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South Asia Citizens Wire | 19 March, 2005 via: www.sacw.net [1] Kashmir Solidarity Day - 20th April 2005 (J&K Coalition of Civil Society) [2] Gujarat Chief Minister Modi Denied Visa to the US - Editorials and Reports - Persona Non Grata (Edit., The Times of India) - A Slap in Mr. Modi's Face (Edit., The Hindu) - Rights groups hail visa denial to Modi - Modi visa: Muslim bodies hail US move - 'Visa denial a courageous stand' - Centre protests move - Letter to the Editor (Mukul Dube) [3] India: National Integration Council - An Appeal (Ram Puniyani, EKTA, Committee for Communal Amity) [4] India: 'Demolish the illegal multi-stories to give back our land’ Victimized poor from Mumbai Slums Demand Center's Intervention Again (NAPM) [5] Upcoming events and announcements: (i) The release and screening of docu-lectures 'Un Sapnon ki Khatir' (In Defence of Our Dreams) (New Delhi, March 23, 2005) (ii) India: Final Solution by Rakesh Sharma, India, 2003 (on BBC, 20 March 2005) (iii) India Pakistan Arms Race and Militarisation Watch Compilation # 151 -------------- [1] [KASHMIR SOLIDARITY DAY] Dear friends, On 20th April 2004, Aasia Jeelani, a JKCCS activist got killed in a landmine blast while performing her duties as an election observer, during Indian parliament election of 2004 in Lolab valley. In memory of all those who lost their lives, their dignity, people who got disappeared and those who continue to be suffering, in the last 15 years of the movement for self-determination, the JKCCS executive council has decided to observe 20th April 2005 as a day of solidarity with the martyrs and disappeared. We would like those who believe in the right of self-determination of all people to express their solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. And, on 21st April 2005, the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons, one of the constituents of JKCCS, intends to lay the foundation stone of the memorial in the memory of the disappeared persons of Kashmir. We appeal to friends everywhere to either join the march in Srinagar or organize solidarity manifestations wherever they are. We are hopeful that the Civil Society groups and democratic minded people in the world would affirm their support for the right of Kashmiri people for self-determination. The participants who travel to Srinagar will be provided local hospitality from 19th to 22nd in Srinagar. Parvez Imroz President J&K Coalition of Civil Society The Bund Amira Kadal, Srinagar, Kashmir, 190001 o o o Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society The Bund Amira Kadal, Srinagar - 190001, Jammu and Kashmir Website: www.jkccs.org Concept Note The past 16 year armed conflict in Jammu & Kashmir has affected the entire society. There has been no let-up in the situation. The confrontation between the armed groups and more than half-a-million Indian security personnel engaged against each other in the Valley has resulted in massive human rights violations, which continue unabated. According to the official figures, since May 1990 to May 31 2003, 34,709 persons have got killed while as All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), a conglomerate of pro-independence group, says 90,000 people have died. About 20,000 women have been widowed while another 1000 are living, as 'half-widows' since the fate of their husbands, who disappeared in custody, is not known. The number of victims of enforced or involuntary disappearance, mostly non-combatants, is pegged at 8,000. However, officials say 3,931 are missing from May 1990 to May 2003. More than 25,000 children have been orphaned. Thousands of Kashmiri youth have been reduced to a psychological wreck by systematic torture. According to studies, most Kashmiris today suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and are in need of urgent treatment. As against 1,762 patients registered during 1990 at Government Psychiatry Diseases Hospital in Srinagar (the only one of its kind in Kashmir Valley), the number of patients who visited the hospital in 2000 went up to a staggering 38,696. In 2002 the figure further rose to nearly 48,000. Shockingly, the figures have already crossed 48,000 up to September 2003. It is worthwhile to mention that before the eruption of conflict in Kashmir in 1989 there was hardly any case of PTSD. Suicide rates particularly among the women and youth have also gone up. This, the experts say, is sufficient to ring the alarm bells. The Kashmir imbroglio has assumed serious dimensions particularly after the nuclear explosions by the two belligerent neighbours, India and Pakistan in 1998. The South Asia has become the nuclear flashpoint causing worry to the people in the region and elsewhere. Of and on, the bellicose statements from the leaders of both the countries have further threatened fragile peace in the region. The Indian armed forces have been granted impunity under the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. The