National Alliance of Peoples' Movements: "Restrain the nuclear hawks!" The testing of these destructive weapons on the day of birth and Nirvana of Buddha has added a sad irony to the process... We, the people's movements and the people working for a sustainable, equitable and humane social-economic order unequivocally condemn the ill- advised step by the Government of India and call for an immediate halt to any such military adventurism in the guise of nationalism.
India has been isolated in the world community because of these nuclear tests. No doubt, the strident reaction by the rich
K.C.
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee does not hide his roots in the fascistic National and nuclear weapon nations is mostly an example of double standards about atomic Volunteer Force (RSS). His communalist vision of Hindutva India means class war. weapons. However, that does not justify India's following them. In fact, powerholders in India have only given [western] nuclear powers greater legitimacy.
Besides, a large number of non-nuclear countries from all parts of the world have made their disagreement known. India has betrayed the trust and expectations of the peoples all over the World, including those in India, of playing a leading role in a peaceful, nuclear weapons free international relations. After Independence, India has taken a principled stand against nuclear weapons and general militarization of the globe.
India's moral and political power in international politics was largely dependent upon such principled stand and pursuit of a new international economic and political order. This stand has been paying short term and immediate dividends to our country in the international community.
All along these years, the international community has been taking the Indian view seriously and has mostly adopted a tough posture towards the tantrums by Pakistan. That apart, India has forfeited the opportunity and historical responsibility to lead the march towards a more humane, peaceful world. We too have become the part of the Global Market of the Military-Industrial complex.
The nuclear tests are being justified on account of national pride and glory. The real glory would have been the availability of clean drinking water, housing, employment, minimum health services and opportunities for education. The Government, rattled by the political squabbles and unwieldy economic situation sought a convenient way out for diverting attention from the basic issues by projecting an issue which has nothing to do with the basic problems of this country or of interblotted the image and moral-political authority of India in World Politics.
We appeal to people in India not to fall prey to the frenzy of pseudo-nationalism that is being sought to be whipped up by the Government and all the protagonists of the Bomb. We appeal to all political parties not to be a party to rationalising the act. The people in India alongwith the conscientious people from all parts of the world must try to restrain the nuclear weapon nations in the world and the powerholders in India who pursue hawkish policies while paying lip service to "Peace, Disarmament, Nuclear weapons free world". It is the people's power which can counter any attempts for destructive nuclear power and weapons. * © National Alliance of Peoples Movements, May 14 * The National Alliance of Peoples Movements brings together over 100 different movements and groups. The largest and most active include Narmada Bachao Andolan, National Fishworkers" Forum, Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Azadi Bachao Andolan, Pennurimai lyakkam, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangh, Sarva Seva Sangh, Ganga Mukti Andolan, and Himalaya Bachao Andolan.
Ju2 913)
CPI: "No sacrifice in
the name of resisting
sanctions!"
While mounting an aggressive antiChina campaign in his letter to the US President, the Prime Minister has deliberately ignored the long-standing threat perception of India concerning the US nuclear military base in Diego Garcia. This Indian Ocean island base has been used by the USA in the Gulf war and its weapons have a range that cover India. Such deliberate silence about imperialist military manoeuvres and support to antiIndian extremist activities reflects the pro-imperialist shift in Indian policy. Increased tensions in South Asia will enable USA to actively intervene in the region. No to Western sanctions!
We strongly protest against the sanc tions being imposed on India by the western powers. The nuclear weapon states and others who have all along supported an unequal and discriminatory nuclear order in the world have no right, moral or otherwise, to impose sanctions on India. All sections of the people will unitedly reject any intimidatory tactics directed against India
The people of the country will not tolerate further attacks on their livelihood through further "liberalisation" and opening up of the economy to foreign capital in the name of combating the sanctions. Already the government has announced the decision to offer counter guarantees to three multinational companies for power projects.
Accelerating this disastrous course will not combat the effect of sanctions but on the contrary, will make India more vulnerable to imperialist economic pressures jeopardising the country's economic sovereignty and simultaneously, imposing greater burdens on the working people The arms race, at the same time, will both divert scarce resources away from compelling economic needs and divert people's attention away from pressing problems. * © Communist Party of India (Marxist), May 15.
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION:
national politics.
The adventurist step will definitely provide alibi and legitimacy for forces like
Pakistan and China to unabashedly pursue their gregarious designs. This will further destabilise the security environment in the
South Asian region and it has further
Pierre Rousset
23
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* India
People's Democracy
(CPM) Editorial
A setback to India's peace-loving stance The BJP-led government has finally gone ahead and implemented its agenda in exercising the nuclear option and going towards inducting nuclear weapons. Such a major shiit in the country's nuclear policy has been taken by a government that has a precariously narrow majority.
