ACHA PEACE BULLETIN http://www

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.

Subscription is free.

To SUBSCRIBE, email a request to ACHAPeaceBulletin-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE, email the request to ACHAPeaceBulletin-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACHA PEACE BULLETIN-Volume V, No. 7, July 2, 2003, (Next issue, August 6, 2003)

Editorial

India-Pakistan-Kashmir: A Civic Dialog

Peace & Harmony News From & About South Asia

Peace & Harmony Organizations

Society For The Promotion Of Rational Thinking (SPRAT)

People's Popular Theater (PPT)

Feature

Indo-Pak Ties: A Thaw Or A Passing Breeze? Editorial, Qalandar, May 2003

Peace Prospects, Masood Hasan, The News International, June 15, 2003

Announcements

A Conversation About Conflict

Arts & Entertainment

Books, Reports, Manuals & Databases

Pluralism In The World Religions, Harold Coward

The Islamic World And The West, Kai Hafez

The Gujarat Carnage, Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer

Understanding Human Rights, Wolfgang Benedek And Minna Nikolova

Child Soldier: Fighting For My Life, China Keitetsi

Call For Papers

March 21-24, 2004, Gaborone, Botswana: Acting Together For A Just World Children

Conferences & Symposia

July 27 - August 2, Chiang Mai, Thailand: Conference On Religion And Globalization

August 4-10, Seoul, South Korea: Educating For Peace In Divided Societies

August 16 - 28, Casablanca, Morocco: The Youth-Led Action For Sustainable Development

September 19-21, Oxford, Uk: Critical Issues In Pluralism

September 24-26, Bangalore, Karnataka, India: National Convention of Voluntary Action Network (Vani)

December 8 – 10, Ankara, Turkey: Faces Of War/Phases Of Reconciliation: Histories, Discourses, Politics

December 10 - 13, New Delhi, India: Women And Migration In Asia

January 5-7, 2004, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India: Peace Education For Contemporary Concerns

Courses & Training Programs

July 21-August 13, Eugene, Or: Religions Of India

September 29 – December 5, San Diego, Ca: Women Peacemakers

September – November: 15 Online Courses

January 3 - 10, 2004, Bangor, Pa, Usa: National Basic Training

Environment

Training

July 28 - August 1: Conflict Resolution Workshop

Vacancies

Secretary General, International Alert, U.K.

Child Protection And Reintegration Advisor, The International Rescue Committee, Kigali, Rwanda

Websites

Www.Coalitionofwomen4peace.Org

Www.Peacevox.Com/About.Htm

REPORTS & ANALYSES

(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)

Bangladesh

A Very Dirty PLOT, Alex Perry, Time Asia, June 16, 2003

How do we TREAT our minorities? Tariq Ali, Daily Star, June 12, 2003

Minorities came under alliance attack after POLLS, Staff Correspondent, Daily Star June 9, 2003

Environment

A FOREIGN Vocabulary, Sunita Narain, Down To Earth, June 26, 2003

India

DISTRUST And Resolve (A Survey of Indian Muslims on Ayodhya), Outlook India, June 30

Muslims LOOK to end misery of separation, By S Majumder & A Jolly, BBC, June 6, 2003

Hindutva and LEGEND of Shivaji, Ram Puniyani, Milligazette (India), June 16-31

Between democracy and GROWTH, Rediff.com, July 01, 2003

India-NE

ULFA: Decapitation Failure, B. Prasad Routray, South Asia Intelligence Review June 23, 2003

India & Burma

Why BURMA matters, Mohan Guruswamy, Rediff.com June 26, 2003

India & China

The Great India-China GAME, Mohan Guruswamy, Rediff.com, June 23, 2003

Battle for the BORDER, Mohan Guruswamy, Rediff.com, June 23, 2003

Peace with CHINA, Mohan Guruswamy, Rediff.com, June 23, 2003

India & Pakistan

Who WANTS peace in South Asia? Ishtiaq Ahmed, Daily Times, 15 June, 2003

Analysing 1947 FROM a peace perspective, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Daily Times, 8 June 2003

Return to LAHORE, but carefully, Pran Chopra, The Hindu, 09/06/2003

Seamstress in Punjab PINS her future on peace talks, Phil Reeves, The Independent, 21 June 2003

