SACW | 5 May 03

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire   | 5 May,  2003

ALERT FOR ACTION: In Defence of the Indian Historian Romila Thapar
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/Alerts/IDRT300403.html

---------------

#1. Pakistan and India must shun religious bigotry says IA Rehman
#2. Indian Govt lacks consistent Pakistan policy (Siddharth Varadarajan)
#3. The Stability-Instability Paradox, Misperception, and Escalation 
Control in South Asia (Stimson Center)
#4. US Agenda of Intervention in Nepal (Anand Swaroop Verma)
#5. Nepal: Initial Peace Talks on, But Displaced People Still Lost
#6. India Pakistan Arms Race and Militarisation Watch No. 117 (4 May 2003)
#7. Announcing: A Web cast of lecture by Romila Thapar titled "Searching for
a Historical Tradition"
#8. Invitation to Asian Groups/Organisations to A Consultation on WSF 2004
June 1-2, 2003 / (Bombay)
#9. Web site of South Asian Social Science Research Network
#10. India: VHP builds a Temple in Idukki Dam (Mukundan C. Menon)
#11. India: Who defines obscenity? (Kalpana Sharma)


--------------

#1.

The Daily Times
May 4, 2003

Pakistan and India must shun religious bigotry: HRCP

By Waqar Gillani
LAHORE: Pakistan and India must abandon "religious bigotry" if they 
want permanent peaceful relations, Human Rights Commission of 
Pakistan (HRCP) Director IA Rehman said on Saturday.
Mr Rehman, also the patron-in-chief of the Pakistan-India People's 
=46orum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), told Daily Times Pakistani 
and Indian societies suffer from fundamentalist religious elements. 
"This bigotry will destroy both countries and regional peace," he 
warned.
He added that a stable democracy "is the only way to strengthen the 
relationship" between the South Asian neighbours.
Mr Rehman said that to change the geographical boundaries of a 
country in this age of modern weapons was impossible, so it was 
important both peoples understand each other's problems.
"We will have to live like good neighbours otherwise it will be 
difficult to survive and to develop like progressive nations," he 
said. "Only continuous dialogue can help resolve all issues and 
conflicts." The disputes between Pakistan and India issue, Mr Rehman 
said, couldn't be resolved with dialogue in days, weeks, or even 
months. "It should be a continuing process and effort to fill 
cultural and social gaps," he said. "We will have to restore 
confidence, and on the diplomatic front, high commissioners should be 
sent to both sides. Both countries will also have to start trade and 
strengthen the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation 
(SAARC)."
He also suggested that Islamabad and New Delhi sign a no-war pact. A 
government level effort or "track two diplomacy", he warned, could 
not make the situation better. This, he said, could only be achieved 
through "interaction between the people of both countries and efforts 
to remove cultural and social barriers. People must have a share in 
the normalisation of this tension."
He added that simplifying the visa process, opening road and air 
links and other friendly measures needed to be taken by both sides, 
saying these were government-level efforts that prevented mass level 
interaction. "These governments have no respect for people." He said 
restarting the Pak-India Dosti Bus Service, for example, would allow 
low-income level and middle class families from both sides to 
interact.
And if both countries did not respect the people, "external forces" 
would benefit. "Pakistan and India should not be under pressure from 
the United States."

_____

#2.

The Times of India
India-Pakistan Round Three: Will it be decisive?

Govt lacks consistent Pakistan policy
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SATURDAY, MAY 03, 2003 11:01:07 PM ]

Siddharth Varadarajan, deputy bureau chief

Only an ancient civilisation can afford to have such a cavalier 
attitude to-wards the loss of a year. Vajpayee's initiative of 
sending back our high commissioner to Pakistan is highly welcome, but 
surely it could have been taken six months ago? Ever since the 
terrorist attack on Parliament, India-Pakistan relations have been in 
deep freeze thanks to measures taken by the Vajpayee government 
without due consideration paid to the consequences. Our high 
commissioner was recalled, transport links between the two countries 
were snapped, and the Army was aggressively deployed along the border 
with Pakistan, all to no avail.

The demand from Delhi was that Pakistan end cross-border terrorism 
and hand over 20 terrorists. Only full compliance could lead to the 
resumption of normal relations, we were told. It was almost as if the 
sensibilities of the home ministry had taken over the MEA. As 
recently as a fortnight ago, our foreign minister recklessly 
threatened 'pre-emptive' military action against Pakistan.

As if to underline the fact that the government has no Pakistan 
policy, Vajpayee has now climbed down from his high horse, seeking to 
normalise relations despite  terrorism continuing. And though his 
desire for peace might be heartfelt, the world will link Vajpayee's 
overture to US pressure and the imminent arrival of heavyweight envoy 
Richard Armitage.

Whatever the provocation, however, the fact that India and Pakistan 
could soon be talking is good news. But for relations to improve, it 
is essential that the following points are kept in mind:

* Don't rush to hold a summit. The principals have met twice, in 
Lahore and Agra, without achieving a result. It's better to start 
with meetings at the official level.

* Take as many unilateral steps as possible to allow people-to-people 
contact. Don't wait for the other side to first liberalise visas, 
etc.

* Realise that neither terrorism nor military means will produce a 
solution to the Kashmir issue.

* Don't let the desperate acts of terrorists derail relations.

* Don't allow Kashmir to come in the way of progress on other fronts 
but do not assume the issue can be postponed indefinitely.

