ACHA PEACE
BULLETIN http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACHAPeaceBulletin
A publication of Association for Communal Harmony in
Asia (ACHA) www.asiapeace.org
Editor: Pritam K. Rohila, Ph. D.
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_____________________________________________________________________________
ACHA PEACE
BULLETIN-Volume
V, No.4, May 7, 2003, (Next issue, June 4, 2003)
Something To Think About
Promoting Peace in South Asia, Pritam K. Rohila,
Ph.D.
Peace & Harmony News From South Asia
Peace & Harmony
Organizations
Centre for Study of Society
and Secularism (CSSS), Mumbai, India
Legal Awareness Watch (LAW), Lahore, Pakistan
Develop
in Peace, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
South
Asians for Unity (SA4U), Atlanta, Georgia
The South Asia Group for
Action and Reflection (SAGAR), Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
Musharraf' Should Grasp
Vajpayee's Offer, Badruddin R. Gowani, California, USA
Letters
What if peace breaks out ? Naeem Sadiq, Karachi,
Pakistan, April 24, 2003
Arts & Entertainment
Through May 31, San
Francisco, CA, USA: Indian Jewelry Unveiled
Through July 27, Los
Angeles, CA, USA: Genghis Khan Exhibit
Through August 17,
Chicago, IL, USA: Himalayas: An Aesthetic
Adventure
Through October 19, New York, NY, USA: The World Of Buddhism
May, Washington, DC,
USA: Everest Exhibition
May 17, Long Beach, CA, USA: Masti Ki Raat
May
17, Lakewood, CA, USA: Ziker-E-Faiz
Civil Liberties After 9/11: An Interview With Dalia
Hashad
Call For Papers
Contemporary South Asia
May 19-21, Jakarta, Indonesia: Iraq And The Global Peace Movement: What Next?
May 22-30, Tokyo, 107-0052, Japan: E-Symposium On Conflict Prevention
August 4-10, Seoul, South Korea: Educating For Peace In Divided Societies
September 19-21, Oxford, Uk: Critical
Issues In Pluralism
January 5-7, 2004, Jaipur,
Rajasthan, India: Peace Education For Contemporary
June 26-28, And November 20-22, Watertown, Ma, Usa: Constructive Conversations On
Divisive Issues
September – November: 15 Online Courses on Peace, Nonviolence & Conflict
Resolution
Environment
The Aftermath Of War
Events
May 12, Northern California,
USA: Women In Conflict
May 14, New York City , NY,
USA: Women In Conflict
May 13, New York, NY, USA: Women Leaders In Microfinance
June 24, New York City,
Usa: The Middle East Peace Quilt
Fellowships &
Scholarships
Jennings Randolph Program For
International Peace
Recasting
Reconciliation Through Culture And The Arts
Women, Children And
Minorities Are The Principal Victims Of Rights' Abuses In Pakistan
May 13, New York , NY, USA: The Arts Of Kashmir: The Hindu And Buddhist Heritage
May 14, Houston, TX, USA: Life After War
May 15, New York City, NY,
USA: The World Of Outsourcing
June 30, Seattle,
WA, USA: Conversations With Traditions: Nilima Sheikh/Shahzia Sikander
The Journal Of Peace And Democracy In South Asia
The Second Assassination Of
Gandhi
Gender Equity And Peace Building: From Rhetoric To Reality
The Evaluation Of Conflict
Resolution Interventions, Part II
Kids Working It Out
Shifting Sands: Instability
In Undefined Asia
Monitoring International
Humanitarian Law In Iraq
The Kashmir Telegraph
The Heart Of Kashmir
Honor Lost
Training
July 28 - August 1: Conflict Resolution Workshop
Www.Pbs.Org/Avoidingarmageddon
Www.Albaghdadiyatours.Com/Iraqi_Museum.Htm
Women
(For a copy send a blank email to pritamr@open.org with its subject as the
UPPERCASE word in the article title. Please limit your request to 3 articles)
Education
A Lesson from the THIRD World, James Tooley
Environment
The true cost of water, Editoral, Downtoearth.org
Kashmir's fabled forests
VANISH,
Terra Daily, Apr 13, 2003
History
Let’s not FORGET Jallianwala
Bagh, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Daily Times,
APRIL 13, 2003
India
India's High TECH Bounty, Salil Tripathi, Asian Wall
Street Journal, April 16, 2003
Re-imagining the IDEA of India, Bhikhu Parekh,
Indian Express, March 29, 2003
India-Ayodhya
More Secrets From The
GRAVE, Poornima Joshi, Outlook, May 5, 2003
India- NE
A New Rebel TURF War, Wasbir Hussain, South Asia Intelligence Review, April 7, 2003
Groping for Peace in a
POLICY Vacuum,
W Hussain, South Asia Intelligence
Review, April 28
India
& Bangladesh
Cautious TANGO, Hiranmay
Karlekar, South Asia Intelligence Review, May 5, 2003
India & Pakistan
POLITICS of peace question, Imtiaz Alam, The News
International, April 7, 2003
PADLOCKS and posturing, Brian Cloughley, The
Nation, April 20, 2003
PEACE overture by Mr
Vajpayee?
Daily Times, April 20, 2003
Vajpayee NUANCE dampens
peace hopes,
Raja Asghar, April 20, 2003
GIVE chance to Mr Vajpayee, Imtiaz Alam, The News
International, April 21, 2003
India's Overture RAISES
Hopes for Peace with Pakistan, Praful Bidwai, April 22, 2003
Indo-Pak talks: It is a
question of MINIMUM, Husain Haqqani The Indian Express, April 23,
The BALL is in Pervez's
court,
Kuldip Nayar, 26 Apr 2003
Vajpayee’s overture and its
IMPORT, Najmuddin
A. Shaikh, Daily Times, April 27, 2003
A WINDOW of opportunity on
Kashmir?
Abbas Rashid, Daily Times, April 27, 2003
Vajpayee's own "healing
TOUCH,"
Shabir Choudhry April 28, 2003
Welcome MOVE on Kashmir: Why
peace is imperative, Praful Bidwai, The Daily Star, April 28,
Indo-Pak
Talks: Is There a Bottom LINE for Pakistan? Husain Haqqani
, April 29, 2003
The ball is set ROLLING,
finally,
Praful Bidwai, The News International, May 01, 2003
Kashmir: new GROUND realities? Editorial, Daily Times,
May 4, 2003
Stumbling out of the BIND, K.P.S. Gill, South Asia
Intelligence Review, May 5, 2003
Iraq War
West vs
East, at daggers DRAWN, K
Gajendra Singh, Asia Times Online, April 1, 2003
IRAQ Aftermath: Wishful
Thinking,
Ajai Sahni,
South Asia Intelligence Review, April 14, 2003
Kashmir
Jammu And Kashmir: Is There A SOLUTION? Paul Beersmans, March-April,
2003
GENEVA Declaration, International Kashmir
Alliance (IKA), April 2003
J&K: A Revamped
Terrorist STRATEGY, K Lakshman, South Asia
Intelligence Review, Apr 7
Now TACKLE Kashmir, Mervyn Dymally, The Asian Wall Street Journal, April 16, 2003
Pakistan
Pakistan
prepares for the WORST, Syed Saleem Shahzad,
Asia Times Online, April 1, 2003
Suicide bombing is the best
form of JIHAD (Interview with the founder of Lakshar-e-Taiba), M
Shezad, The Friday Times,
April 11-17, 2003
Possible NEXT targets, By Irfan Husain, The DAWN
April 20, 2003
Pakistan’s future LIES in South Asia, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Daily
Times, April 21, 2003
Peace
Matters
Forlorn HOPE, Navid Shahzad, Daily Times,
April 13, 2003
Religion
Armed Fight is not JIHAD, Asghar Ali Engineer, Islam and Modern Age, March 2003
South
Asia
What is America's INTEREST in the Sub-Continent? Farrukh Saleem, Friday
Times , April 4,
Sri Lanka
Peace Process: A Little
ARM-twisting, Jehan Perera, South Asia
Intelligence Review, April 28
_______________________________________________________________________________
SOMETHING TO
THINK ABOUT
"If you want to make peace, you don’t talk to
your friends. You talk to your enemies.” -
MOSHE DAYAN
*Promoting Peace in South Asia, Pritam K. Rohila, Ph.D.
