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ACHA PEACE
BULLETIN
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACHAPeaceBulletin
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A publication of
Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA)
www.asiapeace.org & www.indiapakistanpeace.org
Editor: Pritam K. Rohila, PhD pritam@open.org
Subscription is free.
To SUBSCRIBE, email a request to ACHAPeaceBulletin-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email the request to ACHAPeaceBulletin-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Volume XI, No. 2, February 15, 2007, Next Issue March 15, 2007
______________________________________________________________________________
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
Peace
is Possible! Pritam K. Rohila, Ph.D.
PEACE & HARMONY NEWS
PARTITION-RELATED STORIES
*Story
of Vinay Kumar Family, January 3, 2007 Kumar01@aol.com
*Pakistani
sons meet their Indian mother after a Separation of 52 Years
PEACE &
HARMONY CONFERENCES
*April
20-22, Albacete, Spain: WORLD CONFERENCE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD
PEACE EDUCATION
PEACE & HARMONY EVENTS
*February
19, Sadikabad, Pakistan: CAMPAIGN
FOR PEACE-CITY SADIKABAD
INAUGURAL CEREMONY
*February 19, Forest Grove, OR: COST OF WAR TOWN HALL
*February 24, London, U.K.: TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ _ NO TRIDENT
*February
24, Salem, OR: A PATH
TO PEACE FOR PLANET EARTH
*March 3, Portland, OR:
ENVISIONING YOUR PLACE IN A PEACEFUL WORLD
*March 14 – 17, Cleveland, Ohio, USA: INTER-AMERICAN SUMMIT ON
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
EDUCATION
PEACE & HARMONY ORGANIZATIONS
*Institute for Peace and Secular Studies,
91-G johar Town Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
*St. Peter’s High School, Mubarkabad
Colony, Toba Tek
Singh, 36050, Pakistan
PEACE
& HARMONY RESOURCES
*Building Global Peace, Conflict, and
Security Curricula at Undergraduate Institutions
____________________________________________________________________________
HAPPY
VALENTINE’S DAY!
Countdown to Valentine’s Day
A woman selects a Valentine’s Card
in India (L). A florist prepares a Valentine’s bouquet at his shop in Islamabad
(R)
EDITORIAL
Peace is Possible!
Pritam K. Rohila, Ph.D.
Like love, peace is not
only desirable, but also possible. Also like love, sometimes peace requires
mere audacity to make it happen. But always we need to work at both to make
them last.
Just as lack of pain
doe not equal pleasure, absence of war by does not mean peace. We need to do more
than participate in antiwar agitation. We must also actively work to promote
culture of peace.
Besides striving for
peace between nations, we also have to foster peace between various faith
communities, peace with minorities, peace within our families, and peace in our
hearts and minds.
We must view each and
every individual worthy of respect, regardless of the individual’s age, gender,
class, caste, faith, ethnicity or national origin. And we must refrain from
attempting to force our religious and political beliefs and practices on
others.
On this Valentines Day,
let us pledge to promote love and peace everywhere and support the work of
organizations working toward these goals.
If you want, we can
help you find a peace organization in your area. Also you may join ACHA, a
U.S.-based, non-profit, dues-free group dedicated to promote peace in South Asia, and harmony among South Asians everywhere.
Information about ACHA
can be requested from pritamr@open.org or found at our two
websites, www.asiapeace.org & www.indiapakistanpeace.org
If you like what we at ACHA are doing, please support us
by joining us. ACHA membership does not require payment of any membership dues.
