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.
