do we want to=20
keep the 'religion' of humanism alive? Do we wish to save the=20
multi-hued social fabric of the country?

This is the time for all of us to help in any way we can.

Financial contributions

Cash donations can be made to members of Aman Ekta Manch against a receipt.

Cheques/drafts can be made to
Sahaj, 1 Tejas Apartments, 53 Haribhakti Colony, Race Course,=20
Vadodara 390007, India
St. Xavier's Social Service Society, P.O. Box 4088, Navarangpura,=20
Ahmedabad, 380009, Gujarat, India
Action Aid India Society (For Aman Samudaya), Action Aid, 71 Uday=20
Park, New Delhi-110049, India
(All donations are Tax Exempt under Sec 80G. St. Xavier's and Action=20
Aid India also have FCRA clearance, and can therefore also receive=20
foreign donations.)

Material Aid (please make sure everything is in good condition and=20
neatly packed)

Clothes for men, women and children, old and young
Bedsheets, towels, durries
Crayons, School-bags, Games, Puzzles, Note-books, Toys (except=20
battery operated), Story-books (in Hindi or pictorial ones)
Footwear
Household items like vessels, plates, glasses, etc.

Volunteering

Whether you are a story-teller, a doctor, a nurse, a teacher, a=20
counsellor or a student, you can also offer your skills/professional=20
assistance to teams working at the relief camps.

Collection Centres in Delhi :

1. Indian Social Institute, 10 Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110=
003.
Tel. : 4625015, 4622379. E-mail : isi@u...
(Prakash Louis)

2. Vidyajyoti, 4 A Rajniwas Marg, Delhi-110054
Tel : 3943556. E-mail : tkjohnsj@h...
(Father T.K. John)

3. Gandhi Peace Foundation, 221-223 Deendayal Upadhyaya Marg, New Delhi-110=
002
Tel : 3237493, 3237491 (O).
[Ramesh Sharma (Res.) 3218129)]

For more information contact :

1. Malvika, Kiran C/o Action Aid : 6510254/351
2. Indra Bhatia : 4626413
3. Vani Subramanian (Saheli) 6854504 (R)

The blood that runs in our veins is one colour...
Whether we be rich or poor
The breath that gives us life is also one=8A
Whether we be Muslim or Hindu

_____

#3.

"The News International", Pakistan, April 25, 2002

LET'S COLLABORATE ON HEINOUS CRIME!

By Praful Bidwai

Is it at all possible for Indians and Pakistanis to work together in=20
these terribly dark times, when our mutual relations have reached=20
their lowest point-and just when the Gujarat communal carnage weighs=20
heavily on Indian minds and on the South Asian political compass? The=20
present moment offers a unique opportunity to liberal, progressive,=20
secular people in the two countries to collaborate on an agenda of=20
bringing to book those responsible for crimes against humanity.

Sounds strange? Unrealistic? Consider the following.

It is now established by numerous independent citizens' reports that=20
Gujarat's post-Godhra (Feb 27) violence has been nothing short of a=20
pogrom (targeted massacre) of Muslims, aided and abetted, indeed=20
sponsored, by Narendra Modi's BJP government. It could not have=20
acquired the diabolical dimensions it did without the collusion of=20
the state machinery, especially the police-in total, comprehensive,=20
violation of the Indian Constitution.

This collusion remains an egregious reality today as the BJP-RSS-VHP=20
continue to terrorise and intimidate innocent Muslim citizens, and as=20
Modi refuses to stop discriminating against them.

VHP international general secretary Praveen Togadia now speaks openly=20
of a "Final Settlement" of the Hindu-Muslim question-much like the=20
Nazis' "Final Solution" of the Jewish question.

The Gujarat massacre broadly fits the definition of "genocide" in the=20
United Nations-sponsored 1948 Genocide Convention, comprising "acts=20
with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic,=20
racial or religious group", such as "killing members of the group";=20
"causing serious bodily or mental harm"; "deliberately inflicting on=20
the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical=20
destruction", or "imposing measures intended to prevent births within=20
the group"; etc (Article II).

Even on a more restricted, conservative, interpretation, the Gujarat=20
violence constitutes "crimes against humanity", defined in the 1998=20
Rome treaty for establishing an International Criminal Court-such as=20
"widespread or systematic extermination of civilians", "enslavement",=20
torture, "rape, forced pregnancy", "persecution on political, racial,=20
ethnic or religious grounds", and "enforced disappearances".

