[sacw] SACW | 4 June 02

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire Dispatch | 4 June 2002
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex

South Asians Against Nukes:
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/NoNukes.html
__________________________

#1. Citizens Against War:- Joint Statement by Eminent Persons - 26=20
Indians & 26 Pakistanis
#2. Petition To: Governments of India and Pakistan
#3. Dr Rashid Sohrawardi in Karachi and Syed Sohrawardi in New Delhi=20
speak out against war
#4. Question of war and peace (M. B. Naqvi)
#5. Articles on Kashmir conflict (Akhila Raman)
#6. Gujrat Carnage - Implications For Secularism (Asghar Ali Engineer)
#7. Rapes Go Unpunished In Indian Mob Attacks (Rama Lakshmi)
#8. An Appeal to World Communities for Peace and Human Rights in Nepal !

__________________________

#1.

Citizens Against War

JOINT STATEMENT BY EMINENT PERSONS
26 INDIANS AND 26 PAKISTANIS

(Simultaneously released in Lahore)

The spectre of another conflict between India and Pakistan is=20
haunting one-fifth of humankind. As concerned Pakistanis and=20
Indians, we urge the governments of the two countries to refrain from=20
seeking military solutions to eminently political problems. Wars=20
have offered no solutions in the past. It is irrational to expect=20
that a fourth, bloodier and costlier war can do so in future. To the=20
contrary, it will deepen the conflict between the two countries, add=20
to the burden of military spending, reinforce militaristic and=20
chauvinistic elements, and negate the process of democratization and=20
development.

We believe there are no outstanding problems, including terrorism and=20
Kashmir, which cannot be solved peacefully in a manner, which could=20
be acceptable to both the peoples and governments in India and=20
Pakistan in the spirit of Simla Agreement. Terrorists have no=20
respect for life, peace, much less a country's sovereignty. They=20
killed innocent French, American and Pakistanis in Karachi and=20
Islamabad, shot dead in Kaluchak near Jammu bus passengers and family=20
members of armed forces personnel and many many others in the recent=20
past. We condemn all acts of terrorism and urge the two governments=20
jointly to act against terrorists and their organizations=20
simultaneously addressing causes underlying mindless violence.

We appeal to the governments of India and Pakistan to initiate a bold=20
new process of peace and cooperation in South Asia.

Signatories from India (Alphabetical)

1. Ajit Bhattacharjee: Press Institute of India, New Delhi
2. Amrik Singh: Former Vice Chancellor, University of Punjab, New Delhi
3. Arundhati Roy:Writer and activist, New Delhi
4. Bimal Prasad: Professor and Former High Commissioner to Nepal, New Delhi
5. B.G.Verghese: Professor Centre for Policy Research and Journalist, New D=
elhi
6. Imtiaz Ahmad: Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
7. Jilani Bano, Writer, Andhra Pradesh
8 Justice Krishna Iyer: Eminent scholar and Former Judge. Kerala
9. Justice Rajendra Sachar: Human Rights Activist and Former Judge, New Del=
hi
10 Justice V.M. Tarkunde , Chair Kashmir Coordination Cmtee and Former Judg=
e
11 Kartar Singh Duggal, Writer and Member Rajya Sabha
12 Kuldip Nayar: Writer and Member Rajya Sabha, New Delhi
13 Lt. General Moti Dhar (retd.), Maharashtra
14 Malini Parthasarthy: The Hindu, Tamil Nadu
15 Muhammad Yosuf Tarigami, MLA, Jammu and Kashmir
16 Mrinal Sen, Film Maker, West Bengal
17 Nandita Das: Activist and actor, New Delhi
18 Nirmala Deshpande: Eminent Gandhian, New Delhi
19.N. D. Pancholi, Advocate, New Delhi
20 Prabhas Joshi: Former Editor, New Delhi
21 Rajni Kothari:Political Scientist, New Delhi
22 Robin Bordoloi, MLA, Assam
23. Admiral L. Ramdas (Retd.) Former Naval Chief, Maharashtra
24 Sumit Chakravarty: Editor, Mainstream, New Delhi
25.Syeda Hameed: Writer.Former Member National Commission for Women, New De=
lhi
26.Zoya Hasan: Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

