Awaaz - South Asia Watch News
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Wednesday, August 13, 2003
Posted by: Awaaz / 8/13/2003 10:58:55 AMPRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/08/03
Name of organisation: Women Living Under Muslim Laws-international coordination office Email: wluml@wluml.org Website: www.wluml.org
Chief Minister linked to Gujarat massacres to visit UK
To: Home news editors, foreign editors,
The Chief Minister of the Indian State of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, will visit the UK for an engagement at London's Wembley Conference Centre on Sunday 17th August, 2003.
Modi is a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) propagator and leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the political wing of the Hindu nationalist movement. As Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi is at the top of the chain of the command of the State legislative, administrative and enforcement institutions and is also a key member of the Hindu right wing network implicated in the Gujarat pogrom in February-March 2002, in which thousands of Muslims throughout the state were brutally murdered, raped or driven out of their homes.
Modi's visit is ostensibly to attract British-based business to invest in Gujarat-there will be a 'global investors meeting' at the end of September in Ahmedabad. But a number of South Asian organisations in Britain point to the earlier massive misappropriation of funds collected for earthquake relief in Gujarat by the network of the Hindu right; they, as well as international human rights organisations, fear that Modi will also be using his current visit to gather support and funds from far-right Hindu organisations in Britain which will be used to promote further communal violence.
These organisations also fear that Modi's visit and the activities of his supporters will increase religious tensions among Britain's South Asian communities. Organisations representing a range of South Asian communities and groups will be demonstrating outside the meeting on 17 August.
Many of the alleged perpetrators of the 2002 Gujarat massacres were acquitted in the State's courts for `lack of evidence', and impunity is still enjoyed by state of Gujarat cabinet ministers and officials who were involved in planning and committing human rights violations. The same impunity also extends to the lower level officials that implemented the plan and to the mob and its leaders that perpetrated the crimes. In Gujarat, the members of the Hindu supremacist groups Rashtriya Swayam Sevaks (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal (Hindu right wing youth group) that formed the mob are still at large and many have not been investigated by the state of Gujarat courts.
Muslim victims of the Gujarat massacres continue to face an economic boycott and are deprived of their sources of livelihood. Women from the Muslim community continue to face threats of sexual violence andgirls are being married off in unsuitable alliances for fear of being sexually violated in future pogroms. The police complicit in the pogrom continue to intimidate Muslims in regular 'combing' operations.
The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party-the political formation of the Hindu right) government in power in the state acquitted alleged perpetrators in serious cases of human rights violations. The Commissioner of the Enquiry Commission exonerated Chief Minister Narendra Modi of any involvement in the pogrom even before completing the hearings. Gujarat state institutions investigate crimes in which they are themselves heavily implicated. Modi's engagement in London is as a guest of the Friends of the BJP Abroad.
Applying international law to India is problematic because of its image as the home of Gandhi and non-violence. Few realize that India has been politically taken over by Hindu right, which uses the respectability gained by post-independence India to successfully disguise its Hindu supremacist agenda and genocidal intent.
ENDS.
Web links for background information on Gujarat pogroms:
Human Rights Watch-1st July 2003 "Compounding Injustice-The Government's failure to Redress Massacres in Gujarat" http://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/india0703/ Human Rights Watch-April 2002 " 'We Have No Order to Save You'-State Participation and Complicity in Communal Violence in Gujarat" http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/india/
Amnesty International-28 March 2002 "The State Must Ensure Redress for the Victims-A Memorandum to the State of Gujarat on its duties in the Aftermath of Violence" http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/amnestysGujaratreport.pdf
Indian National Human Rights Commission-31st May 2002 "Final Order on Gujarat" http://nhrc.nic.in/guj_finalorder.htm
Specifically for women focused information: The International Initiative for Justice in Gujarat-19th December 2003 "An Interim Report" http://www.onlinevolunteers.org/gujarat/reports/iijg/
The Concerned Citizens Tribunal, 22nd November 2002 "Crime Against Humanity: Gujarat 2002" http://www.sabrang.com/tribunal/index.html
For information about the protest on 17th August 2003 contact South Asia Solidarity Group: Phone: 0207 267 0923 Email: southasia@hotmail.com
For further information and interviews relating to this press release, please contact: Vahida Nainar Tel: 07949 550526 (also the out of hours number)
ENDS.
Modi's UK trip enthuses none
The Times of India , August 13, 2003 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=127617
RASHMEE Z AHMED Times News Network [Tuesday, August 12, 2003 10:53:14 PM ] LONDON: Whisper it softly, but Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is soon to begin a potentially high-value, high-profile European roadshow to sell his state to overseas investors, even as the British government officially cold-shoulders him and Indian officials try and pretend he isn't coming at all.