Thus, members of Modi's cabinet, and civil servants and policemen=20
guilty of colluding with communal thugs can, and should, be properly=20
prosecuted for these serious crimes. This is unlikely to happen in a=20
hurry in Gujarat, where they are themselves in power, and where the=20
state alone can initiate criminal proceedings against anyone. Indeed,=20
even proper FIRs are not being filed in Gujarat.

But there are other fora in the world, which accept universal=20
jurisdiction for heinous crimes, irrespective of the accused person's=20
nationality.

Trial and punishment is an absolute precondition for deterring=20
ghastly crimes in the future-the least their victims and relatives=20
deserve. It is also what elementary Constitutional legality and=20
democratic decency demand.

Some Indians settled abroad are exploring these prosecution avenues.

In Pakistan too, members of numerous fundamentalist groups must be=20
arraigned for serious or bestial hate crimes, and for crimes against=20
humanity. They include jehadi fanatics who systematically target=20
minorities such as the Shias, Ahmedis, Christians and Hindus, and=20
people like Ahmed Omar Shaikh, Hafiz Mohammed Saeed and Masood Azhar,=20
and their collaborators in government, whose links with the Taliban=20
are well-established, as is their involvement in ghastly killings.

Their prosecution is the least that can be done to punish the=20
perpetrators of Taliban-style violence, who have played havoc with=20
Pakistan and its neighbourhood. They too are unlikely to be=20
prosecuted properly and thoroughly in Pakistan for the entire range=20
of their crimes. That is the regrettable signal from recent moves,=20
including the release of a majority of jehadi suspects detained after=20
January 12.

Liberals in both Pakistan and India have a major stake in bringing=20
these criminals to book-as part of their struggle against sectarian=20
barbarism-and to "civilise" their own rulers. Indeed, this ought to=20
be a mission for them.

It stands to reason, then, that people of Indian and Pakistani origin=20
living in countries that afford a good legal forum for prosecution of=20
hate-crimes should start working together. Their first task is to=20
familiarise themselves with the general background of their subject=20
and with specific facts-whether in Gujarat or Sindh/Punjab/NWFP.

In India, there are at least five major non-governmental reports on=20
Gujarat-by the Delhi-based Citizens' Forum led by S P Shukla and K S=20
Subramanian, by a Women's Panel sponsored by Citizen's Initiative,=20
Ahmedabad, by the People's Union for Civil Liberties, by the Safdar=20
Hashmi Memorial Trust, and by the All-India Democratic Women's=20
Association.

In addition, there are the reports of the (official) National Human=20
Rights Commission and the Minorities Commission-and scores of=20
authentic media stories, as well as Gopal Menon's 25-minute film,=20
"Genocide in the Land of Gandhi".

A second step should be to form broad-based Indian-Pakistani, or more=20
inclusively, South Asian, groups dedicated to human rights and=20
secular principles in UK cities like London, Bradford, Birmingham and=20
Southall, and in American states like New York, New Jersey,=20
California and Illinois, where Indians and Pakistanis are numerous.=20
Some of them have a proud history of solidarising and working=20
remarkably well together as a bloc.

Third, such groups should launch criminal proceedings in countries=20
like Belgium which have recently passed laws based on universal=20
jurisdiction. In some other countries too, (eg Austria, Canada,=20
Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, UK),=20
prosecutors have successfully investigated and completed cases=20
involving crimes committed abroad.

So far as civil litigation goes-including compensation for loss of=20
life, injury and damage to property-it can be instituted in the US=20
under the Alien Torts statute. This law has been used to pursue=20
dictators such as Radovan Karadzic and Ferdinand Marcos.

It is most unlikely that the Indian or Pakistani governments will=20
accept the jurisdiction of such fora, or accede to their arrest=20
warrants. But their refusal cannot enhance their credibility. It will=20
be deeply embarrassing for them to be seen to be mulishly=20
uncooperative.

As for the argument that such prosecution will violate=20
India's/Pakistan's "national sovereignty", it bears recalling that=20
New Delhi and Islamabad have voluntarily become parties to any number=20
of human rights and labour treaties which limit their sovereignty.

Invoking a 17th century notion of "absolute sovereignty" based on the=20
Treaty of Westphalia is no defence against genocide, or crimes=20
against humanity. Nothing gives anyone impunity for such crimes.