* Don't allow semantics about whether Kashmir is a 'core' or 'main' 
'issue' or 'dispute' to ruin the dialogue.

Will we be mature enough to move ahead? Will Vajpayee be able to 
carry the Advani camp, whose unreasonable positions are largely 
responsible for the current logjam? Will Jamali be able to convince 
the Pakistan army to end its support to terrorism? I, along with 
hundreds of millions on both sides of the border, sincerely hope so. 
But I'm not holding my breath.

_____


#3.

The Stimson Center's assessment, The Stability-Instability Paradox, 
Misperception, and Escalation Control in South Asia., concludes that 
nuclear dangers remain high on the subcontinent.
http://www.stimson.org/southasia/pdf/kreponmay03.pdf

_____


#4.

US Agenda of Intervention in Nepal
Anand Swaroop Verma

The US government has put the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and 
its mass front, United People's Front in the category of terrorists 
(vide letter dated 30th April 2003) issued by US department of State. 
Publication of this news on the May day astonished everyone. It is to 
be noted that Nepal government is currently holding peace talks with 
the Maoists whose first round concluded on 27th April. More 
importantly government of Nepal itself has withdrawn the terrorist 
tag on the Maoists before the cessation of hostilities on January 
29th as a rebel pre condition to declare a cease-fire. It is ironical 
that the Nepal government does not consider this Nepalese 
organisation as a terrorist organisation but US government seems more 
enthusiastic to include it in the list of terrorists. Is there any 
impending danger to American citizens or America's national interest? 
As these are the precondition in America's laws to declare any 
foreign organisation as terrorist!
Maoists of Nepal are waging struggle aimed at ending the Monarchy and 
establishment of a genuine democracy. They belong to the same 
communist tradition from which has emanated CPN (UML) which is the 
main opposition party and also had been the part of the government. 
The major difference between the two is the fact that  CPN (UML) has 
become a parliamentary party undermining the popular aspirations. 
This compelled the Maoists to opt for the armed struggle while 
boycotting the parliament. This makes it very clear that Maoists of 
Nepal, in no way, pose any threat to the national interest of  the 
US. Still including them in the list of terrorist organisation issued 
by Colin Powell on 30th April raise serious concerns and 
apprehensions.
In fact the Maoists pose no threat to the national interest of 
America but they pose serious threat to American imperialism and the 
globalised world economic order. This is the main reason of US 
keenness in Nepalese affairs since the beginning of People's War in 
1996. Initially it expected the early death of the movement but 
contrary to it movement's base started becoming pervasive and it 
registered unprecedented increase among its supporters. Not only 
this, in the span of just three years it expanded its organisational 
base in most of the 75 districts of Nepal and created liberated zones 
in more than 25 districts. American establishment got alarmed. After 
disintegration of Soviet Union the American imperialism intoxicated 
with the end of communism could not accept this phenomenon. At a time 
when it was celebrating the 'end of history' and inaugurating the era 
of 'clashes of civilizations', the emergence of a powerful peoples 
movement disturbed its festivity. That is why reports of foreign and 
defence departments and various intelligence agencies of the US have 
advised the US Presidents to concentrate on South Asia instead of 
Europe which poses no more threats to the interest of America. Not 
only to counter the communist threat but also to keep an eye on 
China, which is-according to US experts- gradually emerging into 
economic, political and military rival, the US needs a foothold in 
South Asia. A study of the events before and after the aggression on 
Afghanistan makes it clear that under the pretext of the events of 
September 11, America would have intervened in Afghanistan any way.
The way Kashmir is becoming an issue of concern for the US hawks 
after their campaign in Iraq, it is clear that it is looking for 
excuses to have its military bases in South Asia. It already has 
substantial military presence in Pakistan and has conducted joint 
military exercises with India. Presently, it is preaching to India 
and Pakistan both to adopt the path of negotiated peace but as soon 
as the process of negotiated peace would seem to turn into reality, 
it will resort to sabotage the process as it has done in Nepal.
In case of Nepal, American authorities had been advising both the 
parties to resolve the matter through negotiation. The situation for 
the commencement of negotiations got a shot in the arms when Nepal's 
Home minister Dharam Bahadur Thapa, in a press conference declared 
that Nepalese government does not consider Maoists as terrorist and 
that the awards on the Maoists would be soon withdrawn for which he 
even criticised the former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Even 
before that on 20th November Nepal's Women and Social Welfare 
minister Gore Bahadur Khapangi had expressed the hope of the 
withdrawl of awards for the arrest of Maoists. Two days before this, 
on 18th November, Nepal's deputy prime minister B. P. Mandal had 
assured the media persons in Birat Nagar that government can consider 
the Maoist demand of a Constituent Assembly if they were sincere for 
the peace talks. In such a situation home minister's statement gave a 
positive message to the Maoists. This sent an alarm in the American 
establishment which started conspiring to sabotage it. On 14th 
December 2002  US assistant foreign Secretary and incharge of South 
Asian affairs Christina Rocca visited Kathmandu and told the press 
persons that America did not desire to interfere in Nepal's internal 
affairs but spoke venomously against the Maoists. She further added, 
'although the maoists have not been put on any terrorist list, this 
step may be taken into consideration if their violence continue 
unabated.'
Christina Rocca did not stop her mischiefs even after declaration of 
ceasefire on 29th January. On 4 February 2003 while talking to the 
journalists of 'Defence Writers Group', though she expressed some 
hope from the cease fire yet she emphasised the 'deteriorating 
situation'. On 28 February US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State 
Donald Camp took part in a programme entitled 'Preventing a Communist 
Overthrow of Nepal'. Camp made very clear in his speech that success 
of Maoists in Nepal would hamper American interest though he did not 
substantiate. 'The US does not wish to see these insurgents prevail'. 
His argument is , 'the Maoists threaten US interests...The leadership 
has made clear that it seeks to replace the constitutional monarchy 
with an absolutist communist regime.' He expressed the apprehensions 
that because of Maoists 'Nepal could quite easily turn into a failed 
state, a potential haven for terrorists like that which we have 
transformed in Afghanistan.' He also stated that America was helping 
Royal Nepalese Army along with its allies India and Britain to 
counter the Maoist threat and that its consistently keeping a watch 
on Nepal. He further added, 'the United States faces a number of 
foreign policy challenges around the world, and Nepal is on this 
list. We keep our eyes on the situation daily, and work constantly to 
ensure that our policies pursue US national interests and the 
interests of the Nepali people.' It should be noted that such 
damaging statements from Donald camp and Christina Rocca started 
coming at a time when the process of peace talks between government 
and Maoists had already been on. Toeing the line of Christina Rocca 
he also issued open threat of America's right to declare Maoists as 
terrorist organisation.
The establishment of a negotiated peace and consequent adoption of 
nonviolent democratic path by Maoists would be unfavourable for 
America. The US is waiting for the failure of the talks and Maoists' 
going back to the armed struggle so that it gets an opportunity for 
military intervention in the name of fighting terrorism. 
Notwithstanding all this, consignments of arms from America, India 
and Belgium had already reached Nepal. Not only this, 50 US military 
experts are already conducting joint military exercises with RNA.
An advertisement regarding US position on the matter is worth 
mentioning. On 26 February 2003 USAID invited applications for 
'Personal services Contractor' on its internet site. The 
advertisement says, 'In order to respond to the on-going Maoist 
insurgency in Nepal, USAID is supporting interventions to address the 
conflict through its newly formed Special Projects Office which 
addresses Conflict Prevention, Mitigation and Response (CPMR). The 
USAID Mission has integrated CPMR into its overall country strategy 
for the period 2000-2005, with the CPMR portion managed by the 
Special Projects Office (SPO). The last date for the submission of 
the applications was 25 March 2003. 
Last year on May 15-16 India's then Army chief general S Padmanabhan 
and on May 27 Britain's Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral General Sir 
Michael Boyce visited Maoist dominated areas of Nepal. Both of them 
assured the Nepalese government of their full support in nailing the 
Maoists. Just one day prior to General Padmanabhan's visit to Nepal, 
Indian paratroopers and US Special Operation personnel started joint 
military exercises near Agra. This was the biggest joint military 
exercise since India's independence. On 19 June 2002 British 
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 
Affairs Mike O'Brien told the chairman of the Britain-Nepal 
Parliamentary Group, Sir John Stanley in the Parliament, "We are 
working closely with our US colleagues and others in identifying ways 
to stop the insurgency." On the day of the commencement of the joint 
military exercises, Christina Rocca  issued a statement, 'From the 
start of his Administration, President Bush has sought a global 
approach to US-India relations to engage India on the whole range of 
issues that currently confront the international community...The most 
topical area of this partnership is in our military to military 
relations.' She also said that the US and the India have come closer 
in course of 'the war against terrorism.'
By putting Maoists in the list of terrorist organisations, the US has 
made its intentions clear. Whether Nepal or Kashmir if Americans are 
able to make their military presence in South Asia under whatever 
pretext, it will pose severe threat to the entire South Asia in 
general, and to the sovereignty of India in particular. Therefore it 
is imperative upon all democratic forces to help the ongoing peace 
process in Nepal in reaching its logical conclusion. In this lies the 
interest of India and also the interest of entire South Asia.