Government of India refuses United Nations role on Kashmir, it refuses the third party mediations, even facilitation by US and tries to convince the international community that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. The Kashmiri pro-freedom groups and the people of Kashmir have been boycotting the Indian parliamentary elections and State Legislative Assembly since 1989 when the armed conflict broke out in the Valley. The separatists believe that elections under Indian constitution are no substitute to their struggle for right of self-determination. The change of Government had led to an impression in a section of the people that the "reign of terror" in Kashmir would be over soon, at least human rights violation will minimise and according to the Common Minimum Programme the government will seek accountability from the perpetrators and repeal the draconian laws. But with the passage of time, the PDP government has proved as helpless as its predecessors. Seemingly, it has been rendered ineffective by the Indian security forces who continue to indulge in alleged human rights abuses and are not within the mandate of the State. In its 26-month rule (November 2002 - January 2005), nothing has improved. Till date more than 141 cases of custodial disappearances have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, there have been 78 cases of alleged extra-judicial executions and other human rights abuses. The authorities ordered inquiry in 63 cases to probe into the excesses, but the findings in almost all the cases are withheld. At present, India and Pakistan are engaged in the confidence-building measures and have shown interest in resolving the contentious issues including Kashmir. The Government of India is eager that the other issues be decided first and Kashmir last while as Pakistan and people of Kashmir fear that the Kashmir issue would be kept in backburner as has been done in past. There have been several agreements between India and Pakistan for resolving Kashmir imbroglio but the Indian government has not engaged in the meaningful and the purposeful dialogue for resolving it. There is lurking fear in Kashmir that even if there will be a settlement between India and Pakistan, it would be what suits them and will be imposed on Kashmiris. Kashmiris have generally welcomed the genuine dialogue process between India and Pakistan but at the same time are anxious for not taking them as the third party in the present dialogue process. On the one hand the so-called CBM's are continuing, but on the ground there is no let up in violence. There are many civil society initiatives happening between the Indian and the Pakistani civil society. There is interaction of human rights activists, journalists, students, the business community, women activists and others. But unfortunately in these programmes a people to people initiative, business, improving relations, Baghliar and many other things are discussed but there is hardly any initiative been taken to address the Kashmir dispute which is the root cause of conflict between India and Pakistan. It is in this regard the JKCCS wishes to organize civil society initiative from Kashmir and for Kashmir, which will help in highlighting the self-determination movement of Kashmiris. And, also to honour the martyrs and pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for truth. This is for emphasizing the need for the global civil society to engage itself for the peaceful and the non-violent resolution of the Kashmir dispute according to the wishes of the Kashmir people, which will culminate into the peace in South Asia. ______ [2] [ Gujarat Chief Minister Modi Denied Visa to the US - Editorials and News Reports] The Times of India - March 19, 2005 Editorial PERSONA NON GRATA US denies visa to Modi over Gujarat genocide The horrors of Gujarat 2002 have returned to haunt Narendra Modi. The US government has refused entry to the Gujarat chief minister invoking two provisions in the US Immigration and Nationality Act: One of them concerns diplomatic visas while the other regulates tourist and business visas. The diplomatic visa has been denied because Modi's visit is at the behest of some Indian-American organisations, including the Asian-American Hotel Owners' Association; the business visa request was dumped because one of the provisions in the Act "prohibits any government official who was responsible for or directly carried out at anytime, particularly severe violations of religious freedom". The BJP, as expected, has taken umbrage at the US immigration department: It has described the decision as 'unwarranted' and one which 'caused insult to the entire nation'. The party wants the Central government to intervene in the matter on the grounds that the manner in which Modi was told that he is not welcome in the US, and the reasons given, were unacceptable. New Delhi should steer clear of the issue. The right to issue a visa is discretionary, and the reasons cited for