[sacw] SACW | 11 Oct. 02

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire | 11 October 2002

__________________________

#1. Pakistan Election - Polls and Promises (Ahmed Rashid)
#2. Islamabad Journal: Sometimes It's One Voter, 2 ID Cards (Michael Wines)
#3. Blair and Bush Must Take A Long Hard Look at Pakistan (Ahmed Rashid)
#4. India: Festival for peace & harmony in Ahmedabad (December 3-10, 2002)
An appeal for support and participation
#5. India: Full text of TAMIL NADU ORDINANCE No. 9 OF 2002 [on conversion]
#6. USA: Violence in Gujarat, India: A Human Rights Perspective a=20
community forum (Minnesota , 21 Oct 2002)
#7. India: Invitation for a seminar on "Women, Culture and=20
Communalism" (12 Oct 2002, Lucknow)
#8. India: Nishant Natya Manch's Cultural Campaign Against=20
Communalism-Repression In Gujarat
#9. India Pakistan Arms Race & Militarisation Watch (IPARMW) # 96, 8=20
October 2002
#10. USA: South Asian Film Day (Nov 16, 2002, Hollywood, CA)

__________________________

#1.

Far Eastern Economic Review
October 17, 2002

PAKISTAN ELECTION
Polls and Promises
Three years after President Musharraf seized power in a bloodless=20
coup and imposed military rule, the country is going back to the=20
polls. But few believe this means a return to democracy
By Ahmed Rashid/LAHORE
http://www.feer.com/articles/2002/0210_17/p016region.html

_____

#2.

The New York Times
October 10, 2002=A0=A0

ISLAMABAD JOURNAL

Sometimes It's One Voter, 2 ID Cards
By MICHAEL WINES

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct. 9 =8B Pakistani politics, like many a=20
Pakistani, is a flexible creature, adaptable to crisis, forgiving of=20
transgression. Politicians fall in coups, only to leap back into the=20
fray with their own parties. Candidates switch allegiances in=20
midcampaign.

Politics here works a lot like Subsection 11 of the 1974 election=20
law, which warns briskly that "an electoral roll must be revised and=20
corrected annually," then adds that if the roll is not revised, then=20
just use the old one.

There is just one inviolable rule: nobody votes without a National=20
Identity Card.

"I want to be very clear and specific on it," said Khan Ghazni,=20
public relations director for the Elections Commission. "The identity=20
card is a must. It is a must for casting your vote. It is mandated."

Of course, some folks say that rule is flexible too.

Pakistan votes on Thursday, for a new Parliament that its military=20
government calls the harbinger of a brave new democracy, and as in=20
elections past, the National Identity Card has many people smelling a=20
rat.

Their suspicions are simple enough. Although the government insists=20
that each voter present a card before casting a ballot, they allege,=20
it can be considerably less picky about whose card a voter presents=20
at the polling place. Or, for that matter, whether an opponent's=20
supporters have cards at all.

This was supposed to be the year that Pakistan laid that dark past to=20
rest. Last spring the government ordered everyone to replace dogeared=20
paper cards with a new Computerized National Identity Card =8B a=20
space-age miracle crafted of fatigue-resistant green Teslin, embossed=20
with anticounterfeit microprinting and a hologram and striped with a=20
magnetic tape encoded with everything from the bearer's name to his=20
or her thumbprint.

"The National ID Card (NIC) includes a sophisticated array of=20
security features to safeguard against fraud and improper use," the=20
government states on its identity card Web site.

For many uses, like obtaining a passport, that may be true. But when=20
it comes to the election on Thursday, the government's leap into=20
21st-century technology has only revived complaints of 20th-century=20
politics, Chicago style.

Hours before the vote, hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis =8B more=20
likely millions, many say =8B have yet to receive their new cards,=20
although the old cards were to have become inactive on June 1. Foes=20
of the government say they worry that the cards are being withheld to=20
deprive their supporters of a vote, or that the cards will be whipped=20
out and given to pro-government forces on election day.