The recent signs of thaw in India-Pakistan
relations, along with the news about resumption of negotiations with LTTE and
Maoists by the governments of Sri Lanka and Nepal, are welcome developments.
History suggests that achieving peace in the region will likely be a long
struggle with ups and downs.
If and when parties to all South Asian conflicts
sign on the dotted line to end them, there will be many civil society, human
rights, and development issues to be tackled.
To keep the process of peace and development moving
towards its eventual goals, leaders and organizations concerned will need not
only the good wishes, but also active help from the peace, harmony, and human
rights activists and organizations.
It is moment of great importance to all of us who
aspire for peace, tolerance and prosperity of South Asia. We have to prove that
we can do more than engage in wishful thinking, or a few anti-war protests. We
have to determine and demonstrate how committed we really are to peace and just
development in South Asia. How much of
our personal resources - including skills, money, time and energy – can we
invest in this process.
Let us make a commitment to devote at least one hour
a week to do something positive toward this end.
We can use the time to organize talks, discussions,
civic dialogues*, rallies, human chains, candle vigils, petition drives, and/or
write letters to editors of newspapers, in support of peace and harmony in
South Asia.
If someone cannot spare time, (s)he can donate one hour’s wages to a South Asian peace and
harmony organization** of his/her choice.
Those who cannot afford to spare either time or
money, can make a commitment to smile at, shake hands with, or hug another
South Asian, preferably someone from a nationality, religion, or ethnicity
different from their own.
At the very least they can sign ACHA Declaration of
Commitment*** (or something similar) and put it up at their desk at work or
school, and/or on the refrigerator at their home.
___
*ACHA plans to organize a Civic Dialogue on
“India-Pakistan-Kashmir”, in October-November, at Portland State University, in
Portland Oregon, USA
**If you do not know of a suitable peace and harmony
organization, ACHA can help you locate one.
***
ACHA Declaration Of Commitment
I declare my commitment to support and promote peace in the world generally and in South Asia particularly, and harmony among South Asians everywhere by non-violent methods, including the following:
1.
I affirm that members of other religious and ethnic communities are as human as
those of any other. As such they deserve the same respect as those of any
community. I will treat members of other religious and ethnic groups with
dignity and fairness.
2.
I will avoid and discourage all jokes and comments where the purpose or effect
is to ridicule or belittle any person or group on the basis of religion, or
ethnic origin.
3.
I will respect the right of each individual to worship God in the way (s)he
wishes. I will refrain from imposing my
ways of worship and my religious practices on others.
4. I will respect founders, holy books, and places of worship of other religions. I shall not speak ill of them, nor I shall in any way desecrate or harm them.
5.
Every year in addition to doing something for the welfare of my own community,
I will contribute financially or otherwise to the welfare of individuals of at
least one other ethnic or religious community.
6.
I will seek out other like-minded individuals in my community and elsewhere,
and I will work with them to promote and foster peace and harmony among various
communities and countries of South Asia. I will not do anything that is likely
to incite disharmony or discord among them.
PEACE & HARMONY NEWS FROM SOUTH ASIA
(Readers are
invited to submit similar information
from other areas of South Asia to help us broaden of our coverage.
Please send the info to pritamr@open.org
, a week before the date of publication of the next issue of ACHA Peace
Bulletin)
*India
'Ahmedabad's healing process has begun'
'The hysteria that gripped the city has not
completely subsided. There is still uneasiness and lack of trust,' says Aneesa
Mirza, the first Muslim lady mayor of Ahmedabad.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/05inter.htm
Aneesa Mirza is new mayor of Ahmedabad, Gujarat
The Congress candidate's victory was certain, but
choosing the candidate was no easy task in this city with a history of
Hindu-Muslim riots. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/apr/16guj.htm
NSCN-Centre talks likely next week
'While it is difficult to put a time-limit as to
when the peace accord would be finalised, the climate at present is extremely
favourable,' K Padmanabhaiah said. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/apr/03naga.htm
Hindus
and Muslims join for Holi
Keeping alive a
decades-old tradition in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, Hindus and Muslims
came together at the Public Gardens to celebrate Holi on March 16. “People here
believe they are Hyderabadi first and Hyderabadi last. It is this spirit that
has kept the city together even through troubled times,” saidTourism Minister
T. Srinivas Yadav. India West, March 21, 2003
Muslims
mark Godhra anniversary with prayers for victims
Showing sympathy
and solidarity with the families of victims, on the first anniversary of the
February 27 of Ghodra massacre, more than 200 Muslim residents of Salatnagar
slum in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, lit candles at the local mosque, in homage
to the 59 Hindus, who lost their lives in last year’s attack on Sabarmati
Express. They expressed hope that
neither community would lose faith in one another because of the misdeeds of a
misguided few. India West, March 7, 2003
*India-Bangladesh
Bangladesh Government assures India of curbing
terrorist activities on its soil
Bangladesh has assured India that it would contain
anti-India activities emanating from its soil. The assurance was reportedly
given during the Foreign Secretary-level consultations in Dhaka on April 29,
2003, held after a gap of nearly two-and-a-half years. India has been asking
Bangladesh to help contain activities of terrorist outfits operating in the
North East, including United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Both countries have also agreed to revive the Joint
Boundary Working Groups for speedy resolution of border demarcation and related
issues. A joint statement issued on May 1 said, "It was also agreed to
strengthen and fully implement the agreed procedures to stop cross-border
illegal movement of people". Regarding the existence of terrorist camps in
Bangladesh, the statement said, "in response to Indian concerns regarding
the activities of Indian insurgent groups in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh side
reaffirmed the commitment not to allow its territory to be used for any
activities inimical to the interests of India". Indian
Express, April 30, 2003; The Hindu, May 1, 2003. Via
South Asia Intelligence Review Volume 1, No. 42, May 5, 2003
*India-Pakistan
Rail, air, bus links to be restored soon:
Jamali http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/06pak4.htm
No immediate chance of meeting Vajpayee: Jamali
Jamali told reporters before an all-party meeting
that the two countries would attempt to build a congenial atmosphere for a
meaningful dialogue through ministerial and ambassadorial-level contacts.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/06pak1.htm
Pakistan opposition backs Jamali
"The opportunity should be seized to build a
solid foundation for enduring peace," a statement released after a
three-hour all-party meeting on Monday night said.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/06pak2.htm
Thaw in Indo-Pak ties rekindles hope
Forty-two-year-old Mustakeem, who is in Pakistan,
has not been able to come back to India after ties were broken off with
Pakistan following the December 13 Parliament attack.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/06pak3.htm
I can converse with Advani in Sindhi: Jamali
Jamali said this in a lighter vein at a news
conference in Islamabad, where he announced a series of confidence building
measures, including restoration of full diplomatic relations with India.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/06pak5.htm
No-war pact if J&K issue is solved: Musharraf http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/05pak.htm
Positive response from Vajpayee: Pakistan http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/05pak1.htm
Pak
decides not to raise Kashmir in UNSC
Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, said though Kashmir is the
"most dangerous conflict in the world," he has not "taken
advantage" of his position to include it in the council's agenda.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/03pak1.htm
Pakistan
agrees to discuss trade before Kashmir
"India has always said it wanted to talk trade and we have insisted that
Kashmir should be discussed first...now we accept India's argument,"
Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri said. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/03pak.htm
Jamali
invites Vajpayee to visit Pakistan http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/03pak2.htm
Vajpayee
gives go ahead for visit by Pak lawmakers http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/03tara.htm
Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee announces restoration
of diplomatic ties with Pakistan on reciprocal basis
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee announced on May
2, 2003, the appointment of a High Commissioner to Pakistan on a reciprocal
basis. Making a statement in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Indian
Parliament), he also said that civil aviation links with Pakistan would be
restored. Later, speaking in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House), Vajpayee stressed
that this would be his third and final effort at improving bilateral relations
with Pakistan. He said, "After two experiences, the third round of talks
will be decisive. At least in my lifetime, this will be the last."