denying it in this case are valid. Modi has the mandate to govern Guja-rat, but that has not washed off the stains of the genocide his government perpetrated in the state for three months in 2002. Investigations by the media and depositions by senior police officials have confirmed the involvement of the Modi government in the riots. Even the Supreme Court had questioned the role of Modi and his government during the riots as well as in investigating the pogrom. Yet, Modi has continued in office, protected by mentors in the party who are now busy shielding him from his own MLAs. Modi acolytes are certain to harp on the fact that he is a democratically elected leader. Hence to shut the door on the chief minister is to insult the people who elected him. In a globalising world, no state or politician can afford to be an island. Democratic credentials have to be validated not just locally but also by the global community. This has been central to New Delhi's foreign policy. When South Africa was under the apartheid regime, India refused to have bilateral relations with its 'democratically elected' white government. The BJP should now realise that it can't shield its poster boy of hate under the pretext of electoral mandate. This logic has failed to cut ice even in India: The protests in Kolkata when Modi visited the city recently being the latest instance of public disapproval. Howls of shame will follow him as long as he and his party refuse to admit guilt and willingly stand for trial for the pogrom that shook the very foundations of the secular Indian state. o o o o The Hindu - March 19, 2005 Editorial: A SLAP IN MR. MODI'S FACE IN A SINGULAR instance of the Ides of March for the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, the United States has rejected his application for a diplomatic visa, while simultaneously revoking his tourist/business visa under Section 212(a)(2)(g) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. It is intriguing why Mr. Modi chose to ask for a diplomatic visa for a trip that was ostensibly to address the Asian-American Hotel Owners' Association and meet business leaders. Was he apprehending something so untoward that the protection of a diplomatic visa would come in handy? In denying a diplomatic visa under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the U.S. Government has clarified that Mr. Modi was visiting the United States for a purpose that did not "qualify for a diplomatic visa." In revoking the business/tourist visa, Washington has been even more forthright, arguing that any foreign government official who was responsible or had "directly carried out, at any time, particular severe violations of religious freedom" was ineligible to enter the U.S. Not too long ago, Mr. Modi had exulted about the similarities between President George W. Bush's election speeches and his own communal vitriol in 2002. He even challenged political pundits to analyse the spiritual consanguinity between Mr. Bush and himself. Now that the U.S. Government has formally given international recognition to Mr. Modi's responsibility in the post- Godhra genocide, he must be puzzled as to why and how these assumed similarities could have been given such short and ignominious shrift. The United States has effectively barred Mr. Modi from entering its territories and declared him persona non grata. This significant decision owes a lot to the active protests by human rights activists across America. What helped matters was the U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Report, which was released on September 15, 2004. The report extensively deals with specific instances of the systematic derailment of the rule of law in Gujarat during and after the post-Godhra riots and traces the genesis of violent acts against minorities to the Hindutva philosophy espoused by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom found Mr. Modi's complicity in the riots in Gujarat in its May 2004 report. The denouement came in the form of a resolution in the American House of Representatives, moved recently by John Conyers, Jr., an influential Democrat Congressman from Michigan. It asked the House to condemn "the conduct of Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his actions to incite religious persecution and urging the United States to condemn all violations of religious freedom in India." Quoting the State Department, Congressman Conyers spoke about the role of the Modi Government in promoting racial hatred and fanning communal passions. Predictably, Chief Minister Modi has reacted to the denial of U.S. visa by calling it an "insult to India and the Constitution". This is precious coming from a man who not only violated every single norm enshrined in the Indian Constitution, but was also asked by the pre-eminent leader of his party, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to follow his rajdharma. Mr. Modi has now resorted to the rhetoric of being popularly elected as well as the spurious