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SAARC should
address development issues on priority Lots of preparations have been made to ensure the success of this event. The 29th session of the programming committee was held in Delhi on March 30 and the deliberations of the 33rd session of the standing committee concluded on April 1. More official events are scheduled ahead - 25th meeting of the SAVE Committee in Nepal on April 17 and the 4th meeting of the Saarc health ministers in Bhutan on April 25.Saarc was set on December 8, 1985 by the governments of 7 countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan, whose membership of Saarc was approved in the last summit in Dhaka in November 2005, is scheduled to formally join this South Asian body from this summit. South Asia, which is the home of 1.5 billion people, has a large section of the world's poor. The region is characterized largely by its agrarian economy and unequal levels of development, with relatively faster growth witnessed in countries like India and Pakistan. Saarc has scores of agenda for addressing issues of development and cooperation in the region, but the progress in this direction has been tardy. This is particularly due to political rivalry between two major powers - India and Pakistan - and distrust created by the interference and dominance by the big powers in the region. However, the Saarc heads of state in the Islamabad summit of January 2004 realized the situation and agreed to work on poverty alleviation in the region based on 22 identified Saarc Development Goals (SDGs). But not much tangible progress has been made in this direction and Saarc still remains as a mere consultative body. Rather a new shift with emphasis on free trade in the region has overtaken the original agenda of Saarc. The South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA), launched in January 1, 2006, has been practically a non-starter for various obvious inherent reasons. One important result of the Saarc is that it has caused the people of the region to come together and deliberate on vital issues facing the region. The 3-day conclave of NGOs and peoples' organization under the banner of Peoples’ Saarc which concluded in Kathmandu on March 25 released 30-point proposals at a public rally. The Peoples’ Saarc called for immediately addressing development issues rather than seeking an escape route to so-called free trade. It said that the WTO regime has eroded sovereignty of the people, destroyed natural resources, agriculture and livelihood. Organic and sustainable traditional agriculture is imperative for food security. It called for conservation of biodiversity, land, water, marine ecosystems and for resisting the onslaught of the intellectual property rights regime. Peoples’ Saarc suggested right to food and other basic needs like health and education. It called for a visa-free South Asia to ensure free movement of the people, creation of a peaceful demilitarized region free from conflict and the need for removing discriminations based on gender, caste, religion, language and ethnic considerations. It called for a ban on genetically modified crops to save the region from genetic contamination and conservation and preservation of the Himalayan ecology. The official Saarc has, however, not viewed the peoples’ initiative in a good taste. Bhutan at the instance of some member countries has complained to the Saarc Secratariat the use of the word Saarc by the Peoples’ Saarc. Following the Kathmandu peoples’ conclave there were two separate events in Delhi - one organized by the Centre for Development and Human Rights, Institute for Human Development, ActionAid, Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad and NGOs from Pakistan and Nepal. This conclave called for creation of a South Asian Parliament, Human Rights Court, transboundary conflict mechanism, regional media commission and a South Asian Constitution. It suggested a blueprint for a common customs,
economic and monetary union. Another peoples’ conclave
was organized by SANSAD, South Asia Partnership International
and Global Coalition Against Poverty. Thus the message from
the people is clear—issues like food and energy security
and other development issues should be addressed on priority,
rather than focus on trade. Activists
urge SAARC nations to curtail defence budget <TOP> Posted : Mon, 02 Apr 2007 12:53:00GMT
Hundreds of activists have been holding a conference for the last two days in the Indian capital where the 14th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit is to start Tuesday. 'The SAARC Summit has turned into a celebration forum for the politicians and bureaucrats of the seven countries. People's issues are no more dominating their thoughts,' said Arjun Kakri, coordinator of the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication, Nepal, at a press conference here Monday. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives are the member nations of SAARC. 'We appeal to all the governments to spend less on defence and security and divert that money towards poverty alleviation programmes,' Kakri said. He said during 2006, Nepal spent Rs.18 billion on defence as against just Rs.2 billion on agriculture. 'More money on defence means more bloodshed and a bigger magnitude of human rights violation. Should we not spend more on education and employment?' asked Zakia Jowher, founding member of the Indian Muslim Women's Movement. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), said: 'India has pegged a whopping Rs.960 billion for defence in 2007-08 budget but the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme gets only Rs.120 billion. 'This speaks about our mindset and role in improving poverty,' he added. Mohan Tamang, a leader of Bhutanese refugees, said nearly 110,000 people from Bhutan were living outside their country - in Nepal and India - and New Delhi must ask Thimpu to act on this front. 'Nearly 30 percent of Bhutan's expenditure comes from India and we appeal to the Indian government to get involved in tripartite talks involving Bhutan, Nepal and India to resolve this huge human right issue,' Tamang added.
Defence spending aids
South Asian poverty – group <TOP> REUTERS 6:24 a.m. April 2, 2007 NEW DELHI – South Asian nations need
to cut defence spending and increase funding for women and children's
welfare, healthcare and education to curb poverty in one of
the world's poorest regions, activists said on Monday. AdvertisementThe group, the South Asian Association
for Regional Cooperation, or SAARC, includes Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan
is set to join as the eighth member during the April 3-4 conference.
