ALLIANCE BULLETIN-5

INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST FUNDAMENTALISM
Indian Rationalist Association
PO Box 9110, New Delhi 110 091,INDIA

Telephone: +91-11-8539526, +91-11-91539526; Telefax: +91-11-2252274
E-mail: sakth-@giasdla.vsnl.net.in

ALLIANCE BULLETIN-5
23 January 1999

India is a land of Rationalism, Atheism, Freethought and Humanism; and of courageous fight against superstition, blind belief, fundamentalism and religious intolerance.

It is the land of the first known rationalist movement in world history, dating 3000 years back.

India's constitution asserts that it is a secular state. Freedom of thought is guaranteed as a Fundamental Right. Scientific temper, spirit of inquiry and humanism are part of Fundamental Duties of all Indian citizens.

We cordially invite you to visit India and join us during the Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary) celebrations of Indian Rationalist Association and the 2nd International Rationalist Conference at TRIVANDRUM, KERALA on 26-31 December 1999.

Wake up to the new millennium at the tiny South Indian state Kerala which is famous for its cleanliness, natural beauty, green rainforests and golden beaches.

Plenary sessions,workshops,addresses,academic seminar(23-24 December), cultural events,traditional dances,folk and classical music...

If you are interested to participate in the International Conference to mark the Golden Jubilee of Indian Rationalist Association and to meet likeminded people from around the world, please write to us for more details.

(If you have a newsletter or journal, we request you to publish the above announcement. You may also send us addresses of individuals and organisations to whom you wish that the above announcement should be sent)

"Miracles of Faith?" includes investigations of several alleged Christian miracles in the first part.The second part of the programme is devoted to the Ganesh milk miracle. It includes the visit of Mr Sanal Edamaruku alongwith the BBC team to Haridwar, Birla Mandir and his interview with Chandra Swami -as well as interviews with journalists Ravi Bhatia and KK Laskar at the Times of India.

"Miracles of Faith?" is produced by Mr Robert Eagle, the producer of "Guru Busters", the 1995 television documentary on Indian Rationalists which was first shown in Britain's channel IV and later across the world in 17 countries.

Secret British government documents reveal that radical groups are running guerrilla warfare training camps in the UK from where militants are sent out to fight in troubled spots across the world, from Kashmir to Kosovo and Bosnia to Palastine.

A confidential foreign office document obtained by the Financial Times reveals that the UK government is aware of these camps but is restrained from taking action because the camps do not violate existing British laws.

Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, leader of the London based Al Muhajiroun group which is being blamed for the recent kidnapping and massacre of British tourists in Yemen, claimed last week that his tasks involved raising money in Britain to fund "legal resistance" in Kashmir. The radical cleric also said 2000 men from Britain are sent to Afghanistan and Pakistan for military training each year. Calling for the "liberation" of India he, however, added: "The way to start is to first demolish the 'kafir' (Nawaz Sharif) regime in Pakistan".

Although the Tony Blair government rushed in a law last year which made it an offence to plot terrorist activity in the UK or to collect money to support foreign extremists, the legislation does not prohibit promotion or incitement to terrorism in deference to Britain's tradition of free speech. Some ministers have now demanded a review of counter terrorism laws. Revelations that the recent kidnapping and shooting of British tourists in Yemen were in all likelihood masterminded by UK based groups have focussed attention on Britain's generous asylum laws which may now turn the country into the safest haven for radicals.

Britain provides a safe habitat for groups and individuals claiming political persecution in their native lands.

Organisations claiming to be the "real" representatives of the people of Kashmir, "Khalistan", "Tamil Eelam" or even Algeria and Egypt, operate freely and flourish in Britain.

They use Britain as a base for fundraising and mobilising world opinion. Kashmiri groups, for example, regularly organise meetings in London, which prominent people, including British MPs sometimes attend. Some of the pro-Pakistani and pro-independence groups have succeeded in generating substantial sympathy in the Tony Blair government.

Countries like Algeria, Egypt, Turkey and several Gulf states have, on several occasions, accused Britain of turning a blind eye to extremists who continue their activities after taking refuge here. These countries have charged the UK with hypocrisy for tolerating terrorism against friendly governments, stating that such activity in any other country would be considered unlawful.

In the last few days, British newspapers have chronicled a series of recent violent incidents and terrorist acts across the world which were plotted in the UK. Ministers are now demanding a clampdown on extremist groups. Authorities are also concerned that Britain's unequivocal support for the United States-led offensive on Iraq last month may have made the country more vulnarable to extremist attacks.

Alliance Bulletin reaches a worldwide community of concerned individuals and organisations. Requests for free subscription are accepted now. If you missed any of the earlier bulletins, please ask for it: Alliance Bulletin sakth-@giasdla.vsnl.net.in