legalism of the absence of indictment of the Gujarat Government or the Chief Minister in the "incidents" — Mr. Modi's euphemism for the pogrom conducted against the minorities — that happened after the Godhra massacre. Dissidents within the BJP in Gujarat have been active in recent weeks demanding his scalp. With this additional setback over his U.S. visa, the Gujarat Chief Minister could be in for a long, hard summer. o o o o Hindustan Times - March 19, 2005 RIGHTS GROUPS HAIL VISA DENIAL TO MODI Indo-Asian News Service Ahmedabad, March 18, 2005|20:35 IST Human rights groups and activists welcomed on Friday the US move to deny visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the 2002 sectarian violence in the state. "It is a step in the right direction. We were asking for it for a long time," Father Cedric Prakash of Prashant, a rights advocacy group, said. The city-based group was part of organisations that sought to create people's awareness on human rights issues in Gujarat ahead of Modi's visit to the US that was to begin on Saturday. "This is also for the first time the US government is not indulging in double-talk," he added. The US government refused to grant diplomatic visa to Modi citing his government's handling of the sectarian violence in the state in 2002 that claimed at least 1,000 lives. Dwarikanath Rath, convenor of the Movement for Secular Democracy, said: "Secular activists in the state are pleasantly surprised. "(US President) George W Bush could do what (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair could not do," he said. Modi had visited Britain last year amid protests and demonstrations by human rights activists. Rath added that the reasons cited by the US, including suppression of religious freedom, were well considered. Mukhtar Mohammed, a lawyer fighting cases related to communal violence, said the US move was a victory for human rights organisations. He, however, did not praise the US Government for the decision. "Any right-minded government would have acted that way." Added Samon C Christian, joint secretary of the All India Christian Council: "It is a victory for the secular world. We highly appreciate and congratulate the US government for taking a wise and strong decision." o o o o Rediff.com March 19, 2005 MODI VISA: MUSLIM BODIES HAIL US MOVE George Joseph in New York "The United States is sending a subtle message by cancelling the visa of Narendra Modi. The message is that the US does not approve of the sectarian strife and communal violence in India," Kalim Kawaja, a leader of the Indian Muslim Council-USA, said. "Frankly we did not expect such a move from the State Department. It was quite a surprise for us too. We welcome it and we are happy that the US has taken a clear stand on the communal issue," he said. "The State Department did not condemn or issue a statement when the Gujarat riots killed many people. Only the annual human rights report of the state department mentioned the killings. So this is a major change in the attitude of the State Department," he said. But he was cautious in his reaction. "Supporters of Modi may unleash their anger on his opponents," he said. "What happened in Gujarat was very similar to Kosovo. There were large scale violations of human rights," he said. "As soon as Modi came to power, the attacks began. First it was against Christians and later Muslims," he said. Kawaja said he did not expect the State Department revoke the decision. "They took the decision after carefully considering several factors. It was a very conscious decision. So chances of a revocation are not high." "This decision may not change many things. But it will evince discussion on the issue. In a sense this decision is good for India and the US," he said. "It was not taken to appease the Muslims, but it was aimed at the sectarian agendas of some," he said. The Council on American-Islamic Relations applauded the decision. "This case demonstrates what can be accomplished when Muslim, human rights and minority groups work together for a common purpose," said CAIR executive director Nihad Awad. "We would like to thank those groups and thousands of people worldwide who took action by contacting the State Department, the White House, Congress, and the media in defense of the victims of Gujarat." IMC-USA president Dr Shaik Ubaid, said: "It is a great victory for pluralism, justice and rule of law. Celebrate we must and celebrate we will. We will continue our struggle till the victims of pogroms in India get justice and the supporters of Hindutva ideology are thoroughly defeated in the US and India." "The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was launching Modi as their next Vajpayee, their next Prime Minister. The launch site has now become the burial ground of this sinister plan. I congratulate the members of Coalition Against Genocide for their historic achievement." The Coalition Against Genocide was planning a rally on Friday evening as a dress rehearsal for the