The Mumbai Massacre
by Dr. Chandra Muzaffar
The International Movement for a Just World (JUST) condemns the dastardly, diabolical massacre of innocent women and men in Mumbai on the 27th of November 2008.
Those responsible for this evil act of terror should be punished severely in accordance with the law.
The Indian authorities should conduct a thorough investigation to establish the identities of those who had planned and executed the carnage. It may be a little less difficult this time to ascertain the motive behind their barbaric attacks which have killed at least 125 people since Indian security forces have taken captive one of the suspected terrorists.
While investigations are going on, neither the media nor politicians should form hasty conclusions. Initial media reports about who may be responsible for the massacre may not be accurate given the recent experience of the Malegaon bomb blasts in Delhi. We may want to remind ourselves that a serving officer in the Indian army linked to a group known as Abhinav Bharat has been arrested in connection with the blasts. Even in the case of the Gujarat communal riots of 2002, the findings of a Commission of Inquiry contradicted most of the views advanced by various quarters in the aftermath of that terrible slaughter.
One hopes that investigations will also shed some light on why there have a series of terrorist attacks in Mumbai in recent years including the July 11th 2006 train massacre that resulted in the death of almost 200 persons. Just 11 days ago, a Church in Mumbai was ransacked and ravaged.
The Mumbai massacre underscores yet again the crucial importance of global civil society standing up against terrorism and violence in public life and reaffirming its commitment to peaceful methods of conflict resolution.
The Bombay Massacre could be connected to Hindu militants. The Chief of the antiterrorist unit, Hemant Karkare, who was shot dead, had been investigating Hindu militant networks.
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Dr. Chandra Muzaffar is President, International Movement for a Just World (JUST).
Please visit the International Movement for a Just World Site at http://www.just-international.org/page.cfm?id=3000022