2

Signatories from Pakistan

1. Malik Meraj Khalid, former prime minister of Pakistan, former rector,
International Islamic University, Islamabad
3. Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar, former federal minister and former governor
and chief minister of Punjab
4. Sardar Mumtaz Bhutto, former federal minister, former governor and chief
minister Sindh
5. Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, former judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan, former
governor of Sindh
6. Ghinwa Bhutto, chairperson, Pakistan People's Party (Shaheed Bhutto)
7. Roedad Khan, former Secretary Interior, government of Pakistan
8. Air Marshal Zafar A Chowdhry, former chief of air staff
9. Lt. Gen Nasir Akhtar
10 Lt.Gen G. S. Butt
11 Maj. General Wajahat Hussain, former ambassador
12 Maj. General Shabbir Hussain Shah
13 Maj. General Jamshed Malik
14 Air Marshal Khurshid Anwar Mirza
15 Brigadier Rao Abid Hamid, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
16 . Afrasiab Khattak, chairman, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
17 Asma Jahangir, president emeritus, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
18 Justice (R) Mian Dilawar Mahmood, judge, Lahore High Court
19 I. A. Rehman, Director, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
20 Sairah Irshad Khan, editor, Newsline, Karachi
21 F.S.Aijazuddin, scholar, author, former professor, Lahore University of
Management Sciences
22 Professor Pervez Hoodbhoy, University of Islamabad
23 Professor A. H. Nayyar, University of Islamabad
24 Professor Mehdi Hasan
25 Prem K. Shahani, scholar, political analyst, former adviser, governments
of Pakistan and Sindh
26 Dr Mubashir Hasan, former finance minister of Pakistan

Kuldip Nayar, Syeda Hameed,
33 Lodi Estate New Delhi
Telephone: 6821053, 9810478560

____

#2.

Petition To: Governments of India and Pakistan

[ set up as a joint effort between an Indian citizen and a Pakistani=20
citizen petitioning their respective governments to seek the path of=20
peace and non-violence for the larger good of the citizens of the=20
subcontinent.]

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/bawabeg/petition.html

____

#3.

BBC News [ Real Audio File]
Dr Rashid Sohrawardi in Karachi and Syed Sohrawardi in New Delhi=20
speak out against war
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/audio/38052000/rm/_38052057_kasmir01_sohrawardi=
.ram

____

#4.

3 Jun 2002

Question of war and peace

By M. B. Naqvi

Why should Pakistan go to war with India? The only serious dispute=20
with it is over Kashmir. But the issue is that Kashmiris desire Azadi=20
from the Indians. True, most Pakistanis support them, as they=20
sympathise with the Palestinians independent state idea. That is no=20
reason to fight with India just as Pakistan is not going to go to war=20
with Israel. Musharraf government says we support Kashmiris=20
politically, morally and diplomatically. That is right. Let's stick=20
to it. That should not be intolerable for India. Why, then, there is=20
so much ill temper and war preparedness at great cost to both=20
countries?

Indians allege that there is a large hiatus between Islamabad's words=20
and deeds; the latter is supposed to be equipping, training, funding=20
and infiltrating the Jihadis into Indian-controlled areas of Kashmir.=20
This was certainly true for many years. Pakistan Army had convinced=20
itself way back in 1990 that its then putative nuclear capability was=20
such an invincible shield that behind it, Pakistan could go on=20
bleeding India indefinitely without the fear of a serious reprisal.=20
It is remarkable that there were cognisable dangers of war breaking=20
out in the summer of 1990, probably 1995 and 1999, which the=20
Americans claim to have prevented.

Then came 9/11. Pakistan changed its stance vis-=E0-vis Taliban.=20
Indians saw a window of opportunity open up when there was a=20
terrorist attack on Indian Parliament on December 13 last. It gave=20
Pakistan an ultimatum and massed its troops on its borders in an=20
aggressive mode. India convinced its ally, the US, that it was also a=20
victim of terrorism that Pakistan was exporting. The US bought the=20
Indian argument hook, line and sinker. Hence it has put pressure on=20
Pakistan to not only go on helping the International Coalition pursue=20
the fugitive Al-Qaeda and Taliban inside Pakistan but should cut off=20
all links with Islamic extremists parties, groups, militias and=20
others who sustain Jehad in Kashmir and indulge in terrorism in=20
Kashmir and India.

Pakistani ruler, after vainly arguing that Kashmir Jihad is being=20
conducted by disaffected Kashmiris by way of their freedom fight and=20
that it cannot be confused with terrorism, changed again through the=20
Jan 12 speech. Pakistan in effect promised to end its aid to Kashmiri=20
insurgents. The rest of the world is holding General Musharraf to his=20
January 12 speech. Under American leadership, the rest of the world=20
has brought unbearable pressure on him to act on his words --- in the=20
way the Indians want it. Pakistan government has kept on saying it is=20
not sustaining the Kashmir insurgency. But almost no one believes=20
that the Jihad can go on without Pakistan's active support. Meantime=20
Indian and Pakistani governments have gone on trading fierce threats=20
of war, including the use of nuclear weapons. The whole world has=20
become anxious and is sending a stream of special envoys to urge=20
Pakistan to "do more" to reassure India that it will do what it says.=20
Musharraf said so again on May 27.

