Light of Peace

The safeguarding of human rights was termed as a guarantee of peace. It was to be the starting point of social justice. But what has happened on ground? The powerful elite have been usurping the rights of the weak segments of society. The first casualty after the violation of human rights is always the peace. The military dictators have suppressed their citizens and have curbed the civil liberties, the bigger nations have occupied the lands of their weak neighbors, the strong economies of the world have prevailed over the weak countries with fewer resources and the super / regional powers have established their hegemony over the small states as a part of neo-colonization scheme. The result was obvious, wars and conflicts everywhere. Had there been no violations of human rights, the world would have been more secure and peaceful

It is matter of concern that when the people are exploited, when their freedom of expression is gagged, when they are denied their right of self-determination, and when they are made homeless, jobless, and at times landless within their own country, where the peace would come from? Usurping the basic human rights breeds frustration in the people who can then react in many ways. The underground organizations and the fifth columnists are invariably the outcome of violation of human rights. Even the present day phenomenon of terrorism has got its routes in the violation of human rights. Once these frustrated groups of people resort to violence against the established authorities of their countries, they are labeled as the rebels, the enemy agents, the terrorists and what not. Obviously the enemies of the state then find an opportunity to patronize these groups with weapons and funds and use them to fulfill their own agenda. Then the authorities get together and think over how to eliminate these rouge elements and how to establish peace. But unfortunately no one comes out with simplest of the solutions; return the usurped basic human rights back to the people. Once they do it, the results will be surprising. The outcome will be peace, that too without firing a bullet and without spending a single dollar.