Indian Communal Riots: Memo

Memorandum: Gujrat Communal Riots

To: His Excellency – Prime Minister of India Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee
From: Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal, Johannesburg, South Africa Tel: +27 11 373 8000
Central Islamic Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa Tel: +27 11 833 2137
Lenasia Muslim Association, Lenasia, South Africa Tel: +27 11 854 2486
Jamiatul Ulama (KwaZulu-Natal), Durban, South Africa Tel: +27 31 306 7786
Muslim Judicial Council, Cape Town, South Africa Tel: + 27 21 696 5150
Date: 13 March 2002
Subject: Memorandum: Gujrat Communal Riots
We, the abovementioned, representatives of the Muslim community of South Africa, wish to express our dissatisfaction and concern at the manner in which the Indian government is applying itself in solving the conflict raging between the Hindu majority and the Muslim minority citizens of India. It has been reported that over 800 people have lost their lives in the conflagration, and destruction to property is estimated at approximately Rs30 billion. This is quite shocking.
We wish to further state that:
1.	We strongly condemn the recent spate of violence in the State of Gujrat, India, abhor the wanton and indiscriminate destruction of life and property, and call upon the Indian government to take immediate measures to contain the violence and restore peace and tolerance in the community.
2.	India boasts the largest democracy in the world, but its ineffectiveness in upholding the pivots of democracy like justice, and protection of its citizens, have brought its ability under question. Its inability to quell violent outbreaks by extremist organizations, and the increasing frequency of civil unrest in recent years tarnishes India’s claim as a leading champion of democracy.
3.	Reports of complicity of the Indian army and police as well as certain mechanisms like the Press and the Justice Ministry, and their deliberate withholding of protection of its sizable and small minority citizens, is most disturbing and unacceptable to all decent human beings.
4.	The failure of your government to uphold its pledge to resolve the Babri Masjid issue, and to curb religious sentimentalism and extremism over the issue, is indeed seen as the driving force to the present violence and killings.
5.	The escalating civil unrest in India can negatively impact upon Muslim-Hindu relationship all over the world. In South Africa, a country proud of its reconciliation record, Muslim and Hindu communities live in peace. We have proved that Hindus and Muslims can live in harmony and can respect each other. We would certainly not want this harmony to be affected.
5.	The father of “passive resistance,” Mahatma Gandhi, preached that the violent rift between Hindus and Muslims is not in the national interest of India.
7.	It is part of Indian culture and religion that the spilling of animal blood is not acceptable. The recent riots have now condoned the spilling of human blood.
8.	South Africa has demonstrated to the world how different races can live in peace and harmony together for the betterment of mankind amongst one another. Indeed, India has more years of experience in the democratic process, but has failed to champion the cause of peaceful coexistence amongst its communities. We respectfully urge you to take a peaceful branch from the South African experience.
9.	South Africa uses its Human Rights Commission, its exceptional constitution championing human rights, the most independent judiciary in the world, and other non-governmental and governmental organizations to foster peace and tolerance in our country. It adheres to all national and international protocols and human rights agreements and vigorously applies these principles to its ordinary citizens in the promotion of inter-communal tolerance and peace.
10.	South Africa regularly uses the media in all its facets to send out messages of peace amongst the different races and promotes inter-community and interdenominational dialogue amongst its citizens.
11.	In addition, the criminalising of conduct inspired by religious intolerance/disrespect, coupled with severe punishment, will serve as a deterrent.
We once more appeal to the conscience of the Government of India to take appropriate measures to quell the inter-community uprising, wanton loss of life and property, and promote civil harmony based on the rule of law, thus bringing about peace and tolerance amongst its diverse citizens.

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