goanet-digest Thursday, May 23 2002 Volume 01 : Number 4007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this issue: [none] [Goanet] COMMENT: Vinod Mehta in Outlook [Goanet] Goan -Career Fair: A World of Possibilities [Goanet] NEWS: Kanwal Rekhi hits out at Gujarat intolerance [Goanet] NEWS: BJP "sets Indians against Indians", charges Sonia at Goa See end of digest for information on subscribing/unsusbcribing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu May 23 14:33:54 2002 From: Vidyadhar Gadgil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [none] FORUM FOR COMMUNAL HARMONY Bicholim, Goa 23.05.2002 Press release The Forum for Communal Harmony is deeply distressed at the news of police seizure of a video cassette, Hey Ram, directed by Gopal Menon, which was being screened in Velim on 21 May 2002. The Forum has viewed the video cassette, Hey Ram, and is convinced that it is a very human document. It has very consciously placed the carnage in Gujarat in the perspective of Gandhiji^=D2s philosophy of communal harmony and calls for Hindu-Muslim unity. It raises human issues. It is based mainly on interviews of victims of violence in Gujarat. The brunt of the criticism of those interviewed is not against any particular community. Their appeal is to humanity. Their anger is against the police, whom they accuse of direct complicity in acts of violence and refusal to take action against perpetrators of violence. There is acknowledgement of an instance of a Muslim family finding refuge in a Hindu household. The victims themselves speak of communal brotherhood and their determination to live in the land of their birth. There are shots of peace marches for communal harmony and an end to violence. The entire approach is to rouse human compassion, stress national unity, and point out that such acts of violence amount to genocide and are acts fascism, which need to be resisted for our very survival as a nation of multiple hues. India is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This Convention defines genocide as follows: "In the present convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, such as: a) Killing members of the group; b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group^=C5" What has happened in Gujarat are acts of planned genocide and the people of India have a right to know the truth. The police have claimed that exhibition of the video cassette has resulted in offence under Sections 153-A and 153-B of the Indian Penal Code. These two Sections relate to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth or residence, language etc., and doing acts prejudicial to National Integration. The actions of the police are patently illegal and high-handed. This is a matter of serious concern, because it is part of a series of actions against BJP-led governments, at the Centre and the State, against freedom of expression. One of the most dramatic examples is the Tehelka exposure episode. Those who exposed the very vital issue of the corruption in our defence system and the threat to our national security are being harassed in different ways, while the perpetrators of the crime are being shielded. These are actions against the freedom of expression, a fundamental right under the Indian constitution. The recent communal violence in Gujarat is qualitatively different in character from all previous ones since Independence. As Arundhati Roy writes in her article in Outlook, of 6th May 2002, with reference to the responsibility of Congress-ruled Governments in the Centre and States, when they were in power: "It is true that the Congress party has sinned, and grievously, and for decades together. But it has done by night what the BJP does by day. It has done covertly, stealthily, hypocritically and shamefacedly, what the BJP does with pride. And this is an important difference." The Forum for Communal Harmony believes that, without freedom of expression, there can be no communal harmony, no end to violence, no democracy. We are deeply concerned, because the illegal seizure of the video cassette Hey Ram, by the police, under the present political environment in the country, augurs ill for Goa, which has been free from such inhumanity as we have witnessed in Gujarat. =20 Sd/- Adv. Amrut Kansar Ramesh Gauns V. Gadgil Best wishes, Vidyadhar =20 ******* =20 Vidyadhar Gadgil 1016, Muddo P.O. Carona Bardez, Goa -- 403523 Tel. No. (0832) 293766 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 15:12:26 +0530 (IST) From: Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Goanet] COMMENT: Vinod Mehta in Outlook Vinod Mehta in Outlook Out Of True To ignore clear and present danger is foolish. A Goebbelsian campaign has been gathering strength over the past six weeks or so. The people who gave us the Gujarat carnage are assiduously spreading a canard: they say what we are witnessing in the country today is Hindus vs The Rest of India. The demonisation of the Hindus en bloc (Narendra Modi accuses the media and others of portraying the entire 50 million population of