July
7, 2005
Press Release
Violence is not the Answer
Communalism Combat, Muslims for Secular
Democracy, People’s Union for Human Rights [PUHR]
and We The People---National Campaign in Defence of Democracy
condemn the terror and violence unleashed by terrorists on the
people of London through a series of bomb explosions yesterday. Such
mindless violence generates not just fear and anger but also seeks
to divide people as hatreds and suspicions surface. We salute the
citizens of London today, New York yesterday and Bombay [now Mumbai]
a dozen years ago who have responded with courage and stoicism in
the face of such terror.
Ironically, the spokespersons of this terror, speaking in the name
of Islam, just like after 9/11 claim to voice the protest of the
oppressed against the oppressor West. They have, however, by these
terror tactics succeeded in further hardening the stand of the
powerful western powers who have since, justified the shocking
invasions of Afghanistan and the Iraq war and as bad or worse,
implemented repressive laws within their countries.
The politics of the western powers especially those led by the
United States of America have been extremely unequal, repressive and
exploitative not just in the oil-rich middle east but also in
Africa and Asia. However, we feel that in no way are such mindless
acts of terror going to ever really resolve the issue of the
inequity of resources and economic and political exploitation. The
struggle against this repression, longer and more painful as that
road may seem, will have to be through sustained struggles that are
essentially peaceful, yet strong. This kind of Terrorism is
unacceptable under any circumstances
While unequivocally condemning these terror bomb attacks, we appeal
to all those in power in all parts of the world, to seize this
opportunity to chart afresh a path of growth and development that is
enriched by values of egalitarianism, justice, empowerment for all
and not use this to further militarise nations, arm people
and promote a culture of violence. Control and the exercise of
power through brute force have been the international norm taking us
in the twenty-first century to a point wherein though dialogue and
negotiations are spoken about, military invasions, wars, bombings
are resorted to. Ordinary civilians of all nationalities have been
made mute victims to the politics of the terror-driven and powerful.
Is this kind of politics ever going to stop and which part of the
world will lead the way???
Javed Akhtar
Shabana Azmi
Teesta Setalvad
Javed Anand
Dr Kumar Saptarshi
Dolphy D’Souza
Gulam Pesh-Imam