Frontline

Jan- Feb 2002 
Breaking Barriers


Pakistanis light a candle for peace

Alarmed at the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, ordinary citizens of Karachi assembled twice in late December 01 and again in January 02 to express their concern at the escalating war-mongering on the subcontinent and to urge restraint by the governments of both countries. The initiative was taken by peace loving citizens in Karachi, who met recently at a private residence to voice their feelings on the subject of growing militancy and tension between the two neighbours, India and Pakistan. They decided to provide a platform for individuals, NGOs, labour and human right organisations under the banner of ‘CITIZENS FOR PEACE’.

Citizens for Peace welcome the participation at the rally of any and everybody who agrees on the following one-point agenda: "We urge India and Pakistan to exercise reason and restraint, reduce tension at the borders and solve their problems through a peaceful dialogue." The first rally on December 31, saw individuals as well as various rights groups participating. It has been planned as the first of various ‘peace actions’; follow up actions discussed include similar rallies at different venues of the city and it’s neighbourhood on the issue of war and peace.

Those attending the Dec 31st rally wore white (or some item of white clothing) and carried a white candle. Many participants also brought white flags, white balloons and white cardboard doves for display, but there were no banners other than relating to the one point agenda agreed on. A signature campaign for peace was also initiated along the lines of the _Cloth banner campaign_ undertaken in Lahore and Islamabad to protest the nuclearisation of South Asia. A second attempt at mobilisation by residents of Karachi took place on January 7 and January 19; the Karachi police had tried to disrupt protesters gathered in support of sanity and peace on January 7.

 

Peace vigils

Global Vigils for Peace between Pakistan and India are being planned all over the world. These Vigils for Peace will be organised on the last Sunday of every month from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (local time).

Hundreds of Vigils are expected to be organised in different countries every month. It is hoped that these combined initiatives, organised regularly, all over the world will give an opportunity to people to raise their voice for Peace collectively and will have some impact on influencing the leadership in both countries to initiate dialogue and bring Peace to the Sub-Continent.

We request you to organise Vigils for Peace in your area by involving individuals, groups and organisations interested in promoting Peace.

If you plan to organise the Vigil for Peace in your area, we request you to send us the information or post it directly on the website: www. peopleforpeace.info so that people all over the world can be informed of your programme. The core demands around which the global peace vigils are being organised are that Pakistan and India should :

Ø Open up all communication and travel links between the two countries

Ø Immediately sign a No War Pact.

Ø Set up a Permanent Dialogue Process.
(For continuous and uninterrupted negotiations to settle all outstanding issues including the issues of Kashmir by also involving the people of Kashmir on both sides of the border, cross border terrorism etc.).

Ø End the nuclear arms race and reverse it. Actively engage in Global Nuclear Disarmament efforts towards making the planet free of nuclear weapons.

Ø Immediately establish trade and commerce links.

The first Global Vigils for Peace Between Pakistan and India were organised on January 27, 02 in many cities and town in Pakistan, India and other parts of the world by a number of groups and organisations. From reports collected until January 29, the first round of flobal vigils saw sombre, determined and colourful assemblies at Karachi and Rawalpindi in Pakistan, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Saharanpur, Bangalore, Panjim Goa, Bhopal, Vishakapatnam, Warangal, Nellore, Mahaboob Nagar, Cuddapah and Bhootpur in India and Livermore, California, San Francisco and Harvard Square in Cambridge in USA.

We urge that you join in the global movement for peace on the subcontinent and organise a vigil on the last Sunday of the month in your town, city village or region.

Admiral Ramdas, Vithal Rajan, Mazher Hussain

                


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