[The Hindu, 26.06.99]

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Call for end to armed intrusion

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New Delhi, Citizens Against War* got together today to deplore the war
hysteria "whipped up" by the rulers in India and Pakistan.

At the meeting, members of the organisation called for an end to the armed
intrusion, threatening military postures by both sides, use of
sophisticated, conventional weapons resulting in the loss of lives of
civilian population and jawans on both sides, and uprooting of innocent
people >from their settlements along both sides of the Line of Control
(LoC).

Stating that escalation of this conflict carried the risk of a nuclear
holocaust in the sub-continent, the Citizens Against War have called for
an immediate cessation of armed hostilities, withdrawal of infiltrators as
well as both Indian and Pakistani troops, demilitarisation of the LoC, and
immediate resumption of talks between the two governments for a peaceful
settlement of all outstanding disputes including Kashmir "Where the
democratic aspirations of the Kashmiri people should be honoured".

Of the view that democracy would not survive on the sub-continent without
peace between India and Pakistan, the Citizens Against War have sought to
remind the people of India of the fascist repression which was part of the
last emergency.The organisation has urged fellow citizens to oppose "war
hysteria and the danger of reimposition of emergency under the garb of
`internal security'".

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Note:

* Citizens Against War was formed in New Delhi on June 18, 1999 at a meeting called by the National Committee of Pakistan India Forum for Peace and Democracy. The anti-war forum at present consists of 12 Delhi based human rights groups, women's groups, environmentalists, lawyers, trade unions, university and school teachers, cultural workers, and other mass organisations.