Friday, March 30, 2012

Sri Lanka’s Muslims: Caught in the crossfire…

By Aziz A. Mubaraki,

During much of the 25-year war in Sri Lanka, attention was focussed on the altercation between the majority Sinhalese and the largest minority Tamils. The views of the country’s Muslims, who constitute about 9 per cent of the population and see themselves as a separate racial group, have largely remained overlooked. Understanding their role in the conflict and addressing their political ambition are essential if there is to be a lasting peace resolution.

Atrocities of LTTE on Muslims

For centuries, the Muslim community has been scattered around Sri Lanka living in co-existence with the other two main ethnic communities (Sinhalese and Tamil) with very close socio-economic interactions among them. For years Muslim and Tamil children attended the same school but took different roles in cultural displays and sporting events. However as the ethnic crisis developed into armed conflict with Tamil youth taking to arms and the LTTE (Liberation of Tamil Tigers for Eelam) being formed, it became apparent that in the early eighties, in the east of Sri Lanka, there was a conflict of interest between Muslims and Tamils. Whilst this was initially at a manageable and political level, it slowly disintegrated in 1990 as the LTTE massacred worshippers in a mosque in Batticaloa and other attacks on Muslim civilians.

But before this, Muslims and Tamils had been traditionally included into local life as mutually supporting communities. There were Muslim traders, tailors, iron mongers, laborers and scholars. The Muslims in Jaffna had lived next to each other and therefore densely occupied a small part of this town. As part of the arena of culture and scholarship, Muslims formed an important part of the historic University of Jaffna. But when the development of districts took place in sixties and seventies, it hit the Muslims harder economically. A number of Muslim youth thus became convinced of Tamil militant ideology and joined the LTTE's military wing. In several Muslim villages and towns the LTTE opened its branch offices and was gradually gaining popularity amongst certain sections of the Muslim community. But soon this development received a setback when Tamil-Muslim riots broke out in April 1985, apparently over an incident in the town of Mannar in the north where three Muslim worshippers were said to have been gunned down by Tamil militants inside a mosque.
Following the above 1985 riots the LTTE changed its approach towards Muslims and unleashed some of its most ferocious acts of savagery on the innocent Muslims of Polonnaruwa in the Northeastern and Kattankudy and Eravur in the Eastern provinces.

 Tens and hundreds of Muslim men, women and children were massacred in their homes, fields, markets; the entire Muslim population of Jaffna in the north were evicted from their homes at gunpoint and turned into refugees overnight. They are still living in camps without any hope of returning to their places of birth. In short, the LTTE seems to have erroneously decided on a mission of ethnic cleansing in the Tamil districts. As a result of this mistaken strategy the LTTE lost all sympathy it had within the Muslim community and the animosity between the Tamils and the Muslims became widest.

Thus changing it all, on the 23rd of October 1990, Muslims were given an “expulsion ultimatum” merely 24hrs to exit from the so called ‘Tamil land’ by leaving all their possessions behind”. Armed LTTE cadres had gone round every village and handed over letters from their district leaders forcing the chief trustees /Imams/religious heads of all mosques to read out the letters over loud speakers. The letters ordered all the Muslims to vacate their respective villages within 48 hours and hand over all their belongings such as vehicles, radios, sewing machines, water pumps etc to LTTE cadres at a particular village school.

 They said the orders were from the LTTE high ranks and anyone trying to disobey shall be eliminated. After the deadline the armed cadres came round to push the Muslim residents out of their homes: men, women and children were herded through a narrow passage and, at the point of exit from the village they were bodily searched for ill-gotten gains. Metallic cutters were used to remove jewelleries that could not be easily removed, and each family was only allowed to take about 200 rupees (5 US dollars at that time). In some cases, the Muslims were not even allowed to change their clothing. All possessions of the Muslims were deemed by the LTTE to belong to Tamil Eelam.