The government furiously denies it, and states that both old and new=20
cards will be accepted at polling stations. To rival candidates, the=20
prospect that Pakistan will have two identity cards for almost every=20
voter is even more chilling.

"On the basis of past experience with elections, we have seen that=20
this kind of manipulation and rigging has taken place," said=20
Farhatulla Babar, the spokesman for the parliamentary caucus of the=20
Pakistan People's Party, perhaps the biggest opposition party. "In=20
1997, in 1993, in 1990 it has happened. We are talking about=20
interpolating the past into the future."

We are also talking, potentially, about sliced baloney, for as Mr.=20
Babar allows, there is no proof that the government is stacking these=20
cards against its opponents. There are only rumors and press reports,=20
and the legacy of what many call a pretty seamy electoral history.

It was a military strongman, Gen. Mohammad Zia ul-Haq, who first=20
required adult Pakistanis to obtain National Identity Cards in the=20
1980's. Many say the cards have been cleverly stacked against=20
opposition candidates in almost every election since.

"At some places people did not have ID cards," I. A. Rehman, the=20
director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said in a=20
telephone interview from Lahore. "And at other places they had too=20
many ID cards."

Pro-government workers printed bogus cards on presses in their homes,=20
Mr. Rehman said; women's cards, lacking full addresses or=20
photographs, were widely used to cast false votes. As many as 20 or=20
30 voters claimed the same address on their identity cards in key=20
precincts.

The government says flatly that those days are gone and that polling=20
places now have antifraud safeguards. Still, if the press is to be=20
believed =8B a leap, as journalism here is famously flexible itself =8B=20
something could be rotten in Rawalpindi.

Consider the recent report from Peshawar, where officials were said=20
to have found 24,798 bogus cards, and the account from Landi Kotal, a=20
tribal area none too fond of the ruling authorities, that cards were=20
being denied to anyone who could not hand over 300 rupees, or about=20
$6.

In Larkana, in south-central Pakistan, the police were said last week=20
to have uncovered a ring that had produced 29,000 fake identity=20
cards. Candidates in Quetta held a rally last week to protest what=20
they claimed was ID-card fraud.

Even in Islamabad, the capital, a People's Party candidate accused=20
the government of failing to send 80,000 cards to voters in his=20
district.

Mr. Ghazni, of the Elections Commission, calls such reports political=20
disinformation, saying he knows of only one fraud case =8B in remote=20
Baluchistan, a case the government itself ferretted out. On Tuesday=20
the government accused the Pakistan People's Party of engineering the=20
Larkana identity card fraud.

As for undelivered cards, Mr. Ghazni said, that is a canard: almost=20
all have been delivered.

But practically everyone questioned by one reporter this week either=20
had not received a new card, despite applying for one, or knew=20
someone who had not. "In some families two or three members get the=20
cards and the others are still waiting for them," said Tariq Aziz,=20
35, a salesman.

Attique ur-Rehman, 22, a vendor in a local market, said: "I got my=20
new card, but there was a mistake in it, so I sent it back. I haven't=20
heard back. That was three months ago."

Not to worry, though: today a senior election official in Islamabad=20
moved the identity card goal post yet again. Now, it said, election=20
workers will accept not just a new card, nor just an old card, but a=20
photocopy of an old card.

Mind you, only an identity card will do.

That rule is inviolable. "This condition," Mr. Ghazni warned, "cannot=20
be shelved."

o o o

[Related and relevent material:

Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority
Computerized National Identity Card
http://www.nadra.gov.pk/products/cnic.php ]

_____

#3.

Daily Telegraph (U.K.)
9 October 2002

BLAIR AND BUSH MUST TAKE A LONG HARD LOOK AT PAKISTAN
By Ahmed Rashid

Here is the real dilemma faced by the Western alliance in its continuing wa=
r
against terrorism. Pakistan's military dictator, General Pervaiz Musharraf,
has been responsible for the arrest and deportation of the largest number o=
f
al-Qa'eda militants of any nation in the world - 422 have been shipped out =
to
Guantanamo Bay since December. But Gen Musharraf is also holding a heavily
rigged election tomorrow, which promises to plunge Pakistan into political
instability.

