Concerned Citizens Tribunal - Gujarat 2002
An inquiry into the carnage in Gujarat

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Citizens for Justice and Peace

 

Aims & Objects

The burning of innocent women and children inside a train at Godhra on February 27 and the subsequent ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Gujarat, justified by chief minister Narendra Modi as a ‘natural reaction’, has thrown up an unprecedented challenge to Indian democracy and the rule of law.

To respond to this brazen communal assault on the country’s secular democratic polity, concerned citizens from Mumbai and Ahmedabad have came together on March 31, 2002 to form an ‘Association of Persons’ (AOP), to be called, Citizens for Justice and Peace - CJP.

Activities

Following intensive interaction and consultation with a wide cross-section of survivors of the carnage in Gujarat lawyers, human rights groups and communal harmony/peace activists from across the country, CJP has set for itself the task of mobilising finances for the following activities:

1. Citizens’ Tribunal: Gujarat 2002: A Citizens’ Tribunal consisting of retired judges and prominent citizens from different walks of life will examine and investigate the incident of arson at Godhra and the subsequent statewide violence that took lives, destroyed property and attacked cultural symbols and places of worship of sections of the population.

2. Public Interest Litigation: To make legal interventions in the Gujarat High Court and the Supreme Court for the redressal of grievances (Relief, Rehabilitation, Reparation by the Gujarat state) and prosecution of all those guilty for the killing of innocents in Godhra and the rest of Gujarat (Punish the Guilty!).

3. Intervention before the Gujarat-govt. appointed official commission of inquiry: To assist any lawyer/team of lawyers formed to effectively highlight before the commission the case of the victims and survivors of violence.

4. Public campaign and advocacy: To build public opinion on the need for justice as an essential step towards reconciliation and peace.

5. Relief and rehabilitation: To accept contributions from concerned citizens and organisations and assist organisations, groups and individuals engaged in relief work in Gujarat.

6. Documentation, Research, Translation: To put together the information needed for any or all of the activities outlined above.

7. Legal Training: To hold legal training workshops in order to prepare a team of junior lawyers and social activists who will assist senior advocates in the various legal interventions proposed.

The proposed activities will be carried out by members of CPJ or by other appropriate individuals or organisations selected by the CPJ Working Committee.

The accounts will be audited by a reputed chartered accountant and extracts of the auditor’s report will be sent to all persons/organisations contributing Rs.5,000 or more. All contributors can, however, obtain the extract of the audited report on request.

No surplus is anticipated but in case there is, it will be applied for similar objects elsewhere in India.

All cheques should be drawn in favour of ‘Citizens for Justice and Peace’ and posted to the address given below.

Members of CJP

The following are members of the committee formed to mobilise resources and oversee its judicious disbursal for the activities identified above.

MUMBAI:

Alyque Padamsee Anil Dharkar Cyrus Guzder

Ghulam Mohammed I.M. Kadri Javed Akhtar

Nandan Maluste Titoo Ahluwalia Vijay Tendulkar

Teesta Setalvad Javed Anand

AHMEDABAD:

Indubhai Jani Uves Sareshwala Batuk Vora

Fr. Cedric Prakash Najmal Almelkar

Address:

P.O. Box No. 28253, Juhu Post Office, Juhu, MUMBAI – 400 049.

Phone/fax: 2660 22 88; Phone: 2660 39 27; e-mail [email protected]

 

Published by: Citizens for Justice and Peace