Kashmir

A GUIDE to Kashmir peace plans , Muzamil Jaleel, The Guardian (U.K.) January 22, 2002

Additional guide to Kashmir peace PLANS, Dr. Satinath Choudhary 20 Jun 2003

Kashmiri separatist leader begins signature campaign to SEEK public opinion, M A Ahmad, Associated Press, June 11, 2003

The other FACE of freedom, Hassan Zainagairee, Greater Kashmir June 19, 2003

Internal differences have forced Hurriyat to keep a LOW profile, Mukhtar Ahmad, 21 Jun 2003

JKLF: From GUNS to signature campaign, Kashmir Times News Service, 22 Jun 2003

Pakistan

Second opinion: Hameed Gul’s HABIT of prophecy, Khaled Ahmed’s Daily Times, 20 June, 2003

We, the PUNJABIS, Shafqat Mahmood, The International News, 20 June, 2003

No compromise with Musharraf, says NAWAZ Sharif, Khalid Hasan Daily Times, 25 June, 2003

RADICAL Muslims killing Muslims, Zahir Janmohamad, Washington Post, June 25, 2003

Was the US VISIT a success? Shafqat Mahmood

The DRAGON harvest , Khalid Hasan, June 27 - July 3, 2003

BONFIRE of the vanities, Abdul Basit Haqqani, Daily Times, 23 June,

The State as Suicide BOMBER, Ajai Sahni, South Asia Intelligence Review, June 23, 2003

Blasphemy LAW: open to abuse, Saad Anis, Daily Times, Tuesday, 24 June, 2003

South Asia

A Shared VISION of South Asia, Syed Atiq ul Hassan, Tribune International

The necessary manufacture of South ASIA, CK Lal, Himal, January 2003

On the question of national IDENTITY, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Daily Times, Sunday, 22 June, 2003

Sri Lanka

The Post-Tokyo AGENDA, Jehan Perera, South Asia Intelligence Review, June 16, 2003

Taming the Tamil TIGERS, B Raman, Rediff.com, June 12, 2003

Women

Women's domination under THREAT, Subir Bhaumik, BBC NEWS, 2003/06/24

DOWRY bazaar: IAS grooms for a price, Swati Maheshwari, June 26, 2003

GENDER justice, Ram Puniyani, The Hindu, June 11,2003

_______________________________________________________________________________

EDITORIAL

India-Pakistan-Kashmir: A Civic Dialog

In appreciation of the recent initiatives of the governments of India and Pakistan, the Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA) www.asiapeace.org encourages all individuals and organization who desire peace in South Asia and harmony among its people, to engage in constructive activities which will support this process.

In this regard, ACHA has decided to organize a Civic Dialog on India-Pakistan-Kashmir on Thursday, November 6, 2003, at Portland State University (PSU), Portland, OR PSU Institute for Asian Studies and Middle East Studies program have agreed to It will be cosponsored it.

We want to do a better job than last year. Therefore, we REQUIRE that all participants attend a pre-dialog session 5:30-7:30 p.m., on Thursday, October 30, 2003, to help us make rules and set procedures for this dialog.

We HOPE that most, if not all of the participants would like to continue the dialog, even after November 6.

The objective of the dialog is not to arrive at a consensus, or seek "The Solution." Rather, the purpose is to engage local Indian-, Pakistani- and Kashmiri-Americans in a meaningful dialog on all issue, in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

We are now seeking Indian, Pakistani and Kashmiri volunteer-participants from Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA metropolitan area. Please contact me at Salem, OR at 503.393.8305 or pritamr@open.org if you are interested in participating, need more information, or have a suggestion.

We hope that similar dialogs between Indians, Pakistanis, and Kashmiris will be organized in many other communities around the world, including India and Pakistan. ACHA Peace Bulletin will be happy to publish announcements and reports of any such activity.

