Mrs Jasmine Adaickalam

Today, the whole world is edgy with fear and uncertainty due to the deliberations on war. For time immemorial groups have been warring with one another to access the power control and to dominate. Every one aspires to sit at the driver’s seat and to keep the world at their disposal. Even now there is this nervousness over the imminent war.

The same group of people who talk about the welfare of minorities and the disadvantaged and globalisation that makes the world global village are talking of attacking one another and bloodshed. The consequences and the effect of war on the ordinary man, woman and children and their right to their lives are not even considered. The globalised world that needs to be one body, one mind and one spirit is not any more one. Once again it is a confused and contradictory bundle of conglomerations.

BUT…. One thing is positive. Governments may war and differ with one another. But it is the cry for PEACE of the ordinary man, woman and children, which is the most heart wrenching and rending. Because they feel for humanity as they realise and estimate the damage and visualise the horrors of war.

One such cry for peace resounded with an echo at the Nethaji hall in Menara Manickavasagam or otherwise known as the MIC Building on 17 February 2003 at 5.30p.m. This Peace Initiative was coordinated by YB Dato S Veerasingam, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Unity and Social Development with the secretariat help provided by Yayasan Strategik Sosial. YB Dato Seri S Samy Vellu, Minister of Works and President of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) officiated the initiative.

At this gathering entitled, “Peace Loving Malaysians,” representatives and members of 59 Indian Based Organisations, political, social, religious, educational, commercial and cultural participated to show their support to the cry against war and to the call for global peace and harmony. The Nethaji Hall was brimming with Malaysian Indians both young and old, who are eagerly anticipating a peaceful and harmonious world.

Representatives of various organisations in their own unique manner rendered their organisational support to the call for peace in the three minutes allotted to each of them. The representatives of Peace Malaysia, Mr Zulkifli Mohd. Alwi and Mr Norizan Sharif explained the objectives and focus to set the parameters of the Campaign for Peace. In the end YB Dato Seri S Samy Vellu himself launched a signature campaign among those present with an enlightening speech.

Dato Siva Subramaniam, President of NUTP, YB Senator Jaya Partiban, National women Leader of the MIC, Mr Velayutham, President of Hindu Youth Organisation, Mr Rajaratnam, President of Malaysian Indian Youth Council, Tuan Hj. Thasleem Mohd. from Malaysia Alagankulam Muslim Jamath, Mrs Jasmine Adaickalam, YSS Service Director, Mr Pradeep Kumar, Vice President of Hindu Sangam, Malaysia, Prof Kandasamy of the University Malaya’s Indian Studies Department and Dato Anusha, the coordinator of Puteri MIC spoke representing the views of their organisation on Peace and also to enlist their organisational Support to this Peace Initiative. Mr Ramany Krishnan, Executive Officer at the MIC’s HQ wrote and rendered a poem on Peace.

One thing stands crystal clear and as bright as the sunlight in a broad day. NO ONE CONDONES WAR. If one can transcend to the human realm, the one and only heart beat they hear, will be, “Peace, peace, peace, ……..” Kudos to Mr Karuppiah SP, YSS Community Development Officer who tirelessly worked to see this campaign a reality.

(Submitted on 24th February 2003)