The Muslims from other parts of the Northern Province (Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi) suffered the same fate as well. Approximately 95,000 men, women and children were expelled. (For details please refer to UTHRJ; Report 6, Chapter 3, andhttp://jaffnamuslims.lk) But this incident has been largely gone from the chronicles of the Sri Lankan conflict. Even the successive governments have failed to provide sufficient support to the displaced Muslims who find themselves in a political wilderness, without much of a voice, despite having representation in the government. Problems with education, proper shelter and sanitation plague the camps and so the displaced people were dependent on tedious jobs or handouts from generous donors or the government and charitable organizations.

Muslims didn’t agree with ceasefire of 2002

The 2002 ceasefire agreement (CFA) was dissatisfaction to many Muslims. They had no self-decisive representation at the peace talks, and many feared that any accord that gave the LTTE un-restricted control of the north and east, even in a centralized arrangement, would be critically damaging to their own welfare. Despite talks between Muslim leaders and the LTTE, they continued to suffer brutal attacks. Since the recommencement of large-scale military action in mid-2006, Muslims have again been caught up in the fighting in the east. Dozens have been killed and thousands displaced. Memories of LTTE cruelty are still fresh and bitter disputes with Tamils over land and resources remain compelling in the east. It is important to know that Muslims have never resorted to armed insurgency to assert their political position, although some have worked with the security forces, and few were members of early Tamil militant groups. But Muslims, mostly remained determined to peacefully channeling their annoyance through the political process by negotiating with the government and Tamil militants at different times.

 But there is no guarantee that this obligation to non-violence will be maintained, predominantly given the frustration visible among younger Muslims in the Eastern region. In some areas there are Muslim armed groups but they are small and not a major security threat. Fears of armed Islamist movements emerging seem to be overstated, regularly for political ends. But there is a clear and present danger they will take on a role in inter-communal clashes if the conflict continues to infringe upon their safety.

Tamil Sinhalese also targeted Muslims

When Muslims were heaved upon miseries by the vindictive LTTE, the non-Tamil Sinhalese leaders too targeted the Muslims. During the period the Sinhalese leadership had been instrumental in instigating the Sinhalese masses to attack Muslim lives and property. The racial riot of 1915 was the first major episode in the Lankan history when Sinhalese animosity towards the Muslims was violently expressed. The most celebrated Sri Lankan Buddhist evangelist of that time, Anagarika Dharmapala, was a leading campaigner against Muslim presence in the country. He (just like any other RSS leader in India) termed Muslims as 'aliens' and 'foreigners' who according to him, deserved to be deported to Arabia. Although Dharmapala is long dead, but the echo of his views can still be heard during times of Sinhala-Muslim tension. Many among the Sinhalese Muslims believe that the Muslim domination in business in the country should be reversed. Both the spiritual and secular branches of the Sinhalese middle class share this view, and it cannot be denied that most of the communal violence against the Muslims has had economic overtones.

Sri Lankan Muslims not fundamentalists

Till date there is no interest among Sri Lankan Muslims in fundamentalist versions of Islam, although there have been some negligible violent clashes between orthodox and Sufi movements. But this hostility remained limited and most Muslims show considerable lenience to other sects and faiths. Nevertheless, the conflict is at least partly responsible for some Muslims channeling their frustrations and identity issues into religious disputes.

Almost all Muslim peace proposals remain dependent on the politics of the major Tamil and Sinhalese parties. Whereas most of the times the government evades consultation with ethnic minorities (including the Muslims) and do not seem to include significant devolution of powers to local communities.

The war crimes

Apart from occasional ceasefires, from the 1980s through May 2009, the civil war raged across the country and the government along with the increasingly authoritative LTTE got engaged in widespread violence, often against defenseless civilians. Lankan forces are believed to be behind thousands of forced disappearances of Tamils (both Hindus and Muslims), mostly in the north and east. War crimes by both sides (the govt forces and the LTTE) in the last year of fighting may have contributed to as many as 40,000 Tamil civilian deaths. But it’s a big relief that the LTTE, the most dreaded terrorist outfit of south Asia, which took the life of our former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi, is now extinct in Sri Lanka. The organization which killed and maimed lives of thousands of Sinhalese and Tamil Muslims, spread terror across the island carried out suicide bombings and attacked civilian targets, especially in Colombo and the villages bordering the Tamil-speaking Muslims in the north and east of the island country. These “border villages” suffered enormously during the conflict. Some of the major LTTE incidents include the 1985 attack at the Sri Maha Bhodiya in Anuradhapura, where it murdered more than 100 Buddhist pilgrims, the 1996 suicide truck bombing of the Central Bank in Colombo in which over 70 people died, the 1998 suicide truck bombing at the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, and the 2008 suicide bombing at the Colombo Fort railway station. The Tamil rebels also eliminated many political leaders, which include Sri Lankan deputy defence minister Ranjan Wijeratne in1991, President Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1993 and foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in 2005.