'We realise that the lavish spending on weapons by poor South Asian countries is one of the major causes of rampant poverty in the region,' Arjun Karki, a coordinator of the coalition, told a news conference. 'We also demand that India and Pakistan stop the arms race and give up nuclear weapons, which pose a great threat to the 1.5 billion inhabitants of this peaceful region.' India raised its defence budget by nearly 8 percent to $22 billion this year while its traditional rival Pakistan increased it by nearly 4 percent to $4.2 billion in 2006 despite their new moves to make peace. Activists said money spent on arms not only fuelled tensions in the region but also diverted crucial funds meant for development. 'It helps to accentuate tensions within SAARC nations and it takes away food from the children and employment from the unemployed ... it is a senseless expenditure,' said Kamal Mitra Chenoy, who teaches at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. Activists said Nepal spent $260 million on defence last year, compared to about $29,000 on agriculture despite the fact that 80 percent of the population depended on farming for its livelihood. Separately, Amnesty International urged South Asian governments to evolve a regional system to address issues such as security, the death penalty, violence against women and corporate accountability. Tough anti-terrorism laws in the region had led to large scale violation of rights it said at the end of a two-day rights conference in the Indian capital. 'These laws seek to promote security but curtailment of enjoyment of rights erodes people's sense of security,' said Purna Sen, Amnesty's Asia-Pacific director. (Additional reporting by Manjusha Chatterjee) Source: SignOnSanDiego (Apr. 4, 2007) Activists
urge SAARC nations to curtail defence budget <TOP> Apr 2, 2007 - 5:46:57 PM ---------------------------------------------------------------- 'The role of India in the region is immense and we urge the authorities here to give enough attention to human rights violations in the subcontinent. Be it the refugees of Bhutan, or Kashmir problem or the America-backed fight against terror, we expect India to act as a responsible country,' he said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By IANS, [RxPG] New Delhi, April 2 - Labelling SAARC as a forum for bureaucracy and politics, activists from South Asia Monday urged member nations to curtail the security budget and divert money to poverty alleviation projects. Hundreds of activists have been holding a conference for the last two days in the Indian capital where the 14th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation - Summit is to start Tuesday. Over 10,000 people and activists had organised a massive convention at Kathmandu last month to form a 'People's SAARC' forum to voice the grievances of the masses. 'The SAARC Summit has turned into a celebration forum for the politicians and bureaucrats of the seven countries. People's issues are no more dominating their thoughts,' said Arjun Kakri, coordinator of the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication, Nepal, at a press conference here Monday. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives are the member nations of SAARC. 'We appeal to all the governments to spend less on defence and security and divert that money towards poverty alleviation programmes,' Kakri said. He said during 2006, Nepal spent Rs.18 billion on defence as against just Rs.2 billion on agriculture. 'More money on defence means more bloodshed and a bigger magnitude of human rights violation. Should we not spend more on education and employment?' asked Zakia Jowher, founding member of the Indian Muslim Women's Movement. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University -, said: 'India has pegged a whopping Rs.960 billion for defence in 2007-08 budget but the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme gets only Rs.120 billion. 'This speaks about our mindset and role in improving poverty,' he added. Mohan Tamang, a leader of Bhutanese refugees, said nearly 110,000 people from Bhutan were living outside their country - in Nepal and India - and New Delhi must ask Thimpu to act on this front. 'Nearly 30 percent of Bhutan's expenditure comes from India and we appeal to the Indian government to get involved in tripartite talks involving Bhutan, Nepal and India to resolve this huge human right issue,' Tamang added. Ananda Pokharel, a member of the Nepal parliament, said India and Pakistan must refrain from a deadly arms race. 'The role of India in the region is immense and we urge the authorities here to give enough attention to human rights violations in the subcontinent. Be it the refugees of Bhutan, or Kashmir problem or the America-backed fight against terror, we expect India to act as a responsible country,' he said. 'The nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan
is a serious threat to the region. We think people need education,
employment and peace rather than nuclear arms and ammunitions,'
said Pokharel. Source: RxPG News (2nd April, 2007) SAARC urged to adopt pro-people policies <TOP> Special Correspondent People's SAARC seeks free mobility across the region -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The People's SAARC conclave was held in Kathmandu last month. More than 10,000 people gathered to voice their concerns over the official SAARC process, where the common people's interests were totally ignored. Releasing here on Monday the declaration adopted at Kathmandu, Arjun Karki, coordinator, South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication, said that SAARC, contrary to its conceived role, had failed to fulfil the aspirations of the common people. Largely, it remained an interaction among the governments, thereby aggravating the process of exclusion, denial of rights and democratic freedom. Alternative system
"The first step towards creating this momentum is the demand for a South Asian Parliamentary Forum with a clear aim to connect institutional democracies across the region with members of Parliament from the seven SAARC countries," said Nepal MP Ananda Pokharel. According to social activist Kamal Mitra Chenoy, the SAARC often ended up taking up bilateral "squabbles" such as the Kashmir issue and never addressed the aspirations of the people of the region. Women's issues