That should rid the people of Pakistan of the looming threat of war,=20
probably nuclear, so that they can get on with their serious=20
problems. Expectations of war were a huge and unnecessary distraction=20
from their real problems. There are no concrete issues between=20
Pakistan and India and Kashmir ought not to be a reason for war if=20
Pakistani government means what it says. Well, earlier a certain=20
amount of deception worked because there was that shield. Although=20
India always had a clear edge even in atomic weapons capability, it=20
took time to evolve a response to the Pakistani challenge. It now=20
threatens a conventional war and dares Pakistan to act on its=20
doctrine of first strike. It reserves the right to give a massive=20
nuclear riposte to reduce all of Pakistan to a nuclear wasteland.=20
That is where the two countries stand today.

Anyone who reads some of the Brookings Institutes latest reports on=20
South Asia will agree with Pakistan's peaceniks that Pakistan's=20
nuclear is a costly ornament for the Pakistan Army. Indian=20
strategists planning action against Pakistan hope that the US with=20
its special forces, precision munitions and CIA spooks would take it=20
out. There are however reasons why the US would not do it. But it is=20
most likely to prevent Pakistan pressing the nuclear button.

It cannot be repeated too often that no cause, including Kashmir, is=20
worth a nuclear exchange. There are good reasons why Pakistan Army=20
cannot cheat on Musharraf's promise, among them the US presence here=20
itself with its supporters. Therefore the Indian bottomline will=20
surely have to be satisfied. Indians will then climbdown the high=20
horse they have been riding for the last six months. Whether or not a=20
Pakistan-India dialogue resumes soon --- though it should at an early=20
date --- Pakistanis should get on with their problems. What are these?

Out of these, one is all too familiar: growing unemployment and=20
poverty, inadequate healthcare and education and skills training=20
facilities. The urban poor face even greater inadequacies. There is=20
the near-total loss of sovereignty in economic matters and a creeping=20
one in the political sphere, what with virtually the whole world=20
telling us not to tell lies and do what is unavoidable. It will take=20
a lot of doing and time before any improvement begins to be felt. One=20
says this not as an excuse to postpone discussion on the real=20
structural problems. It is just that these cannot be taken in hand in=20
the right spirit as soon as possible in situations of near-war. It=20
will take hard toil and time to effect noticeable change, beginning=20
with ridding the political life of the Army's stranglehold.

But there are other problems of the people that require immediate=20
corrective action. To begin with, there is the personal dictatorship=20
of a general, sustained by the Army acting as a vested interest.=20
There is virtually no constitution or a true legal system. The=20
suspended 1973 Constitution is a convenient fib to deflect the demand=20
for the really needed changes --- it is already there and will be=20
restored some day --- and also to effect the changes the dictator=20
desires with flick of his pen. This has happened before; poor=20
Constitution has been prostituted enough.

Anyhow ending the dictatorship of a person, quite irrespective of his=20
acceptable qualities, must end quickly. That General Musharraf has=20
given firm dates for October polls is to be welcomed, though the new=20
Parliament can scarcely meet on October 13 next to effect the=20
transfer of power. Let these dates not be changed on any pretext. As=20
for the polls, they had better be on conditions that all democratic=20
countries prescribe. The silly qualifications for candidates inserted=20
under Gen. Zia's pressure ought to be dropped. General Musharraf=20
should not debar individuals just because he thinks they were=20
corrupt. If the people still elect Nawaz Sharif or Benazir Bhutto=20
after all his propaganda, all that can be said is the people deserve=20
such leaders. The propaganda has not worked because it was seen as=20
motivated. Anyway it is not for Mr. Musharraf to say who should and=20
who should not contest an election; except certified lunatics or=20
felons, all should be able to stand for elections even from a prison=20
cell.

Above all else, there is that dangerous matter of Constitutional=20
amendments. Changes made in the organic law by one man can just not=20
be acceptable to the people or posterity. More so when it can be seen=20
that all the changes are being made for one purpose: Parliament=20
should be subordinated to the generals. That will divide the people=20
and sow seeds of possible civil war and all round disaffection among=20
sections that do not want to see their political system to be=20
perpetually a hostage of the military.