Since the first nuclear test in 1974, India had all along taken the position that it will build its independent capability but keep the options open. This stand was taken with the full confidence and preparation by the Indian scientists that the option can be exercised the moment India perceives a nuclear threat. By keeping the option open India had conveyed to the world its unflinching commitment to the process of universal nuclear disarmament.
At the same time, India had correctly refused to be party to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) since these treaties were loaded in favour of the already existing nuclear powers and hence discriminatory. India firmly resisted imperialist pressures and safeguarded our sovereign right to decide on these issues guided solely by the country's interest.
This accepted policy was also a reflection of India's commitment that it shall not be the one which will initiate a nuclear arms race in the subcontinent which has grave and far-reaching consequences both for the subcontinent and South Asia.
Further, unless pressed into a situation in the paramount interests of our national security, which is non-negotiable, India would keep the nuclear option open and thus allow a large portion of its national resources to be available for developing much needed social infrastructure of its people, in eliminating hunger, poverty,
Having assumed power at the Centre, the BJP-led government had informed the country that a comprehensive and strategic review of India's security concerns will be undertaken and on the basis of such a review the decision on exercising our nuclear option would be made. But by unilaterally conducting these tests, simultaneous with the successful launching of the Trishul missile, India has indicated to the world that it has both the bombs and the delivery system. One indication of the government's thinking was reflected in the Defence Minister's strident anti-China campaign. The bellicose statements were actually a build up to making the bomb. Thus, the BJP-led government has betrayed its own assurance to the country by taking a decision of such import without the promised review.
Such a decision may jeopardise the recent advances made at India's initiative, in improving good neighbourly relations in the sub-continent. It also puts under question India's long standing role as a champion of universal peace and disarmament as well as a leader of the third world countries efforts for disarmament and development. "Proud of our scientists"
It is clear that the BJP government was motivated by concerns other than India's security. That India always had the capacity to make the bomb and that the Indian scientists have made the country proud by their indigenous capabilities was never under any doubt. It is these efforts over the last 24 years that have made it possible for such tests to take place.
But in exercising the nuclear option, the BJP-led government was obviously guided by its strident jingoism which dovetails with its ideological outlook. In doing so, the BJP seeks to on the one hand, divert the people's attention away from the fast deteriorating conditions of livelihood and on the other, whip up an arms race in the subcontinent with strong communal overtones.
Such tensions in the subcontinent and diversion of national resources away from basic socio-economic development can be appreciated if there is indeed a grave threat to India's security. What has transpired within the two months since the BJP assumed power which warrants such a drastic shift in our security perceptions? This is a question that the BJP has to answer to the Indian people. Chauvinist strategy
That the interests of national security were not the main concern of the BJP in going ahead with these tests is buttressed by the latest issue of the RSS mouthpiece Organiser which is dedicated to India making the bomb and whipping up chauvinism as an answer to all problems that the Indian people face. It is not a mere coincidence that this issue of the Organiser appears simultaneously when the tests were being conducted. Further, the BJP has now decided to observe May 16 as a day of celebration of 25 years of the 1974 nuclear tests. By whipping up such jingoism the
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The Maoist project tested in the struggle for power
Pierre Rousset
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Do the workers have a country?
BJP seeks to consolidate its rule at the expense of the Indian people and negate India's long standing and acknowledged contribution to international politics for a long lasting durable peace on this planet.
Behind the veneer of whipped-up national jingoism, all patriots must seriously consider the BJP's plan in consolidating itself in power and implementing a communal agenda that poses a serious threat to India's existence as a modern, peace-loving, secular democratic nation.
by José riarte "Bikila"
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The Gulf War and the New World Order
André Gunder Frank and Salah Jaber (72 pages A4]
24 International Viewpoint #301
India's patriotic secular democratic opinion must ensure that the country continues to adhere to its unequivocal commitment to universal nuclear disarmament no first use of nuclear weapons; not to ac celerate a nuclear arms race in the region and for durable peace and security South Asia and the world. This is partic larly necessary when imperialism wow now seek to mount new pressure on lindi
Standing up against the N-tests
Despite a massive jingoistic media monopoly has no right to impose
® PECI, PO Box 85, 75522 Paris, cedex 11 France e-mail 100666.1443@compuserve.com fax 331/43792961
46 2лолодл, тл. 9719048. Editor and director: Yannis Felekis, Eressou 34, 106 81 Athens, Greece. Printed by loannis Kotsatos & Cia, Marinou Antipa 4, 163 46 Ilioupoli,
However, the western nuclear powers and all those who support an unequal nuclear order, as reflected in the NPT and CTBT, have no right moral or otherwise, campaign in favour of the bomb tests, a range of progressive organisanctions on India".