The declaration sought free mobility across the region, strengthening and institutionalisation of democracy, human rights and justice, besides demilitarisation and de-nuclearisation of the states. The conclave expressed solidarity with the people of Nepal in their struggle for realising democracy and further strengthening the gains of the pro-democracy movement. It expressed concern over the present predicament of the peace process in Sri Lanka and demanded that the negotiations be recommenced and the armed hostility be ended immediately. Source: The Hindu (3rd April 2007) South Asia an engine of economic growth: Japan <TOP> Submitted by Indian-Muslim on Tue, 2007-04-03 10:18 New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) Pledging to cooperate with SAARC to achieve better regional connectivity, Japan Tuesday described the constituency as a "growth region", which was more "stable than ever". "A new frontier or an arc has emerged. It is a growth region, more stable than ever, committed to universal values. South Asia indeed makes a central pillar of the arc," said Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso in his opening remarks at the 14th SAARC summit here. "I have made a pledge that throughout this transition, Japan shall always be their running mate." Japan has been invited as an observer in this year's summit along with the US, China, the European Union and South Korea. Recalling Japan's history of friendship with the region, Aso said both India and Pakistan provided it with crucial materials like iron ore and cotton before its post-war miracle took shape. "In Nepal and Bhutan, my country will continue to support their democratisation and in Afghanistan, the Japanese have long worked with the Afghan people to help build the nation," said Aso. "Remember that 300 years ago, South Asia alone produced one fourth of the world output. What is unfolding is not a new rise but a great comeback of the region and the SAARC fully deserves the drama." Aso added that Japan has put an additional $7 million into the SAARC-Japan special fund and promised to widen cooperation further. Source: IndianMuslim.Info
(3rd April 2007) Defence spending aids South Asian poverty - group <TOP> Source: Reuters NEW DELHI, April 2 (Reuters) - South Asian nations need to cut defence spending and increase funding for women and children's welfare, healthcare and education to curb poverty in one of the world's poorest regions, activists said on Monday. The call by a coalition of about 200 voluntary groups -- representing women, tribal people, trade unions and refugees -- came on the eve of a summit in New Delhi of a regional grouping which aims to boost trade and development. The group, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, or SAARC, includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan is set to join as the eighth member during the April 3-4 conference. The People's SAARC, as the coalition is called, urged the governments to cut defence spending by 10 percent. "We realise that the lavish spending on weapons by poor South Asian countries is one of the major causes of rampant poverty in the region," Arjun Karki, a coordinator of the coalition, told a news conference. "We also demand that India and Pakistan stop the arms race and give up nuclear weapons, which pose a great threat to the 1.5 billion inhabitants of this peaceful region." India raised its defence budget by nearly 8 percent to $22 billion this year while its traditional rival Pakistan increased it by nearly 4 percent to $4.2 billion in 2006 despite their new moves to make peace. Activists said money spent on arms not only fuelled tensions in the region but also diverted crucial funds meant for development. "It helps to accentuate tensions within SAARC nations and it takes away food from the children and employment from the unemployed ... it is a senseless expenditure," said Kamal Mitra Chenoy, who teaches at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. Activists said Nepal spent $260 million on defence last year, compared to about $29,000 on agriculture despite the fact that 80 percent of the population depended on farming for its livelihood. Separately, Amnesty International urged South Asian governments to evolve a regional system to address issues such as security, the death penalty, violence against women and corporate accountability. Tough anti-terrorism laws in the region had led to large scale violation of rights it said at the end of a two-day rights conference in the Indian capital. "These laws seek to promote security but curtailment of enjoyment of rights erodes people's sense of security," said Purna Sen, Amnesty's Asia-Pacific director. (Additional reporting by Manjusha Chatterjee) Source: Reuters
AlertNet (2nd April 2007) People's SAARC
Meet Ends, Seeks End to Poverty <TOP>
The First People's SAARC concluded here on
Sunday, issuing a 25-point Kathmandu declaration. The declaration
has urged all the parties concerned to act together to fight
against poverty, injustice, imperialism and discrimination of
gender, caste, religion, language and ethnicity. "From monarchic or military dictatorship
to exercise of dictatorial power under the guise of democracy
and to 'functioning' formal democracies, all variations exist
in the region," the declaration stated, and reiterated
its demand to ensure democracy, human rights, justice, demilitarisation,
denuclearisation of states and its machineries. Stating that there should no barrier for free
mobility of people across the region by guaranteeing the notion
of visa free South Asia, the declaration demanded that the defence
budget be reduced at least by 10 per cent. The money thus saved
should be spent on education, health, employment and poverty
reduction, it said. It asked the SAARC to declare 2007 to 2017
a SAARC Dalit Rights decade with enactment of concrete Acts,
policies, programme and action plans. "As globalisation has resulted in eroding
labour rights, we demanded to ensure enforcement of Core Labour
Rights at work places including Special Economic Zones (SEZs),"
the declaration stated. It called for the resolution of Bhutanese
refugee issue and the problems facing the internally displaced
people. It also demanded the introduction of the provision
of 50 per cent reservation for women in political, social and
economic spheres of the societyand elimination of physical and
mental violence against women. Addressing the closing ceremony of three-day
People's SAARC, Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the
CPN-UML, said: "The Kathmandu declaration will support
the genuine demands of the South Asian people on common regional
problems." "We should be united together to fight
against feudalism, imperialism where a couple of people are
ruling the region to fulfil their personal interests,"
he said, adding: "There is a need of revolutionary land
reforms, elimination of human trafficking and other evils." People's SAARC concludes with Kathmandu Declaration <TOP> POST REPORT KATHMANDU, March 25 - The three-day
Kathmandu Assembly of People's SAARC concluded with a Kathmandu
Declaration on Sunday and a mass meet at Basantapur Durbar Square.