No matter how blatantly rigged the election is, it will be endorsed by
America and Britain, which consider security measures against terrorism mor=
e
important than stability and democracy. At the same time, the political
fallout of the West's war against terrorism is getting worse in the region
around Afghanistan.

In the five Central Asian republics, the political opposition to dictatorsh=
ip
is becoming galvanised even as George W Bush and Tony Blair continue to thr=
ow
their weight behind the dinosaur dictators from the Soviet era who lead all
five nations. And in Iran, the West has backed away from supporting Mohamme=
d
Khatami's reformist agenda against the mullahs and hardliners.

But it is Pakistan's long-running domestic crisis, now reaching boiling
point, that may have severe international and regional repercussions. A
bellicose India is at the gates, while Pakistan's armed forces test new
missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads deep into India.

Al-Qa'eda cells are firmly planted inside Pakistan, law and order is breaki=
ng
down as militant Islamic groups kill foreigners and Pakistani Christians, t=
he
economy is in a sharp recession and unemployment is widespread. Politics is
polarised between the secular democratic parties and the Islamic Right. At
stake are not only the international obligations that Pakistan is committed
to in the war against terrorism, but also the very future of the country.

Tomorrow's elections bring to an end three years of military rule. The
supreme court had ordered that they should take place by October. But, like
all of Pakistan's three previous military rulers, Gen Musharraf is interest=
ed
only in regime preservation, rather than moving the country towards genuine
democracy. On April 30, he held a heavily rigged referendum, which made him
president for the next five years.

The controversy that has raged over the referendum and the dramatic slide i=
n
his own popularity have not diverted Gen Musharraf from consolidating his
powers. He has changed the 1973 constitution to give the army a permanent
political role, create a military-dominated National Security Council that
will override any future parliament or prime minister, and give himself
powers to sack any future government.

For the past few months, the army, the intelligence services and Gen
Musharraf's senior aides have been browbeating politicians to support the
army-sponsored candidates for the elections. Numerous new laws have ensured
that hundreds of candidates not to the army's liking can be debarred from
standing.

In a country of massive illiteracy, one new law allows only BA graduates to
stand for election. Under this law, the founder of Pakistan, Jinnah, would
have been ineligible to run because his qualification as a barrister from
Lincoln's Inn would not have been accepted by Pakistan's election commissio=
n.

While the Islamic parties are united in their opposition to Gen Musharraf
because of his alliance with America, secular democratic parties are united
against him on the grounds that the new system will marginalise politicians
and give the army a permanent veto over any civilian government.

Gen Musharraf's disfranchisement of the Pakistani people, and his
short-sighted perpetuation of army rule in another form, is certain to lead
to a political crisis just after the elections. Hundreds of disfranchised
opposition politicians will be outside parliament claiming that the new
government is illegitimate, while opposition candidates who are elected wil=
l
ensure that the military has anything but an easy time.

Both the army and Washington appear to have forgotten Pakistan's own sad
history. In 1984, Zia ul-Haq held a referendum endorsed by Washington and
London, making himself president. Zia then held elections on a non-party
basis - only hand-picked individuals were allowed to stand. The selected
parliament, led by Zia's hand-picked prime minister, Mohammed Khan Junejo,
who was presumed by the army to be a political nonentity, declined to do th=
e
army's bidding and was ultimately sacked.

Gen Musharraf is unique among Pakistan's military dictators in having sough=
t
no allies among civilians - politicians, bureaucrats or businessmen. He hol=
ds
them all in contempt. Even after September 11, when his support for the war
against terrorism won him plaudits from secular parties and the middle clas=
s,
Gen Musharraf refused to reach out to them.