For the future, there is the International Criminal Court, which has=20
inherent global jurisdiction in respect of genocide, war crimes and=20
crimes against humanity. The ICC treaty now has more ratifications=20
than it needs.

The court will formally be born on July 1-despite dogged opposition=20
from the US, India, and to an extent, China. It will provide an=20
important forum for criminal prosecution. South Asians must learn to=20
use it-to empower ourselves in our common struggle for humanity and=20
democracy.

Postscript:-This Column (March 7) stated that the Godhra incident=20
might have "involved serious planning and preparations on the part of=20
Muslim communalists". This was based on early reports that "a several=20
hundreds-strong mob" had been "mobilised as early as 7 am" on Feb 27.=20
As access to Godhra improved, these reports were revised and=20
corrected by spot investigations, corroborated independently. Going=20
by these, Godhra was a largely unplanned, spontaneous, but=20
condemnable, episode. I stand corrected.

_____

#4.

Daily News (Colombo)
Wednesday 24th April 2002

DILEMMAS OF THE PEACE PROCESS
by Sunil Bastian

Deregulation of various sectors of the economy, privatisation of the=20
state-owned sector and intensification of the linkages with global=20
capitalism created these new avenues. The results of this=20
accumulation are seen both in the economy and society.

As Sri Lankans celebrate a new year culturally shared by both=20
Sinhalese and Tamils, peace is in the minds of many people. The more=20
positive atmosphere in the country because of recent developments in=20
the peace process is palpable. At the moment, except for die-hard=20
Sinhala extremists, a large majority of the population support the=20
peace process.

They support it for very good reasons.

Long years of war have shown how difficult it is to solve this type=20
of conflict through the clash of arms. The social and economic impact=20
of the war became unbearable for a small underdeveloped country like=20
Sri Lanka. However every peace process has political forces that=20
dominate it. The political outcome of the peace process depends very=20
much on the type of interests represented by these dominant political=20
forces.

For example, the political outcome of the transition witnessed in=20
South Africa is different from what could be achieved with the help=20
of bombs of a superpower in Afghanistan.

In South Africa transition from apartheid rule was spearheaded by the=20
African National Congress which has a wide social base. This was=20
supported by various social movements and groups in civil society.=20
The result was an indigenous political movement, which not only=20
successfully carried out the transition process, but also widened and=20
strengthened the process of democratisation.

In Afghanistan the military might of western powers has removed the=20
obscurantist and murderous Taliban from power. But most probably what=20
will replace the Taliban will be dominated by war lords, tribal=20
chiefs and some bureaucrats. External forces in their various forms=20
will have a say in Afghanistan affairs for a long time to come, and=20
the political outcome will certainly be different from that of South=20
Africa.

>From these two examples the South African outcome is much more=20
desirable for those who understand the peace process not just as an=20
end to violence but also as a transition process towards a more=20
progressive society.

Experiences

It is these varied experiences of peace processes and their political=20
outcomes that make it imperative for us to understand the political=20
forces that dominate the Sri Lankan peace process. This is necessary=20
to identify strategies so as to shape the process in a desirable=20
direction. If this moment of the peace process entrenches the=20
interests of a small minority, or if it means constricting the=20
democratic space in any part of the country, those of us who have=20
desired peace and worked for it with values of democracy, pluralism=20
and social justice for a long time might be disappointed with the=20
political outcome.

A much more alarming situation is if the dominance of narrow=20
interests undermines the support that the peace process has,=20
especially in the South. In such a situation we might witness a=20
situation where Sinhala extremists mobilise themselves on the streets=20
and another round of repression in the South in the name of peace.

While a large section of the population in the country desires peace,=20
this round of the politics of the peace process is driven by the=20
interests of two dominant political forces. First, Tamil nationalism=20
represented by the LTTE. Second, the interest of big bourgeoisie,=20
especially those who established themselves during the last two=20
decades under the regime of liberalised economic policies.

What happened in 2001 was the coming together of these two powerful=20
political interests. It is the organised manifestations of these=20
interests that are in the driving seat of the peace process. In 1977,=20
when the Jayewardene regime ushered in the liberalised phase of=20
capitalism, the TULF, which fought the election on a separatist=20
platform, became the leading party of the opposition.

