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Poll, protocol scuttle UNESCO's grand launch

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

The rising political temperature in Allahabad, constituency of Union Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, has dealt a blow to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's celebration of the International Year for the Culture of Peace in India.

The poll and protocol together conspired to keep President K R Narayanan away from inaugurating the year-long celebrations even as heads of state in the rest of the world launched the millennium's last attempt to mobilise international opinion for peace.

Actually, President Narayanan did not want to keep away. He was forced to do so because Dr Joshi, who is contesting the election of his lifetime in Allahabad, could not take time out to attend the function.

As a result, the UNESCO mega project ultimately had a low-key inauguration, stripped of all hype and glamour, in the capital on Tuesday at the hands of Union HRD Secretary M K Kaw.

Dr Joshi was supposed to have invited the President to open the programme, which was to include the dedication of a landmark in Delhi as a 'site for peace'. But with him refusing to leave his constituency, protocol prevented the President inaugurating the celebration. For the President to attend, the minister had to be present.

The government and UNESCO have refused to be drawn into the controversy. But sources pointed out that "across the globe it is heads of state who are inaugurating the launch".

A senior official explained, "Dr Joshi should have extended the invitation to the President to inaugurate the function. And if he extends the invitation, he should be there for the function. Protocol demands that."

The official, who refused to be named, said the minister could have attended the function "had he really wanted to".

But with polling in Allahabad on August 18, and his victory uncertain, Joshi refused to leave his constituency, forcing the organisers to refrain from inviting the President.

Thus it was left to Secretary Kaw to do the needful at UNESCO House in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi's diplomatic enclave. Besides, no site was dedicated to peace, as the netas were too busy campaigning and the babus refused to take a decision.

The International Year for the Culture of Peace is one of UNESCO's biggest programmes. Kim Phuc, whose photo as a nine-year-old Vietnamese girl screaming in pain from burns as she fled a napalm attack on her village had seared world public opinion, is one of the designated goodwill ambassadors.

Kim, 34, spent 14 months recovering from her wounds in a Saigon hospital, where she underwent 17 transplants and other operations. She eventually went on to study in Cuba, and learned Spanish and English. She now lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and two children.

As goodwill ambassador, she will spread the message of the need for reconciliation, mutual understanding, dialogue and negotiation to replace confrontation and violence as a means for settling conflicts.

The Culture of Peace, as envisioned by UNESCO, seeks to eliminate the root causes of violence by promoting a set of attitudes, values and behaviours that reflect and inspire social interaction and sharing based on principles of freedom, justice, democracy, human rights, tolerance and solidarity.

Since November 20, 1997, when the year 2000 was proclaimed the International Year for the Culture of Peace, the UN has been preparing for its celebration, led by UNESCO.

At the same time, in all parts of the world, a broad range of organisations and individuals working for peace, non-violence and tolerance have taken active part in preparations for the International Year, UNESCO sources said. The UN General Assembly also has before it a draft provisional declaration and programme of action on a culture of peace, whose implementation, once approved, will require efforts going well beyond 2000.

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