proposed protest on March 20 in front of the Madison Square Garden in New York, where Modi was supposed to speak. "The rally is changed to a victory rally," secretary of CAG George Abraham said. o o o o Rediff.com - March 18, 2005 'VISA DENIAL A COURAGEOUS STAND' Suman Guha Mozumder in New York The denial of visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is "a principled and courageous action" by US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and the State Department, a noted Indian American academic said in New York on Friday. Arjun Appadurai, provost and senior vice-president of New School University, who co-signed a letter of protest sent to Dr Rice urging the US not to permit Modi to come on a private visit, said he believed the denial of visa is a recognition by the US of the controversy surrounding Modi. "It indicates to the world that the United States retains a deep commitment to human rights and a deep commitment to the rights of the minorities and to democratic inclusion across the world," Appadurai told rediff.com. Asked to comment on Modi's assertion that the denial of visa is an insult to the Indian Constitution and gives a lie to US claim of respect for democracy since no court has indicted him in connection with the Godhra massacre, Appadurai said this is "a twisting" of facts. "The fact that he has not been indicted by court of law is a critique of our judicial institutions," Appadurai said. Appadurai said Modi had been indicted by many independent judicial and citizens' bodies and that the Indian state and Indian judiciary should now confirm these findings. "I believe to say that he has not been indicted by law and therefore the denial amounts to a stifling of democratic rights is not the correct estimate of this case. In fact, this on the other hand is upholding of democratic rights," he said. Appadurai said in any case the rights of a chief minister to come to the US on a private invitation does not raise any constitutional issues at all. "As far as Modi's claim of "insult to the Indian Constitution" is concerned, it is entirely a red herring which should not even arrive," Appadurai said. "And if it arrives at all, it should arrive in the context of Modi's own activities in Gujarat in 2002 and how his government violated the rights of the minorities. That is a real constitutional issue and not this denial of visa." o o o o Deccan Chronicle www.deccan.com CENTRE PROTESTS MOVE New Delhi, March 18: The stinging blow dealt by the US to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi elicited reactions of euphoric welcome from secular groups in the US and India and strong protests from the BJP, Modi himself, and the government of India. Human rights activists in New York and here were "stunned" when the Ministry of External Affairs called the head of the mission of the US embassy to lodge a strong protest against the denial of the visa and to "request an urgent reconsideration". External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh set the tone earlier on Friday when he responded to the US decision by stating that the government would take up the issue with the US embassy. On Friday evening, the MEA issued a statement saying, "This action on the part of the US embassy is uncalled for, and displays lack of courtesy and sensitivity towards a constitutionally elected Chief Minister of a State of India." It pointed out that the visa had been requested for the Chief Minister by the government through a note verbale to the US mission on February 28. The human rights and secular organisations that had initially supported the Congress-led government were furious, while the BJP expressed great happiness with the response. BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said the government had acted with speed and "we are very happy". Secular activist Shabnam Hashmi said, "It is now clear that the ordinary people voted out the communal forces and the Congress came to power without doing anything. They are not bothered about the country, they are just basic CEOs running a party." It was a month-long battle that led to the US decision to invoke the relevant sections under the US Immigration and Nationality Act that, an US embassy official said, "makes any government official who was responsible for, or directly carried out at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom ineligible for a visa". A high-voltage pressure campaign led to several small victories over the last month for the US groups, which had united to oppose Modi's visit. Modi was scheduled to address the Asian America Hotel Owners’ Association at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This was to have been addressed by well-known personality Chris Matthew, who yielded to signature campaigns and letters to announce that he would not speak at this function with the Gujarat Chief Minister. The US activists had also written to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying, "Secretary Rice, we ask that