>From this moment it was clear to students of the political economy of=20
Sri Lankan capitalism that the ruling elite had to resolve what came=20
to be known as the ethnic conflict in order to further capitalist=20
growth in Sri Lanka. But what we saw was a deterioration of the=20
situation ultimately dragging the country to an expensive war.=20
Sinhala national interests of various ruling regimes were powerful=20
enough to drag the country in this direction.

Discussion

A frequent point of discussion among academics and researchers=20
witnessing this deterioration and the undermining of the conditions=20
for further capitalist development was the question "where are the=20
rational capitalists?"

What was behind this debate was the puzzle, why is it that the=20
capitalist classes, whose long term interests are undermined by this=20
war, are not asserting themselves in order to bring pressure on the=20
ruling regimes to bring about a settlement to the conflict?

Looking back at that period now and taking into account what is going=20
at present, there seems to be a simple answer to this question.=20
Liberalisation of the economy in 1977 opened up many new avenues of=20
accumulation for the capitalist class.

Deregulation of various sectors of the economy, privatisation of the=20
state-owned sector and intensification of the linkages with global=20
capitalism created these new avenues. The results of this=20
accumulation are seen both in the economy and society. As far as the=20
capitalist class was concerned, what dominated during this period was=20
the creation of new opportunities for capitalists rather than any=20
negative impact of the war on the accumulation process.

In fact war might have created new opportunities for a small section=20
of the capitalist elite. Most probably the biggest negative impact of=20
war would have been the loss of the market in the North for consumer=20
goods. In short, compared to the pre'77 period capitalist classes=20
were having it good due to liberalisation, and there was no reason=20
for them to be active in the politics of peace.

All these changed by the end of 2000 due to PA's disastrous policy of=20
'war for peace'.

PA came into power in 1994 on the basis of a policy package that=20
differed from their pre'77 vision. With regard to the economy it had=20
moved away from state-centric policies. On the ethnic front it came=20
into power with a mandate for negotiations and constitutional=20
reforms. However by the time they faced general elections in the year=20
2000 they had failed miserably on both counts.

After the collapse of negotiations with the LTTE in 1995, Sinhala=20
extremism within PA wanted an all-out war with the LTTE. The=20
high-point of this adventure was celebrating the take-over of Jaffna=20
with a medieval Sinhala ceremony. The political position of the more=20
progressive section of the PA was the peculiar notion of them=20
becoming the saviours of Tamils.

Endless hours were spent on drafting legal institutions for granting=20
autonomy to Tamils, but the political feasibility of Tamils trusting=20
the answers given by any Sinhala-dominated government was forgotten.=20
The long history of alienation of the Tamil community from both major=20
political parties should have taught them the lesson that this was an=20
impossible task.

Impact

By the end of 2000 the economic impact of the 'war for peace' policy=20
was clear for anyone who did not wear PA blinkers. In July 2001, the=20
LTTE, in an extremely well executed operation, carried out the attack=20
on the airport. Its impact on the economy was considerable.

At last the war was hitting the interests of big bourgeoisie. Coupled=20
with the usual recipe of inefficiency, corruption, and arrogance that=20
any regime in Sri Lanka gets infected with after some years in power,=20
PA was extremely unpopular when they faced the 2001 general elections.

It is in the context of this economic debacle and undermining of the=20
interests of the big bourgeoisie that we see the emergence for the=20
first time of an organised expression of the opinion of the business=20
classes for peace and a negotiated settlement. It is not that there=20
were no voices among the business community before. There were=20
individual voices. Some of them had tried to strengthen these=20
opinions by networking with others.

But the new voice of the business community for a negotiated=20
settlement differed from these on several counts. First, there was a=20
strong representation of business organisations representing the=20
interest of sectors that emerged in the post '77 liberalised period.=20
Second, representatives of some of the larger businesses played a=20
prominent role. Third, this intervention seemed to be much more=20
organised and institutionalised, rather than being ad hoc and based=20
on individuals. In short business was intervening as a class in the=20
politics for a negotiated settlement.

The 'rational capitalists' that we were looking for two decades ago=20
have arrived on the political scene. Looking at the way the peace=20
process is unfolding and the fundamental ideology behind the=20
government budget it is clear that politics of the peace process is=20
dominated by Tamil nationalism and the interests of the capitalist=20
class who would like to see further deepening of capitalist relations=20
in society. Given the need for peace there is nothing wrong with=20
these forces playing this role at this juncture.

