Africa and Sweden), the Middle Powers Initiative, the World Court Project (which led to the legal verdict weapons in 1996), and the Nuclear WeaponsFree Zone Network, etc.
Speakers outlined the opportunities S available to peace activists to lobby international disarmament forums. They emphasised the significance of the growing South Asian peace movement for abolition efforts worldwide, and more important, for the global peace movement Some said the centre of gravity of the global movement is shifting to South Asia. Some others argued that the South Asian abolition has already become an indispensable input into the international movement, one which would rejuvenate it, and help it get out of the state of decline into which it has drifted in many NATO and former Warsaw Pact countries after the Cold War ended.
Following the Plenary was the third set of Working Groups, on building a "Movement India weapons: sectoral and statewise strategies". Simultaneous with these, there was a special Session on the "Campaign for Safety and Environmental Aspects of Nuclear Power and Uranium Mining", chaired by Dhirendra Sharma and Ghanashyam Biruli, the grassroots activists from Jaduguda mines. The eight Working Groups focused upon specific sectors. Their deliberations produced specific proposals on how to put nuclear disarmament on the agenda of youth, NGOs, medical and scientific associations, trade unions, the women's movement, etc, underscoring the practical impact of nuclearisation on their priorities, as well as on the larger society and politics. Of particular relevance was the Working Group on sensitising the Media to non-conventional notions of security.
This was followed by the screening of an award-winning documentary by Shri Prakash ucts, and Networking against nuclear Working Group produced a draft "Plan of Iction" to be presented to the Final Plenary The Evening Plenary heard reports besides watching an educational slide-show by Chennai-based scientists, makes tion. for and amendments Charter, intense debate over six months. Some nuclear speakers questioned the Draft statement of India's nuclear policy after the first Pokharan test of 1974. Several underlined the importance of broadening the concept of peace.
Many speakers noted the uneven development of the movement in different regions, uranium the Northeastern states, etc and to address special constituencies like environmentalists, educationists, political leaders, and Dalits.
However, so numerous were the Charter amendments, both substantive and stylistic, that the chair felt they could not be all incorporated into a document to be adopted that morning. The Plenary broadly accepted that it adopt a one-page summary of the thrust of the Charter, leaving the final document to the Coordination Committee. This summary was accepted (and later released to the press).
The Plenary adopted a plan of action and resolved to work on a clearing house of inforsimplifying complex facts of nuclear physics, on how the Bomb works, and what an illegitimate weapon of mass destrucneeds, promote insecurity, The Closing Plenary on November 13 discussed the Plan of Action, adopted (tentative) Charter Nuclear own past positions.
Disarmament for Peace and, most important, established a Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament choose its Coordination Committee India: There were more than 30 interventions and many to the Draft weapons-related preparaitself subjected to an tions and activity we demand the following measures to be implemented immediately: • No assembly of nuclear weapons, no induction and deployment of nuclear weapons. No acquisition and development of nuclear weaponspecific delivery systems. Advanced research into nuclear weapons to be halted. No to explosive testing, sub-critical tests, or production or acquisition of weapons-usable fissile material tritium. • Complete transparency and independent monitoring of governmental activity in this regard This National Convention for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace resolutely opposes nuclear weapons in India, South Asia and globally. Nuclear weapons are evil and immoral. They divert resources from real are genocidal, undermine democracy, endanger the environment and future generations. This Convention unequivocally condemns India's entry into the Nuclear Weapons Club in 1998 which represents a betrayal of its This Convention resolves to bring together largest members of groups, organizations and individuals on a common platform with the following Agenda. To carry forward this Agenda we constitute ourselves into a regime. National Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament To halt and roll back India's nuclear Likely President George "Dubva" could launch new round of nuclear tension and full public accountability on nuclear development and energy matters. • Proper compensation and reparation to all victims and their families for damages to health and local environment by activities related to all aspects (from uranium mining to reactor operation to waste disposal) of the nuclear fuel cycle. Priority must be given to remedial measures for all environmental damage. Other Nuclear Capable and Nuclear Weapons States • We demand similar immediate measures of nuclear restraint and roll back from Pakistan. Given the tensions and potential for war in West Asia, we demand complete dismantling of Israel's nuclear weapons • All the N-5 or Nuclear Weapons States (USA, Russia, Britain, France and China,) must immediately de-alert their nuclear weapons systems, make a pledge of No First Use and stop all research into advanced nuclear weapons. No to all efforts to construct an anti-ballistic missile system or missile shield. • We demand the rapid, systematic and continuous reduction by the N-5 of their nuclear weapons down to zero level through unilateral, bilateral and multilateral commitments and pacts. WE DEMAND that the Indian Government go back to being. among the pacesetters in matters of global nuclear disarmament. WE WANT a nuclear weapons free world and we support all genuine efforts in pursuit of this goal. In this effort we commit ourselves to the global nuclear disarmament movement and will strive to strengthen international solidarity in this endeavour.
Outlook David Coen On Sunday January 30, 1972 British paratroops shot dead 13 unarmed demonstrators on the streets of the Bogside Derry. NONC were injured, one of whom died later. Seven of those who died were teenagers. Five had been shot in the back. hrough require no further inquiries. It was another massacre by British troops in a long line in British colonies from Aden to India.
The main objective of the British government is to prevent the Inquiry showing the degree of political direction for the massacre, which came they could achieve Civil Rights within the Six County State.
Alter une snoolngs two things were clear:
no reform was possible -the sectarian Six-County State had to be dismantled; Unionist paramilitaries ef behind hated the RUC, which had repeat-