May 3, 2003

Anand Swaroop Verma
Q-63, Sector 12
Noida 201301 [India]

_____


#5.

Inter Press Service

NEPAL: Initial Peace Talks on, But Displaced People Still Lost

Rita Manchanda
Initial peace talks between the Nepali government and the Maoist 
rebels get underway on Monday, but questions persist around how to 
protect the rights of the 'invisible' - the 150,000 people who have 
been internally displaced by the war.

KATHMANDU, Apr 20 (IPS) - Initial peace talks between the Nepali 
government and the Maoist rebels get underway on Monday, but 
questions persist around how to protect the rights of the 'invisible' 
- the 150,000 people who have been internally displaced by the war.
How to facilitate the return or resettlement of these displaced 
people is a challenge after six years of the Maoist-led civil war, 
which is aimed at turning this Himalayan kingdom into a multi-party 
republic and has killed more than 7,000 people.
"The vulnerable groups such as women, children and the elderly have 
been left behind in their villages", said one researcher in the first 
structured study of internally displaced people in Nepal, a 
controversial subject.
A fragile ceasefire has been in place since January. Many hope that 
Monday's talks, which the government's five-member panel calls 
''introductory talks'' and the rebels' five-member group calls 
''talks for talks'', will lead to substantive discussions soonest.
However, reports also say that while the government is keen on 
''humanitarian issues'', the rebels want to talk about ''political'' 
issues early on, including their key demands in the war.
But the return of those displaced is difficult to do without formal 
recognition that internally displaced people exist in the first place.
Under the ceasefire agreement, 'armed' Maoists will remain in control 
of the villages and the Royal Nepal Army in the district towns. The 
chief government negotiator, Narayan Singh Pun, says that on the 
talks' agenda is the construction of 'safe corridors' to assess basic 
needs of displaced people.
In the mid-western districts of Achcham and Bardiya, officials have 
observed that while Maoists have lifted the blockade on movement of 
people and food, the army continues its blockade, curfew and search 
and cordon operations. The Maoist leaders have been calling for 
people to return.
Thus far, the busloads of people leaving has stopped, but there is no 
evidence of return. "Some will return and some will stay," according 
to the internally displaced people (IDP) Research Initiative Report 
of the Norwegian Refugee Council.
The council took a major step on the issue of internally displaced 
people visible when in March, it put Nepal on its Global IDP Project. 
It coordinated the various sporadic initiatives by the United Nations 
Development Programme and non-government groups and profiled the 
pattern of forced relocation of displaced people and its co-relation 
with rapid urbanisation.
Assessing the scale of the problem of displacement is a crucial and 
controversial issue, especially because in Nepal it is difficult to 
distinguish between internally displaced people and economic migrants.
The IDP Research Initiative, in its break-up of reasons for 
displacement, cites as primary factors education 38 percent, followed 
by security 24 percent, work 14 percent, services 12 percent, 
business three percent and others nine percent.
This difficulty of identifying who is an IDP persuaded the 
International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to take on board this 
issue it had identified this as a concern as early as 2001.
The IDP Research Initiative extrapolated from a Nepal Red Cross study 
based on a sample study of 21 districts that assessed 10,500 
displaced people. Extrapolated to all the country's 75 districts, it 
would be 37,000 internally displaced people.
An NRC official estimated that in all likelihood the figure was 
barely 10 percent of the actual figure, making it 150,000 to 200,000. 
However, a Nepal Red Cross official at the March meeting to discuss 
this was sceptical.
The report cites also cites a Home Ministry definition of "a person 
who has been displaced due to murder of a family member by the 
terrorists". But Kathmandu-based Home Ministry sources denied the 
existence of any such authoritative definition, which excludes those 
who have fled the violence of the security forces and ex-Maoists.
Anecdotal evidence of internally displaced people are plenty. At one 
point last year in the 'Peoples War' of the Maoist rebels, crammed 
busloads of 250 men, daily, were seen leaving Mangalsen, the district 
headquarters in Achcham district in the mid-west, flattened by a 
Maoist attack in February 2002.
In nearby Jajarkot and Rolpa districts, the Maoist stronghold in the 
mid-west, whole families and groups of families were seen leaving.
As the cadres of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) spread their 
control over the villages, the security forces fortified district 
headquarters and bazaars.
Generalised violence, forced recruitment, the use of food as an 
instrument of war, the disruption of agricultural production, food 
for work programmes, education and health services drove thousands to 
leave and thousands not to return from seasonal migration. It created 
the phenomenon of the 'internally stuck'.
Primarily, locally elected village committee officials, teachers and 
political party activists were targets of the Maoist rebels.
=46or example, Tham Bahadur Sunar, a leftist party activist suspected 
to be an informer, moved with his family from his village Gartigaon 
to the safety of the garrisoned district headquarter, Libang.
Aite Majhi moved to Manthali district headquarters of Ramechamp 
because a Maoist unit of five, including two women, warned him to 
produce his missing first wife. He was charged with her 
disappearance. He fled with his second wife and infant daughter.
Some walked for a day or two from the village to the district 
headquarters to move on again by bus to municipalities in the Terai 
plains abutting the Indian border.
At the border town of Nepalgunj, an international non-government 
monitoring unit estimated that between November to December 2002, 
more than 1,200 people were crossing the border into India.
That is also the normal period of peak seasonal economic migration to 
India. In Nepal, one in three men is involved in seasonal migration.
But the estimate was four to six times the average flow and included 
boys as young as 12. The Maoists have been accused of recruitment of 
child soldiers and army camps have been located in village schools.
The IDP Initiative also co-related the flows of internally displaced 
people with the growth rate of Nepal's municipalities. A spurt in 
'normal' migration was noted, up from an 3.6 percent to 5.2 percent 
per year in 2001 to 2003. Thus, the report recommends a focus on 
marginalised communities in arrival areas rather than only on those 
internally displaced.
"Not all who internally relocate are poor", Leonard van Duijin, a 
co-author of the IDP Initiative report.
This approach, activist say, is a recognition of the difficulty of 
distinguishing between internally displaced people and economic 
migrants. (END)

_____


#6.

India Pakistan Arms Race and Militarisation Watch No. 117
(4 May 2003)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IPARMW/message/128

______


#7.

May 2, 2003

A new webcast of the first of Romila Thapar's two lectures at UC Berkeley
in November 2002 is now available as high resolution streaming video on
the webcast.berkeley.edu web site.

A video of the lecture on 11/4/02 by Romila Thapar titled "Searching for
a Historical Tradition" is now available at the following URL:

http://webcast.berkeley.edu/events/details.html?event_id=3D75

This is in addition to the lecture on 11/6/02 titled "History and
Contemporary Politics in India" that has been available on the same UC
Berkeley web site since December 2002. The free "Realplayer" application
is required to watch these videos.