The historical context within which Sri Lanka is placed makes it=20
difficult to get away from certain realities.

For example, Sri Lanka has to find a solution to the demands posed by=20
Tamil nationalism in the form of the LTTE if we are to get away from=20
the quagmire of a war with all its consequences. Secondly, the Sri=20
Lankan development process will take place within a framework of=20
global capitalism in the forseeable future. The dominance of these=20
political interests reflects these realities.

However these structural conditions within which the peace process is=20
unfolding does not mean that there is no space to influence and shape=20
the peace process with political objectives not represented by these=20
dominant forces.

Those who have intervened in the peace process with broader=20
objectives of democracy, pluralism, human rights and social justice=20
need to look for strategies which make sure these are not forgotten=20
in the politics of the peace process.

The recent interventions by human rights groups in order to=20
incorporate human rights norms into the Memorandum of Understanding=20
is an example of such a strategy. Many of the developments in the=20
areas dominated by the LTTE reported in the press and by human right=20
groups, make such interventions extremely important.

Equally important are issues of social justice in the South. While=20
some of the reforms reflected in the government's economic agenda=20
might be necessary, it is also necessary to have a political agenda=20
to manage these reforms peacefully.

Some of the reforms which are routinely doled out by multilateral=20
agencies to every country without much of an understanding of the=20
historical specificities might have to be rejected. The worst=20
scenario is the undermining of the peace process by the politics of=20
Sinhala extremism aligning itself with the social discontent=20
resulting from some of these reforms.

On the whole, if the peace process is not influenced and shaped by=20
values of pluralism, democracy, human rights and social justice, the=20
political outcome could be a North-East dominated by an=20
authoritarian, Tamil exclusivist LTTE, and peace and stability in the=20
South for the capitalist classes to continue their accumulation=20
without any regard to the interests of others.

Probably these would be achieved with the help of repression and=20
another round of blood letting which this traumatised society could=20
do without.

_____

#5.

VHP IN SRI LANKA

I read with concern the story headlined, 'Counter move by hardline=20
Hindus' in the Daily Mirror of April 16, 2002. The Vishwa Hindu=20
Parishad (VHP), which is trying hard to gain a foothold among the=20
Hindus in Sri Lanka, is part of the notorious Sangh Parivar whose=20
activities have severely undermined the secular credentials of the=20
Indian state. Enjoying the blessings of the ruling BJP, outfits such=20
as the VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal have been spreading an ideology of=20
hate and intolerance towards Muslims and Christians in India. The=20
recent communal bloodbath in the Indian state of Gujarat ruled by the=20
BJP is a horrifying reminder of what religious fanaticism is capable=20
of in the subcontinent. Once again it has clearly shown that Hindu=20
fundamentalism is no answer to Islamic (or any other religious)=20
fundamentalism and vice versa. The entry of the VHP into our war-torn=20
island at this juncture should be a matter of serious concern for the=20
forces of peace and secularism. The Hindus of Sri Lanka should know=20
that the saffron brigade is no messenger of peace and they should=20
continue to practice their tradition of peaceful coexistence with=20
Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and atheists. The VHP's ideology of=20
unity of Hindus against Christians and Muslims serves only to deepen=20
divisions and set one community against another with disastrous=20
consequences. It is harmful to the efforts of multi-religious=20
alliances that are actively engaged in supporting the ongoing peace=20
process and building bridges across ethno-religious divides.

N. Shanmugaratnam
Colombo.

_____

#6.

HOW HAS THE GUJARAT MASSACRE AFFECTED MINORITY WOMEN
The Survivors Speak=20

Fact-finding by a Women's Panel
Syeda Hameed, Muslim Women's Forum, Delhi
Ruth Manorama, National Alliance of Women, Bangalore
Malini Ghose, Nirantar, Delhi
Sheba George, Sahrwaru, Ahmedabad
Farah Naqvi, Independent Journalist, Delhi
Mari Thekaekara, Accord, Tamil Nadu
Sponsored by
Citizen's Initiative, Ahmedabad
April 16, 2002
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/Women_s_reportGujrat02.html

_____

#7.