Elaborating on the peace offer, the premier said, "Now this is a new
beginning. We should not forget the past but at the same time, we should not be
a slave to the past. The past should give us inspiration and encourage us to
move forward and it should not act as shackles to move forward. That's why we
should also learn a lesson from Lahore". He also assured the Parliament
that the unity and integrity of India would not be compromised. "I am
confident I will succeed", he said, adding, " "Though terrorism
persists we must give peace one more chance, this bloodbath should come to an
end. Times of India, May 3, 2003. Via South Asia Intelligence
Review Volume 1, No. 42, May 5, 2003
India,
Pakistan to re-establish full diplomatic ties http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/02pak.htm
Talks only way for Kashmir: Pakistan http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/02pak1.htm
US denies any roadmap for Kashmir issue http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/02josy.htm
Hurriyat,
UK welcome PM's initiative
The APHC said the statement is in the larger interest of the people in the
South Asian region.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/02pm.htm
RSS backs Indian PM on Pak initiative
However, it cautioned against the pitfalls
considering past experience.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/01rss.htm
India treads cautiously on talks with Pakistan
An external affairs ministry spokesperson refused to
say whether talks could take place in June as reportedly said by Minister of
State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/apr/30tara.htm
Pakistan promises to go extra mile
The Pakistani foreign minister said his country
would not allow false pride to come in the way of breaking the ice. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/apr/30pak.htm
Pakistani
Prime Minister Jamali offers to visit India for dialogue
Prime
Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali on April 28, 2003, telephoned Indian Premier
Atal Behari Vajpayee and offered to visit India for holding a dialogue. During
his conversation with his Indian counterpart, Jamali reportedly expressed his
desire for holding a meaningful dialogue with New Delhi at any level. Both the
premiers also reportedly exchanged views on exploring ways and means with
regard to economic, cultural and sports arenas. Prime Minister Jamali also
extended an invitation to Vajpayee to visit Pakistan at the latter's
convenience. Jang, April 29, 2003. Via
South Asia Intelligence Review Volume 1, No. 42, May 5, 2003
No conditions for talks with India: Pakistan http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/apr/28pak1.htm
Musharraf Urges Resolution Of Kashmir And Other
Issues Through Dialogue
http://www.paknews.org/top.php?id=1&date1=2003-04-25
Hurriet ready to support any Indo-Pak dialogue for
peace
After walking over a tightrope, Hurriet Conference
today decided to shun the tag of 'spoilsport' and
extended full support to New Delhi and Islamabad for restarting negotiations to
resolve vexed Kashmir issue and usher-in a new era of peace and prosperity in the sub-continent, according to the
former Hurriet Conference chairman and chief priest of Kashmir Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq. Kashmir Times News Service, Srinagar, Apr 23, 2003
Prime
Minister Jamali welcomes Indian Premier Vajpayee's offers of talks
Responding
to the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's offer of talks on the
Kashmir issue, Pakistani Premier Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said in Islamabad,
"We welcome it, we appreciate it." Speaking to reporters in
Parliament, Jamali said Pakistan had always said talks were the only way to
resolve issues. "On the main issue (of Kashmir) Pakistan's stand remains
the same. But once talks start there...could be flexibility from both
sides," he added. Paktribune, April 19, 2003.
Kashmir
issue can be solved only through dialogue, says Premier Vajpayee
Addressing
a public meeting at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar on April 18, 2003,
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said the Kashmir issue cannot be solved
through the barrel of the gun. The Premier also said the Union Government would
ensure close cooperation with the State Government headed by Mufti Mohammed
Sayeed for restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The Prime Minister,
while accusing Pakistan of not responding to India's peace initiatives, added,
"We again extend the hand of friendship. But it has to be both ways. Both
sides should commit that they will live in peace and harmony." Emphasizing
the need for a dialogue, Vajpayee noted, "I have said that every issue
should be settled by talks. We are prepared. Talks can be on internal as well as
external issues." Daily Excelsior, April 19,
2003.
*Nepal
Nepal rebels, govt say talks cordial
'We presented our agenda for a round table
conference, an interim government and a constituent assembly,' Krishna Bahadur
Mahara, one of the rebel negotiators, said.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/apr/28nep.htm
Maoists resume peace talks with
Government in Nepal
Maoist
insurgent leaders resumed
peace talks with the Government. Nepal News, April 27, 2003.
Government
and Maoist insurgent leaders hold goodwill talks
Goodwill
talks between the Government and Maoist insurgents were held on April 13, 2003.
Government chief negotiator Narayan Singh Pun met with the full team of the
rebel negotiators led by Baburam Bhattarai. The talks commenced soon after the
Government released two central committee members of the Maoists, Krishna Dhoj
Khadka and Rekha Sharma. The insurgents have demanded that the Government set
free five senior leaders and, thus, create a congenial atmosphere for the
proposed peace talks. The Government is expected to release insurgent leaders,
Bamdev Chettri, Rabindra Shrestha and Mumaram Khanal, reports added. Nepal News,
April 13, 2003
Maoist
insurgents scale down demands
Maoists
parallel government head and chief negotiator Babruam Bhattarai said on April
7, 2003, that they were ready to commence peace talks if the Government
released five senior central committee members. He also said they would not
insist on the withdrawal of criminal cases against senior rebels, including
himself, as a pre-condition for talks to begin. "The talks will begin even
if the government releases five central committee members currently under
detention," Bhattarai said. However, Minister and Government chief
negotiator Narayan Singh Pun said, on April 6, that the Government would not
release all Maoist prisoners. Nepal News, April 7, 2003. Via
South Asia Intelligence Review, Volume 1, No. 38, April 7, 2003
*Pakistan
Human rights body calls for a Secular
Pakistan
Karachi: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
(HRCP) on Saturday said the separation of religion from the state would promote
unity in a pluralistic society like Pakistan.
The commission held a daylong workshop on the rights of minorities in
the country. Participants said the government should protect the rights of the
minorities as they were a part of the state. The participants said languages
such as Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi and Seraiki must be accepted as
national languages and the state must ensure their promotion. The medium of
instruction, especially in primary education, should be in the children’s
mother tongue, they said. The
participants recommended the deletion of all religion-based provisions of the
Constitution, such as Article 2, 2A and 203, which they said divided the
citizens on the basis of their beliefs. (Via FACE Foundation for the
Advancement of Community Educationfacepk@hotmail.com
Issue No.29, April 20, 2003)
Provincial harmony govt’s top
priority, says Ibad
KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on Thursday
said fostering national cohesion and inter-provincial harmony was the priority
of the present government. He was talking to members of the managing committee
of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) led by Arif Nizami, at the
Governor’s House. (Daily Times, April 13, 2003)
Over 100 Sikh pilgrims arrive
in Lahore
LAHORE: Over 100 Sikh pilgrims travelling in buses
from India arrived here at the Wagha border for the baisakhi festival on
Friday. (Daily
Times, April 13, 2003)
*Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka to test peace bid in referendum
The government wants to test public opinion before
going in for drastic constitutional changes, officials said. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/apr/03lanka.htm
PEACE &
HARMONY ORGANIZATIONS
(Readers are
invited to submit similar information
from other areas of South Asia to help us broaden of our coverage.
Please send the info to pritamr@open.org
, a week before the date of publication of the next issue of ACHA Peace
Bulletin)
*Centre for Study of Society and Secularism
(CSSS), 9B, Himalaya Apts., 1st Floor, 6th Road, TPS III, Opp. Dena Bank,
Santacruz (E), Mumbai - 400 055, Phone: 26149668, 26630085 (Off) 26630086 (R),
Fax No.: 091-022-26173624, E-mail : csss@vsnl.com
Every month, the, under the able leadership of Dr.
Asghar Ali Engineer, CSSS conducts four
to five workshops on communal harmony, in different parts of India, for
teachers, police, journalists, youth and students.
In
June, they are also planning to organize a 10-day training programme in Peace
Education and Conflict Resolution for some 30-40 activists from all over India.