you do not allow this egregious violator the privilege of entering the United States, in keeping with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998." The Coalition Against Genocide issued a statement lauding the US decision. o o o o D-504 Purvasha Mayur Vihar 1 Delhi 110091 18 March 2005 Mr. George Fernandes said on television today that the denial of a U.S. visa to Narendra Damodardas Modi was a *zulm*. How would this old master of double-speak describe the said Modi's treatment of Muslims in Gujarat, in particular on and after 28 February 2002, echoes of which continue to this day? As *rehem-dili*, perhaps, or, in the words of the poet-statesman Atal B. Vajpayee, *raj-dharma*? The stand of the Congress party on the visa denial raises a question. If it is based on Modi's being a constitutionally elected figure in a supposedly sovereign nation, was the noise that that party made about his having defiled the Constitution no more than a form of ritual flatulence? Mukul Dube ______ [3] Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 NATIONAL INTEGRATION COUNCIL - AN APPEAL The constitution of National Integration council has come as a big respite. One recalls that this crucial body was not constituted by the BJP led NDA coalition. Apparently it was in pursuance of BJP agenda of Hindu nation that this was not thought of at all. Having said that it is imperative to point out that this council, must urgently take up issues related to National integration which are long over due. 1. We have witnessed that the communal violence has been assuming more menacing proportions during last fifteen years; starting from Mumbai riots of 92-93 and as seen in carnage of Gujarat (2002). During these years we have also witnessed the serious violation of the administrative and bureaucratic norms, which have strengthened the communal forces. We have also witnessed the serious attempt to obstruct to process of justice, and apathy towards rehabilitation of riot victims. The matters have gone to the extent that the victims of carnage are not able to return to there original places and are also being pressurized to withdraw the cases against the perpetrators of crimes. Accompanying this has been a communalization of social thinking and demonization of minorities. 2. The situation requires an all around attempt to address the underlying issues involved. It relates to training of the bureaucracy and police, it also calls for reviewing as to how and why large sections of these services collapse. We need to understand as to why a section of state machinery fails do what is expected of them and instead start siding with the perpetrators of crime. There is a need for incorporating the value of freedom struggle, national integration and communal harmony in there training manual and than to back it up with regular follow up workshops and updates on these issues. It also requires the control and monitoring mechanisms to combat the biases prevalent in large section of state apparatus. A social audit of the decisions affecting the values of harmony is called for. 3. The social mind set has been communalized to a great extent. This will need the efforts to promote the cultural mechanisms at the levels of communities, social associations and other conduits to percolate the message of national integration. Already this government seems to have initiated the move to rectify the distortions in the text books. That being commendable is not enough. The other general literature, published by the Government agencies also needs a revamp. The state level books also need to be looked at to remove biases against weaker sections of society. 4. A section of media has played very negative role during the communal riots. The working journalists and students of journalism need to be addressed through their curriculum and through exposure to syncretic traditions and values of communal harmony. As the total review of curriculum is needed special attention needs to be paid to students of teachers training colleges and social work colleges. 5. While we give a deeper look to some of these suggestions to be implemented, we need to have seminars and workshops on this theme at all the training institutes geared to train our officials at various levels. Sincerely yours Ram Puniyani EKTA, Committee for Communal Amity, Center for Study of Society and Secualarism, Mumbai ______ [4] National Alliance of People's Movements Chemical Mazdur Sabha, Haji Habib Building, I Floor, 182 Naigaon Cross Road, Dadar (E), Mumbai - 400014. Press Note/ March 18, 2005 'DEMOLISH THE ILLEGAL MULTI-STORIES TO GIVE BACK OUR LAND’ VICTIMIZED POOR FROM MUMBAI SLUMS DEMAND CENTER'S INTERVENTION AGAIN Camp Delhi, March 18, 2005 Hundreds of women, men and infants/ children from Mumbai’s slum communities are camping on the streets of Delhi since March 15th demanding justice. Representatives from Delhi slums and hundreds from the Valley of Narmada have joined them against inhuman, unconstitutional displacement