[Reader-list] People's movements in South Asia join hands

[T Peter]

People's movements in South Asia join hands
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2572631.ece
Special Correspondent
Representatives of people's movements, social action groups, and human
rights organisations from various countries in South Asia will hold a
parallel meeting here on the two days preceding the SAARC (South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation) Summit scheduled to take place
in the Maldives on November 10 and 11.

The parallel meeting will be held on the theme ‘People's movements
unite South Asia,' and will address major concerns in the region,
including livelihood and human rights issues, environmental problems,
and climate change, chairman of the alliance M. Rajan, convener T.
Peter, and other leaders told a press conference here on Tuesday.

“Most of the issues taken up by people's movements in South Asia are
common,” Mr. Peter said. “The invasion of the corporate world on the
sea, forests, and land and water resources is crippling a large
section of the people in South Asia. The parallel meeting is expected
to forge a larger alliance of struggles in South Asia.”

The event here will have a broad agenda to bring various issues within
the framework of ‘Governance, Democracy and Human Rights.' Leaders of
political parties across the spectrum are expected to participate and
express their solidarity. The programme will be organised at the YMCA
hall here.

“Globalisation and changes in the structure of capital have affected
the working class in all Third World countries,” Ashim Roy, organising
committee member of the parallel summit, said. “The growing concerns
of the working class need a coordinated approach. While leaders of
SAARC countries are coming together to promote trade and ensure better
profit, the working class is forced to join hands for its livelihood
and survival.”

Workshops

The alliance is organising eight workshops during the event on issues
such as democracy and human rights; women's leadership in people's
movements; trade and livelihood; militarisation and denuclearisation;
natural resources and people's movements for sustainable development;
nuclear industry in South Asia; rebuilding the labour movement in the
region; and exclusion, discrimination and oppression in South Asia.

“There are thousands of people's movements all over the country
struggling for their rights,” K. Sajeed, another organising committee
member, said. “The challenge before the people of South Asia is to
educate the leaders of their governments to address their genuine
concerns.”

Human rights violations in South Asian countries are expected to
figure in the sessions.

“Policy-level changes in South Asia will take place only through the
pressure exerted by the collective strength of grassroots movements,”
P.T. George from the Intercultural Resources, New Delhi, said.

“Ecological crisis and the challenges posed by climate change are some
of the biggest issues facing humanity at large, especially in South
Asian countries. The very existence of the Maldives is threatened
today.

In this context, there is an urgent need for people's movements in
South Asia to bring pressure on the governments to adopt policies for
sustainable development.”

Meet to be held in city before SAARC Summit starts in the Maldives next month.
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