As in Central Asia, Mr Bush and Mr Blair have turned a blind eye to the
growing crisis in Pakistan. In a throwback to the Cold War, Western
policy-makers prefer working with dictators rather than face elected leader=
s
and parliaments. American officials say there is no alternative to Gen
Musharraf - any other general would probably be more sympathetic to Islamic
fundamentalists, while politicians would be too weak to go after al-Qa'eda.

Such short-sighted aims ensure that anti-Americanism will continue to grow =
in
the region, Islamic extremism will find even more sympathisers and poverty
and corruption will persist. The war against al-Qa'eda needs public support
and the region's governments need to be representative if they are to succe=
ed
not just in dealing with Islamic extremism but also in reviving their
moribund economies.

In the short term, dictatorships can catch terrorists as well as anyone, bu=
t
they cannot rebuild trust in the state. Nor can these countries play a
long-term role as part of the international coalition against terrorism. Th=
e
West, through its short-sighted policies, is cutting off its nose to spite
its face by locking the region into a downward spiral and ensuring that the
war against terrorism will be never-ending.

_____

#4.

Festival for peace & harmony
in Ahmedabad (December 3-10, 2002)

appeal for support and participation

Dear Friends,

The recent events in Gujarat have completely shattered the secular=20
polity and torn asunder the democratic fabric of the state. It has=20
been more that seven months and still women, men, girls and boys and=20
aged are struggling to survive. Many have returned to their 'homes'=20
or wherever they found a shelter. The perpetrators of the genocide=20
are still at large. The cries of justice seem to be falling on the=20
deaf ears of the bureaucracy and judiciary.

It is high time we join hands to rebuild a tolerant and just India=20
that enjoys Unity in its diversity.

While the oppressors and genocide-managers prepare for the assembly=20
elections, with an eye on reaping the harvest of vote, soaked by the=20
blood and sufferings of innocent thousands, we feel that this is the=20
right time to provide a cultural response to mobilise the people of=20
Ahmedabad across class, caste and gender divides.

Only the tools of culture can make effective interventions on these=20
lines and provide a sane perspective of a society to ensure that=20
these recent events do not negatively and destructively shape the=20
lives of the next generation of adults. Consequently, the entire=20
social fabric of Gujarat. The need of the hour today is to shun=20
violence and start a healing process for long-term peace and harmony=20
in the state.

=91Aman Biradari=92, a national platform of like minded organisations and=20
individuals, invites you to be a part of the common legacy of the=20
united India. We want to bring forth this legacy, which this country=20
has inherited from the past, and present it to the future=20
generations. We are confident that culture has and will serve as an=20
enabling force to bind us together.

The weeklong Ahmedabad Cultural interface in defence of Peace &=20
Harmony will involve eminent people of the country like Mahashweta=20
Devi, Shubha Mudgal, Remo Fernandes, Sharon Prabhakar, Sharmila=20
Tagore, Seed Mirza, Mallika Sarabhai, Mahesh Bhatt, Harsh Mander and=20
others. Street theatre groups from all over India like Pulse Manch=20
(Punjab), AAHVAN (Mumbai), Fade-in (Ahmedabad), BGVS (Kerala), etc.=20
will spread the message of justice, equality and peace in the=20
violence affected areas and localities.

We propose that creative and progressive people all over India also=20
celebrate the festival for peace and harmony from December 3rd to 6th=20
in their respective regions, and culminate it at the national level=20
in Ahmedabad from December 8th to 10th.

TENTATIVE PROGRAMME:

1. Inauguration on December 2.
2. Evening concerts (Dec.3-6): Cultural concerts by eminent=20
artistes on the theme "Peace & Harmony" through pop music, classical=20
music and dances.
3. Film Festival (Dec. 3-9) in select shows and theatres on the theme.
4. Exhibition of paintings & photographs (Dec.3-9) in local art galleri=
es
5. Street Theatre performances (December 3-9).
6. Morning Symposia (Dec. 3-6): Talks, discussions, poetry=20
readings, symposia etc
7. Parallel celebration of the theme in schools;
8. Workshop to review the programme, share experiences and work=20
out an agenda for national cultural action.
9. National Convention (Dec. 10) to create a national cultural=20
platform to resist fascism and defend democracy and human rights in=20
Ahmedabad.

