New Delhi, 4 December: Around 58,000 Indians died due to armed violence in the last 15 years.  The highest casualties have been reported from India’s Northeast region and Jammu & Kashmir. This was a part of the briefing for parliamentarians that Control Arms Foundation of India successfully organized on 3rd December 2009 that was held at the historic Constitution Club, New Delhi.

For more photographs of the event please click HERE

The briefing also mentioned a report submitted by Government of India to the United Nations where it was written that India continues to face the challenge of proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) which are smuggled into the country by various anti-national groups. This continues to pose a significant challenge to the Government.  In the last two years alone (2006-07), the number of illicit SALW seized or confiscated by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir and in the north eastern areas was approximately 3,953.

For the press release published ahead of the event please click HERE

The briefing was done by a group of scholars, lawyers, security analysts and civil society members who are well versed on the issue of armed violence in India and the need for an International Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Guest Shri CM Chang , Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Nagaland state of India expressed his opinion that “The Arms Trade Treaty can save lives and help prevent rising armed violence in India.” He also mentioned that “ATT does not mean, no transfer of arms, but it means that we need to comply with rules of the UN charter and other multilateral treaties. We the elected representatives of India idea are gathered here to be a part of the process of pushing for a tough legally-binding Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) that will facilitate to prevent irresponsible transfers of conventional weapons. We will do what we can to make this happen”.

Binalakshmi Nepram of Control Arms Foundation of India stated that, “90 per cent of conventional arms exports in world are from permanent five members of the United Nations Security Council namely USA, UK, Russia, China & France. Around 8 million new small arms are manufactured every year and it is these weapons that flood India. At present, it is impossible to monitor or interrupt this deadly flow of weapons. This is because there are no agreed global standards for governments when authorising exports or transfers and hence the urgent need to support the call for an ATT”.

Dr E. M. Natchiappan, MP also informed the audience that he has submitted to the Indian parliament questions pertaining to India’s Arms Trade Treaty stand and stated, “It is high time to think of the ATT. The question of ATT can be taken up by both ruling party as well as by the opposition. If you think that arms can protect a country, you are wrong. The government of India should be pressurized and parliamentarians should be kept aware.” He gave his commitment to CAFI on the work on ATT and his support to finally get the government of India.

Dr. Prasanna Kumar Patasani, MP and also a member of the Standing Committee of Defence stated that “Guns do not protect any body.  Even great powers are not saved by the guns. Power does not come from guns, power is within oneself.” He also reiterated to take the view points of Indian civil society at the Standing Committee of Defence on issues relating to arms control for greater peace.

Other members of parliament who attended the briefing include Shri Mohammed Shaffi (Lok Sabha) and Shri Sharrifud-Din –Shariq (Rajya Sabha) from Jammu and Kashmir, also voiced their concerns for peace and security in their state.

The briefing of MPs was followed by a seminar titled, “Tackling Unregulated Global Arms Influx and Trade for a Sustainable and Secure India”.

Air Cmde (retd) Prashant Dikshit, Security Analyst gave a presentation on “Excessive Weaponisation & Militarisation - Their Impact on Development”. He stated that “Arms statistics do not show the magnitude of scourge.  The regime engaged in dealing with problems of internal security look at the situation mostly in balance of power percepts. This is a conceptual paradox and the conflict is between the vital interests of the state and the interest of its people.” According to him, “The story of northeast is pathetic. Thirty percent were women, in the deaths accounted to militancy. Out of the 2,00,000 people rendered homeless more than 150000 were women and children.  ”

He also stated that “Weaponisation should thus be viewed in the backdrop of the processes which are set into motion by proliferating use of arms within a vulnerable society. Notwithstanding individual characteristics, the society at large pays the costs of perpetual instability leading to forced migration, economic deprivation, a heightened fear of syndrome etc.” 

Mrs.K. Datta, Principal, Kendriya Vidyalaya, NSG, Manesar , Gurgaon  addressed the gathering  on “Remembering Gandhi in times of rising Armed Violence in India.” She stated that “Violence is not an alien notion in our society today; though non-violence is a word we have difficulty comprehending, because committing to non-violence means discipline, courage and moral elevation. A society directionally evolves depending upon who have been role models for its masses”.

The other eminent speakers at the briefing were Professor Swaran Singh of Jawaharlal Nehru University,  Mr Nihar Nayak of the Institute of Defence Studies & Analyses (IDSA), Ms Ashima Kaul of Women in International Peace and Security (WISCOMP), Dr. K.K. Vashisht, Head-Elementary Education, NCERT, Dr. Rajat Mitra, Director, Swanchetan Institution of Mental Health, Mr Riju Raj Jamwal, Lawyer, Supreme Court of India, Dr Tasneem Meenai, Reader at Centre for Peace & Conflict Resolution, Swami Vishalanand of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan etc.

An unanimous decision was taken at the meeting to formulate a time bound systematic approach to get the government of India to take a supportive role of the ATT. Members of parliament were convinced of the need of the ATT and they assured CAFI and its network members of support needed to make it happen. In a statement of support sent by Dr Anuradha Chenoy of JNU, “The Indian government has repeatedly admitted the easy availability of illegal arms and that they are unable to stop or even arrest people engaged in such illegal sale or production. It is thus logical that the international community adopt a treaty to regulate illicit arms trade. India has a historic opportunity to be involved in such an important process”.