All delegates and representatives from the SAARC countries expressed their commitment to justice, peace and democracy in the South Asian region. The declaration laid a 28-point demand as an urgent need of people in this region. The declaration has asked the governments to ensure a visa-free South Asia; to strengthen and institutionalize democracy, human rights and justice; to demilitarize and denuclearize the states; to promote communal harmony; and many other contemporary and emerging issues. "We express our solidarity with the people of Nepal in their struggle for realizing loktantra and further strengthen and defend the gains of pro-democracy movement," read the declaration. They further warned that the people of this region are sovereign and independent to decide their way of life. Speaking on the occasion, general secretary of CPN (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal opined that such programs would pressurize governments to accelerate work in favor of the people. Various political leaders, delegates, renowned campaigners of different movements of the region expressed their views on the occasion. With the theme of Strengthening of South Asian People's Solidarity for Democracy, Justice and Peace, the three-day Kathmandu Assembly of People's SAARC had commenced here on March 23. Source: The Kathmandu Post (26 March 2007) SAARC
parliamentary forum to be formed Malaysia
Sun (ANI) Kathmandu, Mar.25 : The first conference of the People's South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has agreed to form a SAARC Parliamentary Forum to formulate alternative policies to resolve the problems of the SAARC countries. Issuing a declaration on Saturday, the conference decided to set up an office of the forum, give continuity to the meeting of the Front and making it effective in upcoming years. Stating that the SAARC, which was established in 1983, has failed to effectively address the people's agendas, the People's SAARC conference has urged the lawmakers to co-work with the civil society to meet the common agendas of rule of law, constitutional supremacy, inclusion, human rights and other issues. The Speaker of the interim legislature, Subash Chandra Nemwang, expressed the belief that the parliamentary forum will be a platform to discuss the problems of South Asian people and seek the solution. Nepalnews quoted other lawmakers of the SAARC countries as stressing on the need for optimum utilization of resources of SAARC countries, and to pressurise the governments to address the people's demands among others. Over 500 representatives of civil society, peasants, workers, marginalised people, people from deprived communities and lawmakers of all eight member countries participated in the conference. Source: Malaysia
Sun (26 March 2007) People's SAARC urges governments to combat poverty <TOP> Participants of the People's SAARC here in Kathmandu have stressed the need to address the pressing needs of the people of the region and translate the commitments of member states into action. At a programme organised in the capital on Sunday to publicise the Kathmandu Declaration at the end of the three-day long People's SAARC, leaders from SAARC countries said the SAARC had not been able to address the real needs of the people of the region. Chief guest of the programme, CPN (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said the SAARC had failed to deal with the issues of the marginalised and poor people and that the SAARC nations were acting like pawns in the hands of western countries. Poverty is the main area the SAARC members need to work on, he said. Pakistani Member of Parliament (MP) Manjur Ahmed urged the governments in region to cut down military expenditure and invest more on welfare and benefits of the poor and hungry people of South Asia. It is an irony that while largest number of poor people in the world live in South Asia the governments in the region have been increasing budgets on the military and nuclear weapons, he added. Indian Dalit leader Dr. Uma Kanta was of the view that the people's SAARC was the demand of time to raise the voice of the suppressed, marginalised and disadvantaged people of the region whose voice have never been heard in SAARC forums. Bhutanese refugee leader Dr. D. N. S. Dhakal said the Bhutanese refugee issue should be a major agenda of the upcoming SAARC summit. Other leaders addressing the function also emphasised the need for implementation of the SAARC commitments for poverty eradication and establishment of poverty alleviation fund to meet the millennium development goals set by the UN. The three-day conference of the SAARC MPs and political leaders held in Kathmandu from March 23 adopted its first declaration vowing to work for people-based democratic system of governance to develop and strengthen good governance from the grassroots to national and regional levels. The Kathmandu Declaration states that it is about time to refuse the western capitalistic dominance. Of the many demands put forward, the conference called for strengthening and institutionalising democracy, combat religious, ethnic and gender based violence, guarantee sovereign rights of the people for food, solve the problems of refugees and internally displaced people, extend support to the struggle of the Bhutanese refugees, promote free media, downsize the defence budget, declare 2007-2017 as SAARC Dalit decade, guarantee 50 reservation to women in all aspects of governance and end of all forms of indentured labour in the region. Current MPs, former MPs and political leaders from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan participated in the People's SAARC conference. nepalnews.com ia Mar 25 07 Source: nepalnews.com (25