PEACE & HARMONY NEWS FROM & ABOUT 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

President prays for peace at Hazratbal

'Islam is a religion of peace -- Prophet Mohammed also preached peace in the world. Let the peace come to all of us,' Kalam said. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/28kalam.htm

Jamaat-e-Islami to play active role in 2004 election

The biggest Muslim religious organisation in India, has decided to campaign for political parties committed to safeguard secular and democratic character of the country in the upcoming general elections in 2004.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/14ap.htm

*India-Kashmir

Ex-spikers turn to signature campaign, claim success

Husanpora/ Bijbehera, June 18: Eight years ago, they used to engage the security forces in tough gunfights on the streets, drop grenades and suddenly disappear into the city’s labyrinthine alleyways. Today, however, the 15 ex-spikers, have turned into serious politicians and armed with the armour of peace are engaging the state’s public, boosting their non-violent means and democratic approach to resolve the Kashmir issue. Mufti Islah, Indian Express 20 Jun 2003



*India & Pakistan

Hizb to support peace moves at 'right time' http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/01kash.htm

Pak envoy arrives in India http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/30pak3.htm

Pakistan business delegation to visit Delhi in July http://www.rediff.com/money/2003/jun/27indopak.htm

India for early talks with Pakistan on aviation links

The Ministry of External Affairs made this announcement following appointment of high commissioners and talks on resumption of the Delhi-Lahore bus service.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/24indpak.htm

Pakistanis want peace: Indian MPs http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/24pak.htm

India, Pakistan settle Lahore bus dues http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/20pak2.htm

The Indo-Pak trade equation

'Money can buy us love,' says one trade expert. 'Let the economy drive politics this time, it has the best chance to succeed.' http://www.rediff.com/money/2003/jun/19spec2.htm

If India takes one step, Pak will take two: Musharraf http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/18pak2.htm

MPs' delegation starts Pak visit Tuesday

The delegation of Indian lawmakers, comprising members from both Houses of Parliament, will be in Pakistan till June 25, its leader and Rajya Sabha member Kuldip Nayyar said.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/16pak1.htm

Retired Indian, Pakistani envoys get talking

The meet will debate a range of topics from the military dimension of the recent Indo-Pak stand-off, politics and diplomacy to repercussions on South Asia of US-led war in Afghanistan.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/13pak1.htm

Kuldip Nayyar to lead delegation to Pak

It will comprise 12-14 members and would include parliamentarians, writers and journalists.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/12pak.htm

Pak team to discuss Delhi-Lahore bus service

India has indicated that it is ready to resume the service from July 1.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/05pak.htm

*Pakistan

Accounts of 15 terrorist groups and individuals frozen

The Federal Government has reportedly frozen Rupees 621.41 million of 15 terrorist groups - including that of Osama Bin Laden, Al-Rashid Trust (ART), Rabita Trust (RT), Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) - and individuals in nine banks and has refused Income Tax exemptions to 10 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Jang, June 21, 2003.

Pakistan cracking down on militants: Musharraf  http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/18pak.htm

*Sri Lanka

Premier offers LTTE more authority in rebuilding and administering North East

While speaking at the donors conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka in Tokyo on June 9, 2003, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe reportedly offered to meet the key demand of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for an interim administration in the North-East Province. He also said that his Government would consider calling a referendum to endorse changes to the country's Constitution that could be part of a final solution of the conflict. Daily News, June 10, 2003.

PEACE & HARMONY ORGANIZATIONS

*Society for the Promotion of Rational Thinking (SPRAT), SF-8, Rajnagar Complex, Narayan Nagar Road, Paldi, Ahmedabad 380 007, India, Telephones +79-663 46 55 /66 /77, & +79-661 40 95 / 20 45, Fax +79-661 20 49 Web: www.mysprat.org e-mail: info@mysprat.org Contact Person: Sameer Pradhan
Asst Vice President

In the wake of the retaliatory communal violence in Gujarat innocent victims have suffered grievous losses to their persons and properties. However, the indirect loss of livelihood is simply beyond reckoning and is bleeding a large number of families. The victims include both Hindus and Muslims.

SPRAT works to promote rationality, inter-faith understanding and empowerment of the impoverished, specially educational and economic. Its CARAVAN division - a network of empowerment centres connected with SPRAT's own intranet: the CaravaNet - offers supplementary coaching for SSC/HSC, runs vocational library and counseling, helps promote micro-economic enterprises, shows inspirational and educational video films, promotes thrift and micro credit and encourages inter-faith cultural exchanges. In short, providing dignity to human life, and possibly a smile on the parched lips.