There are others who also want changes in the basic law such as more=20
autonomy for provinces or further empowerment of district=20
governments. But they stick to well known methods of effecting=20
changes: persuading two-thirds majority of the two Houses, as=20
mandated. Dictators possess limitless and unaccountable powers, are=20
surrounded by sycophants and brook no opposition. So they venture=20
forth into areas where wise politicians tread warily. The houses that=20
Generals in Pakistan built have proved not only to be jerrybuilt but=20
also preludes to disaster. Hope Mr. Musharraf will take heed.

_____

#5.

3 Jun 2002

dear friends,

Indiatogether, a progressive online publication, is
publishing a series of my articles on Kashmir conflict
starting this month, over next few months.

The first in the series is:
Introduction and Chronology of the conflict:
http://www.indiatogether.org/peace/kashmir/intro.htm
This has been reviewed by Pervez Hoodbhoy and
Angana Chatterji.

This is an attempt to document the historical roots
of the long-standing dispute, critically analyzing
Indian policies in Kashmir, with extensive references,
many of them online. Pakistan's misguided policies
are also covered briefly, though the articles are aimed at
Indian audience who presumably do not need to be
convinced of Pak's misdeeds. I have tried to use reputed,
unbiased sources with no/least political or religious
motivations.

I hope you find it interesting and informative.
do read and comment if you are interested.

More in:
http://www.indiatogether.org/peace/kashmir/index.htm

thanks
Akhila Raman

_____

#6.

GUJRAT CARNAGE - IMPLICATIONS FOR SECULARISM

Asghar Ali Engineer

(Secular Perspective - June 1-15, 2002)

Gujrat carnage in which the Narendra Modi Government itself was=20
involved has, much deeper implications for secularism as a state=20
ideology. Secularism was adopted by the Constitution makers despite=20
partition of the country on communal lines. Partition was followed by=20
widespread communal carnage on both sides of the communal divide and=20
despite \communal carnage secular convictions of our political=20
leaders were not shaken. However, the RSS and Jansangh and its=20
ideologues, partition or no partition, were never enthusiastic about=20
secularism. V.D.Savarkar, father of the Hindutva ideology himself=20
propounded theory of two rashtra (two nations) in 1938 Hindu=20
Mahasabha session much before Jinnah propounded it in 1940.

Despite severe opposition from the Sangh Parivar (though it was not=20
known by this name in those days) the Congress under the leadership=20
of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad adopted=20
secularism as the political philosophy for Indian state. It was a=20
great and courageous step, which proved to be cement for our unity=20
and integrity so far. Pakistan was broken into two in 1971 and the=20
concept of Islamic unity could not save it. However, India, despite=20
much greater diversity remained united thanks to our political=20
commitment to secularism.

The Sangh propaganda and partition of the country on communal basis=20
as well as our historical legacy since the British period, created=20
several problems for our commitment to secularism. Nehru had expected=20
that communal violence will be a past history and that independent=20
India will enjoy communal peace and political stability. He thought=20
partition was the final solution of the communal problem. However,=20
communal violence continued to erupt from time to time delivering=20
blow after blow to secular credentials of our state.

Gujrat carnage represents the peak of communal violence in=20
independent India. It was for the first time that state machinery was=20
directly involved and Chief minister Narendra Modi not only justified=20
it by saying it was natural reaction to the Godhra incident of=20
burning Sabarmati Express but also looked the other way when innocent=20
people were being killed most brutally and women were being raped.=20
Even in 1984 Sikh massacre state was not so directly involved though=20
it did have a role.

The Gujrat carnage has deeply shaken the whole nation and our civil=20
society, though its secular political space has been increasingly=20
shrinking, thanks to powerful propaganda machinery of the Sangh=20
Parivar, specially the RSS, reacted strongly to this carnage.=20
Writers, journalists, artists and poets are also now gradually rising=20
to the occasion and doing their bit to promote communal harmony.

The opposition parties like the Congress, the Communists (CPI and=20
CPM) and SP have also done their best in Parliament to oppose and=20
expose the communal forces belonging to the Sangh Parivar in=20
Parliament and outside. Of course all other parties have faltered=20
some time or the other in their commitment to secularism but both the=20
communist parties have been most consistent on the question of=20
secularism and communal harmony. The Congress has also been shaken=20
into some kind of awakening by the carnage in Gujrat. The Congress=20
has repeatedly faltered in its commitment to secularism, if not=20
notionally, functionally. Jawaharlal Nehru, among the Congress=20
leaders, was the most consistent in his commitment to secularism.=20
Mrs. Gandhi though appeared promising initially, but began to falter=20
after emergency and even turned to Hindutva in early eighties. She=20
also manipulated Sikh politics on communal lines in Punjab and=20
herself became its victim and was assassinated by her Sikh body guard.