RESOURCES:

The entire event will cost over 35 lakhs. Resource will be generated=20
through a wide network of individuals and organisations/institutions=20
across the country.

We seek your support and participation to make this endeavour a=20
success. We request you to contribute Rs. 1000 or more to this cause.

All contributions will be exempted from Income Tax (80 GG).

Cheque/DD be drawn in favour of "FESTIVAL FOR PEACE 2002" (AHMEDABAD)=20
and mailed to:

Secretariat
FESTIVAL FOR PEACE 2002
A9/4 SAHAJANAND TOWERS
JIVRAJ PARK
AHMEDABAD 380 051
Tel: 91-79- 6815484
Email: <mailto:festivalforpeace2002@y...>festivalforpeace2002@y...=
m

Please include your complete mailing address, telephone/fax numbers=20
and email for future communication.

In Solidarity,

FESTIVAL FOR PEACE 2002 HOSTING COMMITTEE
Mallika Sarabhai (dancer/actress), Kumidini Lakhia (dancer), Kailesh=20
Pandya (theatre), Ganesh Devi (academician), Haku Shah (painter),=20
Mahesh Bhatt (film maker), Saeed Mirza (film maker), Mahashweta Devi=20
(writer/activist), Harsh Mander (activist), Romila Thapar (historian)=20
and others.

_____

#5.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE
EXTRA ORDINARY =AD PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
CHENNAI, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2002

PURNTTASI 19, CHITRABHANU, THIRUVALLUVAR AANDU-2033

PART IV-SECTION 2

TAMIL NADU ACTS AND ORDINANCES

The following Ordinance, which was promulgated by the Governor on the=20
5th October 2002 is hereby published for general information: -

TAMIL NADU ORDINANCE No. 9 OF 2002

An Ordinance to provide for prohibition of conversion from one=20
religion to another by the use of force or allurement or by=20
fraudulent means and for matters incidental thereto: -

Within the Legislative Assembly of the State is not in session and=20
the Governor of Tamil Nadu is satisfied that circumstances exist=20
which render it necessary for him to take immediate action for the=20
purpose hereinafter appearing,

Now, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (1) of=20
Article 213 of the Constitution, the Governor hereby promulgates the=20
following Ordinances: -

1. (1) This Ordinance may be called the Tamil Nadu Prohibition=20
of Forcible Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2002.
(2) It shall come into force at once.

2. In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires: -

(a) =B3allurement=B2 means offer of any temptation in the form of:

(i) any gift or gratification either in cash or kind;
(ii) grant of any material benefit, either monetary or otherwise;

(b) =B3convert=B2 means to make one person to renounce one religion and=20
adopt another religion.

=A9 =B3force=B2 include a show of force of a threat o=
f=20
injury of any kind including threat of divine displeasure or social=20
ex-communication:
(c) =B3fraudulent means=B2 includes misrepresentation or any other=20
fraudulent contrivance:
(d) =B3minor=B2 means a person under eighteen years of age.

3. No person shall convert or attempt to convert, either=20
directly or otherwise, any person from one religion to another by the=20
use of force or by allurement or by any fraudulent means nor shall=20
any person abet any such conversion.

4. Whoever contravenes the provisions of section 3 shall without=20
prejudice to any civil liability, be punished with imprisonment for a=20
term which may extend to three years and also be liable to fine which=20
may extend to fifty thousand rupees.

Provided that whoever contravenes the provisions of section 3 in=20
respect of a minor, a woman or a person belonging to Schedule Caste=20
or Scheduled Tribe shall be punished with imprisonment for a term=20
which may extend to four years and also be liable to fine which may=20
extend to one lakh rupees.