the state as rapists, assassins and thugs), thanks to relentless vilifying and relentless accusations of exclusive responsibility for the riots, it seems, is total. This, of course, is a manifest and preposterous lie. Unfortunately, on the ground, it is to some degree working. Increasingly, one finds mild, moderate, sensible Hindus=97Hindus who feel a sense of revulsion over the Gujarat barbarism=97come up and complain that they are greatly perturbed, even incensed, at what they perceive is non-stop Hindu-bashing. The 100-odd letters I get every day and the feedback from Outlook correspondents suggests that the propaganda is finding some takers. I understand quiet satisfaction prevails in certain quarters at the success of the brilliant strategy=97a strategy they believe is certain to fetch many votes. How should we counter the lie? First, one must emphasise on every possible occasion that the perpetrators of Gujarat and their associates outside constitute no more than 8 to 10 per cent of India's population. The vast majority of Hindus, including those Hindus who vote the BJP, are as sickened by the events of the past two months as the rest of us. Thus, it is not Hindus vs The Rest of India, it is a tiny minority of Hindus vs The Rest of India. Secondly, those who are on the side of the angels would do well to reduce the decibel level of their denunciation. The perpetrators, happily, stand fully exposed and our combined energies might now be usefully channelled into seeing how the rehabilitation of the riot victims can be speeded up. Hinduism, one of the world's great religions, is in grave danger of falling into the hands of extremists determined to pervert its sublime truths. We cannot allow that to happen. Repositories Of Grace How has secular India faced up to the onslaughts against the Constitution? All things considered, pretty well. The government pretends, or likes to pretend, that without media mischief they would have "managed" the fallout, but the reality is that civil society=97of which media is just one part=97has stood shoulder to shoulder in defence of settled national values. What has embarrassed the rulers most is not so much the media coverage as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Us English-speaking hacks, writing in our out-of-touch English publications, could be dismissed as self-hating Hindus. However, you cannot easily dismiss the investigations and conclusions of a statutory body headed by a retired chief justice of India. I believe Justice J.S. Verma and his team worked with exemplary courage and professional integrity and had the guts to take on both the state and the Union government. The credibility of the nhrc currently is on par with the Election Commission. The highest court in the land has played a salutary role too, as have scores of NGOs and the Minorities Commission. Independent media bodies such as the Editors' Guild have substantiated what the nation already knew. The institutions protecting secular India may be slightly battered and a trifle demoralised but at moments of crisis they come through. Help Lines Lots of enquiries from friends and readers about where they can send money for the Gujarat riot victims. If you are reluctant to send cheques to the CM=92s relief fund or any other official relief agency for understandable reasons, here are three organisations which will make good use of your money and concern: =B7 Aman Ekta Manch: C/o Jagori, C-54, South Extension-Part II, New Delhi 110 048 =B7=09Citizen=92s Initiative: Opposite St Xavier=92s School, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009 =B7=09ActionAid India Society: ActionAid, 71 Uday Park, New Delhi 110 049 ____ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 05:55:41 -0700 From: "John D'souza" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Goanet] Goan -Career Fair: A World of Possibilities G.O.A. Toronto Holding 2002 Career Fair: A World of Possibilities Sunday May 26,2002 Time: 1-5 pm North York Civic Centre Memorial Hall - Gold Room Yonge & Finch - parking available - accessible by subway G.O.A. members free - non-members $5 :-( Contact: Noella de Souza 416 412 2896 The goal of this event is to provide all age groups with a better understanding of the various industries and trades in today's market. Please check out this event at http://www.goatoronto.com/events/careerfair02/careerfair.html and pass this info to anyone who would be interested in attending. Posted by JJD'S ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 04:40:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Eugene Correia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Goanet] NEWS: Kanwal Rekhi hits out at Gujarat intolerance I had the chance to read Wednesday's print edition of New York Times and Wall Street Journal, courtesy of a friend. I was indeed surprised to see Rekhi's piece in it. Besides NYT carried an editorial Brinkmanship in South Asia. Rekhi's piece highlights the concern among secular-minded Indians in US and Canada. It's time to act. Eugene __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 19:36:17 +0530 From: Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Goanet] NEWS: BJP "sets Indians against Indians", charges Sonia at Goa BJP, A PARTY WHICH "SETS INDIANS AGAINST INDIANS", CHARGES SONIA AT GOA RALLY PANAJI (Goa), May 23: Resurgent from the party's recent upswing and hoping for positive results from Goa, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi took a hard-line stance against the BJP, calling it a party which "sets Indians against Indians, and practises the politics of hate". Speaking at a well attended party rally in Goa, prior to this state's critical May 30 polls, Sonia said the Congress would support efforts to tackle "cross-border terrorism", but added that Indians needed "to be aware of those unprincipled elements who may bring more divisions in our society, among our people". Blasting the BJP soundedly, she charged that that party "and its ideological partner, the RSS have so wilfully trampled on the principles which we cherish -- including democracy and secular republicanism which were the guiding notions set up by our Constitution's founding fathers". Mrs Gandhi's strong comments in Goa came a day before a crucial party meet scheduled for Delhi, even as the country is caught up with worries over a possible war with Pakistan over the issue of terrorism in the northern state of Kashmir. She hit out at the BJP for going against "democracy" and bringing down, thoughr defections, the Congress government in Goa which had secured the majority to rule in the last June 1999 elections. "They brought down their own government (headed by Manohar Parrikar, fearing an impending party revolt) and wrongly dissolved the assembly," she added, referring to the controversial moves of Governor Mohd Fazal. She accused the BJP for running a "partisan government at the Centre". Sonia Gandhi added: "In few states they rule, they are making a mockery of the principle of equality for all citizens. BJP looks at different religions, different classes, different castes in a different way." "Recent events have exposed how the RSS and their allies have tarnished the land of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Gujarat has been an assault on basic human values. Efforts were made to spread hatred among different communities", she added. "BJP is capable in only one area -- doublespeak. (The Prime Minister) said something here about a certain community. They went to Delhi and changed it. The mask they put on their face keeps slipping off," a combatative Sonia added. She was speaking at the very same Campal Grounds, an under-utilised sporting centre and its annexe on Panaji's outskirts, where Prime Minister Vajpayee had made his controversial speech about Muslims and terrorism during the BJP's national executive in Goa last month. Said Sonia: "These are the people who talk about morality in public life. There is no morality among them -- in New Delhi, Goa or whereever the BJP is in government. It's better they stop giving the Congress party lectures on morality. We know where they stand." Sonia stressed that the Congress was in power in 14 of India's 28 states. "In Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry, Maharashtra, MP, Chattishgarh, Punjab, Delhi, Uttranchal, Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur and elsewhere, we are doing our best to see that the needs of the people are addressed," she said. She added that May 30's Goa elections -- incidentally the first after the Gujarat carnage, which earned the BJP a lot of flak -- were "very crucial for Goa and very crucial for the Congress party". Lacing her brief speech with a sharp push to the voters in Goa to back the Congress, Mrs Gandhi argue that the "history of modern Goa is very closerly interlinked with the Congress party". She said it was her party that took the "decisive step" in ending Portuguese rule here in 1961, while "my mother-in-law" Indira Gandhi had decided on the Opinion Poll (where the people voted against merger with nearby Maharashtra), and also Konkani had been granted national language status by Rajiv Gandhi. "Wise people of Goa will vote in favour of religious tolerance and communal harmony, which is so deeply rooted here. I am sure they will vote to promote and maintain social peace and amity," she said. (ENDS) ------------------------------ End of goanet-digest V1 #4007 ***************************** =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--W-E-B--S-I-T-E--=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet Digest | http://goacom.com/goanet ====================================================================== * Send e=mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] (NOT [EMAIL PROTECTED]) * Leave SUBJECT blank <--- Commom Mistake !! * On first line of the BODY of your message, type: subscribe goanet-digest YOUR.EMAIL OR unsubscribe goanet-digest YOUR.EMAIL DO NOT include the entire digest when replying to goanet !!!!!! Questions/Problems? Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=