Mr. Rajiv Gandhi had hardly any commitment to any thing. He was not=20
even brought up, like Mrs. Indira Gandhi, in secular ethos of Nehru=20
family. He hardly had much understanding of intricacies of Indian=20
politics. He encouraged both Hindu and Muslim fundamentalism to his=20
advantage but failed. He changed the Supreme Court judgement in the=20
Shah Bano case and passed the Muslim Women's (on Divorce) Act giving=20
blow to secularism and then threw open the doors of Babri Masjid for=20
Hindus to worship delivering another blow to secularism. He even went=20
to the extent of laying the foundation stone of Ramjanambhoomi Mandir=20
on the eve of general elections in 1989. He thus displeased Muslims=20
and lost their support and hence lost the elections. The Congress has=20
still not recovered from that blow.

The Congress thus lost all its secular credentials in the eyes of=20
people of India. It lost support of minorities and suffered debacle=20
after debacle in U.P, and some other states. The Gujrat carnage has=20
given the Congress also a great jolt and it is re-emphasising its=20
secular credentials. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi as the leader of opposition in=20
the Parliament fought effectively against the BJP-led NDA Government=20
on the issue of massacre of Muslims in Gujrat.

Mrs. Sonia Gandhi has at last realised that without giving effective=20
fight to communal forces and without de-communalising Indian polity=20
not only that the Congress cannot come to power again but Indian=20
unity and integrity will be seriously affected. She even talked about=20
raising a force to promote communal harmony but her concept about it=20
is not very clear. She only talked about taking care of riot victims=20
and sending women volunteers to the riots affected areas to take care=20
of the victims.

Fight against communalism is no easy job. The Sangh Parivar has=20
deeply communalised the Hindu middle classes and, as pointed out=20
above, the secular political space has shrunk considerably over a=20
period of time. The RSS Pracharaks work round the year with a sense=20
of mission and spread communal virus in the Indian society. The RSS=20
can today boast of thousands of such Pracharaks. They are=20
systematically trained for the job and are sustained economically by=20
the abundant funds RSS has at its command collected from Hindu=20
businessman every year.

The secular forces cannot boast of any such force. What Mrs. Sonia=20
Gandhi has announced has no such concept. The Congress Seva Dal once=20
set up with some such intention never worked with devotion or sense=20
of mission. At best it looked after the arrangements at the AICC=20
sessions. The Congress Seva Dal is no more an effective organisation.=20
The socialists also had once set up Rashtra Seva Dal. It too is a=20
historical entity now though symbolically it exists even now in parts=20
of Maharashtra. It is only the RSS, which works with as much=20
enthusiasm as it was set up with. Its enthusiasm and commitment to=20
its mission has not waned. It has instead increased over the years.

There is great need today to reflect deeply as to why the RSS has=20
been able to maintain its sense of commitment to politics of=20
religious hatred whereas all secular parties and organisations have=20
not been able to sustain their work even for few years. Does=20
religious fanaticism inspire more than secular ideals? It seems so.=20
But religious fanaticism brings great disaster to the country and to=20
the humanity and we have seen this everywhere, not only in Gujrat.

It is high time that the secular political parties should honestly=20
take stock of situation and take measures, which will save India from=20
further disaster like the one in Gujrat. The secular parties should=20
also realise that secularism should not be limited only to the=20
attempt to get minority votes. Then they would find themselves in=20
deeper morass. Unfortunately after Nehru secularism for political=20
parties, especially the Congress, became only an instrument for=20
minority votes. Its members, even at the best of time, were not=20
seriously committed to it. Thus instrumentalisation of secularism=20
exposed the Congress to the charge of "appeasement of minorities"=20
though the charge was itself politically motivated and the BJP wanted=20
to capture the attention of Hindu middle classes by levelling such=20
charges against the Congress.

The Congress could not even refute such ridiculous charge because it=20
was not seriously committed to secularism. Had it been so Babri=20
Masjid would not have been demolished with impunity under the=20
Congress rule. Narsimha Rao, the then Congress Prime Minister, thus=20
destroyed completely whatever was left of secularism in the Congress.=20
Thus the Congress party was completely alienated from all minorities=20
and lost the election that followed.

Though the Congress now has realised the ill effects of its less than=20
serious attitude towards secularism it is ot so easy for it to revive=20
the Nehruvian commitment to it. But there is hardly any other=20
alternative. The leaders of the Congress should take secularism more=20
seriously and not treat it as an instrument of power. Unity in=20
diversity cannot be maintained without it. "Unity in diversity" was=20
not merely a slogan for leaders like Gandhi, Nehru and Azad. It was a=20
political philosophy, the core of secularism. No society as diverse=20
as Indian society can survive without the cementing force of=20
secularism.