_____


#8.

INVITATION TO ASIAN GROUPS/ORGANISATIONS TO A CONSULTATION ON WSF 2004
Dates: June 1 and 2, 2003
Venue: Mumbai (Bombay), India

Dear Friends,

The India Working Committee (IWC) for the World Social Forum 2004 
takes pleasure in inviting representative/s of your organisation to a 
Asia Consultation for WSF2004 at Mumbai. You might have earlier 
received a similar communication for such a meeting for May 18 and 
19, but that had to be postponed on account of SARS and the inability 
of the members of the Brazilian committee to come around those dates. 
We are aware that the SARS epidemic has not shown signs of abating as 
yet, but we are also conscious of the fact that we can not delay such 
a consultation for too long, given that the WSF is to be held in 
January 2004. We earnestly hope that SARS shall subside by end- May 
ensuring a full representation at the consultation. To all of you 
whose lives and work have been affected by this unprecedented 
epidemic, our deep sympathies and fervent wishes that you remain 
unaffected by its afflictions.

We are also aware of the unprecedented horror that our West Asian 
(Middle East being an imperialist denomination for that region) 
sisters and brothers have been enduring from an illegal and immoral 
war, which in fact started last year from our neighbouring country, 
Afghanistan. We recognise the tremendous courage they have shown, and 
hope the region will be rid of local and global predators soon. We 
hope that representatives from this region will also be able to join 
the consultation. In every sense therefore, this has been a period of 
intense strife and pain for the people of Asia, which should 
encourage us to join forces in dreaming about and making Another 
World Possible with renewed fervour.

The India Process
After the conclusion of the Asia Social Forum in Hyderabad, India in 
January2003, the International Committee of the WSF decided, at its 
meeting in Porto Alegre during the WSF2003, to move WSF2004 to India. 
Since January 2003, a number of consultations in India have finally 
led to the following structure to emerge:

1. An open-ended India General Council (IGC), composed of mass 
organisations, social movements and other civil society formations 
representing workers, peasants, dalits, women, minorities and others. 
About 150 organisations are listed in the IGC at present, which will 
continue to grow. IGC will set the broad framework for the WSF2004.

2. An India Working Committee (IWC) composed of representatives from 
about 65 organisations, representing all the major sectors. The IWC 
will be the functional policy making body for WSF2004.

3. An India Organising Committee (IOC) of about 30 persons drawn from 
organisations and a few individuals. This will be the main 
implementation unit and its members are expected to devote an 
adequate amount of time for actual work related to WSF2004.

4. Functional sub-groups in areas like program, mobilisation, venue 
and logistics, media and communication, culture, liaison, youth, and 
finances. Their job is to work out the working plans, modalities and 
strategies under the policy guidelines set by the IGC and IWC, for 
the IOC to implement.

In addition, a broad-based Mumbai Organising Committee has started to 
function with the major responsibility of working out all the venue 
and logistics details etc.

=46inal dates of the WSF 2004:
The India Working Committee in its Mumbai meeting on the 19th- 20th 
April, has confirmed the dates of the WSF 2004
The dates are JANUARY 16TH-21ST 2004.

Objectives of the Asia Consultation
As you are aware, being situated in Latin America the three previous 
WSF's have not seen a major representation from Asia, mostly due to 
the distances. A major reason to bring it to Asia has been just to 
rectify that, to ensure a much more vigorous Asian presence, both in 
quality and numbers. Let us also remind ourselves that either in 
resisting hegemonies, or in crafting alternatives, the Asian region 
has had a very rich experience, which must enrich the WSF process.

Nearly a decade before the WSF, in 1989, it was in Asia that the 
civil society based People's Plan for 21st century (PP21) was 
launched from Hiroshima, envisaging that the 21st century would 
belong to People of the World, through their cross-border alliances. 
The three declarations of the PP21, at Hiroshima (1989), Bangkok 
(1992) and Sagarmatha (Nepal, 1996) in may ways echo the same 
principles, concerns and actions which in a different form constitute 
the concerns of WSF. Different, in the sense that as a platform of 
diversity and plurality WSF, unlike PP21, does not make declarations.
Some of you have also participated in the meeting of social movements 
which took place in preparation of ASF and in conjuction with WSF IC 
meet in Bangkok, the proposed meeting is also to build on agenda 
which was adopted.
Where as the holding of the event WSF2004 is the responsibility of 
the India General Council, the content and processes are the joint 
responsibility of the International Committee of the WSF and the IGC. 
However, we in India feel that in these two areas, the content and 
process of the event, there must be an adequate involvement of the 
Asian groups, since the holding of the event in India in many ways 
signifies the Asian character of it. Accordingly, we would like the 
Asia Consultation to focus on the following:

1. Adequate mobilisation from the Asian region - of workers, 
peasants, women's and other organisations, and networks.

2. Suggestions regarding program content to reflect Asian realities.

3. Organisational support t o WSF2004 in terms of finances, persons 
and other forms.

4. Constitution of an Asia Solidarity Group to undertake the above 
tasks on a sustained basis.

This list is merely illustrative. We could take up other issues too 
on the basis of your suggestions, we will appreciate if you send then 
in advance.
Please do forward this invitation to other networks, organisations 
whom you know and who are in agreement with WSF Charter of Principles.