March 2007)
Public SAARC summit ends, issues 25-point declaration paper <TOP> Kantipur Report KATHMANDU, March 25 - The two-day long Public South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit held in Kathmandu ended Sunday issuing a 25-point declaration paper. The declaration paper includes demands such as the implementation of a visa system among the South Asian countries, strengthening the democratic and human rights conditions in the SAARC nations, making the state free of arms and nuclear weapons and cutting down expenditure on arms and reallocating 10 per cent of the expenses to social development, among others. Likewise the paper also consists of demands such as food sovereignty, proper relocation of refugees and internally-displaced people, guaranteeing right to information and freedom of the media and the implementation of labour rights in the workplace. According to the summit coordinator Arjun Karki, the declaration paper will be presented in the 14th SAARC summit to be held in New Delhi. The Public SAARC summit was attended by politicians, civil society representatives, indigenous nationalities, students and women from all seven SAARC countries except Afghanistan. Source: ekantipur.com (25 March 2007) 'People's SAARC' Delegates Urge Govts to Ratify UN Convention on Rights of the Disabled <TOP> NHRN News Desk Kathmandu, March 25: Governments in South Asia have been urged to ratify the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Persons with Disabilities to ensure the rights of the disabled. Delegates at an ongoing conference called 'People’s SAARC' in Kathmandu on Saturday made such an urge while deliberating on a paper on the UN Convention. Presenting the paper, Birendra Raj Pokhrel, president of the National Federation of Disabled Nepal (NFDN), observed that the existing law on the disabled was based on "charitable prospective" while the convention sought to ensure the "right-based perspective of the disabled." He said the ratification of the Convention would help to pressurize the authorities concerned to ensure the rights of the disabled. The UN Convention for the rights of the disabled has 50 articles based on the principles of inherent dignity and participation of the persons living with disabilities. According to delegates, nearly 10 percent of population in Nepal is living with disabilities. The decade-long conflict has further increased the number. Source: nepalhumanrightsnews.com (25 March 2007) सार्क
संसदीय मञ्च
निर्माणको
प्रयास <TOP>
काठमाडौं, चैत १० - सार्कमा सीमान्तीकृत जनताको पहुंच, दक्षिण एसियाली क्षेत्रमा जनताबीच अन्तरकिया साझा समस्या समाधानका लागि वैकल्पिक नीति निर्माणका लागि साझा संसदीय मञ्च बनाउने प्रयास सुरु भएको छ । 'जनर्सार्क सम्मेलन' को दोस्रो दिन शनिबार घोषणापत्र जारी गर्दै मञ्चको निरन्तर बैठक बस्ने, कार्यालय स्थापना गर्ने र आगामी वर्षा मञ्चलाई अझ सशक्त र प्रभावकारी बनाउने निर्णय गरेको हो । सन्् १९८३ मा स्थापना भएको र्सार्कले अपेक्षित उपलब्धि हासिल गर्न नसकेको महसुस गर्दै बैठकले कानुनको शासन, संविधानवाद, समावेशीकरण, समानता र मानव अधिकारको सम्बोधन गर्नेलगायत साझा मुद्दामा नागरिक समाजस“ग सहकार्य गर्न सांसद्लाई आग्रह गरेको छ । मानव अधिकारको रक्षा, न्यायपाललिकाको स्वतन्त्रता, भ्रष्टाचार निवारण र कानुन कार्यान्वयन निकायमा पुनरावलोकन गर्ने र सुदृढ गर्न पहल गर्ने पनि घोषणापत्रमा उल्लेख छ । सभामुख नेम्वाङले संसदीय मञ्च दक्षिण एसियाका जनताका समस्यामाथि छलफल गर्ने र समाधान खोज्ने सझा मञ्च हुने विश्वास व्यक्त गरे । दक्षिण एसियाली अन्य मुलुकका सांसदले साधनस्रोतको उच्चतम प्रयोग गरेको, जनताका विषय सम्बोधन गर्न सरकारलाई दबाब दिनुपर्ने, सैनिकीकरण रोक्दै मेलमिलाप बढाउनुपर्ने, युद्ध रोक्दै शान्ति परवर्द्धन गर्नु पर्ने, भिसा प्रणाली सहजीकरण गर्नु पर्ने लगायत विषयमा जोड दिएका छन् । नेपाल भ्रमणमा रहेको युरोपेली संसदीय टोलीप्रमुख निना गिलले र्सार्क संसदीय मञ्चलाई युरोपेली संसद््जस्तै विकसित गर्न सुझाव दिइन् । युरोपेली संसद्का फाइदाबारे चर्चा गर्दै गिलले संसदीय मञ्चको नीति जनताको हितमा हुनुपर्ने बताइन् । एमाले महासचिव माधवकुमार नेपालले संसदीय मञ्चले यस क्षेत्रको लोकतन्त्रको संस्थागत विकासमा महत्त्वपर्ूण्ा भूमिका खेल्ने विश्वास व्यक्त गरे । शान्तिपूर्ण आन्दोलनको सर्न्दर्भमा संविधानसभाको निर्वाचनमार्फ नेपालमा लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र स्थापना हुनेमा उनले मित्रराष्ट्रका प्रतिनिधिहरूलाई आश्वस्त पार्ने प्रयास गरेका थिए । श्रीलंकाका सांसद टीबी एकनायक, सुरेश प्रेमचन्द्रन, दयासिरी जयासेकेरा, एम गनेसन, भारतीय लोकसभा सांसद मधुसुदा मिस्त्री, पाकिस्तानी सांसद चौधरी मञ्जुर अहमदन, आसिया अजिम, बंगलादेशका पूर्वसांसद प्रमोद मानकिनलगायतले र्सार्कमा जनताका सवाल र संसदीय मञ्चको भूमिबारे भनाइ राखेका थिए । सम्मेलनले दक्षिण एसियाको सञ्चार, मानव बेचबिखन, ओसारपसार र राष्ट्रिय