It will be intensive training so that they can work in their respective areas
to promote peace and harmony. It is budgeted at about Rs. 400,000.
Besides,
they are doing research projects on communal and secular problems. Currently
they are working on four research projects.
Finally,
they publish Secular Perspective every 15 days, in 4 Indian languages besides
in English, and for the last 10 years, they have been publishing Indian Journal
of Secularism, every three months.
Their
work deserves support from all South Asian peace, secularism, and communal
harmony activists.
*Legal
Awareness Watch (LAW), 384 D Sabzazar Lahore, Pakistan. Contact Person:
Liaqat Ali, Phones: 92-42-784738, & 92-42-7117800, Email lawpak99@hotmail.com
May
02, 2003
The statement of Indian Prime Minister Mr. Atal
Bahari Vajpai made in the Lok Sabha to restore full diplomatic relations with
Pakistan is step in the right direction. The Pakistani authorities have
welcomed this gesture of Indian Prime Minister and it is expected that they too
would announce steps to accelerate this process of normalization. The
normalization of relations between these two neighboring countries is not only
in the best interests of their people but also for the people of South Asia
which has become hostage of bad relations between India and Pakistan.
We support this process of normalization and peace and hope that both the
governments will take more positive steps for people to people contacts at
every level and in very sphere without any delay and hesitation.
1-C.R.Aslam Advocate Supreme Court
2-Farah Deeba Member District Assembly Lahore
3-Abdul Rauf Malik Publicist
4-Liaqat Ali Advocate High Court
5-Ch. Tariq Javaid Advocate High Court, Ex-Secretary
Lahore Bar Association
6-Mohammad Akbar Member District Assembly Lahore
7-Sohail Tariq Advocate
8-Malik Mohammad Aslam, General Secretary Pakistan
Trade Union federation
9-Tariq Latif Human Rights activist
10-Abdul Shakoor Rana Peace activist
11- Salim Shahid Poet & novelist
12-Kalab Ali Shiekh Advocate
13-Rizwana Yasmin Advocate High Court
14-Zafar Hussain Qazi Advocate High Court
15-Safdar Hussain Sindhu Advocate High Court
16-Kanwal Mushtaq Punjabi Poet& writer
*Develop
in Peace, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, developinpeace@hotmail.com Contact
Persons: Dr. Amit Shah & Gautam Desai
&
South Asians for Unity
(SA4U), Atlanta, Georgia, USA, www.sa4u.org
Contact Person: Khurram
Hassan kohassan@yahoo.com , Phone
404-213-9825
Recently the
two South Asian peace groups met in Greenville, South Carolina, to plan how
they could combine their efforts to be more effective in their efforts to
promote peace and development in South Asia.
They reviewed each other’s work, opportunities for collaboration, and
planned specific initial joint efforts.
They are
planning a joint regional South Asian peace conference in late September or
early October. The purpose of the conference will be to bring together
like-minded individuals and groups from across U.S. and Canada who care about
peace and development in South Asia.
The three
main themes of the conference will be:
(1)
Development for Peace: Working together to raise awareness and investment for
development efforts throughout South Asia. Therefore symbolically sending a
message to decision makers and other world citizens that South Asians want
prosperity in each other’s nations.
(2) Peace
Movement for South Asia: Working with US based think tanks and grassroots
organizing efforts, build a focused and effective peace movement for South
Asia.
(3) South Asian Peace
Organizing at a Crossroads: What are the best strategies to bring together the
efforts across the nation to make an impact on our common goals of Peace and
Development?
*The South Asia Group for Action and Reflection
(SAGAR), 6921
Creekside Rd. Downers Grove, IL 60516. Contact Person: Harinder Lamba, (630)
964-2258 e-mail: hlamba@aol.com
SAGAR is a Chicago-based non-profit organization, which
aims to help the nations and the peoples of South Asia, and the world, achieve
greater harmony and well-being. It encourages greater cooperation among people
of South Asian origin living elsewhere.
Good relation between India and Pakistan is on the
top of SAGAR's agenda. It has organized two conferences on promoting peace and
co-operation between India and Pakistan. In May 1997, it participated in the
Asian-American Parade in Chicago with, for the very first time, a joint
India-Pakistani float. Next month, it sent letters to prime ministers Bhutto
and Gujral, endorsing peaceful co-operation between the two countries. On the 50th independence anniversaries of
India and Pakistan, it placed advertisements in local newspapers congratulating
both countries.
*Musharraf' Should Grasp Vajpayee's Offer, Badruddin R. Gowani brgowani@hotmail.com , California, USA,
April 25, 2003
The current US fury cannot be taken lightly for two reasons: One is that the
United States is the un-reined sole super power who does not give a damn to
world opinion as one can see from its destruction, invasion, and conquest of
Iraq - an eye opener for Third World leaders. The US troops took over the
oil installations, while letting the people loot and destroy museums and
government buildings. Donald Rumsfeld said that people are enjoying the
"freedom." Would he have allowed people to enjoy their
"freedom" by letting them burn down the Iraqi oil wells? The
root cause of US conquest.
Another reason is that this "regime change" business is now going to
become an addiction for the US rulers. A warning is already served to
Syria. Bush wants it to "cooperate," Rumfeld is charging it
with possession of "chemical weapons," Colin Powell is stabbing
diplomatically, while Tony Blair said that there is no plan to
"invade" - a tactic to calm down world's fear of another invasion.
Musharraf is aware that the US would not want any
other country to have nuclear weapons - except the US. He is under a
three-pronged attack. The mullahs are exerting more pressure on him and
are gaining more power as a reaction against the US interference in
Afghanistan, Pakistan, its support of Israel, and the present pillaging of
Iraq; the US is constantly humiliating him by asking for his cooperation for
every new criminal venture; and India (up until now) had been threatening him
with a US style "war on terrorism" for Pakistan's moral and murderous
support of Kashmiri people and Islamic militants.
Meanwhile, Islamic militants keep the Kashmir issue alive by insane atrocities
with the aim of creating a war between Pakistan and India or some such scenario
that can push the whole region in a deep turmoil. (Neither the armies of
either countries or the Hindu fundamentalists are any saner or have any sense
of decency or respect for human life).
On March 23, twenty-four Hindus, including children and women, were cruelly
murdered, and not for the first time. This is not the work of some
lunatics but that of murderers who are doing it methodically and with a
calculated strategy: to provoke an Indo-Pak conflict.
Musharraf cannot afford any fight and his nervousness with the latest US
insanity is obvious. This year, Musharraf said things, which usually
are not stated publicly. Back in January, he warned the Islamists that
after Iraq if the US attacks Pakistan nobody is going to come to its
rescue. Then on 15th of last month (a Freudian slip or an intentional
outburst?), he openly wished that Pakistan should not have been a member of the
UN Security Council at this time. That is, when the US was trying to get
it's second UN resolution for "war" against Iraq passed.
Not that Musharraf is blameless. Any leader, who creates enmity with
neighbors and produces a mess in the neighborhood, will be that much weaker
against the US, when the latter opens its fang to tear apart her/his
country. When he came to power in October 1999, he should have stopped
supporting the Taliban - not because of the US - but because they were a nasty
lot and were a regressive influence on the whole region; he should have avoided
the Kargil mini-war; and he should have tried to make the Agra
Summit a success, even a limited one - in spite of Lal Krishna Adwani
and other Hindu hardliners' efforts to
derail the summit.
Musharraf cannot afford any more delays; he should accept Indian Prime Minister
Atal Behari Vajpayee's "hand of friendship" by offering Pakistan's
hand and thus meeting Vajpayee's condition that "hands should be extended
from both sides." (Vajpayee's speech in Srinagar on April 18, 2003).
There is no doubt that at times India acts like a big brother in the region and
would act more often in such fashion in future, as its ties with US grow
stronger. (A small bully in company of the biggest bully never feels
impotent but important.) Even if India decides to act like a big brother,
it will always be aware of the close proximity and hence of the retaliatory
moves. It is not like the world Master who just comes on killing, saucers,
destroys, and goes back to its safe nest.