that has not only made them all shelter-less but rendered them destitute. Today, on the fourth day of their sit in, they are to meet Prithviraj Chauhan, the minister for PMO on behalf of the Prime Minister and Smt. Sonia Gandhi. They will also present their anguish before Mr Suraj Bhan, the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes. It was on February 14 in Mumbai that Smt Margaret Alva, in charge of monitoring the implementation of part manifesto, took a clear position favouring protection of slums and houses built before 2000 since that was the promise given during the election campaign. On February 16, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi herself intervened and along with the Member of Parliament and Chief Minister of Maharashtra himself reiterated the same. However, the contradictory statements by the CM thereafter and no action or protection towards allowing any land, compensation, or services to 90000 families, most of whom are still hanging around the place they were bulldozed on and evicted from, compelled them to march to Delhi. A number of MPs from RSP and CPM and Samajwadi Party, including Shri Abani Roy, Shri Ranjilal Suman, Mr Krishna Das, and Mr Ramdas Athavale of the Republican Party of India visited the people on dharna to express their support. There is a debate is due in the Parliament on the issue. The people, would like to seek a cleanr and honest answer, as to whether they indeed want to protect them or throw out to drains. The people also met Mr. Pritviraj Chavan, the minister in charge of PrimeMinister’s office and other leaders including the chairman of national commission on SC and ST. The pathetic plight of the urban poor who are ruthlessly and brutally ousted and tortured, whose labour in building the city, its buildings, highways and infrastructure, the metro to megacities whose services as hawkers is a breach of the promises by Congress – NCP, the Common Minimum Programme, the constitutional and human rights and all the Supreme Court orders guaranteeing right to food to every citizen, has not changed till date. The police force standing at the slum locations prevents them from building even a small shelter at the site as in Ambujwadi, Indira Nagar and Rafiq Nagar with the wire fencing put up indicate no commitment on the part of Government of Maharashtra towards urban poor. No compensation is paid to enable poor to live, no relief, no service and no proper survey is carried out at the community level. The builders lobby is all ready to usurp the land and World Bank awaits a formal agreement on Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Projects. In such a sitiatuation the urban poor’s struggle is to march ahead- · to demand compensation for the losses, right to land with sites and services, low cost cooperative housing schemes, and immediate relief by allowing the evictees to put up their own shelters on the same land, · to compel the government of Maharashtra and Mumbai Municipal Corporation to withdraw police force and stop all atrocities and withdraw the false and fabricated cases filed against the poor and the supporting activists, · to expose the utter violation of various commitments of rehabilitation in the World Bank funded (or to be funded) Urban Infrastructure Projects, · to unearth the illegal land distribution, land use by the rich builders and profiteering corporate, accumulating thousands of crores rupees worth prosperity, demanding demolition of those and allotment of land to the poor and dispossessed, · to propose an alternative people’s plan for sustainable, equitable and livable Mumbai and every city in the country without exploiting the poor within and around, and · to make the central Government fulfill its promise to reenactment evolve a national policy on development planning and developmental rehabilitation along with a National and state level Commissioners for that. Raju Bhise Shahar Vikas Manch, Mumbai Rajendra Ravi Lokayan, Delhi Medha Patkar National Coordinator, NAPM _______ [5] [Upcoming Events ] (i) Anhad Invites you to The release and screening of docu-lectures 'Un Sapnon ki Khatir' (In Defence of Our Dreams) By Shri Arjun Singh Minister for Human Resource Development On March 23, 2005 at 5pm At Anhad , 4 Windsor Place, New Delhi-110001 The Programme: 5.00pm- Welcome 5.05pm-Screening of Excerpts from “ Un Sapnon ki Khatir’ 5.25pm- About ‘Un Sapnon ki Khatir’- Harsh Mander 5.30- Sharing the Dream- Gauhar Raza 5.35- The Broad Political Context- Prof. KN Panikkar 5.45- Formal Release by Shri Arjun Singh followed by his Speech 6.15-Vote of Thanks 6.20-Tea The VCd package “Un Sapnon ki Khatir “ produced by Gauhar Raza contains the following docu-lectures in Hindi. The Docu-Lectures : Prabhash Joshi Hindutva: Ek Rajneetik Akhada Amit Sengupta Media ka Sampradayikaran Dr. K.M. Shrimali Ayodhya Pralay Kanungo Sangh Parivar Ka Itihaas Dr. Ram Punyani Sachchai Ya Brahm: Sampradayikta Ek Drishtikon Sohail Hashmi Pahchan ka Prashan Kuldeep Nayyar