There is hardly any doubt that the LTTE was an evil organization whose leadership had no reservations about killing Sinhalese civilians or Tamil political opponents ( including the unfortunate Muslims) to serve its own political and personal ambitions. At the same time many Tamils in Sri Lanka and abroad perceived that the LTTE was the only group that stood for them and presented their demands to the government and the majority Sinhalese population that had repeatedly targeted the Tamils. The complex 30-year relationship between the LTTE and the Tamil civilians cannot be judged by the government’s simple “with us or against us” paradigm, particularly after such a brutalizing and humiliating victory.

In the country's interest Sri Lanka continued their offensives against the LTTE, until the rebel group was literally wiped off. But the government is yet to pay any attention to the rights of the civilians. It was expected that The Sri Lankan government would set up camps, to provide shelter to thousands of innocent civilians fleeing the war zone. But it never happened. Post-conflict efforts to bring societies together are always burdened with difficulties, particularly in cases of deep racial division. In Sri Lanka the challenge is even greater, because the government denies that ethnicity was the driving factor behind the civil war. After all conflicts, issues of reconciliation and accountability arise. The Lankan government has tried to collapse the two and has said that both can be dealt with through domestic mechanisms. Reconciliation is a more forward-looking process of healing divisions between and within communities.

The way ahead for Sri Lanka

Although reestablishing of cordial relations after long periods of conflict never happens quickly. And in Sri Lanka there is a serious risk that it may not happen at all. The government’s intransigence and triumphalism a full two years after declaring victory over the LTTE has meant the country is yet to see any semblance of compromise or inclusiveness for both the Tamil Hindus and Tamil Muslims. To avoid an eventual return to violence, the government must change course drastically. The 30-year emergency needs to come to an end, and government repression of the media and political opponents must stop. Restoring the rule of law and accountability in the island is essential, as is a political settlement to provide real devolution of power. Attention must also be paid to the many victims of these three decades of war and political violence from all three main ethnic groups – Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. Indeed, rebuilding relations among those communities and getting to a point where each has some real understanding of what the others have gone through should be a central goal. All of this will take years, but the sooner the process starts it’s better for the country- the chances of resumption of another conflict will be less and less.

(The author is Member, Advisory Committee, Airport Authority of India (NSC), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India)

Courtesy:

http://twocircles.net/2012mar29/sri_lanka%E2%80%99s_muslims_caught_crossfire%E2%80%A6.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29

India on Crossroads



Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam views on the policy paralysis in New Delhi.


Over the last couple of weeks the country seems to have gradually slipped into a deeper and deeper political inertia. This is far more evident in the corridors of power in New Delhi than anywhere else.

It’s quite natural that the country’s malaise should be more evident in the national capital than at any other place in India. If you look close you find government making one faux pas after another embarrassing faux pas.

From foreign policy to law-making in Parliament, on no count the government’s actions (and inaction) looks convincing. Important foreign policy moves have been made incorrectly. The country was caught napping while a coup of sorts was being staged in neighbouring Maldives.

This act of omission was compounded by an act of commission, the Indian vote against Sri Lanka in the UN for alleged violation of human rights. Little thought was given to the fact that Indian armed forces have been condemned for similar breaches of human rights violations in the UN in not so distant past.

Important legislation has been pending in Parliament, without the government or Opposition being overly concerned about this.

The disarray and demoralisation is not restricted to the Congress Party and its allies in the UPA, but extends to BJP and its allies. The paralysis of will is total.