There are several advantages in having friendly relations with India:
Secularists in whole of South Asia would gain some
strength after suffering so much defeat due to onslaught of communalism of all
sorts in the whole region.
People traveling to both countries would be saved humiliation and time by
entering each others' countries directly rather than via UAE or Singapore.
Defense expenditures of both countries would reduce, and the savings thus
gained could be diverted to the betterment of their economies. Improve
relations with India without involving the US.
Relations based on mutual understanding would be
long lasting than the one created by a country that nobody would want to trust.
Some suggestions:
India must end the reign of terror in Kashmir and
should take the Kashmiri people into confidence by granting them more autonomy.
Pakistan must clamp down on Pakistani infiltrators and also the foreign
terrorists or "Jehadis." It should see that they are not
allowed to cross into the Indian Kashmir.
The terroristic activities of India's RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and
Pakistan's ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) in each other's countries must
end.
Famous South Asian actor Dilip Kumar was awarded Pakistan's highest civilian
award, Nishan-e-Pakistan, by Sharif government in 1998. In spite of
fierce opposition in India, Dilip Kumar showed courage by going to Pakistan to
receive the award. On part of Sharif government, it was a purely political
move. A government of a Muslim country confers an award to a Muslim actor
from India, a country with a Hindu majority. It would have been much
better if the award were also given to singer Lata Mangeshkar, a Hindu.
She is equally, if not more, popular in Pakistan and among other South Asians
worldwide. Musharraf government can rectify the folly by inviting Lata
Mangeshkar and presenting her the Nishan-e-Pakistan.
LETTERS
*What if peace breaks out ? Naeem Sadiq ensad1@yahoo.com, Karachi, Pakistan, April
24, 2003
Having spent the long hot summer of 2002, with a million
soldiers bunkered on both sides of the
border, a thousand fighter jets ready to scramble at a moment's
notice, and hundreds of restless fingers
itching to push the buttons that could rapidly transform a bunch of sleepy
cylindrical objects into
missiles of untold destruction, one cannot dispute the readiness status that
India and Pakistan maintain to
destroy each other at short notice and for a shorter reason. With at
least three major wars to their
credit, the two countries do seem to have a fair idea on how to
handle wars. Which brigade will tear
to shreds the soldiers of which battalion on the opposite side, how the dead
would be honoured as
martyrs or simply pushed into hurriedly dug graves, and how their innocent
widows and children would be
broken the news of grief and pain that they must bear for the rest of their
lives. All these are issues
that have occupied much debate and documentation on both sides of the border,
and one assumes there are
enough 'war plans', 'battle instructions' and 'standard operating
procedures', which could be readily pulled out to unleash waves of
'shock and awe' at one's own neighbour.
But have we ever even for a moment pondered at our state of readiness for
the eventuality of peace? What
if there is a sudden outbreak of peace between the two countries? Are we
even remotely prepared for such a serious and totally unfamiliar
eruption? Where are the exigency plans and procedures to handle the
colossal fallout that usually occurs with the detonation of peace? How
much area and how many
people would be positively impacted within the first few weeks or months
of a peaceful strike? How will
the various formations of the military cope with their daily existence under
such extremely unoccupying and unchallenging circumstances? What
would be the impact on the health and performance of politicians
when deprived of the primary contents from their frothy venomous speeches?
How would the ordinary
citizens go about their daily chores without the always-present fear of
themselves and their families
being suddenly vaporised out of existence? How would thousands of
families react under the emotional trauma of being able to freely visit their
families and birthplaces across the borders? With the going
away of visa restrictions and the absence of long queues in front of their
offices how will the
bureaucrats and 'baboos' cope with their newly acquired
unimportance? What would be the
psychological impact on issues of ideology, culture, and traditions when we
open our TV, radio, newspapers and other platforms of mass media to each
other? How would the trade and industry respond to the easy and
cost-effective availability of goods, grains and technology? What
would replace the newspaper headings in absence of the standard hate
accusations and statements released every day by the officials of the two
governments? How would the governments respond to persistent demands from
the military to drastically cut down the defence budgets? Used to
leftover crumbs, how would the health, education and social sectors cope with
absorbing the ten-fold increase in their funding? What
will be the new occupational pastime of the thousands of 'out of job' jihadi
volunteers? How would the religious zealots on both sides come to terms with
replacing their well-established doctrine of hate by new compulsions of
peaceful co-existence?
These and many other such serious concerns must be urgently addressed
if India and Pakistan are to be
better prepared to handle the totally alien and unusual eventuality of peace
breaking out in the
subcontinent. These concerns may be so deep and powerful that they may have by
themselves become the
biggest obstacle for peace. Peace may have become hostage to the
frozen mindset of the civil and
military elite of the two countries, which are threatened by a phenomenon that
will challenge and
hurt their cushy lifestyles. The two countries are thus simply too
unprepared and ill-equipped to handle
the massive and far-reaching fallout of peace. Only when they seriously
reflect and understand the extent
of good and the nature of transformation it could bring to the lives of
their teeming millions that they
may begin to slowly take the first small step towards the uncharted path of
peace.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
*Through May 31, San
Francisco, CA, USA: INDIAN JEWELRY UNVEILED, a photography exhibition of
over 21 works of Sonia Mehta, a Bay Area photographer, at the Academy of Art
Gallery, 625 Sutter Street. More info form mfasonia@yahoo.com
*Through July 27,
Los Angeles, CA, USA: GENGHIS KHAN EXHIBIT, featuring the West Asian art
during the time of Genghis Khan at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905
Wilshire Bvd. More info from 323.857.6515
*Through August 17,
Chicago, IL, USA: HIMALAYAS: AN AESTHETIC ADVENTURE, an exhibition of
Himalayan art, featuring 187 masterworks of Buddhist and Hindu art created
between the 5th and the 19th centuries, from Nepal, Jammu
& Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Tibet and Bhutan, more than one-half of which
have never been publicly exhibited, at the Art Institute of Chicago.
*Through October 19, New York, NY, USA: THE WORLD OF BUDDHISM will
explore the key concepts and imagery of one of the world's great religions, 6:00-9:00 p.m., at Asia Society and Museum, 725 Park Avenue at
70th street. Admission: $7 adults; $5 students and senior citizens. Free to
members and children under 16. Free admission Friday. More info from The World of Buddhism
*May, Washington,
DC, USA: EVEREST EXHIBITION to mark the 50th anniversary of the successful
maiden climb of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay
will be held at the National Geographic
Society's Explorers Hall. Via Himalayan Environmental Trust hetrust@del2.vsnl.net.in
*May 17, Long Beach, CA, USA: MASTI KI RAAT
featuring an opportunity to dance and party with EAST meets WEST, a funky band
from England, from 9:30 p.m. till the wee hours of the next morning, at Club
49, 49 S. Pine Ave. The band is especially flying all the way from London
to entertain people with dholak, drums, percussions and songs Filmi remixes
from 1960’s till now in fast beat, high tempo music. Entry ticket is $50 per
person. There will be a no host bar & $10 all night appetizers. More info
from South Asian Network, 18000 Pioneer Blvd, #101, Artesia, California 90701,
562.403.0488 or 562.331.0937
The event is a fund raiser for the South Asian Network
(SAN), a non-profit, non-partisan, secular, community-based organization
dedicated to promoting the health, empowerment and solidarity of persons of South
Asian origin living in Southern California. Founded in 1990 to fill a gap in
services to low-income members of South Asian community, SAN is committed to
combating discrimination on the basis of gender, age, sexual orientation or
physical disability and to provide education, outreach and active support in
other matters that affect the community at large, such as health, hate crimes,
domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, worker’s rights and inter-generational
issues. Since it’s inception SAN has
been a critical link between the diverse South Asian communities of Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives in Southern
California.
