IIPDEP (Indian Institute for Peace, Disarmament & Environmental Protection) led by Drs. Balkrishna and Nalini Kurvey highlighted a health message and urgent need for arms control at a series of 6 important events throughout India as part of worldwide activities for the Global Week of Action against Gun Violence.
The first was a consultation/briefing and meetings with parliamentarians and political leaders on May 14, 2010 at Amravati, Maharashtra in west India. The topic for deliberation was "SALW in India and the Arms Trade Treaty.” Politicians were not aware of the impact of SALW and need of the government to adhere to ATT. They have promised to take this issue in parliament. The IANSA Documentary "Arms, Dealing and National Interest" was screened and IANSA materials were also presented to them.
Three events took place on May 15th:
The "Human Rights, International Humanitarian Laws and Arms Trade Treaty" roundtable was held. Parliamentarians were briefed regarding the work of IANSA groups including IPPNW on the illegal trade of small arms, the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), and related topics. It also featured the screening of the IANSA documentary on arms. The presidents of the Indian Medical Association, the Association of Medical Women in India, and other prominent doctors attended.
In Southeast India that same say Nav Bharat Nirmal Sangh (New India Construction Association) and IIPDEP arranged the "Culture of Violence, Culture of Peace” event at Hyderabad, South India. Andhra Padesh is hot bed of violence due to Maoist militant groups and other factors. Indian doctors and Red Cross delegates discussed violence prevention and political solutions with parliamentarians.
The third was organized by the Manipur Committee for Social Concern, Manipur, Northeast India and IIPDEP, "Proliferation of Small Arms and ATT" at Imphal, Manipur, Northeast India. Delegates from all parts of Manipur attended the event. Manipur is one of the North Indian states also rife with small arms problems, due to the to porous border with Myanmar among other things. More than 10 militants groups are active in this state. Members of parliament, government officials, NGOs, youth, religious leaders, women, and victims attended the event. IANSA materials were distributed to the delegates and arms documentary was screened. The Red Cross of Manipur as well as many medical doctors participated and addressed the delegates on medical aspects
Two events on May 16th were held, one in northeast India in Nagaland, a border area that is also a hot bed for arms and drug smuggling. IIPDEP in conjunction with the Rural Peoples Welfare Society organized “Small Arms & North East India: International Humanitarian Laws and Need for Arms Trade Treaty" at Kohima, Nagaland. It was well attended by parliamentarians, Secretary of the Government of Nagaland, Deputy Commissioner, government officials, social workers, NGOs, religious leaders and others including prominent medical doctors and the Nagaland Red Cross.
Also that day the Landmine Victims Association of India and IIPDEP member arranged the "Effects of Small Arms on Society" at Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. Parliament leader Mr. Shankar Pannu addressed the delegates including medical doctors, parliamentarians, policy makers, military, para-military, and NGOs. Small arms victims narrated their stories and hardships due to spreading of a gun culture in Punjab and ask the government to work fast to work to stop the menace of small arms and light weapons in the border states of Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
For 8 years IIPDEP has been working for Culture of Peace in Northeast India and pleading and requesting the NSAs (militants) groups to settle their differences through dialogue rather than by guns and violence. Due to their work the two most powerful NSAs, National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M) and Kuki National Organization agreed and signed the Deed of Commitment banning use of anti-personnel mines. Some more NSAs will also sign in this year.
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