PEACE & HARMONY NEWS
*SAARC
editors for constitutional freedom THE HINDU |Sunday, February 11,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=362725&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Friendship
Rally set to go KUENSEL |Sunday, February 11,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=362718&category=Frontend&Country=BHUTAN
*Signs of hope in Indo-Pak peace process DAILY TIMES |Saturday, February 10,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=362407&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pak minister on goodwill South
Asia tour Saturday, February 10,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=362403&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*'Qualitative advance
in Indo-Pak ties' DAILY
TIMES |Friday, February 09,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=362031&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India, Bhutan update friendship treaty INDIAN EXPRESS |
February
09,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=362108&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Indian (CBI) & Pakistani (FIA) officials to meet in Islamabad THE HINDU | Feb 08,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=361805&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pakistan
softening visa policy DAILY TIMES |Thursday, February 08,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=361665&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*‘Liveable
J&K’ for all, but no timeframe THE NEWS |Wednesday,
February 07,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=361573&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pakistan to host SAARC law moot in March DAILY
TIMES |, February 07,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=361431&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Musharraf
hails Kashmir talks with India REUTERS
|Tuesday, February 06,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=361214&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Editors moot
helps SAARC summit build-up DAILY
TIMES | February 06,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=361281&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Bangladesh: Muslims gather to pray for peace,
Statesman Journal, February 5, 2007
*Pakistan:
A Hindu Temple
to come alive after 59 years HINDUSTAN TIMES Feb
04,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=360568&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Kashmir: Hurriyat urges militants to declare
truce DAILY
TIMES | Feb 05,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=360852&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Indian Foreign
Minister backs Musharraf TRIBUNE INDIA |
February
05,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=360960&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*B'desh
not to shelter Indian separatists INDIA E NEWS Monday, February 05,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=360784&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*SAARC Car Rally 2007 to arrive in Lahore DAILY
TIMES |Sunday, February 04,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=360552&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Militancy won't solve Kashmir issue:
Musharraf, Rediff.com, February 02, 2007 17:49 IST
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/feb/02pak.htm
*Bangladesh: Unite to build welfare society: CA THE NEWS TODAY |
February
02,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=360018&category=Frontend&Country=BANGLADESH
*Nepal NGOs begin campaign against landmines THE HIMALAYAN TIMES | Feb 03,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=360228&category=Frontend&Country=NEPAL
*Indo-Pak coast heads on hotline link TELEGRAPH
INDIA |Thursday, February 01,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=359762&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Yunus
seeks common passport for S Asia FINANCIAL
EXPRESS | February 01,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=359719&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Jinnah House
to be resurrected for SAARC TELEGRAPH
INDIA |Wednesday, January 31,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=359453&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Lankan, Indian PMs discuss peace process Daily Mirror | Tuesday, January 30,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=359330&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India: Hindus join Muharram
rally in MP town, Rediff.com, January 30, 2007
16:41
IST
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/30mp.htm
*Track II talks in
progress: Kasuri NATION |Monday,
January
29,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=359091&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*'Peace talks to go on despite militants' veto', Rediff.com, January 26,
2007
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/26pak1.htm
*Banks
to assist Indo-Pak shipping needs DAILY
TIMES |Sunday, January 28,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=358854&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pak, India tied in strong cultural bond TELGUPORTAL
|Sunday, January 28,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=358877&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Bhutan: PM to attend conference on peace Sunday, January 28,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=358842&category=Frontend&Country=BHUTAN
*India: A Muslim Foreigner Leads a Contingent
on R Day Hindustan Times |
Jan
27,2007
http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=358580&category=Frontend&Country=INDIA
*India,
Pak reject war policy: Mushahid DAILY TIMES |Saturday, January 27,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=358629&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Republic
Day: Musharraf greets Kalam DAWN |Friday,
January 26,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=358399&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Nepal-Pakistan
