All speakers severely criticised the nuclear tests conducted last year by the Indian government. They reiterated the message of the peace march, which is global peace and disarmament, and stressed that genuine ‘security’ can only be obtained by building relationships of trust and friendship and not by accumulation of weapons. The meeting drew a very 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). Due to the intense heat (maximum temperature in Rajasthan is 46 degree Celsius) the marchers — about 25–30 in number start walking early by 5 a.m. They reach their destination for the day by 9 or 10 a.m, conduct a short rally through the town/village, following which a public meeting is held in the evening.

So far, everywhere on their route, the marchers have been able to carry out their meetings/programmes unhindered except at Pokaran, Ramdevra and Falaudi. Local people have been gathering to observe the marchers in large numbers, listen to the participants on the issue of nuclear weapons and security and peace; to watch slide shows/films, all the while raising questions that precede a lively discussion.

At Pokaran, Ramdevra and Falaudi, a group of 30–50 youths claiming to be from the BJP, RSS and Shiv Sena (right–wing parties, sworn to Hindutva) tried to disrupt the proceedings of the march by shouting anti–peace slogans, hurling abuses and black flags, whistling and tearing the literature being distributed by the participants in 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. It was only after a seven to eight–hour impasse that they dispersed, letting the march progress further. During this period, the miscreants were shouting abuses and slogans like ‘anti–nationals go back’, ‘we want security not peace’. All the marchers maintained their calm and sat in the stark heat with determination and patience. The role of the administration and the police was suspect — 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, one of the local co–ordinators of the march observed a complete fast for three days (from May 13 to May 16). On May 16, senior people of Rajasthan Sarvodaya/Gandhian unit observed a 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 has been proceeding 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 kilometres, 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 participating.

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 the local people.

This 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.

Route of the peace march for next one month is as follows:

May 27: Nagaur, May 29: Tarnau, June 1: Makrana, June 3: Nava, June 5: Bhainslana, June 7: Pachar, June 9 & 10: Jaipur, June 12: Bassi, June 14: Jatwada, June 16: Kalakhoh, June 18: Sikrai, June 24: Bharatpur

Contact address: Sawai Singh, Rajasthan Samagra Sewa Sangha, Gokulbhai Bhatt Marg, Durgapura, Jaipur– 302018. Phone: (0141) 552878

The Gramin Vikas Loksanstha of Ahmedpur (PIRD), Rachnatmak Sangharsh Samiti (Maharashtra) and Swayamsevi Sanstha Samanvaya Samiti had organised a workshop against communalism from March 15, 1999 to March 17, 1999 at Latur on the background of the growing incidences of communal tendencies in recent times. The chief objective of the workshop was to have an exchange of thoughts and ideas of the social workers who had been actively busy in the social field.

Two recent workshops held in the capital focussed on different aspects of much–needed accountability and professionalism within the Indian police force. One, held by the Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi focussed specifically on the question of "Role of Law Enforcement Machinery during Communal Riots". At this day–long workshop, papers were presented by Padma Rosha, DIG (retd) Jammu and Kashmir, Vibhuti Narain Rai, IG, BSF, Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer from the Centre for the study of Society and Secularism and Teesta Setalvad, one of the editors of Communalism Combat. A decision was taken at the end of the workshop to constitute a standing committee on Communal Violence and the Police Force to push for statutory changes and continual pressure on an issue that needs deeper attention.

Hit Racism for Six, an independent campaign for racial equality at all levels of cricket, will be leafleting the India–Pakistan World Cup match at Old Trafford on Tuesday. The leaflet says: "Support your team! Respect the opposition! Have fun! A World Cup match between India and Pakistan is an occasion to be celebrated and enjoyed. But a cricket match is not a war and should not be treated as one. Politicians who try to use cricket to whip up hatred and division — in the sub–continent or in Britain — should be rejected by all those who value the game of cricket.

Please consider this an invitation to participate and co–ordinate a joint one–year campaign — May 1999 to May 2000 — of concrete projects carried out by citizens to demonstrate that change for a better future, a different India is possible.