Narmada Samachar: 20 September 2001

Headlines

• Struggle goes to Mumbai
• Narmada Bachao Andolan and Friends of River Narmada condemn the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C.
• Baba Amte joins the Ichampally Dam struggle
• WCD Debate
• Other News and Articles

All this (and more) news can be accessed via the Press Clippings page at:
     http://www.narmada.org/pressclippings.html
The NBA press releases are accessible at:
     http://www.narmada.org/pressrelease.html

Archives of Narmada Samachar are accessible at:
     http://www.narmada.org/scripts/subscribe.html

NBA's statement

From the Press Release of September 12 at: http://www.narmada.org/nba-press-releases/september-2001/mah.state.cp.demands.html

NBA is shocked at the tragic events in the United States of America, where thousands of innocent civilians are dead because of violence. We extend our condolences to the families who lost their dear ones. NBA has always denounced violence. While mourning the loss of precious life, we believe the time has come for the world to introspect. If the biggest super power in the world with the most sophisticated military and the most expensive intelligence gathering mechanism can be so vulnerable to attack, surely the emphasis on building weaons of mass destruction as a "deterrent" is absurd. The USA has also been guilty of atrocities in many parts of the world including Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Viet Nam and the Gulf. It also consumes a huge proportion of the world's resources while creating dependence in the rest of the world. Instead of reacting merely in anger to the terrorist attack if a process of introspection begins, with emphasis on reconciliation and dialogue, the world will be able to recover from this moment of madness.

Let us denounce violence in any form by any country.

Statement by Friends of River Narmada

The Friends of River Narmada condemns the violent attacks and mass murder at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and near Pittsburgh, PA on September 11th. That act of terror was a crime against humanity. Many people have been affected by the events directly and indirectly through personal losses or those of friends, relatives, co-workers, and acquaintances. To all of those thus affected, here in the US and everywhere across the world, we offer our condolences and express our solidarity.

The anguish and rage being felt by many deeply affected by this tragedy is understandable. However, at the same time, we feel that reacting to the situation on the basis of this rage and anguish will be truly tragic for the world at large. We believe that a violent response to the events in an attempt to root out terrorism will only worsen the problem and continue the cycle of violence.

These are trying times for everyone that test our resolve, convictions, ideologies, and moral courage. It is in such trying times that we need to be strong and assert a respect for all human life. Consequently, we urge everyone to search out peaceful ways of responding to the situation. The problems of terrorism that face us are truly global and therefore, the struggle against terrorism (of all kinds, whether conducted by individuals, groups, or by nations) must be conducted by engaging the wider global community and global institutions.

Moreover, we believe that there is a historical context for everything that happens in the world. Therefore, any long-term realistic solutions to the problem will need an examination of the historical context and the role of the US and other countries in leading up to the current tragedy.

Further, we also call upon all to rally around in support of ethnic groups who are being attacked in the aftermath of the tragedy. Targetting entire ethnic groups for the acts committed by a few is unbecoming of tolerant and diverse communities. We wish and hope that local and global communities show sensitivity in their actions as we collectively cope with what has happened and search for long-lasting solutions to a peaceful world.