One CARAVAN centre is partly funded by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Two others are privately supported. Several more are coming up in various parts of Gujarat. For these centres we need computers, furniture, cupboards, books, fittings, data projectors / 29" TVs, water-cooler / filters, fans / air-coolers etc. besides working funds. Obviously CARAVAN are not profit centres and even with professional management require four years to become self-sustainable.

*People's Popular Theater (PPT), Kola Dept. of Literature, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya, T: 254-2-245 311, Email: kimingichi@yahoo.co.uk, pptheatre@yahoo.co.uk Contact person: Kimingichi Wabende

PPT is a community-based group that uses theater to raise awareness about discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, or disability. PPT conducts research on traditional cultural art forms and practices, exploring how they affect gender relations and then works to correct gender imbalances in society through performance art. In addressing these issues, PPT uses African artistic modes to strengthen cultural identity. PPT focuses most of its activities in Kenya. Sociologists, political scientists, gender analysts, anthropologists, theatre educators, community social workers, and economists are all members of the group. One recent performance involved deconstructing myths that have a negative bearing on women. PPT also organizes cultural events and promotes the use of popular theatre as a teaching and awareness tool. Via www.coexistence.net

FEATURE

*Peace prospects, Masood Hasan masood_news@hotmail.co, The News International www.jang-group.com, June 15, 2003

The writer is a Lahore-based columnist and a well known journalist

We walk a very thin line, we the ordinary people of India and Pakistan, when it comes to the idea of peaceful coexistence. And yet more and more people are agreeing that only the ordinary people can make that thin line into a wide and sweeping boulevard where both Indians and Pakistanis can live their lives without wanting to slit throats, shout insults and exchange death. Fifty years and more of distrust, fifty years of stoking fires that refuse to die leaves both countries precariously poised as the rest of the world vaults ahead. And here too, opinions vary. Some agree that while the two neighbours are more or less equally affected, many others are certain that India has left us far behind in many fields.

The recent visit of our MPs who had a wonderful stay in India have come back fully charged, fired by the passion and the will to forge ties of peace, brotherhood and a common goal of prosperity and progress. Mr Bhandara in an incisive article is struck dumb by the transformation that New Delhi has undergone in just a few years. A capital that had more smog and smoke than flies has miraculously cleared up with a visionary legislation applied right across the board. Transport plying the capital cannot use anything but CNG and the results are spectacular. The grey skies are gone and so must have half a million varieties of infections that afflict Indians (and Pakistanis) alike. Mr Bhandara crosses the border and arrives in Amritsar where women ride mopeds, scooters and bicycles without a care in the world and fifty miles away they are vandalising faces of beautiful Pakistani women with black and red paints of shame. Half the population of this country cannot move half a yard without depending on someone else to ferry them. A few thousands in a population of millions can drive but that is a pretty small lot. The question of a lady on a moped can bring President Musharraf's government down, so deeply have we regressed with our notions of piety and propriety. There is absolutely no doubt that both countries, women on mopeds or not, face huge and daunting problems and they are not going to vaporise into thin air. We have to find the common threads of music, culture, language and a shared heritage that goes back much further than 1947. The healing lies here.

While the two governments are beginning to take the first tentative steps towards the very long and lonely road that stretches ahead, it is heartening that people on both sides are taking initiatives to bridge the divide -- it cannot ever be bridged completely because many things run too deep, but that cannot mean no bridges are possible. Two people on either side of the line have started one such effort. One, a Pakistani and another, an Indian. An unlikely partnership? Of course, but then unlikely things often transform the impossible into the possible. Some of the aims are idealistic but if all aims were rooted in reality there would be no body left to dream of unattainable things. The petition, drawn up by Nasim Beg in Pakistan and Dr Vasant K Bawa in India, intends "to seek the civil society's support in encouraging the governments of India and Pakistan towards finding a permanent peace. Both governments have taken some steps in the right direction; with support from the civil society, they will find it easier to move forward by shedding the baggage of the past and bringing peace and prosperity to over 1.3 billion citizens of the subcontinent."

