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]