Secularism essentially means prioritising citizenship over religion.=20
Though Constitutionally citizenship has priority over religion, our=20
civil society, due to constant efforts to communalise it, is still=20
grappling with this problem. Our education system itself is deeply=20
infected with communal virus. Our text- books still demonise minority=20
religions like Christianity and Islam and project history through=20
communal angle. Thus secularising education system should be given=20
top priority.

We need secularism today for building a vibrant civil society and not=20
to win elections. The political parties should help build a new=20
political culture, which is based on tolerance and respect for human=20
values. Today our political culture is thoroughly infected with=20
casteism and communalism. Post-Gujrat we must urgently realise the=20
need for a new political culture secular and=20
humanistic.=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20

**********************************
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism
9B, Himalaya Apts., 1st Floor,
6th Road, Santacruz (E),
Mumbai: 400 055.

_____

#7.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49183-2002Jun2.html
The Washington Post
Monday, June 3, 2002; Page A09

Rapes Go Unpunished In Indian Mob Attacks
Muslim Women Say Claims Are Ignored

Zarinabanu and her family, Muslim residents of Zikkar Hussain=20
Chowal, walk past their neighbor's house after salvaging whatever is=20
left of their burned and ransacked homes in Gujarat. (AP)

By Rama Lakshmi
Special to The Washington Post

KALOL, India -- Sultana Feroz Sheikh sat motionless, staring at the=20
mud floor in a dark, windowless room.

Three months ago, as religious riots engulfed the western Indian=20
state of Gujarat, Sheikh saw her husband and several relatives burned=20
alive. Then, she said, she was brutally raped by three men as her=20
4-year-old son wailed nearby.

Sheikh wants to see the criminals brought to justice. But Gujarat=20
police are routinely refusing to file charges against individuals=20
accused of rape during the violence in late February and early March,=20
because they say mob violence cannot be broken down into specific=20
crimes.

"It is difficult to determine who in the mob pelted stones, who raped=20
and who killed," said police inspector Ramanbhai Patil. Though the=20
riot on March 1 that claimed the lives of Sheikh's loved ones and=20
resulted in her rape engulfed the entire village of Kalol, she said=20
Patil has arrested only four men in connection with the day's events.

The violence then spread throughout Gujarat, where nearly 1,000=20
people, most of them Muslims, have been killed in Hindu-Muslim=20
clashes since Feb. 27. That was the day Muslims launched a firebomb=20
attack on a train carrying Hindu activists, killing 60. Countless=20
cases of arson, looting, murder and rape have been jumbled together=20
in what are known as first-information reports, or FIRs. Police have=20
filed "general FIRs," simply blaming riots on Hindu tola, or mobs,=20
and refusing to register individual complaints.

Arrests increased markedly after the Indian government appointed=20
K.P.S. Gill -- known as the "super cop" of Punjab state for his work=20
there in the 1990s -- to assist with law enforcement in Gujarat.=20
Police have arrested about 3,200 suspects in more than 300 cases of=20
attacks against Muslims in Gujarat. The suspects have been charged=20
with murder, rioting and arson. But advocacy groups say arrests for=20
rape are still rare.

"The police FIR said that a Hindu mob attacked a Muslim mob," said=20
Sheikh, who is Muslim. "I am not a 'mob,' I am a woman who was=20
gang-raped by three men. How can I hope for justice, when they don't=20
even register my complaint properly?"

Farah Naqvi, an independent journalist who is part of Citizen's=20
Initiative, a fact-finding team that recorded testimony of sexual=20
violence in Gujarat, called it "a piracy of silence."

"Cases have been filed against the nameless and the faceless," Naqvi=20
said. "When you register them as mobs, it gives you a basis and an=20
excuse for inaction. A single, collective FIR cannot take care of all=20
the individual losses, as the time, loss and place varies. And it is=20
especially true for rape."

There are no reliable estimates of how many women -- Hindu or Muslim=20
-- have been raped in the Gujarat violence. According to the=20
Citizen's Initiative report, however, almost every relief shelter in=20
the state houses people who are victims of or witnesses to rape,=20
molestation or other types of sexual assault.

Part of the difficulty in gauging the problem, said Sejal Dand, an=20
aid worker, is that "many women were raped and then killed or burned."

Dand said fear of the police, who have been widely accused of=20
standing idle as violence peaked, discouraged women and witnesses=20
from reporting crimes for days. When the victims and witnesses=20
finally did file reports, police often asked them to omit the names=20
of influential men, Dand said.

