'Retribution will lead to more bloodshed'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 21. The Forum of Indian Leftists has condemned the ``precipitous drive'' to put the world on a war footing against an entire region to eliminate those responsible for the recent terrorist strikes in the U.S. and warned that retribution could lead to proliferation of hatred and more bloodshed.

In a statement, the Forum said that the perpetrators of the attacks in New York and Washington should be brought ``to justice according to the rule of law in an international court''. Urging the Indian Government to turn down demands for ``uncritical support and abetment of acts of vengeance'', it asked the world to use this ``time of grief'' as an opportunity to abandon the pursuit of intolerance and repression in favour of reconciliation and reconstruction.

Violence was not the answer to violence - and would just mirror the actions of those responsible for September 11 - the Forum said, adding that the cycle of violence could be broken only ``if we create alternatives to violent retaliation''.

Picking up cudgels on behalf of the Afghans, it noted that a destructive military campaign against Afghanistan would consume a large number of innocent lives. ``They have already suffered from years of war and oppression; they should not have to pay the price for crimes committed by isolated individuals and groups who - without their consent - may claim to represent them, other people in the Middle-East or Islam in general.''

It criticised the effort to paint all followers of Islam with the same brush because of the deeds of a few Muslims. ``Isolating particular entities blinds us to the many factors that account for political conflict and violence, and it will not help us find solutions.''

Criticising the stand taken by the Government, the Forum demanded that the country not become a stooge of blood- thirsty forces and that ``our Government adhere to the legacies of love and respect for human life that represents the best in our national heritage. Advocating retribution against `Islamic fundamentalism' may further the BJP's own divisive agenda, but it does not reflect the rational, democratic, non-violent and tolerant values espoused by most Indians.''

A similar statement was issued by the Lok Raj Sangathan, chaired by Mr. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer and Prof. Rajni Kothari. Describing the terrorist attacks as despicable, the Sangathan urged Indians to question the Government's blanket permission to the U.S. to use military bases and other facilities here for the proposed military strikes. Asserting that a war against terrorism would not be able to weed out the problem, it said that India's offer to the U.S. amounted to an ``abject and humiliating surrender of India's sovereignty as well as total disregard for the security of the country''.

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