Peace and Justice for Gujarat

Mr. Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations, European Commission
Rue de Loi, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium
Mrs. Laurence Argimon-Pistre, Head of the Section for India, Bhutan and Nepal
E-mail: [email protected]

Mr. Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid
European Commission
G-12 8/48, Rue de Genиve 12, 1140 Brussels Belgium
E-mail: [email protected]

Mr. J. de Hoop Scheffer, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mrs. A. van Aardenne, Minister for Development Co-operation and
Mr. Wilfred Mohr, Head Southern Asia Division Asia and Oceania Department
Government of the Netherlands,
Postbox 20061, 2500 EB Den Haag, The Netherlands
E-mail: [email protected]

Gerard Oonk, co-ordinator India Committee of the Netherlands
E-mail: [email protected]



Dear EU and the Government of the Netherland;

Please refer to a recent Press Release of India Committee of the Netherlands: http://www.indianet.nl/pb030311.html.

India Committee of the Netherlands has given plenty of references showing that the India and Gujarat Governments are continuing to persecute Muslims as well as Christians. Here are some excerpts from the said Press Release:

Both the European Union (EU) and The Netherlands have thus far continued their official development co-operation with the state government of Gujarat (India), also after Chief Minister Modi of the ruling BJP won the elections in December 2002 after a hate campaign against the Muslim minority. Since June 2002 the EU and The Netherlands have not publicly raised their voice again about the massacre supported by the Modi-government on more than 2000 Muslims in Gujarat, even though it is becoming clear that surviving victims have no access to justice and are hardly being rehabilitated and compensated.


Both The Netherlands and the EU financially support programmes of the government of Gujarat in the areas of primary education, health care, drinking water and rehabilitation of the victims of the earthquake that hit Gujarat in 2001. In 2002 The Netherlands supported the government of Gujarat with 12,5 million. Through non-governmental organisations the Dutch also supported a programme for victims of the massacre.
The EU supports the government of Gujarat in 2002 and 2003 with 40 million for a health sector reform programme and post earthquake re-development. In addition the EU supports non-governmental organisations in Gujarat with an amount of 55 million. However, neither the European Union nor The Netherlands have taken a public position on the question if official development co-operation with the government of Gujarat is still justified, and if so why, in a situation which can certainly not be characterised by 'good governance'.


The India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN) is of the opinion that the official development co-operation with the government of Gujarat should be suspended until these questions are answered and until the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are satisfactorily implemented.


I am sorry to hear that the EU and the Government of the Netherland is continuing to cooperate with the Governments of India and Gujarat without making rectification of Human rights situation in Gujarat as pre-condition for the cooperation.

Please take steps that will help in bringing about relief and justice to the persecuted minorities of Gujarat.

Thanking you very much, and looking forward to hearing from you soon,