The Guardian , Wednesday April 24, 2002

FRANTIC SEARCH FOR BRITISH SONS LOST IN GUJARAT RIOTS
FEARS THAT 2,000 PEOPLE, MOSTLY MUSLIMS, HAVE DIED SINCE UNREST BEGAN

Luke Harding in New Delhi

The mothers of British Muslim cousins who disappeared when they were=20
caught up in the communal riots in Gujarat nearly two months ago said=20
last night that they had no intention of leaving India until they=20
knew what had happened to them.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,689499,00.html

______

#8.

BBC News
Thursday, 25 April, 2002, 17:40 GMT 18:40 UK

UK report censures Gujarat rulers
The report is a damning indictment of the government

By Jill McGivering
BBC correspondent in Delhi

British officials in India say the recent widespread violence in the=20
Indian state of Gujarat was pre-planned and carried out with the=20
support of the state government.

In a damning internal report obtained by the BBC, British officials=20
say the violence had all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing and that=20
reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims is impossible while the=20
chief minister remains in power. [...]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1951000/1951471.st=
m

______

#9.

Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 03:35:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: Yousuf <ysaeed7@y...>
Subject: Letters to the editor
To: ACT owner <act-owner@yahoogroups.com>

Dear friends

One of the insidious ways in which communal prejudice is=20
proliferating in our lives is through the letters to the editor being=20
published in various newspapers and magazines these days. Everyday=20
you can see a score of hateful letters in your favourite newspapers,=20
which spew venom against a particular community and even the secular=20
minded people. Such letters not only help strengthen the already=20
existing prejudices in the readers=ED minds, but also introduce new=20
strains of hate amongst the uninitiated.

According to the staff and editors of some periodicals, they have=20
been receiving endless amounts of letters whose contents are too=20
political to be sent by an average reader. There may exist a=20
concerted lobby of people from some communal organizations whose job=20
is to sieve through the media everyday and sent hateful letters to=20
editors =F1 using mostly fictitious names and addresses. Since the=20
newspaper staff is inundated with these letters everyday, they have=20
no choice but to publish at least some of them.

The question is, why shouldn=EDt we, the people who believe in secular=20
values and politically correct ideologies, intervene in this process=20
and counter the communal propaganda of letters. We need to (1) be=20
critical of the media reports and comment on them by writing to the=20
editor, and (2) send letters to the editor in reply to the hateful=20
mails.

We would request each one of you to participate in this process of=20
countering the hateful campaign in whichever way you can. You can the=20
do any of the following:

- Write to the editor about a biased reporting or editorial
- Write to the editor countering the biased and hateful letters
- If you wish to write but do not know where to send the=20
letter, send it to us by email, fax or tell us telephonically and we=20
will forward your letter to the concerned publishing house. We will=20
soon make available the fax numbers and email addresses of all the=20
important periodicals in India.

Letters to the editor is probably the only space available to the=20
ordinary citizens who wish their voice to be heard. Please use it=20
responsibly, and spread the message of peace and harmony rather than=20
hate. Do not be afraid of your letter not being published. Write to=20
the editor again and again if you fail once. Please spread this=20
message to others who may not have access to email.

Yousuf

Initiative for a peaceful survival

______

#10.