5. (1) Whoever converts any person from one religion to another=20
either by performing any ceremony by himself for such conversion as a=20
religious priest or by taking part directly or indirectly in such=20
ceremony shall within such period as may be prescribed, send an=20
intimation to the District Magistrate of the district in which the=20
ceremony has taken place of the fact of such conversion in such form=20
as may be prescribed.

(2) Whoever fails, without sufficient cause, to comply=20
with the provisions of sub-section (1), shall be punished with=20
imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine=20
which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both.

6. No prosecution for an offence under this Ordinance shall be=20
instituted except by or with the previous sanction of the District=20
Magistrate or such other authority, not below the rank of a District=20
Revenue Officer, as may be authorised by him in that behalf.

7. (1) The State Government may make rules for the purpose of=20
carrying out the provisions of this Ordinance.

(2) Every rule made under this Ordinance shall as soon as=20
possible after it is made be place on the table of the Legislative=20
Assembly, and if before the expiry of the session in which it is so=20
placed or the next session, the Assembly makes any modification in=20
any such rule or the Assembly decides that the rule should not be=20
made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified=20
form, or be of no effect, as the case may be, so, however, that any=20
such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the=20
validity of anything previously done under that rule.

5th October, 2002 P.S.=20
RAMAMOHAN RAO

=20
GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU=A0=A0

_____

#6.

Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
presents a community forum

Violence in Gujarat, India: A Human Rights Perspective

Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights invites you to join us-during=20
the birth month of M. K.
Gandhi-for a community forum on recent events in Gujarat, India.=20
Since last February, communal
violence has killed, injured, or displaced many thousands of people.=20
These tragic events continue to
trouble South Asians around the world. Please join us to learn more=20
about the situation in Gujarat from a human rights perspective, and=20
to discuss what we can do.

with panelists:

Angana Chatterji - Professor of Anthropology, California=20
Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco.
Muqtedar Khan - Professor of Political Science, Adrian College, Michiga=
n.
Smita Narula -Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch, Washington, D.C.
David Weissbrodt - U.S. Representative to the UN Sub-Commission on=20
Human Rights; Professor, University of Minnesota Law School.

DATE AND TIME:
Monday, October 21, 2002, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

VENUE:
University of Minnesota
Law School
229 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis

For further information: <www.mnadvocates.org>
Therese M. Gales
Director of Education, Refugee and Immigrant Program
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
310 Fourth Avenue South, Suite 1000
Minneapolis, MN 55415-1012 U.S.A.
tel 612.341.3302 (Ext. 116).
fax 612.341.2971.

Co-sponsored by: The Human Rights Center and the College of Liberal=20
Arts/Human Rights Program of the University of Minnesota

_____

#7.

Stree Adhikar Sangathan
Invitation for a seminar on "Women, Culture and Communalism"
12 th October 2002, Lucknow

Dear friend
You are cordially invited to attend a one day seminar on "Women,=20
Culture and Communalism" on 12 th October at 2 p.m. as part of the=20
inaugural session of the three day workshop organised by Stree=20
Adhikar Sangathan. The workshop is to be held in Lucknow from 13 th=20
October to 15 th October.
You must be aware that Stree Adhikar Sangathan, an organisation of=20
women fighting for women's rights has been active in U.P.,parts of=20
M.P. Delhi and some other parts of the country since last few years.=20
The workshop is part of its annual event during which the core=20
members of the organisation come together to discuss the present=20
scenario and strategise for the future.
The theme of this year's seminar is Women, Culture and Communalism=20
and would be addressed by freedom fighter and social activist Ms=20
Laxmi Sehgal, Ms Rooprekha Verma ex Vice chancellor of Lucknow=20
University and Ms Nivedita Menon, Reader in Political Science, Delhi=20
University.
We would appreciate if you or any of your representatives attends the=20
seminar and participate in the ensuing discussion.
Date and venue of the seminar are as follows : Saturday, 2 p.m., 12=20
th October 2002, D.P.A. Hall, Lucknow University, Lucknow

Yours sincerely

Anjali Sinha
for Stree Adhikar Sangathan

______

#8.