*May 17, Lakewood, CA,
USA: ZIKER-e-FAIZ, an Evening of Urdu Poetry By Faiz
Ahmed Faiz the Master Poet of the 21st
century) and SHAAM-e-GHAZAL
featurimg Famous Ghazal singer Monidipa Sharma will sing Ghazals by Faiz
accompanied by Ustad Tari Khan on Tabla Shahnawaz Restaurant, 12225
E Centralia St, 562.402.7443. Tickets (Advance only) $20 & VIP, with dinner
8:00-9:00 p.m. from Shahnawaz Groceries
714.720.9002. More info from Mohammad Kalam 707.217.0957 jack484@aol.com, Syed@in-cube.com, Annie Akhtar 650.697.4445 mail4annie@aol.com, Syed Asif
714.531.7267, 0r Kamran Lateef 714.720.9002
Transcript of this ASIP interview conducted by Anupama Rao, Assistant Professor of South Asian History at Barnard College with Veena Oldenburg, Professor of History at the City Univesity of New York Graduate Center and Baruch College.
Transcript of AsiaSource interview with Dalia
Hashad, the Arab, Muslim, South Asian Advocate in the ACLU's Campaign Against
Racial Profiling, about the curtailment of civil liberties, the USA PATRIOT
Act, illegal detentions, and INS registration.
CALL FOR PAPERS
*Contemporary South Asia has issued a call for papers on a broad range of issues - Theory, Governance, Development, Security - concerning Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal for a special issue on “Small and Micro-States of South Asia.” Queries and submissions of no more than 7000 words in length should be sent no later than 15 October 2003 to Guest Editor Dr Amalendu Misra, School of Politics, Queen's University, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK E-mail: misra.a@qub.ac.uk
CONFERENCES & SYMPOSIA
(Readers are
invited to submit similar information from other areas of South Asia to help us
broaden of our coverage. Please send the info to pritamr@open.org , a week before the date of
publication of the next issue of ACHA Peace Bulletin)
*May 19-21, Jakarta, Indonesia: IRAQ AND THE GLOBAL PEACE MOVEMENT: WHAT NEXT? is the theme of a conference for peace activists representing anti-war movements from all over the world, who will make plan for their next moves. The participants will have to take care of their own travel and
accommodation expenses. More info from Herbert Docena at herbert@focusphilippines.org
*May
22-30, Tokyo, 107-0052, Japan: E-SYMPOSIUM ON CONFLICT PREVENTION dealing with
various questions (such as Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? How Can Peace Be
Achieved in Palestine, Chechnya and Other Conflict Zones?) as a starting point
for discussion. This initiative will bring together a number of conflict
prevention experts from diverse backgrounds and regions around the world with
the aim of discussing conflicts in order to analyze ways of achieving peace in
the respective conflict zones. More info from www.dwcw.org/3rd_e-symposium
or Deborah Sharp, The Japan Center for Conflict Prevention, 2-17-12-803
Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0052, Japan. T: 81-3-3584 7457, F: 81-3-3584
7528
Email: tokyo@jccp.gr.ip (Via www.coexistence.net)
*August
4-10, Seoul, South Korea: EDUCATING
FOR PEACE IN DIVIDED SOCIETIES, a conference including
plenaries, workshops, reflection groups, and visits to community projects, all
designed as a multicultural and cooperative learning opportunity in which
participants will exchange information on substantive issues and interactive
teaching approaches. It will also be an opportunity for networking and
community building among those who educate and work for a culture of peace in
Asia and internationally. Multiple perspectives on cases and incidents will be
explored. Various ways of teaching toward the healing of the divisions, the
overcoming of violence, and the achievement of ecological balance, economic
justice, and democratic participation in a culture of peace will be presented.
This conference will draw on the experiences and insights of diverse peace
educators and advocates from all world regions. Cost is US $500. More info for applicants from the Asia-Pacific
Region from Asia Pacific Center of Education for International
Understanding, 50-14, Myong-don 2-ga, Chung-gu, Seoul, Korea, 100-810. (UNESCO
Bldg 604) Email: apceiu@unesco.org.kr
and for applicants from N. America, Europe, S. America, Africa from
Peace Education Center, Box 171, Teachers College, Columbia University, New
York, NY 10027, USA, T: 1-212-678 8116, F: 1-212-678 8237, Email: peace-ed@exchange.tc.columbia.edu
(Via www.coexistence.net)
*September 19-21,
Oxford, UK: CRITICAL ISSUES IN PLURALISM is the theme of this
Global Conference, which is being organized by Inter-Disciplinary.Net to
explore the challenges posed by pluralism today. Discussions will deal with the
implications of pluralism on the following areas: politics, economics, social
issues, religion, literature, and medicine. Papers will be considered on any
related theme. All papers accepted for and presented at the conference will be
published in an ISBN eBook. The keynote speaker is scheduled to be Professor
Margaret Chatterjee of New Delhi, India. Deadline for submission of 300-word is
June 13. More info from Dr. Rob Fisher, Coordinator, Inter-Disciplinary.Net,
Priory House, 149B Wroslyn Road, Freeland, Oxfordshire, OX29 8HR, UK, T:
44-199-388 2087, F: 44-870-460 1132, Email: rf@inter-dsciplinary.net, Website: www.inter-disciplinary.net
*January 5-7, 2004, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India:
PEACE EDUCATION FOR CONTEMPORARY CONCERNS is the theme of an International
Conference being organized by Jaipur Peace Foundation in collaboration with
Peace Education Commission (PEC) of IPRA and University of Rajasthan to promote
peace education in this part of the world by providing a forum for interaction
and cooperation between scholars and educators, and to seek meaningful interaction among educators for disseminating
results of peace research in the fields of nonviolence, conflict resolution,
and rights, which are important contemporary concerns. Registration fee is
US$100. Modest guest-house accommodations, on twin/sharing basis, meals, tea,
local transportation and seminar materials will be provided free. More info
from Prof. Naresh Dadhich, Department of Political Science, University of
Rajasthan, Jaipur, (INDIA), and Honorary Secretary, Jaipur Peace Foundation,
2-k-12, Jawahar Nagar, aipur-302004 (INDIA), T: 91-141-2652846,
F: 91-141-2654506, Email: ndadhich@datainfosys.net,
Website: www.jaipurpeacefoundation.com
(Via www.coexistence.net)
*June
26-28, and November 20-22, Watertown, MA, USA: POWER OF DIALOGUE: CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS ON
DIVISIVE ISSUES, a hands-on, three-day training workshop
wherein participants explore ways to promote the type of meaningful dialogue
capable of shifting relationships and power dynamics. Through experiential
exercises, presentations and demonstrations, and the process of designing and
facilitating an extended dialogue simulation, participants will learn how to
apply the key elements of PCP (Public Conversations Project) dialogues. Cost
(including catered lunch and snacks) is
US $440. More info from www.publicconversations.org or
Kim Verner, Public Conversations Project, 46 Kondazian Street, Watertown,
MA 02472, USA, T: 1-617-923 1216, F: 1-617-923 2757
Email: info@publicconversations.org
(Via www.coexistence.net)
*September
– November: 15
ONLINE COURSES (Peaceful Conflict Transformation, Nonviolent
Security Approaches, Peacebuilding and Empowerment, Peace Journalism, Peace
Business, Peace and Tourism, Reconciliation after Violence, and Development and
Democratization) directed towards students in a variety of stages of their
educational career as well as towards government workers and practitioners and
leading to certificates for single courses, diplomas for clusters of courses,
and eventually BA, MA, and PhD degrees, will be offered by the Transcend Online Peace University. Cost is
500 Euros. More info from www.transcend.org
or Dietrich Fischer, TPU, 114 Conover Road, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550, USA.