About a year ago when India and Pakistan were within a button push of a nuclear holocaust, thousands of ordinary people of the world endorsed a petition demanding that the governments of India and Pakistan find a peaceful solution. The bulk of the signatories were Indians and Pakistanis. The petition was put up on the Internet on May 27, 2002. As a follow up of the sentiments expressed by the thousands of persons signing the earlier petition, the new petition is addressed to the civil society and urges ordinary citizens to endorse a "Friendship Treaty" between India and Pakistan, which proposes a road map for peaceful co-existence.

The Declaration asks for many things. To live in peaceful co-existence, respecting each other's sovereignty, with the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs and work towards economic cooperation gradually removing trade barriers and ultimately creating a common market under the auspices of Saarc. Both countries recognise that it is imperative to allocate the maximum resources towards human and economic development and that this can only be achieved through curtailment of military expenditure. This of course we all know from bitter experience is easier said than done and obviously affects vested groups on either side; perhaps more this side than theirs.

The Declaration asks for arms reduction and nuclear disarmament. This is a very tall order and again so many vested interests, obvious and hidden are at work. We all know that the business of arms trading is one of the most lucrative businesses there is -- fortunes have been made and securely invested in real estate, hotels, businesses, stocks etc both here and abroad and entire clans can live for the rest of their lives in luxury without so much as having to lift a little finger to do any work. So while there is no sadder sight than the great ICBMs and Russian nuclear warheads being scrapped while both sides look on benignly, we all know too well that personal greed is a strong factor that casts aside such trivial ideals as integrity and honesty. The bigger the bucks, the faster the capitulation. There are enough known figures on either side to understand that while arms proliferation has steadily taken us away from peace, it has also amassed fortunes for some in the guise of well-intentioned nationalism. However right-minded people on both sides must constantly educate the people on the horrors of nuclear war. If people are educated about the fallout, there is a chance that arms can actually be curtailed--but it's a long shot.

An enhanced role for SAARC, development of an ultimate common market in the SAARC region, which will protect, complement and enhance the existing economic activity in the respective member countries; a move towards an open-borders policy facilitating travel and human contact and interaction within the region; a supervisory role for developing and implementing an environment protection policy for the region; and a role in developing minimum standards for human rights within the region. All perfectly viable in a rational world.

Then there is Kashmir. How in the world will we ever solve this well nigh impossible problem? Most of us have no idea except that more than most of us want an end to the killing and 50 years and more of tragedy. Whatever positions and rationale the two countries can prop up, there is no doubt that the Kashmiris have been the victims. De-militarisation, de-weaponisation, joint policing of the LoC are some of the eight recommendations on Kashmir but can we all start thinking of a time when there can be freedom of travel between the two Kashmirs and a free exchange of culture, tourism, arts and crafts? It sounds like an impossible scenario but why give in to cynicism, doubt and pessimism? Why not start thinking differently? People make rules and people unmake the same rules, so there could be a time when what sounds far fetched may not be that far fetched years later.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

*A Conversation About Conflict is intended to create a new awareness of conflicts in our lives; how we currently respond to them, what they cost us, and alternative approaches which can be used. This new awareness is achieved by: giving participants an opportunity to reflect on conflicts in their own life, their current practices at home, at work and other settings; discussing the cost of avoided and badly managed conflicts for us personally and as a society; exploring various effective approaches participants have used or experienced when dealing with different conflicts; and motivating people to take action, from changing their behaviors and sharing their insights with others to receiving training or initiating conflict resolution programs in their workplace or community. The format is a one and a half to two hours, facilitated discussion. The size and nature of the group can vary greatly. A Conversation About Conflict can be hosted in schools, campuses, workplace brown bags, civic and other associations. A Conversation is not a training course, nor a workshop. It is simply a conversation. The facilitator engages the audience with a set of challenging questions and a few propositions. The resulting dialogue is shaped by the insights and experiences of the participants. More info from Common Ground Partnership, Search for Common Ground (1601 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009, USA, T: 1-202-572 6289, F: 1-202-232 6718, Email: info@cgpartnership.org, Website: www.cgpartnership.org, www.sfcg.org) Via www.coexistence.net