Venue and Logistics for the Consultation
The meeting will be held in Bombay (called Mumbai now). Please expect 
very hot and humid weather in Bombay in May/June and without wishing 
to alarm you, you must take enough fluids to avoid possible 
dehydration. May being a holiday season, it will be impossible to get 
hotel bookings at the last minute.

Accommodation:
The Bombay organising committee will greatly appreciate if 
participants confirm and intimate their travel plans and requirement 
for accommodation well in advance. Your queries/requests for hotel 
accommodation must come at least ten days before the meeting, after 
which it will be difficult to ensure your request for accommodation.

Address for accommodation (booking and enquiry)
aksharacentre@vsnl.com

Hotels: Range
1) Rs 200-400 per day per person twin sharing basis
2) Rs. 400-1500 per day per person twin sharing basis
3) Rs. 1500-3000 per person per day

Please indicate your preference, number of people, and exact date of 
arrival and departure.

With fraternal greetings,
India Working Committee
Email contact of the Bombay office: wsfmumbai@speedpost.net

Contact phone numbers:
Akshara: 91-22-24316082 OR 91-22-24309676 (first preference to these 
two numbers)
Cordelia: 91-22- 24308877 (next preference)
Mobile: Jaya: 91-98202-47847 (for emergency)

_____


#9.

Web site of South Asian social science research network, developed by 
the SSRC South Asia Program
URL: sarn.ssrc.org

_____


#10.