As the economy is stalling and decisive action on virtually every issue is being avoided, another scam involving Rs 200,000 crore has surfaced. This swindle involves Muslim Waqf property. Add to this the gathering pace of arrests of Muslim youth, most of the time arbitrary or on flimsy grounds.

Consider in this context the devastating effect of the Army Chief going public with a declaration on the weaknesses of the armed forces at a time when a BRICS summit is on. The Army Chief’s conduct is a new low in the annals of indiscipline in armed forces. In the face of all this, the government is sitting pretty instead of acting quickly to limit the damage. We are passing through a particularly dark moment in the country’s life. It is time to pray for the nation.
 g

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Seminar on codification of Islamic Law held in Chennai

By Shafee Ahmed Ko, for TCN

Chennai: The Muslim Law Academy, Tamil Nadu, organized a seminar on ‘Islamic Law and Essentiality for its Codification’ on 22 March at Hotel Comfort Inn Marina Towers in Chennai.
The guest speaker was Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer while Justice G.M. Akbar Ali, Judge, Madras High Court presided over the program.

Justice Akbar Ali recalled a consultative meeting he attended as an invitee on the subject of Codification in Islamic Law. There were many Ulema and Muslim scholars in the meeting such as Dr. Tahir Mahmood, an expert in Islamic Law who has written several books on the subject. Justice Akbar Ali said all felt the necessity of Codification in Islamic Law within the framework of Holy Quran and Ahadees. He cited how parties contravene the very authenticity of divorce in Islamic Sharia, obtain “fatwas” (edicts) in their own favour.

Women are still denied of many legitimate rights

Dr. Asghar Ali while recapitulating several conflicting fatwas running into controversies amongst most of the Muslims since they are ignorant of authentic principles of Islamic Sharia and its laws, pointed out that very delicate issues of Muslim women remain unresolved. He also explained how Muslim women are burdened with difficult problems in Islamic world in general, and in India in particular due to static viewpoints of Ulema towards Shari’ah law, and most of the legitimate rights are denied to them while the holy Quran is liberal.
The wrong interpretations and misusing of Sharia Laws as rampant triple pronouncement in single sitting are outrageous, he felt. He also pointed out that, there was belief among the Muslim headship that no changes, or modification should be made in a “divine” intention, but in Shah Bano’s case divine law was interfered, government was made to understand and transpose the Supreme Court judgment.

Mehr should be one year’s income of bridegroom

Speaking on the stipulation of the amount of “mehr”, Dr. Engineer emphasized that it should not be less than one year’s income of the bridegroom, and should preferably be in gold or silver or in bank deposit, or in property to avoid inflationary consequences.
On multiple marriages Dr. Engineer said, “If a person wishes to take second wife he would serve a notice to his wife and the marriage council stating clearly the reasons why he wishes to take a second wife and furnishes necessary documents. He would also prove that he is capable of maintaining both the wives with his given means and that he will fulfill the requirement of justice stipulated by the Qur’an.”

Codification draft should be tabled in parliament

Mr. M. Abdul Rahman, Member of Parliament, Vellore Constituency said one has to listen to the learned Ulema since they are the ones who have been qualified as erudite to decide any problem in the light of Islamic Sharia. On codification of Islamic law, he said the final codification draft should be tabled in the Parliament to make a bill and enact as a law.

Couretsy:http://twocircles.net/2012mar24/seminar_codification_islamic_law_held_chennai.html

Fake divorce in Islam,Ijtima,Qiyas, Imams,Shria Laws,Holy Quran,Sunna,Ahadees,Codification Sharia Law

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Asian Centre for Human Rights:Press Release

 (ACHR has Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC)
            C-3/441-C, Janakpuri, New Delhi-110058, India
                  Phone:                         +91-11-25620583            , 25503624
       Email: suhaschakma@achrweb.org: Website: www.achrweb.org


                                               Date: 15 March 2012

                             PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi: The Asian Centre for Human Rights in a letter to Foreign
Minister Shri S M Krishna requested to expel Sri Lankan High Commissioner
to India, Mr Prasad Kariyawasam to convey India’s strong disapproval with
his statement alleging the link of the Indian Members of Parliament with
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a terrorist organisation, in
an interview to The Indian Express yesterday.

