Conference
An Assembly Towards a Union of South Asian Peoples.
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INTRODUCTION:
The region of South Asia generally constitutes states of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. More than one fifth of the world’s population lives in this area. It is the most densely populated and most populous region in the world. Geopolitically South Asia has never been a coherent region. South Asia suffered from numerous conflicts and political instability. Most prominent in this regard is the hostility between the nuclear-armed states i.e. India and Pakistan. The south Asian political dynamics is dominated by these two states as a result stalemates the regional development. A “World Bank” report from 2007 states that South Asia is the least integrated region in the world. The trade between the states is accounted to merely 2% of the region’s combined GDP. The extent of cooperation in the fields of economy, culture and politics is up to smaller degree only and to be a developed region the horizon of extent of regional cooperation has to be expanded.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional organization that was founded in 1985 by the states Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka and recently in its 14th summit Afghanistan was also accredited member status. SAARC aims on promoting political and economic cooperation between its member states. Despite its 25 year-old existence South Asia’s regional integration little have been achieved in the field of mutual cooperation. The tensed relation between India and Pakistan as well as the vested interests of South Asia’s ruling class are mainly regarded responsible for the slow process of regional integration and cooperation.
The Peoples SAARC (PSAARC) is a federation of different South Asian civil society organizations. The PSAARC exists since 1990 and was founded in order to overcome national interests and to establish a South Asian Civil Society with special respect to the work of SAARC. On 22nd and 23rd of April the PSAARC conference “An Assembly Towards a Union of South Asian Peoples” took place at JNU’s Social Science Auditorium as a preceding event to the SAARC summit in Thimpu (Bhutan) on April 28-29, 2010.The various issues were discussed in different workshops during the 20th and the 21st of April. These workshops allowed groups from across South Asia to discuss common issues and possible joint campaigns on these issues. The final reports regarding the issues discussed were presented during the conference. People’s SAARC 2010 addressed mainly the issues such as: Freedom of movement: right to reside and work; Politics of hatred: terrorism and militarism; Climate Crisis, ecological justice and livelihoods; Nationalism, federalism, democracy in South Asia; Water sharing and scarcities in South Asia; Fighting imperialism and deepening democracy; Democracy and exclusions; Trade and economic cooperation; Agrarian crisis.
Funding Organizations: Heinrich Böll Foundation-India | Action Aid | South Asia Foundation-India | One World South Asia and local participating organizations.
Organizing Committee: Aman Trust | AIPSO | AITUC | CEC | CDSA | COVA | Ekta Parishad | Focus on the Global South | Global Gandhi Forum | Intercultural Resources | ICYO | MFA | NACDOR | NAPM | NCDHR | NFFPFW | NFIW | NTUI | PWESCR | SADED | SANGAT | SANSAD | SAPA | VANI | WNTA.
- Press Release, Programme, Delhi Declaration and Report.
- Media Coverage.
Indian Press
25.04.2010
The Hindu - People's SAARC meeting speaks up for a united South Asia.
Two Circles - People's SAARC meet demands United South Asia.
26.04.2010
The Hindu - People's SAARC for fight against militarism, jingoism.
Pakistani Press
22.04.2010
The Nation – People’s SAARC conference.
30.04.2010Dawn – The people’s ‘SAARC’
Bangladeshi Press25.04.2010
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha - People's SAARC meet demands united South Asia.
European Press27.04.2010
Europe solidaire sans frontières - Two days at JNU & some thoughts on People SAARC Assembly.
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