From: 'The News' - on Sunday,
Lahore, June 6 1999
'WAR IS NO SOLUTION'by Mohammed Farooq
Following the Indian nuclear test of May 11 last year, ruling elites on both
sides of the border created a 'nuclear euphoria'. And on the eve of
Pakistan's test, it appeared that the nation had a consensus on going
nuclear. But there were voices opposing the nuclear tests in both countries.
A year after the blasts the government tried to revive the May '98 nuclear
euphoria. The state-controlled electronic media and a big section of press
blinded by years of anti-India indoctrination lent the government a helping
hand in glorifying nuclearism.
Lahore was made a hub of celebration. Triumphal demos, rallies, banners,
posters all contributed to the impression that Lahore had gone nuclear-mad.
But this was not so &emdash; as proved by the hundreds of peace activists on May 27
at a demonstration at Faisal Chowk opposite Punjab Assembly building.
It was an interesting sight. Faisal Chowk was decorated with banners
congratulating the nation for its nuclear achievement, along with a
larger-than-life hoarding of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. All this was in
marked contrast to the over 300 peace demonstrators chanting Bomb nahin roti
chahiay, bomb nahin taleem chahiay (Bread not bombs, education not bombs).
Their slogans were given impetus by the declaration of the Punjab law
minister just days, that demanding education and bread and not bombs are
'anti-nation' slogans.
The demo organised by Labour Party Pakistan in collaboration with Communist
Mazdoor Kissan Party was represented by a cross-section of society.
Political parties, community based organisations, trade unions, student
unions &emdash; all were represented.
Interestingly, many passers-by thought the demo was pro-nuclear, given the
surroundings, and only those who managed to read the placards realised what
it was about. After half an hour of peaceful demonstration and slogan
chanting, there were speeches.
Addressing the participants, renowned Left leader Tahira Mazhar Ali
regretted the celebration at a time when people driven by economic hardship,
were committing suicides. "It's sheer madness. We need bread not bombs. We
need housing, clothing, education and a nuclear free region", she said. "Is
it hunger, poverty and suicides that the rulers are celebrating?"
She demanded an immediate end to the nuclear race in the region.
Farooq Tariq General Secretary Labour Party Pakistan was critical of Punjab
Law Minister Raja Bhasharat who had termed the peace activists as traitors.
He said, "May 28 is being observed in Balochistan as a black day, the
province where the blast took place. Sind has also boycotted the so-called
celebration organized by the government. This demo at the Mall Road proves
that working class, CBOs, trade unions and students of Punjab do not approve
of the celebration."
He criticized Punjab welfare minister Pir Benyamin for harassing and
blackmailing non-governmental organizations. Former Federal Minister and
Convener of Pak India Forum for Peace and Democracy, Dr. Mubashir Hasan
demanded an immediate end to the shelling at Line of Control between India
and Pakistan. He demanded that ruling elite across the border to sit around
a table to seek a peaceful solution to all the issues. "War is no solution.
It just adds to the misery of toiling masses," he observed.
Syed Azim, Taimur Hasan, and other political activists also spoke on the
occasion. Asghar Ali sang a peace song with his friends who represent a
peasant organization in Punjab: "Until the system changes, wars will
continue".
The demonstration in Lahore, the home-town of the Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif, indicates that the peace movement is well and alive.