agriculture agreement THE HIMALAYAN TIMES | January 26,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=358192&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Nepal: Prevent child marriages, govt ordered THE HIMALAYAN TIMES | Jan 26,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=358170&category=Frontend&Country=NEPAL
*Peace talks with India
progressing well: Musharraf, Rediff.com, January 25, 2007 http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/25peace.htm
*Kabul sharing intelligence with Pakistan RFERL
|Thursday, January 25,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=357925&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Sri Lanka: Endeavours to foster Tamil-Muslim
amity DAILY NEWS |
Jan
25,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=358032&category=Frontend&Country=SRI%20LANKA
*Inclusion of Afghanistan in SAARC will help establish peace: India,
Rediff.com, January 24, 2007 http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/24afghan.htm
*India: Equity
no appeasement but humanism: PM, Rediff.com, January 23, 2007
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/23pm.htm
*India for joint
probe of terror attacks DAILY
TIMES | Tuesday, January 23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=357561&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Saarc business leaders to meet on Feb 17 REUTERS
| Tuesday, January 23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=357384&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Sikh priest wins hearts in Bangladesh Tuesday, January 23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=357421&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*BNP, AL welcome CA’s speech
THE NEWS TODAY Tuesday, January 23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=357372&category=Frontend&Country=BANGLADESH
*India, Pak to start multiple visas THE NEWS |Monday,
January
22,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=357037&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Afghan women
step into commerce BOSTON
|Monday, January 22,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=357256&category=Frontend&Country=AFGHANISTAN
*India to resume Thar Express Munabao by March 10 THE NEWS |
January 21,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=356966&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Reject elements hostile
to peace process: Pak, Rediff.com, January 20, 2007 01:16 IST
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/20pak.htm
*Kashmir: Time to give up armed struggle: Mirwaiz DAWN |Saturday,
January
20,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=356761&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pakistn: Hindu gods to return to
Katasraj DAILY
TIMES |Saturday, January 20,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=356703&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India, Maldives to boost cooperation MINIVAN NEWS |Saturday,
January
20,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=356760&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Bhutan: Labour
Act protects workers' rights KUENSEL
|Saturday, January 20,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=356667&category=Frontend&Country=BHUTAN
*India for expansion of trade with Lanka DAILY NEWS |Thursday,
January
18,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=356044&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Nepal: Parties agree on power sharing THE
HIMALAYAN TIMES | January 18,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=355984&category=Frontend&Country=Nepal
*Kashmir: Stop
bashing India: PAK PM,
Rediff.com, January 17, 2007 12:43 IST
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/17pok.htm
*Kashmir: 1, 500 crossed border through Kaman post since
'05, PTI, Rediff.com, Jan15, 2007 http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/15kaman.htm
*Hurriyat demands ceasefire in Kashmir, PTI, Rediff.com January 15, 2007 http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/15jk.htm
*India: No more
corporal punishment in TN schools, PTI, Rediff.com, January 16,
2007 http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/16tn.htm
*Sir Creek
survey starts today DAILY
TIMES |Monday, January 15,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=355165&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India, Pakistan are all-weather friends DNA INDIA |
Monday,
January 15,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=355227&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Nepal: Parties
to endorse interim statute today KANTIPUR |
January
15,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=355137&category=Frontend&Country=NEPAL
*A Brahmin Who Sent a Muslim for Haj,
Siraj Wahab, Arab News, December 30, 2006
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=90497&d=30&m=12&y=2006
ARAFAT, 30 December 2006 - Mahboob Hasan from Aurangabad in India's Maharashtra
state is one of the millions of pilgrims standing shoulder-to-shoulder as
Muslims here on the plains of Arafat where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
delivered his last sermon. The standing of the pilgrims in Arafat is the climax
of Haj. Hasan was able to stand here yesterday thanks to the sponsorship of a
caring family back home - a family of Brahmins.
PARTITION-RELATED STORIES
*Story of Vinay
Kumar Family, January 3, 2007 Kumar01@aol.com
I was born at my grandfather's house in Okara, Pakistan in late
1944. Like many others we moved to India after partition.
For some reason the desire to go back and see the house I
was born in remained fixed in my mind. So when the Pakistan Association of
Pathologists invited me to address them in Lahore on Nov 28, 2006, I readily accepted
(secretly to be able to go to Okara, about 2 hrs away from Lahore).
I went to Okara with my hosts in Lahore on Nov 29. I have
been back for a month but still in disbeli