Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=8/6/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-292828

TITLE=PAKISTAN/INDIA/MONKS (L-O)

BYLINE=AYAZ GUL

DATELINE=ISLAMABAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A group of Buddhist monks have started a three-month peace march across Pakistan and India to urge the rival South Asian nations to avoid the dangers of nuclear war. The beginning of their peace demonstration coincides with the August 6th anniversary of the U-S atomic bomb attack on Japan in 1945. Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad.

TEXT: /// Monks reciting, beating drums ///

Gently beating drums and chanting scripture, 11 foreign monks began the 800-mile peace march from a main site of Buddhist learning in Taxila, 40 kilometers west of the Pakistani capital.

The monks are from Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine and Chechnya. They are led by 52-year old Japanese monk, Junsei Terasawa.

Mr. Terasawa, says they want to send a message to both India and Pakistan to avoid a confrontation. He says Japan has suffered the agony of nuclear war and would not like any other nation to go through the same experience.

///TERASAWAI ACT///

Today in this year, 6th of August is so important to the people of Pakistan and India. Now that the military tensions are a little bit

reduced, but still on the border line, the massive militaries are confronting each other. Everyday they are shooting and people are dying and any moment this military confrontation may escalate into the nuclear war.

///END ACT///

Mr. Terasawa says people in Pakistan and India have their roots in the Indus civilization, which is a symbol of peace. He says they must not convert this region's civilization into a graveyard of nuclear devastation.

///TERASAWA ACT///

And this common precious, glorious heritage of civilization of peace to be revived and to foster. And once again this land is not become a site of nuclear war but this land keep that glory of civilization of peace. This is what we are appealing to the people of both Pakistan and India.

///END ACT///

India and Pakistan have come close to war over the disputed region of Kashmir. Both are armed with nuclear weapons, raising international

concerns of a nuclear conflict between the South Asian nations.

Japanese monk Terasawa says they will spend about one month in Pakistan visiting famous Buddhist sites in the country. They will also travel to Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

The Buddhist monks plan to end their peace march in October at Sanchi in India, site of an ancient Buddhist center. (SIGNED)

NEB/AG/RH