“The Members of Parliament have the right to freedom of expression and as
elected public representatives of India, they are empowered to instruct
the Government of India with respect to its foreign policy including as to
how India should vote on specific resolutions at the United Nations. MPs
cutting across the party line intervened in the parliament demanding India
to vote in favour of the United States sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka
at the ongoing 19th Session of the Human Rights Council demanding
accountability from Sri Lankan government”. – stated Mr Suhas Chakma,
Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights.

By demanding investigation from India against all the MPs who spoke in the
parliament for their alleged links with the LTTE, High Commissioner Mr
Kariyawasam has breached diplomatic protocols and lowered the image of
Indian Parliament and the parliamentarians who specifically intervened on
India’s foreign policy matters.

Asian Centre for Human Rights also requested India to vote in favour of
the resolution at the ongoing 19th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
demanding accountability from Sri Lanka.

“It would be extremely unfortunate if India is to be influenced by such
blatant breach of diplomatic protocols and vote against the resolution at
the UN Human Rights Council that demands accountability from the Sri
Lankan government” –further stated Mr Chakma.[Ends]

------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
[For any further information or clarifications, please contact Mr Suhas
Chakma at                         9810893440            ]

Monday, March 5, 2012

CITIZENS FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE


Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.



Partner Sites
  -- Sabrang
  -- Khoj
  -- Indiarightsonline
  -- Muslims for Secular
     Democracy
  -- Peoples Tribunal on
     Jaitapur Nuclear
     Power Project
  -- Right to Information
     for All

News Letters
 -- April 2005
 -- March 2006
 -- Sept. 2008

Press Release
Terror attack condemned

(July 14, 2011)
A Statement by the Citizens for Justice and Peace, Communalism Combat, 
Muslims for Secular Democracy


Report of the
National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities
Part 1 (Pdf)       Part 2 (Pdf)



Backgrounders
  List of Prosecution,    
  defence witnesses
(pdf)
  Chart for the
  identification of
  the accused
(pdf)
  Chart for the
  identification of
  the weapon
 (pdf)
  List of accused  (pdf)
  Contradictory statements  
  by Zahira and family
(pdf)
  Zahira Speak  (pdf)
  Hostile witnesses:    (pdf)
  Criminal consequences
 
  Modi on NHRC, CJ  (pdf)
  Pending petition for  (pdf)
  re- investigation, transfer
  No appeals  (pdf)
 Partisan prosecutors (pdf)
 Partisan Investigation (pdf)
 Vadodara witnesses (pdf)
  Case History
 Supreme court  
  judgement
(Mar 8, '06)
  Mazgaon (Mumbai)
  session court
 
  judgement
 
(Full Judgement)  
 ( Feb 24, '06)
  Mazgaon (Mumbai)
  session court
 
  judgement
 (Feb 24, '06)
  SC Judgement: transfer
  and  retrial in Mumbai

 
(April 12, '04)
  SC order expunging
  remarks against
  Teesta, Mihir
  Gujarat HC order
  Dec. 26, '03/Jan 12, '04
  CJP and Zahira file
  SLP in SC
(Aug. 8, '03)
  Zahira/CJP press  
  conference in Mumbai

  (July 7, '03)
  Sessions Court
  Judgement, Vadodara

  (June 27, '03)

News Letter March 2006
Crime Against
Humanity
Gujarat Riots
 Concerned Citizens Tribunal Report
Crime Against
Humanity

( Abridged Version)


Fatwa on Terrorism issued by Mufti Fuzail-ur-Rahman Hilal Usmani
(Pronounced in person at a Public Meeting, “Citizens Against Terror”, organized by Citizens for Justice and Peace, Muslims for Secular Democracy and others in Mumbai on July 27, 2006).
Text of Fatwa: Hindi | Urdu | Marathi | Gujarati
Statement of Condemnation
(Mumbai Blast)
          

Sardarpura Massacre
Zakia Jafri Case


Time Line and Chronology
Press Release of CJP
SC Order Sept. 12, 2011
                                      More...

