India: Women’s team on peace mission

August 12, 2008 – (Howrah News) A six-member national women peace delegation on Tuesday exhorted the people of both Jammu and Kashmir regions to keep at least one window open for negotiations to restore peace.

The delegation led by Mohini Giri of Guild of Service and ex-chairperson National Commission for Women (NCW), maintained that blame-game as to who did or said what in the prevailing grave situation could not work and there was need to hear all voices, even those who express dissent.

The peace delegation, comprising Jyotsna Chatterjee of Joint Women’s Programme, Annie Raja of National Federation of Indian Women, Afroza Bano representing War Widows Association, Subhashini Ali, All India Democratic Women’s Association and Veena Behn of Akhil Bharatiya Rachnatmak Samaj, was on the two-day visit to the winter capital.

Criticising the administration for having failed in tackling the situation, the delegation maintained that the ongoing turbulent situation in Jammu region had instilled a feeling of insecurity among the minorities. The minorities fear that the present situation can create 1947 like situation, it was revealed. The peace delegation members emphasised that this was the responsibility of the government and the samiti spearheading the agitation to restore confidence among them.

"We, as the members of the civil society and peace activists, who firmly believe in "goli se nahin boli se (dialogue and not guns)" approach, are trying to act as a bridge between two regions presently on boil," Ms Giri said.

From:http://howrah.org/india_news/24037.html