T: 1-609-799 8319, F: 1-609-799 2581 Email: fisher@transcend.org (Via www.coexistence.net)
ENVIRONMENT
(Readers are
invited to submit similar information
from other areas of South Asia to help us broaden of our coverage. Please
send the info to pritamr@open.org , a
week before the date of publication of the next issue of ACHA Peace Bulletin)
The aftermath of war
The ravages of war (Damage to fisheries, Soil
pollution, Climatic changes, Health effects, Groundwater contamination,
Depleted Uranium threats etc.) when added to the existing adverse effects on
the ecology of such factors as weak environmental infrastructure, inadequate
resources for environmental management, and global environmental trends like
desertification and climate change, are likely to lead to a future without
water, forests, wildlife and clean air, according to the findings of
assessments conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in
various violence-wracked territories. (DTE-21303) Via Himalayan Environmental
Trust hetrust@del2.vsnl.net.in
EVENTS
*May 12, Northern California, USA: WOMEN IN CONFLICT,
A Screening and discussion with Filmmaker Radhika Kaul Batra, at 6:00
p.m., at Mechanics’ Institute Library. Admission: $7 members; $10 nonmembers;
$5 student w/ID. More info from 415.421.8707
http://www.asiasociety.org/events/calendar.pl?event=13889
*May 14, New York City , NY, USA: WOMEN IN CONFLICT. This film, which views communal
tensions through the lens of social, political, economic and international
factors that fuel conflicts in the major regions of Asia, will be screened,
as a part of the Asia Series on Religious Violence, 6:30-8:00
p.m., at Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue. Admission: $5 students w/ID; $7
members/NGOs; $10 nonmembers. More info from 212.517.ASIA http://www.asiasociety.org/events/calendar.pl?event=13869
*May 13, New York, NY, USA: WOMEN LEADERS IN MICROFINANCE: WOMEN WORKING FOR WOMEN, a
luncheon event which will focus on the strategies that women have devised to
address economic access, participation and empowerment for poor women, 11:00 am
- 2:00 pm, at Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, Admission:
$45 member; $60 nonmember; $20 faculty/NGO; $15 student w/ID. More info
from 212-517-ASIA http://www.asiasociety.org/events/calendar.pl?event=13898
*June 24, New York City, USA: THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE QUILT is an
international community art project, which consists of 30 panels, made in
1998-99 by over 300 people from all ages and backgrounds, under the supervision
of Elizabeth Shefrin, a Jewish artist living in Canada. A binder with the
statements of its artists addressing the question “What is your vision of peace
in the Middle East?” accompanies each panel. The quilt will be presented, along
with a reading of quilt narratives, a musical performance, and a group
discussion. The event is coordinated in
part by Servas, The Dialogue Project, and The Council of Pakistan Organization
among others. Community sponsors include The Arab-American Association, The New
Shul, The Coexistence Initiative, and The Jewish Alliance for Justice and
Peace. More info from
Julie Schumacher Cohen, Program Director, United States Servas, 11 John Street,
Room 505 New
York, NY 10038 USA, T: 1-212-267 0252, F: 1-212-267 0292, julie@usservas.org,
www.usservas.org (Via www.coexistence.net)
FELLOWSHIPS & SCHOLARSHIPS
*Jennings Randolph Program for
International Peace: United States Institute for Peace (USIP) awards
12 to 15 fellowships each year to scholars and practitioners from a variety of
professions for projects relating to preventive diplomacy, ethnic and regional
conflicts, peacekeeping and peace operations, peace settlements,
democratization and the rule of law, cross-cultural negotiations, nonviolent
social movements, U.S. foreign policy in the 21st Century, and related topics.
This year the Institute is especially interested in topics addressing problems
of the Muslim world, post-war reconstruction and reconciliation, and responses
to terrorism and political violence. Projects, which demonstrate relevance to
current policy debates, will be highly competitive. Women and minorities are
particularly encouraged to apply. Submission
deadline is September
15, 2003. More info from Jennings Randolph Program, U.S. Institute of Peace,
1200 17th Street, NW, Suite 200,Washington, DC 20036-3011, USA, T: 1-202-429
3886, F: 1-202-429 6063 Email: jrprogram@usip.org,
Website: www.usip.org (Via www.coexistence.net)
*Recasting
Reconciliation Through Culture And The Arts: The Slifka Program in
Intercommunal Coexistence, a program of Brandeis University’s International
Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life, is seeking applications for the
third round of Brandeis International Fellowships (BIFs), addressing this
theme. The new round of BIFs will highlight and strengthen artistic and
cultural approaches to reconciliation by engaging those who already use them in
documenting, reflecting upon, creating theory about, and sharing their work.
Applications are sought from teams of two people who live or work in the same
geographic region. One member of each team should be an artist, cultural
worker, or peacebuilding practitioner already exploring the intersection of
reconciliation, culture, and the arts. The other member of the team should be a
documentor—a writer, oral historian, filmmaker, photographer, journalist,
sociologist, or ethnographer, for example—preferably with experience working in
historically divided communities, documenting complex social processes, and/or
facilitating reflective inquiry. Apply by June 2, 2003. More info from Program
Coordinator, Slifka Program in Intercommunal Coexistence, Brandeis University
Mailstop, PO Box 549110, Waltham, MA 02454-9110 USA, T: 1-781-736 5001, F: 1-781-736
8561, ethics@brandeis.edu, www.brandeis.edu/ethics (Via www.coexistence.net)
Women, children and minorities are the principal
victims of rights' abuses in Pakistan
As expected, women, children and minorities stand
out as the principal victims of rights' abuses, according to the annual report
of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). The occurrence of several
tragic cases where tribal Jirgas ordered cruel and inhuman punishments against
innocent women has been particularly criticized as has been the tendency in
some clerics to use the controversial blasphemy law to blackmail and harass members
of the minorities and settle personal scores. (Via FACE Foundation for the
Advancement of Community Educationfacepk@hotmail.com
Issue No.28, April 13, 03)
*May 13, New York , NY, USA: THE ARTS OF KASHMIR: THE HINDU AND BUDDHIST HERITAGE, a
talk by Pratapaditya Pal, a leading scholar and curator,
6:30-8:00 p.m., at Asia Society and Museum, 725 Park Ave. Admission: $7
members; $10 nonmembers. More info from 212-517-ASIA http://www.asiasociety.org/events/calendar.pl?event=13867
*May 14, Houston, TX, USA:
LIFE AFTER WAR. The struggle to rebuild war-ravaged Afghanistan as seen through the eyes
of an American woman Sarah Chayes, Asia Society, 1800 K Street NW, B-1
Conference Level, 6:40-8:30 p.m. Admission: $7 members; $10 nonmembers. More
info from 202.833.ASIA http://www.asiasociety.org/events/calendar.pl?event=13912
*May 15, New York City, NY, USA: THE NEXT WAVE OF GLOBALIZATION: THE WORLD OF OUTSOURCING, a
talk by Cognizant Chairman and CEO Kumar Mahadeva, at 6:30-8:00
p.m., at
Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue. Admission: $15 members/collaborating orgs.; $25
nonmembers. More info from 212.327.9276 http://www.asiasociety.org/events/calendar.pl?event=13895
*June 30, Seattle,
WA, USA: CONVERSATIONS WITH TRADITIONS: NILIMA
SHEIKH/SHAHZIA SIKANDER. In connection with this exhibition that opens at Seattle Art Museum on June 12, Dr. Vishakha Desai, its curator
and Senior Vice President and Director of Museum &
Cultural Programs of the Asia Society, will give a provocative and dynamic talk
about the connections and ruptures between Asian art of the past and the
present. The presentation will be
followed by lunch and roundtable facilitated discussions. Tickets at $25. More
info and tickets from 206.389.7263 or novelettc@seattlechamber.com
*The Journal of Peace and
Democracy in South Asia (JPDSA) http://www.jpdsa.org
JPDSA
is an independent international multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal of
peace and democracy in the region comprised by Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Articles across the range of scholarly
disciplines and from different intellectual perspectives are invited for
publication consideration. Peace and democracy are regarded as interdependent
and mutually reinforcing processes with domestic, regional and international
implications.
*The Second Assassination of Gandhi, By Ram
Puniyani, Media House (375-A Pocket 2, Mayur Vihar Phase I, Delhi 91, India,
Phone: 011 2275 0667, Email: mediabooks@hotmail.com),
127 Pp, Rs. 125
Gandhiji, a devout Hindu regarded religion as a private matter of the
individual and for this belief of his, he was murdered by an ideologue of
Hindutva, an intolerant sectarian politics based on Brahminical Hinduism. Today
this ideology of Hindutva, which remained aloof from freedom struggle and
National movement, is claiming to be the sole custodian of patriotism. It is
asserting intolerant version of Hinduism totally against the Bhakti and Sant
traditions of Hinduism, which Gandhiji followed.
