PIPFPD 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS BEGIN AMID TRUMPET BLASTS

September 3, 2004 - (PIPFPD Press Release) A seventy member delegation of the Pakistan India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy crossed over to Pakistan at the Attari-Wahga border today to participate in the three day joint celebration of the Forum’s 10th Anniversary, being organised in Lahore.

The Indian delegation to Pakistan consists of many prominent journalists, artists, academicians, business people, women’s rights activists, students and NGO activists. The delegation is headed by Mr. Tapan K Bose (General Secretary, Indian Chapter, PIPFPD). Prominent Artists like Shri. L.K. Pandit, Smt. Meeta Pandit and Kamal Sabra are also part of the delegation and will be performing Hindustani classical music at Lahore as part of the cultural celebrations. Others in the delegation include Shri Ved Bhasin,. Amdiral (Rtd) Ramu Ramdas, Shri Gautam Navlakha, Shri Sumit Chakravarthy, Ms Pushpa Bhave, Mr NS Nanda and Smt. Arundhati Dhuru.

The three-day celebrations commemorate the formation of the Forum 10 years ago in Lahore, when about 50 peace activists from India and Pakistan issued a joint Declaration promoting peace and democracy in the two countries. The 10th Anniversary day (4th September) will be celebrated by day-long seminar/discussions on different substantive issues existing between the two countries and cultural programmes from both countries.

The 10th Anniversary programme will also finalise the Peace Marches in India and Pakistan, culminating at the border points of Munabao (Rajasthan) and Kokhrapar (Sindh region) and the Joint Indo-Pak Peace March prior to the PIPFPD’s 7th Joint Convention in New Delhi.

Delegation faces problems at Attari Border, on Indian side

The Indian delegation complained of harassment and lack of co-operation by the Indian Immigration officials at the Attari border-post, where they were held up for long hours. Mr. Tapan Bose, General Secretary of PIPFPD complained of lack of co-operation and virtual harassment by border officials. Mr. Tapan said, “if the Government of India headed by the UPA is genuine in its commitment to keep up the people to people interaction, they must keep such channels people friendly and not create obstacles”.

Issued by

Vijayan MJ,

On behalf of the National Secretariat of PIPFPD India

From: South Asia Citizens' Wire, September 3, 2004