Bharat- Pak Sambandh Harsh Mander Samaj Aur Shasan: Gujarat Ek Sabak Dr. Tulsiram Daliton ka Mudda aur Sampradayikta Anand Pradhan Vaishvikaran aur Sampradayikta Shubha Mudgal Hindustani Sangeet ki Samanvyavadi Parampara & Sohail Hashmi Nivedita Menon Nari Aandolan aur Sampradayik Rajniti Amar Farooqui Swatantrata Aandolan Ki Virasat Prashant Bhushan Samvaidhanik Adhikar Ke Roop Main Dharmnirpekshta Swami Agnivesh Dharm Ka Apharan Achyut Yagnik Maujooda Rajnaitik Haalat Documentaries Rakesh Sharma Final Solution Gauhar Raza Zulmaton ke Daur Main The set could be obtained from anhad 23rd March onwards for Rs. 600 + actual courier charges. Aparna Sen has contributed 50 copies of her film 'Mrs & Mr.Iyer' for the first 50 packets to be sold. ______ (ii) INDIA: FINAL SOLUTION Rakesh Sharma, India, 2003 Sunday 20 March 2005 9.50pm-11.20pm A study of the politics of hate. The film graphically documents the changing face of right-wing politics in India through a study of the 2002 killing of Muslims in Gujarat. Interview: "I wanted it to be more than a record of grief" DIRECTOR INTERVIEW Rakesh Sharma "I wanted it to be more than a record of grief" Nick Fraser Storyville Series Editor Final Solution was shot over two and a half years by the Indian filmmaker Rakesh Sharma. It tells the story of a massacre of Muslims committed in the western state of Gujarat. It investigates the relationship between the BJP and those who instigated, and actually carried out the killings. For outsiders, it has three merits. Firstly it is an extraordinary and convincing film. Secondly, it offers a very rare insight into the details of democracy in India, and one that shouldn't encourage people to be snooty about its practices. Thirdly, it alarmingly suggests that Adolf Hitler's and Benito Mussolini's inventions were not confined to Europe. The BJP dresses up in saffron gear, but its conduct is that of a mid-20th-century fascist party. It is capable of fomenting plots in order to legitimise violence, and it nurses the most violent racial hatreds. Although the BJP's vote went down in the last elections, it is hard to watch this film and not be alarmed by the prospect of Hindu fascism. (iii) India Pakistan Arms Race and Militarisation Watch Compilation # 151 (18 March, 2005) Contents: 1 Ominous call to arms in South Asia (Syed Saleem Shahzad) 2 "Peace Pipe" or Pipe Dream? U.S. vs. an Iran-Pak-India Project (J. Sri Raman) 3 U.S. expected to OK arms sales to India, Pakistan (Richard Whittle and Katie Fairbank) 4 Policy Could Shift, Spur F-16 Sales - FW plant may benefit if U.S. lets rivals India, Pakistan buy fighters (Richard Whittle and Katie Fairbank) 5 Rice's agenda: To scuttle pipeline? (M B Naqvi) 6 Pakistan offers arms aid to Nepal () 7 South Asian nuclear security regime (Mirza Aslam Beg) 8 South Asian nuclear safety (A.R. Siddiqi) 9 Arms sale to top Rice's agenda during visit to Pakistan 10 India and Pakistan, Kashmir - Rivers run through it (Randeep Ramesh) 11 Pakistan Opposition Halts Parliament Over Iran Nuclear Controversy 12 Pakistan: Defence audit (Editorial, The Nation) 13 Eyes are everywhere in Islamabad (Scott Baldauf) 14 Pakistani Gun Bazaar Sputtering (Riaz Khan) 15 India: Take the jungle to the law - review of Army's special powers (Sanjib Baruah) 16 India: Fishermen up in arms against Centre 17 [India's Defence Spending ] (i) Defending Ourselves To Death - India must cut arms spending (Praful Bidwai) (ii) Fuelling the arms race (Praful Bidwai) (iii) India's Rising Defence Budget (Ikram Sehgal) 18 Pakistan: Two U.S. Citizens 'Disappeared' 19 Bomb thrown at home of leading journalist in Gilgit (reporters without borders) 20 Tehelka expose: dismissed armyman moves Delhi High Court 21 India: Hang his murderers: Yunus mother can't wait for justice 22 India may not get 'Arrow' despite US Defence Dept support: CRS 23 India: Women Power May See Repeal of Draconian Army Act (Ranjit Devraj) 24 India expresses concern over US arms sales to Pakistan 25 India: Many Lives of S. A. R. Geelani ! J' Accuse ! (Subhash Gatade) 26 Nepal: (i) Nepal's rising vigilante violence (Charles Haviland) (ii) Police summon editor of country's largest newspaper (CPJ Press Release) URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IPARMW/message/162 _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Buzz on the perils of fundamentalist politics, on matters of peace and democratisation in South Asia. SACW is an independent & non-profit citizens wire service run since 1998 by South Asia Citizens Web: www.sacw.net/ SACW archive is available at: bridget.jatol.com/pipermail/sacw_insaf.net/ Sister initiatives : South Asia Counter Information Project : snipurl.com/sacip South Asians Against Nukes: www.s-asians-against-nukes.org Communalism Watch: communalism.blogspot.com/ DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed in materials carried in the posts do not necessarily reflect the views of SACW compilers. Yahoo! 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