NISHANT NATYA MANCH'S CULTURAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST=20
COMMUNALISM-REPRESSION IN GUJARAT AND IMPORTANT LESSONS.

A team of Nishant Natya Manch, street theatre group from Delhi,=20
toured Mumbai, Ahmedabad and its adjoining areas (September 28 to=20
October4) with songs, street plays, banners-posters and literature=20
against communalism and repression. This important cultural=20
intervention took place in the aftermath of horrible bloody attack on=20
Swaminarain Temple in Gandhinagar and all India 'bandh' call of VHP=20
and others. There was a view that this trip of Nishant should be=20
postponed but friends in Gujarat thought that in such a situation of=20
heightening of communal tension, there was more need of such an=20
intervention. The way whole campaign was received by the audience at=20
different places proved these friends absolutely right.

Nishant's cultural campaign revolved round three realities. Firstly,=20
unemployment, repression, loot, corruption, price-rise,=20
globalization, de-humanization, mounting violence against women etc.=20
were adversely affecting the whole of the Indian society. Secondly,=20
forces spreading communalism or as Gujaratis call it "qaumvad" only=20
aimed at diverting peoples=92 anger against these common problems and=20
instead force them to fight each other. Thirdly, people of all=20
religions fought for freedom of this country. Martyrs like Bhagat=20
Singh, Chandershekhar Azad, and Ashfaqullah Khan together laid down=20
their lives for the liberation of the country thus underlining the=20
fact of 'joint sacrifices-joint heritage' could never be divided in=20
the name of religion.

Not only our street plays but songs also were related to the above=20
themes. We also had banners many of these in Gujarati exposing=20
'Hindutva' and repressive state. Each performance had a backdrop=20
containing Martin Niemoler's poem: 'In Germany the Nazis came first=20
for the Communists/And I did not speak because I [w]as not a=20
Communist'

In Ahmedabad, there were well-meaning friends from NGOs who wanted to=20
take us to Muslim areas only. We differed with them and concentrated=20
on non-Muslim areas. (It had happened in April first week also when=20
organizers of a Peace Yatra in Gujarat wanted to restrict our=20
performances to Muslim localities only. When we tried to defy this=20
diktat, the organizers conspired with the administration to force us=20
to leave Gujarat). We found that people were very receptive to=20
anti-communal campaign. In fact, our tableau (See the performance in=20
attachment) in which demon of communalism is shown riding two=20
characters masked as Narendra Modi and LK Advani became very popular.=20
In the University area its performance continued for more than two=20
hours. We were able to sell anti-communalism literature/cassettes/cds=20
worth 11 thousand rupees and collect about 7 thousand rupees as=20
donations from mainly Hindu audience. Of course, we went to perform=20
in Gomtipur and Juhupura areas also where mainly Muslim victims=20
reside. But it must be re-assuring to secular India that in and=20
around Ahmedabad, Hindus generally agreed with the message of=20
Nishant. There were few disturbances but their general complaint was=20
that why were we so late in approaching them!

Neelima Sharma,
Secretary,
Nishant Natya Manch,
1, Staff Qrs,
Satyawati College Campus,
Ashok Vihar,
Delhi-110052.
Phone-11-7248242.

______

#9.

India Pakistan Arms Race & Militarisation Watch (IPARMW) # 96
8 October 2002

[information & news for peace activists on arms sales to the region,
defence budget figures, acquisitions & updgrades of weapons systems,
development and deployment of new weapons, implications of militarisation
(of the state, of non-state actors and wider civil society); the=20
developments on the
Nuclearisation front and the doings of the 'intelligence' agencies;=20
Growing surveillance, policing and daily talk of terrorism, security=20
and war are eroding human rights and space within civil society.
Bringing information on such issues to wide public knowledge is our=20
goal here. No to
secretive & exclusive control of this information by technocrats, planners
who plot national security hidden from public scrutiny or by self proclaime=
d
defenders of nation space whether jihadi or hindutwawadi etc.. Please=20
help us in
the information gathering work for wide public dissemination in South Asia.
Send Information via e-mail for IPARMW series to: aiindex@m... for
inclusion in the Emailings.]