It asked the government to oppose the sations have condemned the tests, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, initiate to impose sanctions on India, which will be resisted at all costs. *
This editorial was published in the CPM weekly newspaper People's Democracy on May 17 and appealed to the population not to "fall prey to pseudo-nationalism".
Several members of the National Democratic Front joined a protest in Parliament a mobilisation of nations for universal nuclear disarmament, and act as a
The National Alliance of People's Movements also condemned the tests, and
Chairman B K Prasad condemned the region. "The minority government is not given a democratic mandate to take such drastic steps and play with the right adventurism in the guise of nationalism"
power-holders in India had provided legitimacy to the nuclear power states which had double standards. The view which people"
sion of the BJP government, formation of therefore outdated and irrelevant. The This major policy declaration is fraught with serious consequences. The Left parties are of the categorical opinion that making of nuclear bombs and weaponry at this juncture is unwarranted and contrary to the interests of the country. There is no direct nuclear threat posed by any country against India which necessitates such a step.
The BJP-led government has taken this drastic decision on its own without even caring to discuss with the national political parties. The Prime Minister is now promising to call a meeting of opposition leaders on the eve of the budget session of Parliament after making the BJP's own policy a fait accompli. ...
The Left parties demand that the BJPled government immediately stop the talk of nuclear weaponisation. It must take steps to restore the process of improvement of relations with our neighbours and rely upon the sound policy India has been pursuing of working for nuclear disarmament while safeguarding India's security interests by not signing any discriminatory treaties like the NPT and the CTBT. * Joint statement issued on May 16.
International Viewpoint
of livelihood of the citizens of the world", he said. The NDF has called for suspena national government, a joint parliamentary session for deciding the future course of action and for India's signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
The Student's Federation of India condemned the Vajpayee government for "backtracking" from the policy of nuclear disarmament and for not divulging the reason for the necessity for undertaking tests. It said the BJP's decision was "deliberate," and "guided by electoral interest." According to a SFI statement, the government's move was an appeal to national chauvinism and directed to promote ultra-nationalism, characterised by anti-democratic, communal and intrinsically belligerent ideology of the BJP and RSS.
The SFI also condemned the US government for imposing sanctions. It urged the student community to oppose the "immoral act of imperialism" which had outraged the sovereignty of India. "The secretariat emphatically states that the USA, a country owning nuclear vested India with the "historical responsibility" to lead the nations to a peace was "real glory" lay in providing basic minimum services to the Indian people - which the government had conveniently diverted The bomb tests would provide an alibi and legitimacy to Pakistan and China to pursue their "gregarious designs". It appealed to people not to fall prey to the "frenzy of pseudo-nationalism"
Ignoring numerous threats, nearly 400 people participated in the 16 May rally in Delhi under the banner of Movement Against Nuclear Weapons
The organisers included the National Alliance of Peoples Movements, Sampradyikta Virodhi Andolan, Janwadi Adhikar Manch, All India Peoples Resistance Forum, Saheli, the historians Tonika and Sumit Sarkar, and the anti-nuclear journalists Praful Bidwai and Achin Vanaik. A Memorandum was prepared calling upon the government to stop testing and abandon the programme to make India a nuclear weapon state. [BS/JD] * Source: International Viewpoint staff, using materials from Statesman News Service
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CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Street, New Delhi on May 15th. NDF called for an immediate halt to "military Forward Bloc: "Clear government for inviting arms race in the By this, a NAPM spokesperson said, the contempt for the
* India rascists
By B. Skanthakumar
On 6th December 1992 the destruction of a Muslim place of worship which allegedly stood on the site of a long destroyed Hindu temple in the city of Ayodhya sparked off the worst communal riots since Partition in 1947, accompanied by revenge attacks against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The perpetrators of this atrocity and prime instigators of the orgy of violence which followed were members of the Sangh Parivar - a 'family' of Hindu communalist organisations including the Bharatiya Janata Party (now in power), Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena and the "family's" patriarch, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS -National Volunteer Corps).
The Indian Left had warned for many years of the menace posed to secularism and democracy by these forces but even it, perhaps especially it, was taken aback by the ferocity of the violence, the supine response of the state and the overt sympathy and sometimes downright collaboration of the police and bureaucracy.
Suddenly, 'Fascism' which "appeared till the other day a mere epithet, worn out by overmuch, indiscriminate use" (Sumit Sarkar) now stalked the streets of India.