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

*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

*Till August 8, Seattle, WA: INDIA: CONFLUENCE OF CULTURES an exhibit, (co-sponsored by UW Department of Asian Languages and Literature, UW Department of South Asian Studies, UW Department of Ethnomusicology, Ragamala and the university's Indian Graduate Students Association) featuring images of India by four local photographers, Niranjan Benegal, David Capers, Suvro Datta and Mahesh Massand; displays of costumes and jewelry, textiles, and food; and exhibits featuring the art, architecture, language and popular culture of India, at Odegaard Library, UW Campus. As a part of this exhibit lectures as well as musical and dance performances by local and visiting artists will be held. More info from 206 685-3752 or http://www.lib.washington.edu/ougl/@odegaard.html,

*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 5^th and the 19^th centuries, from Nepal, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Tibet and Bhutan, more than one-half of which have never been publicly exhibited, in Regenstein Hall, in Ada L. Rice Building at the Art Institute of Chicago, located in Grant Park. More info from www.art-ice.edu

*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 Fridays. More info from The World of Buddhism

*July 11, Newark, CA: YAAD-E-GHALIB, a presentation of Bazm-e-Arbab-e-Sukhan www.bazm-e-arbab-e-sukhan.org (or) www.urdubazm.org featuring Ghazal Singer Sudhir Narain from Agra, India, at 8:00 p.m. at Mehran Restaurant, 5774 Mowry School Road (Tel: 510-668-1111). Admission (including dinner 8 to 9 p.m. only) $20. More Info from Annie Akhter 650-697-4445 annieakhter@urdubazm.org, Nagesh Avadhany 408-946-2946 nageshavadhany@urdubazm.org, Mohammad Kalam 707-217-0957 mohammadkalam@urdubazm.org, Syed Mohsin Zaidi 650-747-9266 mohsinzaidi@urdubazm.org

*July 12, Norwalk, CA: YAAD-E-GHALIB, a presentation of Bazm-e-Arbab-e-Sukhan www.bazm-e-arbab-e-sukhan.org (or) www.urdubazm.org featuring Ghazal Singer Sudhir Narain from Agra, India, at 8:00 p.m. at Taj Mahal Restaurant, 11600 Rosecrans Ave (562- 462-9099). Admission (including dinner 8 to 9 p.m. only) $20. More Info from Syed Asif (714) 531-7267 syedasif@urdubazm.org, Kamran Lateef (714) 720-9002 klateef@urdubazm.org, Annie Akhter 650-697-4445 annieakhter@urdubazm.org Mohammad Kalam 707-217-0957 mohammadkalam@urdubazm.org

BOOKS, REPORTS, MANUALS & DATABASES

*Pluralism in the World Religions, Harold Coward , Oxford: Oneworld, 184 Pages, 9.99 Pounds Sterling
ISBN: 1-85168-243-0 (via Qalandar May 2003)

This book is a passionately argued case for developing theologies of inter-faith dialogue from within each of the major religious traditions of the world. Examining traditional theologies, Coward argues that socially engaged religious scholars of different persuasions are increasingly expressing the need for a radical revision of received ways of looking at the vexed question of religious pluralism, offering answers that they seek to root in their own respective traditions. In some religious communities this search for more relevant and meaningful responses to the pluralist predicament has gone further than others, but in all, Coward tells us, there still remains a deep strain of conservatism and obscurantism that refuses to accept the challenges that modernity has forced us to confront.

Coward divides the religions he discusses into two broad groups: the monotheistic or Semitic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Bahaism), and the Indic (Hinduism and Buddhism). As opposed to the latter, the former are based on explicitly stated doctrines and standard religious texts, which make clear distinctions between ‘true believers’ and others. Because of this, it has often been difficult for theologians of these faiths to develop a genuine regard and respect for the followers of other religions.

*The Islamic World and the West, Kai Hafez (Ed), [Translated from the German by Mary Ann Kenny]
Brill, Leiden, 2000, 246 Pages, ISBN: 90-04-11651-6 (Via Qalandar, May 2003)

Talk of a clash of civilizations, between ‘Islam’ and the ‘West’, threatens today to turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy, promising to exact an ever-increasing toll of innocent human lives. Much has been written, both in defence of and in opposition to, the discredited, although dangerous, thesis of civilisational confrontation of Harvard professor Samuel Huntington. This book puts together a number of essays by mostly German orientalists, each seeking to challenge the Huntingtonian nightmare in on his or her own way.