"Indian Currents", May 11, 2003

VHP builds a Temple in Idukki Dam
-- Mukundan C. Menon

Exhibiting its defiance and belligerence on April 30, the Vishwa 
Hindu Parishad hurriedly conducted the "idol installation ceremony" 
at the "Ayyappa temple" it constructs within the reservoir of Idukki 
Dam. This was done in an apparent attempt to outwit the Kerala High 
Court verdict to be pronounced on Friday, May 2nd, over the ongoing 
temple construction.
The VHP mobilized about 500 people from different districts to 
participate in the ceremony. They were brought in different vehicles 
on April 29 night. The rituals were performed by Eswaran Namboodiri, 
Narayanan Namboodiri and Damodaran Namboodiri, brought in from their 
native place at Kanjangad in northern Kasargode district of the State.
The 550 ft high and 650 ft wide Idukki dam is the world=92s second and 
Asia=92s first arch dam constructed across the Kuravan and Kurathi 
hills. Idukki hydro-electric power station serves as the main artery 
of Kerala=92s power needs.
Notably, the High Court was to pass its order on the writ petition 
filed by Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) on April 29, but 
deferred it for May 2nd as the VHP advocate was absent. This was 
regarded as deliberate move by VHP to facilitate its idol 
installation ceremony before the court pronounce the likely adverse 
verdict.
The VHP militants took all precautions to counter any possible police 
move to stall the function. It, however, went on smoothly since there 
was no move to stop VHP activity, said to be under orders from higher 
ups in Thiruvananthapuram. About hundred people are still remaining 
at the place where the idol was illegally installed.
The KSEB moved the High Court seeking to restrain the VHP from 
continuing with the construction of the temple in the Idukki dam 
reservoir area, falling in Ayyappankovil Village of Udumbanchola 
Taluk in Idukki district. The reservoir area also forms part of the 
highly protected Periyar Wild Life sanctuary at Thekkady.
The petition filed by KSEB Research Division Deputy Director, K. R. 
Gopalakrishnan, contended that the VHP had "no manner of right" to 
construct the temple "in the protected area". Admitting the existence 
of a temple on the banks of Periyar River before construction of 
Idukki dam, it was pointed out that eight acres of land and Rs. One 
lakh resettlement amount was allotted by the Government in 1974 for 
relocating the temple since the area where the temple originally 
situated would submerge in the reservoir water on completion of the 
dam. Accordingly, and as per then High Court order in 1976, the 
original idol was installed at the newly constructed temple at 
Thoppippala as per the =91tantric=92 rituals. A Trust formed by the local 
people and believers take care of this new temple.
As such, pujas were not performed in the old temple from 1985 as the 
entire area got submerged in the reservoir. However, of late, the VHP 
activists trespassed into the 30-cent land where the old temple stood 
and started renovating it, the petition pointed. On its part, the 
Travancore Dewaswom Board informed the High Court that it had no 
knowledge of the temple construction, nor it had any proposal for 
such construction, and that no temple employee was appointed by it 
for that purpose.
The Ayyappankovil area remains at a distance from the dam site. When 
the water level recedes during summer, some people used to light 
lamps at the remains of the old temple. This was particularly 
performed as a mere ritual by the local tribals, and a tribal priest, 
Kiliyan Chothi, used to conduct the "poojas" for the past more than a 
decade on such occasions. However, the VHP never allowed Kiliyan 
Chothi anywhere near the temple for its April 30 idol installation 
ceremony, which was performed by the Namboodiris (Kerala Brahmins) 
brought in from far away Kanjangad.
Incidentally, Idukki has a large population of tribals in Kerala and 
its main tribal sects are Muthuvan, Malayarayan, Mannan, Paliyan, 
Urali, Ulladan, Malavedan and Malampandaram.
The VHP took advantage of low rainfall during the past two years to 
start encroaching the old temple place in the reservoir during 
October-November last year. It suddenly identified that the temple 
was relocated in 1976 not according to "tantric" rituals. In order to 
give sanctity to its propaganda, the VHP conducted "Deva Prasnam" by 
three astrologers and under whose opinion the temple construction was 
formally started on November 18 under the guidance of Kunjambu, a 
"Vaastu" Pandit who, too, hails from Kanjangad. The proposed 
Sabarimala-model temple on a platform of 18 feet high and with 18 
steps was estimated to incur a total expenditure of Rs. 2 crores. 
Even before completion of the temple, the VHP conducted "Makara 
Sankranthi" festival on January 14 and "Vishu" festival on April 14 
this year, mainly to attract people and to establish their claim on 
the encroached reservoir premises.
In spite of this open encroachment there was no move against it from 
the District Administration, and KSEB-Revenue-Forest authorities. 
Ironically, the temple construction was restarted after the April 14 
"Vishu" festival. The summer vacation of the High Court also came in 
handy for the VHP move since the authorities cannot get a quick stay 
against the illegal construction. The April 30 idol installation was 
also performed before completion of construction of the temple and 
its "Sreekovil" (sanctum sanctorum).
Notably, on April 28 the Udumbanchola Deputy Tahsildar served a "stop 
memo" to the VHP-led committee against construction of the illegal 
temple within the reservoir. Despite this, the construction was 
continued by participating women and children, and about 12 of the 