कानुन, महिला अधिकार, जीविकोपार्जन, अपांग, राजनीतिमा महिला, बालअधिकार, शरणार्थी, समस्यालगायत विषयमा समानान्तर छलफल गरेको थियो । अनौपचारिक क्षेत्रमा महिलाले गरेको श्रमलाई पहिचान र मान्यता दिनुपर्ने, मानव बेचबिखन रोक्न आर्थिक, सामाजिक र सांस्कृति क्षेत्रबाट एकीकृत प्रयास गरिनुपर्ने, घरेलु श्रमिकका अधिकारका लागि कानुनी व्यवस्था गरिनुपर्नेमा सहभागीहरूले एक मत व्यक्त गरेका छन् । उनीहरूले बालअधिकार, अपांगका समस्या र शरणार्थी समस्या समाधानका क्षेत्रमा र्सार्क शिखर सम्मेलनले ठोस कार्य गनर्ुर्ुर्ेमा जोड दिएका छन् । जनर्सार्क सम्मेलनका निचोडलाई कार्यान्वयनका लागि भारतमा हुने १४औं र्सार्क शिखर सम्मेलनको ध्यानाकर्षा गराउन संसदीय प्रयास गरिने बताइएको छ । १३ वटा र्सार्क शिखर सम्मेलन औपचारिकतामा मात्र सीमित रहेको निष्कर्षहित यस क्षेत्रका नागरिक समाज, जनवर्गीय संगठन तथा गैरसरकारी संस्थाहरूले संयुक्त रूपमा जनर्सार्कको आयोजना गरेका हुन् । 'र्सार्कलाई असफलताबाट जोगाउन सम्मेलनमार्फ यस क्षेत्रका जनताले देखाएको सरोकार ऐतिहासिक महत्त्वको छ,' सांसद जगन्नाथ खतिवडाले भने । आइतबार र्यालीपछिको सभामा काठमाडौं घोषणापत्र जारी गर्दै सम्मेलन समापन हुनेछ । सांसद आनन्द पोखरेलले र्सार्क शिखर सम्मेलनमा भाग लिने सबै राष्ट्रका सरकार प्रमुखलाई घोषणापत्रमा उल्लिखित एजेन्डामा ध्यानाकर्षा गराउने बताए । Source: Kantipur Daily [25 March 2007) SAARC parliamentary forum to be formed <TOP> The first conference of the People’s South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has agreed to form a SAARC parliamentary forum to formulate alternative policies to resolve the problems of the SAARC countries. Issuing a declaration on Saturday, the conference has decided to set up office of the forum, give continuity to the meeting of the Front and making it effective in upcoming years. Stating that the SAARC, which was established in 1983, failed to effectively address the people’s agendas, the People’s SAARC conference has urged the lawmakers to co-work with the civil society to meet the common agendas of rule of law, constitutional supremacy, inclusion, human rights and other issues. Speaker of the interim legislature, Subash Chandra Nemwang expressed the belief that the parliamentary forum will be a platform to discuss the problems of South Asian people and seek the solution. Other lawmakers of the SAARC countries also stressed the need of optimum utilization of resources of SAARC countries, pressurise the governments to address people’s demands among others. The People’s SAARC conference discussed the issues of democracy, sustainable peace, human rights, natural resource management and the issues of deprived communities and Indigenous Nationalities. Over 500 representatives of civil society, peasants, workers, marginalised people, people from deprived communities and lawmakers of all eight member countries participated in the conference. nepalnews.com pb Mar 25 07 Source: nepalnews.com [25 March 2007) South Asia People's Assembly begins in Nepal <TOP> A three-day conference of South Asia People's Assembly or People's South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) began here on Friday. The Conference is being organized for making recommendations through discussion and their implementation for pressurizing the SAARC summit for implementation of labor rights in South Asia, peace and disarmament process, governance system, women and peace, inter-religious issues, natural resources management, refugee problem, communication, parliamentary forum, farmer's forum, food sovereignty, agriculture and farmers rights. Initiating the conference organized by the People's SAARC Preparatory Committee, Nepali Speaker Subash Chandra Nembang said that people in the region have not been able to get basic facilities such as education, health, food-grains, clothes even if the SAARC countries are rich socially, culturally, geographically, in terms of natural resources and in caste basis as they have not yet been fully discovered and utilized. He also pointed out the need of struggle for justice in the region, while stating that democracy is indispensable for justice. Parliamentarians of the SAARC countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Nepal, leaders of various organizations, student leaders, representatives of women, children, indigenous people, disabled and professional organizations took part in the conference. Source: People's Daily Online (24 March, 2007) People's
SAARC to raise exiled Bhutanese issue <TOP>
Mohan Tamang, the organizing committee member representing Bhutan, informed BNS that the exiled Bhutanese community has got an opportunity to facilitate an event on ‘refugees in south Asia’ as a part of People’s SAARC. Representatives from Bhutan National Democratic Party (BNDP), Human Rights Organization of Bhutan (HUROB), Voice for Change and Bhutanese Refugee Women Forum (BRWF) will address the assembly on current developments in camps. The three days assembly will end on March 25. Bhutan News Service Source: apfanews.com
(24 March 2007) People's SAARC
opens : Speaker for poverty-reduction plans
<TOP> By A
