ID :
13033
Sat, 07/19/2008 - 10:36
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/13033
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Call to make Saarc a real `people's union' to promote trade
By Faruque Ahamed
COLOMBO, July 18 (BSS) - The pre-SAARC South Asian People's
Assembly opened here today with a call for making the regional
bloc a real 'people's union' to promote closer trade and socio-
economic integration among the people of the region.
It also laid stress on more democratisation of the society,
saying the establishment of the people's rights in South Asia
requires unhindered democracy which is facing impediments in many
countries of the region.
The people's assembly has been arranged by various civil
society organizations from the SAARC member states prior to the
15th SAARC Summit on August 2-3 to call on the leadership to move
the region towards more socio-economic integration to ultimately
end up in an economic union.
Participants from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan,
Afghanistan, Maldives, Afghanistan, besides host country Sri
Lanka spoke in the inaugural function of the event held in the
New Town Hall in the city.
They said despite the fact that Saarc came into being three
decades ago the people to people gap is only increasing, not
diminishing. They said the people of South Asia dream of a union
and leaders must work towards that direction.
Some speakers stressed the ultimate aim of creating a
regional supra national entity.
About 500 representatives of various NGOs are taking part in
the three-day event. It will focus on issues like food security,
democracy and governance, nation state and its challenges,
climate change and ecological justice, WTO and South Asia and
conflicts management.
It is being held by SAPA or South Asian People's Assembly
secretariat.
About a dozen civil society organizations are participating
in the event from Bangladesh including Equity and Justice working
group.
Senator Iqbal Haider of Pakistan said, "a 'supra national
entity' may breed confusion, we must have the clear idea of
creating an economic union, not a political union."
He said SAARC is the only unfortunate region which has not
opened up to benefit from a functionally effective collaboration.
"Every country can maintain the individual political entity and
at the same time have an economic union," he said referring to a
few such economic unions.
He said trade with USA, Japan or the West has become more
expensive now in view of the higher freight, besides poor
bargaining power of the South Asian countries.
Indian participant Kamala Vasin said the colonial borders
have kept the people of the region divided and open to conflicts.
The USA is forging closer ties now with India to keep this region
divided under its influence. It must be resisted from a common
platform, he argued.
Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman stressed the need for action oriented
programmes to achieve the socio-economic goals of the region. He
said the region must work jointly to achieve higher growth.
BSS/1320GMT
COLOMBO, July 18 (BSS) - The pre-SAARC South Asian People's
Assembly opened here today with a call for making the regional
bloc a real 'people's union' to promote closer trade and socio-
economic integration among the people of the region.
It also laid stress on more democratisation of the society,
saying the establishment of the people's rights in South Asia
requires unhindered democracy which is facing impediments in many
countries of the region.
The people's assembly has been arranged by various civil
society organizations from the SAARC member states prior to the
15th SAARC Summit on August 2-3 to call on the leadership to move
the region towards more socio-economic integration to ultimately
end up in an economic union.
Participants from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan,
Afghanistan, Maldives, Afghanistan, besides host country Sri
Lanka spoke in the inaugural function of the event held in the
New Town Hall in the city.
They said despite the fact that Saarc came into being three
decades ago the people to people gap is only increasing, not
diminishing. They said the people of South Asia dream of a union
and leaders must work towards that direction.
Some speakers stressed the ultimate aim of creating a
regional supra national entity.
About 500 representatives of various NGOs are taking part in
the three-day event. It will focus on issues like food security,
democracy and governance, nation state and its challenges,
climate change and ecological justice, WTO and South Asia and
conflicts management.
It is being held by SAPA or South Asian People's Assembly
secretariat.
About a dozen civil society organizations are participating
in the event from Bangladesh including Equity and Justice working
group.
Senator Iqbal Haider of Pakistan said, "a 'supra national
entity' may breed confusion, we must have the clear idea of
creating an economic union, not a political union."
He said SAARC is the only unfortunate region which has not
opened up to benefit from a functionally effective collaboration.
"Every country can maintain the individual political entity and
at the same time have an economic union," he said referring to a
few such economic unions.
He said trade with USA, Japan or the West has become more
expensive now in view of the higher freight, besides poor
bargaining power of the South Asian countries.
Indian participant Kamala Vasin said the colonial borders
have kept the people of the region divided and open to conflicts.
The USA is forging closer ties now with India to keep this region
divided under its influence. It must be resisted from a common
platform, he argued.
Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman stressed the need for action oriented
programmes to achieve the socio-economic goals of the region. He
said the region must work jointly to achieve higher growth.
BSS/1320GMT