Modi, whose UK visa was issued only on Friday, just a week before his scheduled arrival, appears to have become one of the most sensitive bilateral issues in a long while.
The issue is so sensitive that till late on Tuesday, Indian officials were refused to confirm Modi's very arrival in London on the grounds that there was "no official confirmation from Delhi".
And a British foreign office spokesman stressed, "Modi's arrival is not at the invitation of Her Majesty's Government nor does the government plan to have any contact with him while he is here".
Just days before Modi is scheduled to address a huge meeting at London's Wembley Arena, a venue often used by pop stars, the Indian High Commission was unable to specify its plans to felicitate him.
Meanwhile, a snowballing campaign is already battling to lobby British prime minister Blair and foreign secretary Straw to prevent Modi's Wembley show-stopper.
But to put that in context, Blair receives some 8,000 similar petitions a week and his aides confess they haven't "found" the Modi letter just yet.
The letter to Blair, compares the case for a British government "ban on Modi's UK visit" to that of the controversial American Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who was unusually prevented in 2002 from setting foot on British soil.
But British officials insisted "there were no appropriate grounds to refuse Modi a visa", even as they pointed out the UK's continuing concern "raised to the Government of India at the highest level .over reports that the government of Gujarat did not do as much as it could to prevent and end the violence".
The letter to Blair is written by Leicester's Indian Muslim Association, which apparently has close and comradely links with the Swaminarayan sect. But unusually, it appears to have the endorsement of a British priest who worked in India and claims some knowledge of Modi's words and deeds.
Another letter to Straw by the Council of Indian Muslims is supposed to be supplemented by further letters from several British MPs, who believe "the UK should not allow Modi to raise more money here to fund violence in Gujarat".
ENDS.
Modi protest
The Telegraph, August 13, 2003 http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030813/asp/nation/story_2260231.asp
New Delhi, Aug. 12: South Asian secular groups are planning to picket Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi when he visits Britain later this week, reports our special correspondent.
The South Asian Solidarity Group, the Indian Council of Muslims and other outfits are planning the protest against Modi for being the alleged architect of the Gujarat carnage that occurred after the Godhra train burning last February.
Modi will tour Britain to attract investment for Gujarat.
He may deliver a lecture, organised by the Overseas Friends of the BJP, at the Wembley Conference Centre in London on August 17.
ENDS.
Opposition to Modi's visit to UK
The Hindu, August 13, 2003 http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/01122208.htm
London, Aug 12. (PTI): A UK-based Indian Muslim organisation has asked the British Government not to grant visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, for his proposed visit this month.
The Council of Indian Muslims, in a letter to British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, said Modi's visit poses a "great danger to race relations" and as such he should not be granted visa.
Modi is scheduled to pay a four-day visit to the UK from August 16 to attract NRI investment.
ENDS.
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
Posted by: Awaaz / 8/12/2003 11:22:08 AMRemember the Gujarat Genocide - Picket Mass Murderer Modi in London!
Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat and one of the chief architects of the genocide of Gujarat's Muslim minority in March 2002, in which more than 2,000 women, children and men were brutally massacred, is visiting Britain. His visit is ostensibly to attract British-based business to invest in Gujarat - there will be a 'global investors meeting' at the end of September in Ahmedabad - but Modi will also be using it to gather support and funds from pro-Hindutva organisations for further communal terror in India, and to receive congratulations from these organisations, who regard him as a 'hero' for engineering the genocide. His visit can only whip up more communal conflict among our communities in Britain.
Narendra Modi will be speaking at a meeting at the Wembley Conference Centre on Sunday 17 August. The meeting is organised by the Overseas Friends of the BJP.
South Asia Solidarity Group together with the Indian Council of Muslims and other South Asian organisations are planning a massive protest. Further details will follow shortly.
We hope that you/your organisation will support and sponsor the protest.
Contact:
ENDS.