The complete IPARMW archive is available at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IPARMW/messages

[1.] France offers India Mirage, Rafale aircraft
[2.] Indo-U.S. military exercises begin
[3.] Pak test-fires medium range missile
[4.] Pakistan test-fires Hatf-IV
[5.] Pakistan-US military exercises from 15th (Qudssia Akhlaque)
[6.] US criticises missile tests
[7.] The Getaway: Washington Behind Indo-Pakistan Conflict: (Seymour M. Her=
sh)
[8.] DCG and Islamabad's great expectations
[9.] The growing American presence in the spooking business=20
especially in Pakistan
(M.B. Naqvi)
[10.] Terrorism Of The Ultras And Of The State - Is dividing line=20
blurring? (N C Gundu Rao)
[11.] Lessons from Akshardham: Smugness isn't strategy (Praful Bidwai)
[12.] EXCERPTS: Return of the army By Hasan-Askari Rizvi
[13.] Pakistan Navy Chief, Admiral Fasih Bokhari breaks his Mandatory=20
Silence by Revealing
=B3Musharraf had decided to Topple Nawaz much before Oct 12=B2
[14.] India / Kashmir - Army personnel thrash minister
[15.] War on Terrorism Stirs Anger of Pakistani Tribe (Paul Watson)
[16.] Military Inc. Dominates Life in Pakistan (Paul Watson)
[17.] Every country has the right to pre-emptive strike: Jaswant Singh
[18.] Comment by M.V. Ramana re report: 'US wants India in missile shield p=
lan'
[19.] Pakistan Eyes Weapons Exports to Offset Defence Spending (Nadeem Iqba=
l)
[20.] India Follows Pakistan In Test-Firing Missile Launches Called=20
Routine, but Fears Rise
[21.] Bomb squad to lead Brahmotsavam procession (Ramu Sarma & K Raghavan)
[22.] 700 police firing probes pending (T Sunil Reddy)
[23.] IAF maintaining operational readiness: Air Chief
[24.] The common Manipuri who hates the Disturbed Areas act (Samudra=20
Gupta Kashyap)
[25.] India gets Israeli man-portable radars for LoC
[26.] India readies first sea-to-surface missile
[27.] Pakistan: Questions that need answers (Masooda Bano)

_____

#10.

SOUTH ASIAN FILM DAY
November 16, 2002 > 4pm
6363 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA

[please forward to interested parties]

NOW ACCEPTING FILM SUBMISSIONS The staff of "South Asian Film Day" is=20
seeking short, feature and documentary films to screen at the event.=A0

Programming includes screenings of short documentaries on legendary=20
filmmakers, Mira Nair (a supporter of the event) and Academy-Award=20
winner, Satyajit Ray. Programming also includes a to-be-announced=20
screening of one of Ray's films. Keynote speakers include devout=20
Satyajit Ray fan, Greg Nava (award-winning director of Selena, Mi=20
Familia, etc.) and Dilip Basu, Founder of The Ray Film and Study=20
Collection and personal friend of the late Satyajit Ray.

More information on the event can be found here:
<http://www.sulekha.com/eventdisplay.asp?cid=3D19924&nma=3DLAX>http://www.s=
ulekha.com/eventdisplay.asp?cid=3D19924&nma=3DLAX=A0

The link to the film submission form can be found on the bottom of=20
the above referenced web page.

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

SACW is an informal, independent & non-profit citizens wire service run by
South Asia Citizens Web (http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex) since 1996.
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________________________________________
DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed in materials carried in the posts do not
necessarily reflect the views of SACW compilers.
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