In addition, in India's conservative and inward-looking Muslim=20
minority of 130 million, even talking about rape is a matter of deep=20
shame and stigma.

In the village of Fatehpura, aid workers reported, a Hindu mob=20
dragged 30 young women into full public view, sexually assaulted them=20
and forced them to run naked. Yet the Muslims of Fatehpura refuse to=20
go to the police or even reveal the names of the women, fearing no=20
man would marry them, the aid workers said.

"There is a lot of denial on the issue of rape of Muslim women in=20
Gujarat," Dand said. Even after citizens groups published reports=20
with women's testimonies, many officials were dismissive. Prime=20
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said in Parliament that reports of=20
sexual violence were "exaggerated," and the country's law minister=20
said only two FIRs have been filed for rape in Gujarat so far.

Sheikh hasn't filed one, because the police wouldn't let her, she said.

Her ordeal began on the morning of Feb. 28, a day after the attack on=20
the train, she said, when she heard hundreds of angry Hindus marching=20
toward the Muslim quarters of her home village of Delol, shouting,=20
"We will burn you!" She and her husband grabbed their son and fled to=20
some wheat fields, where they hid with a group of other=20
panic-stricken Muslims. Their homes went up in flames.

The Muslims retreated in a milk van the next morning to the nearest=20
town, Kalol. There, another Hindu mob surrounded them.

"One by one, they pulled out the men from the van and burned them. My=20
husband was burned alive in front of my own eyes as I screamed and=20
pleaded with them," Sheikh said, tears welling in her eyes.

Sheikh said she managed to jump out with her son, then ran toward a=20
nearby river. Eight men wielding swords chased after her.

"One of them grabbed my hair from behind and pulled me; another=20
snatched my son away," she said. They threw her down and hit her, and=20
three raped her. "They were ruthless," she whispered.

Sheikh ran and hid for days before going to a relief shelter in=20
Kalol. Ten days after the rape, she summoned the courage to go to the=20
police to file a report.

"To my surprise, the police said I cannot file an FIR," Sheikh said.=20
"They said an FIR already existed for that day's events."

Police officials investigating the Kalol violence said they could not=20
register two reports for the same incident. Because a general FIR had=20
already been filed, they said, the most they could do was attach a=20
statement to it.

Patil said Sheikh's case was weak anyway, because she did not undergo=20
a medical examination until more than 10 days after the alleged rape.

Citizen's Initiative recommends that special courts be set up to hear=20
women's cases and that their testimony be treated as the basis for=20
legal action if FIRs are not filed. And the requirement of medical=20
evidence should be dropped, the group says, because so many women hid=20
for days before going to the police.

Trauma counseling, according to the group's report, is the most urgent need=
.

For a number of emotionally scarred women now languishing in=20
shelters, consisting of tents in the scorching heat, simply returning=20
to their homes could provide the first healing touch. But homecoming=20
is fraught with risks, too.

Bilkees Rasoolbhai Yaqub, 19, was one of many women gang-raped=20
outside the village of Randikpura. She is the single witness to many=20
killings and rapes in Randikpura and has named three men in her=20
police report. Now Yaqub's Hindu neighbors say they will not allow=20
the Muslims to return to the village until she withdraws the names of=20
the accused in her police report.

The villagers say her statements are baseless; the police say Yaqub's=20
story contains inconsistencies and her medical report was negative.

But, asked an anguished Yaqub, "Why would I lie about my rape? Which=20
woman would invite social stigma upon herself?"

=A9 2002 The Washington Post Company

_____

#8.

An Appeal to World Communities for Peace and Human Rights in Nepal !

# 3000 people killed in six months.
# 167 People killed last Tuesday.
# Parliament Dissolved, Fresh Election on November 2002.
# US, UK and India is sending Weapons and Armies in Nepal.

Dear Friend,

I am writing this letter concerning about the current crisis in=20
Himalayan Country Nepal who is suffered by Civil War and Political=20
and Economic Crisis at this moment. I hope, you know enough about=20
Nepal, however if you don't know, you can access about it through our=20
site: <http://www.hurpeconline.com/>http://www.hurpeconline.com or=20
other news sites like=20
<http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/nepal.maoists/>CNN,=20
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1461000/1461630.s=
tm>BBC,=20
etc.

<http://hurpeconline.com/action_center/action_nepal.htm>Write Letter=20
to Bush and Deuba=20
<http://hurpeconline.com/asia/nepal/current_crisis/take_action.htm>Write=20
Letter to Maoists and Deuba=20
<http://hurpeconline.com/asia/nepal/petition_nepal.htm>Sign the=20
Online Petition !

