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Global Peace March 1999 update as on May 23 Global Peace March 1999 started on May 11 from village Khetolai (3 kilometers from nuclear test site in India) after a big meeting in the village. The meeting was attended by villagers in large numbers, concerned individuals and organizations from Rajasthan and other parts of India. Following speakers addressed the meeting: social & environmental activist Medha Patkar, senior Gandhians Siddharaj Dhadda and Bhagwan Das Maheshwari, nuclear experts and activists Dr. Surendra and Sanghmitra Gadekar, local MLA, village head (sarpanch), and coordinator of the march Dr. Sandeep. All speakers severely criticised the nuclear tests conducted last year by the Government of India. They reiterated that the message of the peace march is global peace and disarmament, and to highlight that 'security' can be obtained only by building relationships of trust and friendship and not by any weapons. The meeting drew a favourable response from the villagers. Since then, the marchers have walked through village Chacha (May 11), town Pokaran (May 12), town Ramdevra (May 13), village Khara (May 14), village Kalran (May 15), city Falaudi (May 16), villages Kheechan (May 17), Paleena (May 18), Denok (May 19), Aau (May 20), Chadi (May 21), Panchodi (May 22) and Bhundel (May 23). Because of intense heat (maximum temperature in Rajasthan in 46 degree celcius) the marchers - about 25-30 in number - walk early in the morning (starting 5 AM). They reach their milestone of the day by 9 or 10 AM, take out a short rally through the town/village, then rest until evening in a local place, and hold a public meeting in the evening. Everywhere, except at Pokaran, Ramdevra and Falaudi, marchers have been able to carry out their meetings/programmes unhindered. Local people are gathering in large numbers, listening to the marchers on issues of nuclear weapons, security and peace, watching slide shows/films, and asking/discussing questions in an open atmosphere. The march has got support in most places. At Pokaran, Ramdevra and Falaudi, a group of 30-50 youth claiming to be from the BJP, RSS and Shiv Sena (right-wing 'hindutva' parties) tried to disrupt the proceedings of the march by shouting anti-peace slogans, hurling abuses and black flags, whistling, and tearing the literature/pamphlets of the march. They did not allow the march to proceed in a peaceful atmosphere and scared away the local people from attending meetings at these three places. At Ramdevra, they hurled a stone that hit an elderly marcher. At Falaudi, they stopped the march in the middle of the city's marketplace and declared that they would not allow the march to proceed any further. After about 7-8 hours they dispersed, letting the march to progress further. While during these 7-8 hours, the miscreants were shouting abuses and slogans like 'anti-nationals go back', 'we want security not peace', all the marchers maintained calm and sat under stark heat with determination and patience. The role of administration and the police was quite dubious - they tried to prevent violence from miscreants but did not dissuade them against shouting abuses and disrupting the meetings. Aggrieved by these incidents, Dr. Sandeep observed a complete fast for three days (from May 13 to May 16). On May 16, senior people of Rajasthan Sarvodaya/Gandhian unit observed demonstration and fast in Jaipur in protest against the disruption of the peace march. Senior Gandhians, peace activists and anti-communalism groups in India have publicly criticised the disruptive activities of the BJP, RSS and Shiv Sena groups. Since May 16 the march is going on in a peaceful manner and as per schedule, though there is some chance that disruptive elements may reappear in certain places in future. The marchers consist of few individuals who are going to walk for the entire 1500 kilometers, and others who will walk for a shorter period and will keep changing. People from varied backgrounds (villagers and city people), age (from 20 to 80 years), regions and communities are walking in this march. The stay and food arrangements in Rajasthan are being handled by voluntary organizations like URMUL, Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti and Rajasthan Samagra Sewa Sangha, in collaboration with local people. It is AN APPEAL to all that we should make the message of the peace march stronger by: >1. joining the march in large numbers as early as possible, >2. spreading the news about the march and this appeal to as many people as possible, and >3. helping the march gain greater publicity in the mass media. Those willing to join the march or support in any other way should contact the co-ordinating office of the march: Vimal, National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM), 14 Supreme Enclave, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, New Delhi - 110019. Phone: (011) 2256394 OR Laxmi Chand Tyagi, Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti, 458, Gali No. 3, Milkman Colony, Pal Road, Jodhpur - 342008. Phone: (0291) 741317, Fax: (0291) 744549 OR Sawai Singh, Rajasthan Samagra Sewa Sangha, Gokulbhai Bhatt Marg, Durgapura, Jaipur - 302018. Phone: (0141) 552878 Route of the peace march for next one month is as follows:
Regards,
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