proposed 18 feet platform of the temple was built.
On April 29, a top KSEB delegation comprising of Research Division 
Director Ms. Annamma John, Executive Engineer Subramaniam, and Asst. 
Executive Engineer P. N. Biju visited the spot and held discussion 
with VHP Idukki District President K. N. Rajendran. The latter 
informed the officials that the temple would be constructed at all 
costs and irrespective of the Court verdict. "The divinity of the 
temple would solve all power crisis", the VHP leader told the 
officials.
According to Ms. John, a final decision can only be taken after the 
Court verdict. Denying lapses on the part of KSEB in preventing the 
illegal construction, she said that the Board had duly informed it to 
the District Revenue authorities, who are empowered to take such 
actions. "We informed the District Collector and also moved the High 
Court. The issue was discussed with Minister for Power, Kadavur 
Sivadasan." Pointing out that the temple within the reservoir would 
adversely affect the dam and power production, she said that it was 
not correct on the part of VHP to construct the temple since it was 
relocated in 1976 after performing due "tantric" rituals.
The KSEB had in fact informed the District Collector in writing in 
December last year about the VHP encroachment in the reservoir. The 
District Collector, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, said that he was informed 
about the whole thing only the other day and that he had given 
instruction to the RDO to conduct a spot investigation. The fact, 
however, remains that despite the "stop memo" served on April 28 by 
the RDO, the revenue officials and the police were conspicuously 
absent when the idol installation ceremony was held on April 30.
Notably, the relocated Temple Trust of Thoppipala, headed by its 
Chairman E. K. Vasu, filed a case (OS 1092) before the Idukki Munsif 
Court and got a favourable verdict against reconstruction of the 
temple at its old place in the reservoir in Ayyappankovil village and 
using the same temple name. The VHP started the temple construction 
and conducted the April 30 idol installation ceremony in violation of 
this existing court verdict.
The new turn of events at Idukki reservoir came closely on the heels 
of VHP supremo Ashok Singhal=92s visit to the state and launching the 
"Thrishul Diksha" ceremony at Alwaye on April 26, and threatening to 
"eliminate" the entire minorities, communists and secularists. 
Singhal also demanded to oust Dewaswom Minister G. Karthikeyan from 
the State Cabinet for his comment that Sabarimala, where people of 
all religions go, is not a temple of Hindus alone.
Yet, unlike his Rajasthan counterpart Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister A. 
K. Antony opted to remain casual. On the very day the VHP conducted 
the illegal idol installation at Idukki reservoir, Antony said that 
his government did not intend to prevent VHP=92s "Thrishul" 
distribution as demanded by the Opposition parties. "The traditional 
communal amity in Kerala is very strong, which cannot be harmed by 
the "Thrishul" distribution. Therefore there is no need for the 
government to prevent it", he said at the post-Cabinet meet press 
briefing.
Apart from CPI(M) State Secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, who took strong 
exception on Antony=92s stand, senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran 
also joined issue. "Both BJP and VHP are two sides of the same coin. 
They should not have any place on Kerala soil. There is a need to 
pluck the menace right at the bud with the cooperation of all. 
Otherwise, I am afraid, there will be catastrophe in future", 
Karunakaran warned in a TV interview on May 1. Answering a specific 
question on Antony=92s citing the traditional strong foundation of 
communal amity in Kerala, Karunakaran quipped: "That is merely an 
excuse or ploy to be inactive..."
Meanwhile, experts pointed out that the VHP temple within the 
reservoir would cause greater hardship for power in Kerala.. If the 
temple was permitted to exist, the dam=92s water storage level has to 
be reduced by 33 feet from above. Water is presently stored within 
the 123 feet space between the full reservoir level of 2,403 feet and 
the low level of 2,280. Reducing water level by 33 per cent will, in 
turn, reduce the water capacity of the reservoir by 50 per cent. 
Because of the dam=92s triangle shape, the water capacity increases as 
it goes above. Therefore, reducing the water level by 33 feet from 
above would reduce both water capacity and power production by 50 per 
cent. And, if this was not done, the VHP temple in the reservoir 
would be submerged in water.
The power production capacity of Idukki dam is 214.55 crore units. 
Because of the VHP temple in the reservoir, this will have be reduced 
to 107.5 crore units. And, it is bound to adversely affect the 
already hampered power situation in the State, which is surviving 
with daily power cuts and load shedding.
High Court rejects KSEB plea
Admitting the Advocate General=92s plea for more time, the Kerala High 
Court's vaction bench on May 2 rejected the KSEB petition seeking 
issuance of orders against construction of VHP temple at Idukki dam 
reservoir. The VHP, on its part, informed the Court that the =94temple 
construction has already been completed and the idol was installed=94.
The Bench comprising Justice A. K. Basheer and Justice R. Basant said 
that orders would be passed only after knowing the actual position 
and asked the State Government, Superintendent of Police, Idukki, to 
file counter affidavits, if any. The cae is now posted for May 6.
The KSEB moved yet another petition seeking the Court=92s direction to 
the police to clear the encroachers from the reservoir.