This book provides a useful counter to much writing on Islam which sees Islam as fundamentally at odds with the modern world. In this sense, it is a welcome contribution. However, those looking for new material on Islamic movements or on the debate on the relationship between ‘Islam’ and the ‘West’ that has not already been incorporated in the already available, more detailed and specialized studies on the subject are apt to be disappointed.

*The Gujarat Carnage, Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer (Ed), Orient Longman Private Limited (1/24 Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110 020 olledit@nda.vsnl.net.in & editor@pol.net.in ) 467 Pages, Rs. 425.

On 27 February 2002, a coach of the Sabarmati Express was torched near Godhra railway station. Fifty-eight passengers, mainly Hindu pilgrims returning from a visit to Ayodhya in support of the temple movement, were burnt to death. Within 24 hours, a conflagration of the most cruel and systematic violence against Muslims erupted and spread in a large number of cities, towns and villages in Gujarat.

This book is a compilation of articles, editorials, investigative reports, surveys, memoranda and other significant material on the carnage. The final report of the National Human Rights Commission is included in it. Useful material and information will be found in it by future researches, academics and lay readers.

Asghar Ali Engineer (b.1949) occupies a unique position among scholars of Islam and of Muslims in India, and among teachers and activists working for the cause of communal harmony in the nation. A civil engineer by qualification, he has trained in Islamic theology, Tafsir, Islamic Jurisprudence and the Hadith. He has more than 40 published books to his credit on Islam, the problems of Muslims, the rights of Muslim women, and on communal and ethical problems in India and South Asia. A large number of articles by him have appeared in leading Indian newspapers and journals, and he is the editor of the quarterly Indian Journal of Secularism. He has held office in key academic, Islamic and civil rights institutions and associations, and won a number of national awards for efforts in communal harmony.

*Understanding Human Rights, Wolfgang Benedek and Minna Nikolova (Eds), European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC), Schubertstrasse 29, 8010 Graz, Austria.
T: 43-316-322 8881, F: 43-316-322 8884, Email: office@etc-graz.at). Available free online at www.etc-graz.at (Via www.coexistence.net)

With contributions from experts from Argentina, Austria, Canada, Greece, India, The Netherlands, Mali, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States this manual is designed to be used in different cultural settings, by human rights educators and learners, looking for a basic understanding of human rights. The manual has been recognized as an innovative study material that can be used during human rights trainings, introductory courses on international human rights order, and thematic introductory reviews on a variety of human rights topics. The manual is an open-ended work on which human rights educators and learners can base their efforts to further develop it and adapt it by introducing additional elements relevant to their own social environment and needs.

*Child Soldier: Fighting for My Life, China Keitetsi, Africa Book Centre Ltd. (38 King Street, London WC2E 8JT, UK, T: 44-20-7240 6649, F: 44-20-7497 0309, Email: orders@africabookcentre.com, Website: www.africabookcentre.com), Cost: GB £12.99, ISBN: 1-919931-19-8 (Via www.coexistence.net)

This is the autobiography of one child's terrifying journey out of her family home and into the world of warfare. China Keitetsi has spoken at the United Nations on the rights of the child and has made it her life's work to fight for the respect that all children are due.