Staff Reporter Inaugurating a three-day function of the "People's SAARC" Friday, he said unless the basic problems related to poverty were not resolved with utmost sincerity, regressive forces would continue engaging in their ulterior motive against democratic movement and its sustainability. He said that inexpensive and easy access to and speedy dispensation of justice to all was another factor that affects the smooth functioning of any democratic system. "However, we have not been able to win the confidence of the masses that our justice system suits the perfection that people in a democratic system aspire for," he said. At the moment, the country is engaged in the task of holding elections of Constituent Assembly for a better Nepal and welfare of Nepali people and the process would also assist in ensuring and forging the democratic system in the country. People's SAARC had been established with objectives to share and strengthen linkages amongst like minded groups, agencies, and individuals so as to promote movement for democracy, justice and work for people's welfare. About 500 participants and 40 organisations from different countries including Nepal have been participating in the programme.
People's SAARC focuses on pro-people agenda <TOP> The People's South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) conference has kicked off in Kathmandu to discuss the issues of achieving long-lasting peace, fight imperialism and ensure rights in the region. Organisers said that People's SAARC is People's Assembly to raise voice and concern of the people in the region, before heads of the governments of the SAARC member states meet in New Delhi on April 3-4. Delegates from all SAARC member states are participating in the meeting. Over 500 delegates including 300 foreign delegates are participating in the conference. Organisers said that the conference was organised to pressurise the SAARC leaders to discuss people's agendas as the SAARC failed to address people's agendas. Inaugurating the conference, Speaker of the interim parliament Subash Chandra Nemwang said that it is difficult to sustain democracy in poverty. Prof Babu Mathew from India stressed that religion should not be used as a means of violence. He also emphasised on free movement of citizens among SAARC member states. The People's SAARC will come up with a declaration on March 25, which will be submitted to the 14th SAARC summit to be held in New Delhi from April 3. nepalnews.com pb Mar 24 07
People’s
SAARC meet begins <TOP> The People’s South Asian Association
For Regional Cooperation (SAARC) today began here with delegates
from SAARC member states stressing on means and ways to achieve
long-lasting peace, fight imperialism and ensure rights that have
been denied. Inaugurating a function, Subas
Chandra Nembang, Speaker of the Legislative Parliament, said:
“It is difficult to sustain democracy in poverty. So poverty
is one of the important issues that needs urgent addressing.” Prof Babu Mathew from India stressed that religion should not be used as a means of violence. He also emphasised on free movement of citizens among SAARC member states. DNS Dhakal from Bhutan said: “All
should join hands to raise a louder voice for development, peace
and justice.” Karamat Ali, a representative from
Pakistan, requested the South Asian people to join hands for peace
and equality and against imperialism. Pramod Mankin from Bangladesh said:
“We should fight for war against poverty rather than war
against terrorism.” South Asia People's Assembly to be organized in Nepal <TOP> An extensive conference called South Asia People's Assembly or People's South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is going to be organized in Kathmandu from Friday with the objective of forging solidarity and alliance between people of these countries for democracy, justice and peace in South Asia. According the Nepali National News Agency RSS Friday's report, the three-day conference would be participated in by over 500 delegates from all the South Asian countries of SAARC. The participants will deliberate together not only sectoral issues of specific interests but also the strengthening of a broad solidarity and alliance to achieve justice for all the people of the region through peace and democracy. As per the information given out at a press conference organized here Thursday by the People's SAARC Preparatory Committee, the conference takes place in the context of the official SAARC summit of heads of states and governments scheduled to take place in New Delhi, India in early April. It is stated that the South Asia People's Assembly will raise the voice of the people of the region before the leaders of governments of the SAARC nations meet. The Assembly will open with launching a vision for a New South Asia. For two days it will deliberate topics related to food security, farmers, peace, demilitarization, democracy, governance, gender equity, rights of the various minority groups, economic cooperation. Similarly, parliamentarians from the various countries would hold a forum in course of the Assembly. Delegates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Pakistan have already arrived here to attend the Assembly. Source: People's Daily Online (23 March 2007) South
Asia People's Assembly to be organized in Nepal <TOP>