Asia Times, 26 April 2002

Gujarat: return to the deadly past
By Sultan Shahin
NEW DELHI - Gujarat's pogrom politics are destroying India's=20
carefully cultivated image of a secular democracy in the community of=20
nations.
Several Western governments have come out with reports condemning the=20
continuing massacres of Muslims in the western Indian state of=20
Gujarat, where in the past two months more than 1,000 people have=20
died and more than 100,000 rendered homeless, their businesses and=20
houses destroyed, as well as their mosques, and other Muslim shrines=20
destroyed or converted into Hindu temples.
As image is really all that New Delhi appears to care about, it is=20
intensely worried. But its attempt to browbeat the world by claiming=20
that the massacres are India's internal matter are bringing out an=20
even angrier response from the world.
The question of whether mass murder and religious cleansing are a=20
country's internal matter has become the subject of intense debate in=20
the media, as well as in the drawing rooms of cosmopolitan India. The=20
ruling Hindu fundamentalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is quite=20
bewildered, not understanding why the world is making such a big=20
fuss. If the secular Congress, when it was in power, could kill tens=20
of thousands of Muslims through its 45 years of pogrom politics, why=20
can't the BJP kill a few thousand Muslims to win elections in Gujarat?
Why, indeed, should the world make such a big fuss? But we will come=20
back to this question later. First the facts about the world reaction.
For the first six weeks after the current trouble broke out in=20
February, with the torching of a train (blamed on Muslims) in Gujarat=20
carrying Hindu activists, nothing happened. A fact that is not lost=20
on the carnage coordinators; they have noted it for future reference.=20
It is okay for the world if you stop massacring your people in the=20
seventh week.
The first salvo was thrown by the United States. On April 10 in New=20
Delhi, US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca described the=20
communal riots in Gujarat as "really horrible". She then went on to=20
add, "We are deeply saddened by them. We hope peace and stability=20
soon returns to the state." Rocca didn't discuss Gujarat formally=20
because she felt "internal situations are not discussed in bilateral=20
meetings".
However, the fact that Gujarat had attracted international attention=20
was confirmed at the April 15 press briefing of the US State=20
Department deputy spokesman, Phil Reeker, who was asked to comment on=20
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's controversial statement,=20
"Wherever there are Muslims in large numbers, they do not want to=20
live in peace." Reeker promptly replied, "We understand from the PMO=20
[prime minister's office] they've clarified his remarks, saying that=20
the remarks were taken out of context. Our position on the communal=20
violence that has occurred recently in Gujarat is clear. I can point=20
out that one of the things Secretary Rocca talked about last week in=20
New Delhi was condemnation for the horrible violence in Gujarat,=20
urging all parties to seek a peaceful solution to their differences."
"For an extremely self-obsessed Washington," commented India's second=20
largest circulated newsmagazine, Outlook, "to even keep tabs on=20
Gujarat was yet another proof of its damaging implications."
Diplomatic sources say that Rocca did indeed raise the Gujarat issue=20
in her meeting with Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh. Sources also said=20
that concerns over Gujarat in the international community go far=20
deeper than what has been publicly articulated, largely because it's=20
the stated policy of governments to not talk about the internal=20
affairs of another country.
Spain's envoy to New Delhi reportedly described the Gujarat incidents=20
as a "state gone berserk". To the government's great consternation,=20
the British High Commission leaked to the Hindustan Times (April 15),=20
north India's largest circulated newspaper, the contents of its=20
"secret" report to the British Foreign Office in London. The report=20
was based on its own investigation. The High Commission's team to=20
Gujarat was led by Peter Holland, First Secretary in the mission's=20
political section. They were assigned the fact-finding task after a=20
British national of Indian origin was burned to death and two of his=20
family went missing.
The British report made the following points: the continuing violence=20
in Gujarat is aimed at removing Muslim influence from parts of the=20
state; it placed the death toll at around 2,000, more than double the=20
then official death toll of 850; the post-Godhra (train-burning)=20
violence was pre-planned; if the Sabarmati Express tragedy hadn't=20
happened, another flashpoint would have been created to justify=20
pre-meditated violence as reaction; in some areas, the police had=20
been specifically instructed not to act, while in some others the=20
force was communally polarized and looked the other way without any=20
prompting by political bosses; Muslim establishments and property=20
were specially targeted by the rioting mobs in most places; it=20
questioned the discrimination between the amount paid as compensation=20
to victims/next of kin of the Godhra tragedy (Hindu) and the=20
subsequent riots (Muslim); conditions in relief camps; the state=20
bureaucracy is now busy covering up its acts of omission; it was=20
extremely critical of the role of the Sangh Parivar (the family of=20
Hindu fundamentalists to which the ruling BJP belongs); it identified=20
the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Forum - VHP) and Bajrang Dal=20
as the main instruments for realizing the ghettoization of the=20
Muslims; and all this, it said, will affect foreign investment in=20
India.
The European Union (EU) joined the fray soon after. Its leaked report=20
(April 21, Indian Express) draws a parallel with apartheid and Nazis.=20
In an even bigger setback to the image of Vajpayee's government=20
abroad, the EU said that "the carnage in Gujarat was a kind of=20
apartheid ... and has parallels with Germany of the 1930s".
The EU declaration, to be made public this week, reported the Indian=20
Express, carries 15 signatures, including those of the ambassadors of=20
Britain, France, Italy, Spain and Belgium. It has been written on the=20
basis of reports from the EU's own fact-finding team, apart from the=20
reports submitted by government and quasi-government bodies, the=20
National Human Rights Commission, media reports and other sources.=20
[...]
[ Full text at http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD26Df03.html ]

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