CALL FOR PAPERS

*March 21-24, 2004, Gaborone, Botswana: ACTING TOGETHER FOR A JUST WORLD, is the theme of
the CIVICUS World Assembly, which invites by September 30, 2003, interested civil society organizations and CIVICUS member organizations to submit proposals for workshops and presentations at the World Assembly. There are four sub-themes: The first, Fuelling Civic Energy, explores the many factors that influence the growth and impact of civic energy, of people exercising and defending their rights to associate and organize. This sub-theme also provides an opportunity to explore and share experiences of civil society in action. The second theme, Livelihood Insecurity: Innovative solutions seeking to open doors, is concerned with highlighting innovative livelihood security solutions that take into account the circumstances of the least privileged in our societies, especially poor women and their children. The third theme, Democratizing Power: Civic engagement in decision making processes, aims to promote an international debate on the norms or desired standards of practice of civic engagement with power holders and to synthesize the lessons learned from promoting inclusive decision-making processes. Finally, the fourth sub-theme, Keeping the Peace or Fanning the Flames, seeks to highlight the positive actions of civil society in conflict prevention, resolution, and reconciliation by providing a platform for sharing key local, national and international experiences in a critical and comparative vein. Other crosscutting themes will include HIV/AIDS, Gender Equality, Youth, and Socially Marginalized Groups. More info from David Kalete, CIVICUS House, 24 Pim Corner, Quinn Street, Newtown, Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa,
T: 27-11-833 5959, F: 27-11-833 7997, Email: worldassembly@civicus.org, Website: www.civicus.org (Via www.coexistence.net

CHILDREN

Forced underground: Child labour in India's carpet belt

Media attention worldwide has only forced the practice of child labour in the carpet weaving industry of UP, Jharkhand and Bihar underground. In several towns and villages that this reporter travelled to across three North Indian states, children continue to work the looms, but behind closed and guarded doors. Child labour is a fact of life say both factory-owners and parents of the children working here. If they do not work, how will they eat? http://wwwinfochangeindia.org/features105.jsp

Number of child workers in Pakistan rises: Latest survey report

Karachi: Despite assurances by successive governments regarding elimination of, or reduction in, child labour, and pledges of provision of both formal and non-formal education to these children, earning livelihood for their families, the number of children engaged in various forms of labour is touching 3.5 million in the country, according to a survey, conducted by the Federal Bureau of Statistics. About 73 per cent of the workers (2.5 million) are boys and 27 per cent (950,000) are girls. About 2.1 million are in the 10-14 years age group, while the rest of them are between the age group of five and nine years. More than 2.9 million children work in rural and 400,000 in the urban areas of the country, making the number of working children, in rural areas, more than seven times, than that of in the urban areas.

The labour-force-participation rate of children is 10.3 per cent in rural areas and 3.25 per cent in the urban areas of the country. About 71 per cent of the total working children are engaged in elementary occupations, relating to agriculture, sales and services, mining, construction, manufacturing and transport sectors. About 46 per cent of the children have to work more than 35 hours a week, while 13 per cent work even more than 56 hours a week. Pakistan Fact Sheet Issue No. 39 (June 29, 2003) facepk@hotmail.com

CONFERENCES & SYMPOSIA

*July 27 - August 2, Chiang Mai, Thailand: CONFERENCE ON RELIGION AND GLOBALIZATION, an international and interfaith academic conference being organized by Payap University's Institute for the Study of Religion and Culture and the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies, to promote interfaith dialogue among Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, and members of other religious communities through plenary speeches, panels and papers based on five broad themes (1) Religious Diversity and Interfaith Relations in a Global Age: Individual topics include religious pluralism, missions, religious conflict and reconciliation, and interreligious dialogue, (2) Religion in a Global Society: Individual topics include social and economic justice, ecological concerns, human rights, structural violence, gender, tourism, prostitution, AIDS/HIV, media, technology, arts, culture and other facets of life in our contemporary world viewed from religious perspectives, (3) Religious Reform and Reformulation for a Global Age: Individual topics include tasks and issues focusing on the transformation of religious doctrines, rituals, practices, and institutions in an age of globalization, (4) Historical Perspectives in Interreligious Interaction: Case studies, and (5) Methodological and Philosophical Issues in Intercultural and Interreligious Communication and Exchanges. More info from Rebecca Lomax, Ph.D., Conference Coordinator, Institute for the Study of Religion and Culture isrc@cm.ksc.co.th

*August 4-10, Seoul, South Korea: EDUCATING FOR PEACE IN DIVIDED SOCIETIES, a conference including plenaries, workshops, r

CONTENTS

Editorial

India-Pakistan-Kashmir: A Civic Dialog

Announcements

Conferences & Symposia

Courses & Training Programs

Websites

REPORTS & ANALYSES

EDITORIAL

The writer is a Lahore-based columnist and a well known journalist

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BOOKS, REPORTS, MANUALS & DATABASES

CONFERENCES & SYMPOSIA