*Gender Equity and Peace
Building: From Rhetoric to Reality, The International Center
for Research on Women (ICRW), 1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 302,
Washington, DC 20036, USA, T: 1-202-797 0007, F: 1-202-797 0020, Website: www.icrw.org/docs/gender_peace_report_0303.pdf
Email: info@icrw.org
This
paper is the product of a review of recent literature on issues of gender in
the context of conflict and post-conflict reconstruction. It was prepared as
background material for an international workshop on gender equity and peacebuilding
jointly convened by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and
the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Key findings and research
questions are presented in relation to the effective integration of gender
concerns into policies and programs that shape post-conflict societies. (Via www.coexistence.net)
*The
Evaluation of Conflict Resolution Interventions, Part II: Emerging Practice and
Theory, International Conflict Research (INCORE), www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/home/publication/research/index.html
To follow up on INCORE’s previous
work on the evaluation of conflict resolution and peacebuilding projects, an
international meeting was held in Northern Ireland in July 2002. Practitioners,
funders, and evaluators who have been actively engaged in this work raised a
number of practical and theoretical challenges based on their own experiences.
This report explores not only the challenges that have been encountered by
those undertaking conflict resolution evaluation (CRE), but also some emerging
considerations for improving our practice and our theoretical approaches. (Via www.coexistence.net)
*Peace
Education, Ian M. Harris & Mary Lee Morrison (Eds.)
(Second Edition), McFarland & Company (Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640, USA,
Phone 336-246-4460 - FAX 336-246-5018, Orders 800-253-2187 -
www.mcfarlandpub.com) $39-95
Written for a broad audience that includes
school personnel, university professors, scholars, church leaders, and peace
movement activists, this book introduces a relatively new area of educational
reform, where educators use their skills to address problems of violence. It
explains how educational strategies reduce levels of violence in this
postmodern world.
*Kids Working It Out: Stories and Strategies
for Making Peace in Our Schools, Jossey-Bass Publishers www.josseybass.com
This book is said to have “the best, most up-to-date
information” on conflict resolution programs and practices, and talks
about how to make peace practical in the classroom.
*Shifting Sands: Instability in Undefined Asia, International Centre for Peace Initiatives, Mumbai,
India www.strategicforesight.com
A report brought out by Strategic Foresight Group, a
Mumbai based think-tank, looks at the future of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran,
Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the US role in the region, following the recent US
military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
*Monitoring International
Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Iraq, The Harvard Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research
(HPCR), 1033 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA, T: 1-617-384 5904,
F: 1-617-384 5908, Email: nmodirza@hsph.harvard.edu
Website: http://www.ihlresearch.org/portal/ihli/10.pdf
Monitoring IHL in Iraq has been developed by the Program on Humanitarian Policy
and Conflict Research at Harvard University, in cooperation with the
Geneva-based Integrated Research and Information System project. This site
provides timely information and analysis for policy makers, practitioners,
journalists, and researchers on current challenges in the application of IHL in
Iraq. It tracks IHL-related news and provides explanations of the legal
principles applicable to the latest developments, as well as access to key
texts and summaries of essential resources. Portal users are also able to
submit requests for specific research and documentation. This featured analysis
is the first in a series dedicated to the laws of occupation in Iraq. It
focuses on the conditions for the application of the rules of IHL pertaining to
occupation and the basic responsibilities for the maintenance of law and order.
Forthcoming features will address other aspects of military occupation, such as
humanitarian relief, the role and responsibilities of humanitarian
organizations, and the administration of justice and other essential services. (Via www.coexistence.net)
*The
Kashmir Telegraph http://www.kashmirtelegraph.com
The Kashmir Telegraph is
published by a Mumbai (India)-based, not-for-profit, think-tank, Kashmir Bachao
Andolan. It was launched with the objective of providing news, views and
opinions on Kashmir in particular and Indian sub-continent in general,
according its publisher.
*The Heart of Kashmir, Gabriele Torsello, Phone/Fax: 020 7924 9462,
http://www.kashgt.co.uk/, mail@kashgt.co.uk
With 111 excellent black and white photographs,
interspersed with explanatory text, Italian photographer Gabriele Torsello
illustrates daily life in the divided country of Jammu and Kashmir. Full review
at
http://www.una-uk.org/NewWorld/nwconts.html
*Honor Lost, Norma Khouri, Simon &
Schuster, $24, 2003.
The author tells the story of “honor killing” in
Jordan of her friend, Dalia, a Muslim woman, age 26, by Dalia’s father, for
slipping his surveillance to meet a man on her own.
TRAINING
*July 28 - August 1: CONFLICT RESOLUTION WORKSHOP with two
components “Teaching Students To Be Peacemakers” & “Academic Controversy
Intellectual Conflict in the Classroom” will be offered by the Cooperative
Learning Center at the University of Minnesota. In the first component,
participants will learn how to establish a peer mediation program in which
students are taught how to engage in integrative (problem solving) negotiations
and how to mediate schoolmates' conflicts. In the second, participants
will learn the procedures for using academic controversies to increase academic
learning. More info from Linda Johnson, Interaction Book Company, 7208
Cornelia Drive, Edina, MN 55435, T: 952.831.9500, F: 952.831.9332, email johns010@umn.edu Website: www.co-operation.org
www.pbs.org/avoidingarmageddon
provides information about
Weapons of Mass Destruction, and personal stories of some individuals on this
website. The website was created in connection with “Avoiding Armageddon” a timely series from Ted Turner
Documentaries, aired recently in USA, on PBS.
www.albaghdadiyatours.com/iraqi_museum.htm
is the website of Al-Bhagdadia Travel
& Tours and offers general description of exhibits on display in the
various sections of the National Iraq Museum, before it was looted during the
recent US invasion of Iraq. Pictures of some of the exhibits are also
presented. This museum is reputed to be one of the important museums in the world,
which had the most important historical treasures not only for Iraqis but also
for all the humanity.
(Readers are invited to submit similar
information from other areas of South
Asia to help us broaden of our coverage. Please send the info to pritamr@open.org
, a week before the date of publication of the next issue of ACHA Peace
Bulletin)
Legislating
for change: Articulating women's rights in India
Various legislations pertaining to women's rights
are hanging fire, including the one on sexual harassment at the workplace.
Others such as the Protection from Domestic Violence Bill 2002 are glaring
examples of the co-option and dilution of serious issues http://www.infochangeindia.org/features88.jsp
UN Report on impact of Violent Conflict on Women and
Girls
Rreleasing 21 October, a report to the UN Council,
the Secretary-General Kofi Annan pointed out the exacerbation by the war of
existing inequalities, sending women and children fleeing across borders, and
subjecting them to sexual violence and torture. He urged the Council to call on
all parties involved in conflict to adhere to their obligations under
applicable principles of international humanitarian law, human rights law and
refugee law as they pertain to women and girls. Also he advised that the extent of human rights violations
against women and girls must be factored into peace support operations. He
recommended that contacts be set up with women's networks in order to gain more
information on the issue. Efforts should be made to ensure that amnesty
provisions included in conflict settlement agreements exclude impunity from all
serious war crimes, including gender-based crimes.
Since women play an active role in informal peace processes, serving as peace
activists, including by organizing and lobbying for disarmament and striving to
bring about reconciliation and security before, during and after conflicts, Mr.
Annan recommended that women should also be fully involved in peace
negotiations. (Via FACE Foundation for the Advancement of Community Educationfacepk@hotmail.com Issue No.28, April 13,
03)
Women MPAs to support bill on Karo Kari
in Pakistan
Dr Saeeda Malik, the Provincial Minsiter
for Population and Women Development, said in Karachi, that all the women MPAs
in the Sindh Assembly will provide their absolute support to any bill on Karo
Kari, which is expected to be presented soon in the Sindh Cabinet. She said,
"According to Vienna Declaration, the women's rights are human rights, so
there is lot to be done for the women of Pakistan in general, and Sindh in
particular. There are many areas which need urgent attention of the government."
(Via FACE
Foundation for the Advancement of Community Educationfacepk@hotmail.com Issue No.29, April 20, 2003)