An extensive conference called South Asia People's Assembly or People's South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is going to be organized in Kathmandu from Friday with the objective of forging solidarity and alliance between people of these countries for democracy, justice and peace in South Asia. According the Nepali National News Agency RSS Friday's report, the three-day conference would be participated in by over 500 delegates from all the South Asian countries of SAARC. The participants will deliberate
together not only sectoral issues of specific interests but also
the strengthening of a broad solidarity and alliance to achieve
justice for all the people of the region through peace and democracy. It is stated that the South Asia People's Assembly will raise the voice of the people of the region before the leaders of governments of the SAARC nations meet. The Assembly will open with launching
a vision for a New South Asia. For two days it will deliberate
topics related to food security, farmers, peace, demilitarization,
democracy, governance, gender equity, rights of the various minority
groups, economic cooperation. Source:
english.eastday.com (23 March 2007) People’s SAARC conference in Kathmandu <TOP> People’s SAARC conference is going to be held from 23rd to 25th March in Kathmandu with the objective of developing people to people contact among the citizens of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. Representatives of civil society, peasants, workers, marginalised people, people from deprived communities and lawmakers of all eight member countries will participate in the conference. According to secretariat of the People’s SAARC, Kathmandu declaration will be issued from the people’s level by organising a mass meeting at the end of the three day long conference. It is expected that the declaration made by the People’s SAARC would be helpful to draw the attention of the governments of the SAARC countries during the 14th SAARC summit scheduled for April 3-4 in New Delhi. The People’s SAARC will discuss the issues of democracy, sustainable peace, human rights, natural resource management and the issues of deprived communities and Indigenous Nationalities. Participants of other member countries will hold discussion with the government and Maoist talks teams about the Nepal’s peace process. 20 lawmakers from all member countries are participating in the conference. Source: nepalnews.com
(March 20, 2007)
Diplomatic Correspondent The People's Saarc Conference will begin on March 23 in Kathmandu with an objective of developing interaction among the citizens of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) countries. The 3-day conference is going to be held ahead of the 14th Saarc Summit in New Delhi on April 3-4. According to the sources, representatives of civil society, peasants, workers, marginalised group, deprived communities and lawmakers from all eight member countries -- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka -- will participate in the conference in Kathmandu. According to secretariat of People's Saarc, the Kathmandu declaration will be issued on the third and concluding day of the conference after a mass meeting. With the Kathmandu declaration,
People's Saarc hopes to draw attention of the governments of Saarc
countries during the 14th summit in New Delhi on issues such as
democracy, sustainable peace, human rights, natural resource management
and issues of the deprived communities and the indigenous people. Saarc
countries urged to strengthen cooperation <TOP> Staff Correspondent Speakers at a discussion yesterday
called on the Saarc countries to strengthen cooperation among
themselves for regional development under the umbrella of South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), which hold
immense potential. There is no common project among the regional countries, he said, calling for fostering the spirit of cooperation and true regionalism in order to make the Saarc more effective. Imagine New South Asia (INSA) and South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) organised the discussion on 'People's Saarc' at Women's Voluntary Association auditorium in the city ahead of the 14th Saarc Summit. Speaking as the chief guest, eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain said the Saarc countries are facing new problems due to the impact of globalisation. The Saarc countries should strengthen regional cooperation to deal with these problems, he added. The speakers stressed the need for equitable distribution of natural resources and sharing of technology, skill and knowledge among the Saarc countries, more people-to-people contacts, simplification of visa procedure and smooth communication facilities. They also called for greater coordinated efforts by the governments, civil society members and the media to this end. Editor of the daily Sangbad Bazlur
Rahman, Prof Geeti Ara Nasreen, Rasheda K Chowdhury, Prof Anisuzzaman
and Rokeya Kabir also spoke at the discussion moderated by Qazi
Kholiquzzaman Ahmed, co-chair of Bangladesh National Steering
Committee of INSA. Source: The Daily Star (Wed. March 13, 2007) |