July 20, Colombo.

Inaugral Session of the People's SAARC 2008

As the largest people's assembly in South Asia, right before to the official SAARC Summit, the People's SAARC 2008 has been convened from 18 to 20 July 2008 in Colombo, Sri Lanka with a grand success. Hundreds of women, workers, peasants, urban and rural poor, youth and students, cultural activists, scholars, politicians and representatives of marginalised and excluded social groups and communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka gathered in Colombo, Sri Lanka to manifest their common aspirations and agendas and solidarity under the them of "Towards South Asian Union".

The participants of the People's SAARC discussed their common problems and issued the 17 points Colombo Declaration. During 3 days people's assembly, dozens of thematic workshops, forums and plenary sessions were organised on various issues related to poverty, hunger, pollution and environmental issues, demilitarisation, denuclearisation, social welfare, justice and democracy.

The mass rally

The prominent figures representing different sections of the people across the region urged the idea of New South Asia consisting visa free, hunger free, just, peaceful and democratic South Asia, while addressing the different forums during the people's summit. They stressed on the people's unity and solidarity to fight against the anti-people policies adopted by ruling elites of the region as well as the International Financial Institutions.

A huge mass rally rounded the city on the last day chanting the slogans against the Neo-liberal economic policies and autocratic regime in the region.