During the period of Six months of 'State of Emergency' in Nepal=20
which was imposed on 26 November 2001; about 3,000 people including=20
Maoist Rebels, Armies, Police and innocent people are killed by both=20
the Government and Maoist Rebels. The State of Emergency was=20
re-imposed for another six months just before few days and the House=20
of Representatives was dissolved by Prime Minister Deuba being=20
dissatisfied by his Party's decision not to extend State of Emergency.

Now a Days, the United States is going to send bundle of weapons and=20
military assistance to Nepal Government to fight against Nepalese=20
Maoists. Indian and British Governments are also joining US Campaign=20
to fight against Nepalese Maoists (called terrorists) accepting the=20
request of Nepalese Prime Minister Mr. Deuba who recently visited US=20
President Bush and British Prime Minister Blair requesting for=20
Support to fight with his own people.

As a Human Rights Organization, <http://www.hurpeconline.com/>HURPEC=20
(Human Rights and Peace Campaign) believes and demands peaceful=20
dialogue to solve Maoists Problems in Nepal which is the only one=20
alternative. The war against war will never solve the problems but=20
may kill the innocent people and bring Civil War in the Nation.=20
HURPEC sent many appeals, issued press statement and launched=20
petition campaign, but the deaf and blind Government and Maoists of=20
Nepal didn't stop to kill Nepalese people, violate Human Rights and=20
put Nepal's Sovereignty in Crisis. Now, there will be no news if the=20
world heard that '5,000 people killed overnight in Nepal on=20
clashes....'.

The one year has been over of the terrible=20
'<http://www.hurpec.org/royalmassacre/>Royal Palace Massacre' which=20
remained in Mystery yet blaming late King Dipendra as a responsible=20
while the Massacre was a terrible conspiracy.=20
<http://www.hurpeconline.com/>HURPEC demanded for 'International=20
Investigation Commission' to find the truth about the Massacre, but=20
those conspirators became successful to stop the Government to do so.=20
But, it is sure that those Conspirator will be dogged out and=20
punished by the Nepalese People in near future. The day is not so far=20
to be seen so.

Through this appeal, what I request to the World Communities is that=20
the time has come to turn their eyes and head towards the situation=20
of Nepal once again. Nepal need not to be like Sri-Lanka and East=20
Timor for the eyes to fall on it, So before becoming like that the=20
problems need to be solved and for that, the action by the World=20
Communities is only one way. The World Communities have to ask to=20
those Human Rights violators and anti-Human Rights Extremists to stop=20
Human Rights violations in Nepal.

'The solution of the War is only peaceful dialogue'. The LTTE who are=20
fighting from 20 years in Sri-Lanka are also going to make dialogue=20
with the Government to solve the problems. There is no alternative=20
without the peaceful dialogue to solve any kind of the Problem, which=20
is proved.

So, I kindly request to the world communities to take an urgent=20
action, send the memorandum and petition to stop violence and war in=20
Nepal. I request all of them to go to Nepal and see with their own=20
eyes that 'What's going on there ?'

I request them to write a letter to the US President to stop=20
providing Weapons and Funds to Nepal which will cause more violence=20
and Civil War, not peace and security. Please, write the letter=20
online through the link:=20
<http://hurpeconline.com/action_center/action_nepal.htm>http://hurpeconline=
.com/action_center/action_nepal.htm

I request to write the letter to the Government of Nepal and Maoists=20
Rebels to stop violence and solve the problems through dialogue.=20
Please, write the letter online through:=20
<http://hurpeconline.com/asia/nepal/current_crisis/take_action.htm>http://h=
urpeconline.com/asia/nepal/current_crisis/take_action.htm

I request you to sign the Online Petition:=20
<http://hurpeconline.com/asia/nepal/petition_nepal.htm>http://hurpeconline.=
com/asia/nepal/petition_nepal.htm=20
to Stop Violence in Nepal.

I request you to send the memorandum letter to the Government of=20
Nepal through nearest Nepalese Embassy or Consulate; fax the letter=20
and disseminate the information all over the world.

I hope, the poor Nepalese People will get the breath of peace, Human=20
Rights and Salvation soon with your little support to them.

Thank You and Namaste.

Regard's
<http://www.hurpec.org/milan.htm>Milan Karki
President
<http://www.hurpeconline.com/>HURPEC (Human Rights and Peace Campaign)
E-mail: <mailto:info@h...>info@h...
URLS: <http://www.hurpeconline.com/>http://www.hurpeconline.com

--=20
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