     Prominent Gujarat Citizens Protest SIT's
      reported intentions to File Closure Report -
      Zakia Jafri/CJP Case
(Feb. 6, 2012) 
                                      
Media Coverage

      Zakia moves Supreme Court to protest
         SIT ‘inaction'
(The Hindu,  Jan. 8, 2012)


       Amicus report lays the ground for  
        chargesheeting Narendra Modi

       (Samachar.com,  Oct. 24, 2011)


      'Book Gujarat cops for neglect during riots'  
        
(The Indian Express,  Oct. 23, 2011)
      Amicus report lays the ground for
        chargesheeting Narendra Modi

       
(The Hindu,  Oct. 23, 2011)  
VINDICTIVENESS OF THE GUJARAT STATE

Subversion of the Indian Constitution
Memorandum to the Governor
On 17.8.2011, a delegation of eminent citizens of Gujarat and Mumbai met the Governor of Gujarat and apprised her of the cynical subversion of the  Constitutional Machinery and Constitutional Mandate within the State. 

 
  Memo To Governor
    Annexure 2


   Illegal and Malafide Summons against Teesta  Setalvad Quashed by Gujarat High Court
(
May 27, 2011)

      Response to Alleged accusations by
        Smt Yasmin Shaikh
      Attemtpts At Intimidation Continue (March 25, 11)
      Bar notice: Ex-CM says his law licence
        expired long ago







Statement before the CEDAW Committee,
New York, July 19, 2010


Teesta Setalvad, Secretary Citizens for Justice and Peace
Press Meet (March 23, 2011)




Lend your Voice to Our Struggle
Eighth Anniversary of the Gujarat Genocide 2002




July 28, 2008
CJP Condemns Blasts
   Terror Attack on Samjhauta Express -
Press Release
(19/02/2007)
   Human Rights and the Rule of Law: Mob Terror, State Terror and Bomb Terror -- Organised by Citizens for Justice and Peace, Communalism Combat, Mumbai  (21/12/06)
 

The end of impunity

By Teesta Setalvad


Press Release

   The Citizens for Justice and Peace
     Official Response to PTI 
(Oct. 13, 2011)


      SC slams Modi govt for 'spurious' case
    against Teesta Setalvad

    (Times of India, Feb. 21, 2012)

      Electoral mandate, fake encounters and Rule of Law - By RB Sreekumar

Former Gujarat CM accuses Modi of
complicity in 2002 Riots

HAREN PANDYA MURDER:
Political Assassination or Revenge Killing?

IPS officer accuses Modi of instigating Gujarat riots
(Star News April 21, 2011)
Read affidavit


Media Reports on Gujarat Cases

   Incredible impunity
    
(Livemint.com, February 29, 2012)

   A verdict, finally
     (The Frontline, December 16, 2011)

   Gujarat riots case: 31 get life for torching
     33 including 11 children

     (The Indian Express, November 10, 2011)

   Raju: Charge Modi for provocative
     speeches
(Outlook, Oct. 22, 2011)

   Book Modi for ’02 hate speeches’
     (The Times of India,  Oct. 6, 2011)

   A Few Good Men Wearing Khaki—And
     Modi’s Handcuffs
(Outlook, Oct. 24, 2011)

   The Cop With The Key
    
(Outlook, Oct. 17, 2011)

   Gujarat’s Decade under Modi
     (Oct. 7, 2011)

   Telling the wrong story
     (The Times of India,  Oct. 6, 2011)

   ‘Modi to blame if Bhatt harmed’
    
(Mail Today,  Oct. 4, 2011)

   “Whither rule of law in Gujarat?”
     