Hon'ble Maite Emily Nkoana-Mashabane The South African High Commissioner B-18 Vasant Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110 057 Tel: 011-26149411 to 20 Fax: 011-26143605 highcommissioner@sahc-india.com [at sahc-india.com] Subject: Reported invitation by Mr. Modi to Mr. Mandela to visit Gujarat Hon'ble Ms. Nkoana-Mashabane, I have learnt that the present government of the Indian state of Gujarat, headed by chief minister Narendra Modi, has invited you to be a chief guest at the birthday celebration of Gandhi this October. You may be already aware of the pogroms that were perpetrated in Gujarat, India in 2002 under the tutelage and incitement of Modi's administration. The pre-meditated nature of this genocide is well documented by human rights groups, international and Indian media (Please see for example, the report by Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/india/) Modi and his ilk are trying to whitewash their actions and gain legitimacy for their regime by celebrating Gandhi, while in reality they have nothing but contempt for him. Modi is a member of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), whose followers conspired and killed Gandhi. Hon'ble Ms. Nkoana-Mashabane, Mr. Mandela continues to be a source of strength and hope to the oppressed throughout the world. My sole intent in writing this letter is to make you aware of the true character of the present state government of the state of Gujarat, as well as that of BJP led coalition Government of India in Delhi, so you may use your own wisdom and judgement in advising Mr. Mandela regarding accepting or rejecting the reported invitation, in a way that would further the cause of human rights, peace, justice and decency in all humanity.
ENDS.
1st August 2003
Dear Friends,
We have just heard from a very reliable source that the Government is planning to invite Mr. Nelson Mandela to visit Gujarat on October 2nd (the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi)....There is also a news report in THE TELEGRAPH by Basant Rawat.
Nelson Mandela is still regarded the world over as a voice who has stood up against everything that is draconian and authoritarian; he has fought relentlessly against the sufferings and discrimination meted out to his people. His coming to Gujarat (which has gone through a State sponsored genocide) will conveniently defocus from the reality of thousands of victims and from the fact that even today justice is evading those who have suffered.
It is the duty of every citizen to protest his coming to Gujarat until such time that justice prevails: those who have been responsible for the genocide are brought to book and when the victims feel some sense of redressal and justice.
You are requested to voice your protest by sending a letter to :
THE SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSIONER B-18 Vasant Marg Vasant Vihar New Delhi 110 057 Tel: 011-26149411 to 20 Fax: 011-26143605 Email: sachcnde@del2.vsnl.net.in [ at del2.vsnl.net.in]
Kindly also communicate your concerns directly to Mr. Nelson Mandela in South Africa (nmandela@anc.org.za) giving him facts about the Gujarat reality and also to the grand-daughter of Mahatma Gandhi Ms. Ela Gandhi who is a Member of Parliament in South Africa ( email ID egandhi@anc.org.za ) [egandh at anc.org.za]
Please communicate this message to as many people and e-groups as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Fr. Cedric Prakash Director - PRASHANT (Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace) Ahmedabad.
ENDS.
Modi Mandela mission raises heat & dust
BASANT RAWAT http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030731/asp/nation/story_2217479.asp
Ahmedabad, July 30: An attempt by Narendra Modi to rope in Nelson Mandela for Gandhi Jayanti celebrations in Porbandar has evoked sharp reactions from Gandhians and Congress leaders.
The chief minister has invited the former South African president to be the chief guest at the October 2 event.
Mandela has reportedly accepted the invitation to come to Gandhi's birthplace, which he could not visit when he toured India as president, but this has not been confirmed.
The Gujarat government is tightlipped about Mandela's visit, but sources at the state Khadi Gram Udyog board said the South African leader would attend the function.
However, state protocol secretary George Joseph refused to confirm if Mandela had accepted the invitation, saying: "I'm not dealing with this." He said he was not aware that an invitation had been sent.
Senior Congress leader Bharat Solanki said: "Mandela is welcome (here) but he should not share the dais with Modi and give legitimacy to his brand of communal politics.''
He said Mandela must be aware that Modi was the architect of last year's communal violence in the state. Solanki added that the Congress would send thousands of e-mails and letters asking the veteran leader "not to accept Modi's hospitality".
Noted Gandhian Chhunibhai Vaidya, who has been invited for the function, said Mandela should accept the invitation on the condition that he would denounce "Modi's brand of Hindutva''. "He (Mandela) should say whatever happened in Gujarat is condemnable. If he is ready to denounce the pogrom I'm ready to attend the function. But as of now, I have not made up my mind," the octogenarian said.
Vaidya intends to write to Mandela about this and will also inform the South African embassy in India.
Having received corporate sponsorship, the government has organised Navratri festivities at a scale Gujarat has never seen before. About 300,000 non-resident Gujaratis have been invited for Navratri, which will conclude on October 2.
The Navratri festivities and the invitation to Mandela are an attempt by Modi to boost his image that has taken a beating post-Godhra.
Critics say the chief minister wants to prove that the riots have not scared away foreign investors and NRIs.
ENDS.
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