_____


#11.

Magazine Section / The Hindu
Sunday, May 04, 2003

Who defines obscenity?

KALPANA SHARMA

It is the image of the `Indian' woman that is the issue.

CAN you be pro-flesh and anti-flesh at the same time? Apparently you 
can, if you belong to the Shiv Sena. In Mumbai, the city of its 
birth, the Shiv Sena is enacting one of its stranger dramas. One arm 
of the Shiv Sena has gone on the offensive against vegetarians, those 
who oppose all flesh, particularly if it is raw and brought into 
residential buildings inhabited by vegetarians. And the other has 
gone on the rampage against hoardings displaying too much flesh.

In the course of just one fortnight, we heard the South Mumbai 
section head of the Shiv Sena, Bala Kaleshkar, declare: "Mumbai is 
the land of Maharashtrians and we have been large-hearted to accept 
everyone. That does not mean they (meaning the vegetarians) can 
displace us. If these vegetarian societies continue this segregation, 
the Shiv Sena will speak the language it is known for". And all 
residents of Mumbai, vegetarian or non-vegetarian, certainly know 
what Kaleshkar was talking about in his thinly veiled threat.

And even as Kaleshkar was fuming about vegetarian housing societies 
preventing meat-eaters from living on the same premises, the moral 
wing of the Shiv Sena was pulling down hoardings of a particular 
clothing company that displays men and women wearing jeans with 
ostensibly nothing on top. Ostensibly. Because the women are wearing 
flesh covered bikini tops while the men display their naked torsos. 
The Shiv Sena objects to the women, not the men.

People in Mumbai are familiar with the Shiv Sena's sporadic tirades 
against particular advertisements. Around 10 years ago, the party had 
built up a head of steam against an advertisement for jogging shoes 
in which a naked man and women were entwined with a serpent around 
their necks. The advertisement was eye-catching because it was 
provocative. But the Sena had objected not so much to the nakedness 
of the couple, which was cleverly concealed by trick photography and 
the aids that computer graphics provide these days, but the fact that 
the individuals in the advertisement were Maharashtrians. 
=46urthermore, they were engaged to be married! How could a "decent" 
Maharashtrian girl pose for such an advertisement with the man she 
was supposed to marry? The models were Milind Soman and Madhu Sapre 
and incidentally they did not marry each other although I doubt if it 
was the Shiv Sena's tirade against them that caused the estrangement. 
But the advertisement was taken off and Soman and Sapre more or less 
apologised.

Ask an average person in Mumbai their opinion on this issue, and they 
are likely to say that it is a non-issue. Why make a fuss about one 
advertisement? But the Chairperson of the National Commission on 
Women (NCW) disagrees. "Such images are not conducive to the dignity 
of women," says Poornima Advani. "We don't want to curb anybody's 
freedom," she says, but "we owe it to the women of the country in 
particular and society in general to ensure they are properly 
projected."

But is the reality of women, where they are denied their rights even 
as human beings, "conducive to their dignity"? Is being the victim of 
gang rapes during communal riots dignified? Why does the NCW not go 
on the warpath on these issues?

Some people would argue that these are not mutually exclusive 
choices. That you can be concerned about women's rights and about 
violence against women even as you object to their being objectified 
or commodified. But what is disturbing about groups like the Shiv 
Sena claiming the moral high ground on behalf of Indian women is that 
their concern is selective. And that it conforms to an image of the 
"Indian" (read Hindu) woman that they have and which they would like 
to impose on all women in the country. This image has less to do with 
liberation or empowerment and more to do with control and conformism.

In fact, women who choose to speak out, not to conform, to question, 
pay a price whether they are in cities or in villages. Even as the 
Shiv Sena was making a fuss in Mumbai over one advertisement, tribal 
women in Rajasthan were sitting in the boiling heat on a dharna to 
protest against the high-handedness of the police and the molestation 
by a local tehsildar. Their story remains untold; the outcome of 
their struggle is uncertain.

The Sahariya tribals of Mundiar village in Rajasthan's Baran district 
objected when the local tehsildar arrived in their village completely 
inebriated during Holi and proceeded to fondle the women and rammed 
his jeep into two bystanders. When they protested, he sent a police 
party to beat them up. As a result, one woman, Gulab Bai, died and 
many more were injured. Up to the end of last month, the villagers 
were on dharna protesting and demanding action against the tehsildar, 
who was absconding. For the Sahariya women, what women wear, or what 
people eat, is of little consequence when they have to fight for 
their basic right to live in dignity.

It is this kind of obscenity that we should be protesting about and 
that the NCW ought to investigate.


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