(The Hindu,  Oct. 2, 2011)  

        Click here for more

  Exodus of Gujarat IPS Officers
from State
 
(News X, August 13, 10)

2002 riots: Another police
officer blames Modi

(IBNLive, June 6, 11)

> INDIA REACTS
      (EPW, March 12, 2011)
-- V.R. Krishna Iyer  (The Hindu, September 1, 2010)



 
GODHRA: Police Assault Minority Women

     NCW team to probe Godhra assaults
      
(The Hindu)  (Jan. 22, 2010)

     NCW team visits Godhra to probe complaints
       into police torture
 (The Indian Express)
      
(Jan. 22, 2010)

PRESS RELEASE
     A Healthier and Safer Mumbai!!! 
Two Ambulances at Sion and Marine Lines Station

(November 26, 2009) 



To bid for the Charity Auction click here  

November 28, 2008

22 November 2007
Venue: Saudi Arabia Consulate, Cuff Parade, Mumbai

 Gujarat riot victims to get Rs 7 lakh: Centre

-- The Indian Express (27/11/06)



Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)
,
a citizens' group committed to the rule of law, was formed in Mumbai
on April 1, 2002 following the terrible communal carnage in Gujarat.
Calendar Of Achievements

(April 2002-February 2006)
CJP’s activities in the last 4 years have been focussed on legal interventions to ensure justice for the victims and punishment for the perpetrators of the Gujarat genocide.
Success Stories So Far:
1. Reluctant CM made to spend extra crores on relief

Action: Petition in Gujarat High Court (April 2002) to make the state government provide and pay for adequate relief to the 1.7 lakh people rendered homeless and destitute; petitions against government officials coercing relief camp managers into closing their camps even when victims have nowhere to go.

Result: High Court orders ensure that many relief camps stay open until September-October 2002; a highly reluctant state government made to spend several additional crores on relief measures.
2. ‘Modi chief author and architect of genocide’: Tribunal

Action: CJP sets up a Concerned Citizens Tribunal headed by three retired SC and Mumbai High Court judges for a citizens’ probe into the carnage (May 2002).

Result: The Tribunal’s 3-volume report, ‘Crime Against Humanity’ (November 2002) that remains the most incisive document on the genocidal violence in Gujarat. Its recommendations have triggered a national campaign for institutional reform to prevent mass crimes in future.

3. SC Orders Transfer And Retrial Of Best Bakery Case

Action: CJP petitions the SC along with Zahira Sheikh, asking for a retrial of the Best Bakery massacre case outside Gujarat (August 2003).

Results: SC decides to monitor the progress of ALL the carnage related cases, appoints an amicus curiae (October 2003).

q In a historic and unprecedented judgement (April 2004), SC orders retrial of the Best Bakery case outside Gujarat (in Maharashtra).
q The DGP of Gujarat is directed (August 2004) to reopen and review the over 2,000 incidents of violence that had been closed by the state police.
4. No votes over dead bodies

Action: CJP submits a detailed and a well-documented memorandum and leads delegation of victims to the Chief Election Commissioner, Lyngdoh, challenging the Gujarat government’s claim that the situation in Gujarat was normal to ensure a free and fair trial. (August 2002).

Result: CEC rejects the Gujarat government’s claim of normalcy and orders postponement of polls. Subsequently, when the CEC's decision was challenged in the SC, CJP filed written arguments before the Constitutional bench opposing snap polls in Gujarat.
5. Godhra victims’ kin, too, repose faith in CJP

Action: Four families from Ahmedabad, each of whom had lost one or more family member in coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express train tragedy at Godhra, approach CJP for legal assistance. CJP files an application in SC (October 2003) for a retrial of the Godhra arson case outside Gujarat as the affected families did not expect to get justice in the state.

Result: The Godhra trial is stayed by the SC. The plea for re-investigation and transfer is pending.
6. Guilty cop Pandey shunted out of CBI

Action: CJP petitions SC (April 2004), challenging the NDA government’s malafide promotion and transfer of former Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, PC Pandey (whose own role during the carnage needs investigation), as Deputy Director, CBI.

Result: The Union government moves PC Pandey out of the CBI (October 2004).

7. Compensation to victims of terrorism in J&K

Action: On the request of the families concerned, CJP pursues the J&K government asking for expeditious payment of compensation to the Mumbai-based Chandrakant Shah and Nirav Vakharia whose family members were killed or seriously injured in the bomb blast in a hotel in Pahalgam, Kashmir (June 2004).

Result: The affected families receive timely compensation.


 

| About CJP || Home || Feedback |http://www.cjponline.org/