Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy
Convention held on Dec. 28-31, 1996 in Calcutta.
Press Release
More than 300 Pakistanis and Indians met in Calcutta for the Third Convention
of the Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy formed in
September 1994. Of the 167 Pakistani delegates present at the convention from
diverse regions and varied professional backgrounds, 142 had crossed the border by
rail and road, itself a historic event in the 50th year since Independence and Partition.
At the four day convention, held between Dec. 28-31, 1996, delegates had intensive
discussions to develop action-plans on four major themes that had been adopted by
the Forum through the Lahore Declaration in Sept. 1994; demilitarization,
denuclearization and peace dividends, religious intolerance, Kashmir and governance.
They also reviewed their journey through the first fifty years of independence.
Postures and policies adopted by the two states have deprived the people of the promise
of freedom. Diversion of precious resources to wars and preparation for war, had
condemned millions of people in the two countries to poverty and squalor. This has
resulted in the denial of people's fundamental rights and basic needs like health,
education, housing etc.
On the fourth and final day, the convention endorsed and reiterated the Forum's
standpoint contained in the Delhi and Lahore resolutions and unanimously
adopted the following :
The Calcutta Declaration.* The most fundamental interest of the people of Pakistan
and India, as also of the South Asian Region as a whole,
demands that both countries celebrate the Fiftieth
Anniversary of Independence by taking a solemn pledge to
devote the second half century of freedom to realizing the
shared aspirations of the people for peace, democracy,
justice, tolerance, and equal opportunities for all
citizens regardless of belief, ethnicity, gender, and
social status.* That in order to realize this objective, the two states
must sign, by 14-15th August 1997, a comprehensive treaty
providing for the employment of internationally recognized
mechanisms of mutual negotiation, mediation and arbitration
for conflict resolution that could guarantee durable peace.
* That the two states must enter into bilateral agreements
to ensure the following :-- Free travel across the border
-- Free exchange of information and publications and
reduction of communication and travel costs.
-- Removal of trade barriers and grant of MFN status
to each other.
-- That while celebrating the Fiftieth Anniversary of
Freedom, the people rejoice in one another's
freedom and integrity.
-- That the members of the Forum have a historic
responsibility to carry out the action plan
adopted at the convention in particular.
Demilitarization, denuclearization and peace dividends
The members of the Forum must use all means available to them to persuade
their respective governments to adopt effective confidence building measures
to agree not to use military capabilities against each other. To stop
intermittent firings across the border. To put an end to proxy wars and to
demilitarize Siachin. Both governments must ensure transparency in their
defense budgets. The Forum members should redouble their efforts
to secure an agreement between the two countries to desist from nuclear
preparations and work for regional disarmament and a nuclear weapon
free world. A public campaign should belaunched to ensure that the
resources released by reduction in defense expenditure are devoted exclusively
to meeting the peoples basic needs.
The convention calls upon the national committees of the Forum to mobilize
all groups and associations concerned with basic freedoms and rights in their
respective countries to secure the objective of genuine participtary democracy, to
sponsor and undertake comparative studies in decentralization of authority to
facilitate meaningful contacts between professionals, especially lawyers,
farmers, traders, academics, scientists, physicians women's activists, and media
persons for sharing of experiences and to help evolution of common strategies to
deal with the effects of global shifts in areas of governance and economy.Religious Intolerance
The national committees should create national and joint sub committees to combat
intolerance and prejudice in the following areas :
Education, specifically the teaching of history; media and performing arts; state,
Law and politics; literature and culture. Priority should be attached to supporting
and replicating project like Communalism Combat's Khoj (removal of prejudice
and distortion from history works) cooperation among media persons, exchange
of writers and students, evolution of uniform guarantees of human rights in laws
and codes, relief to persons detained across borders, rights of migrant labour
and promotion of dialogues amongst religious scholars.Kashmir
The Forum will work toward creating favorable public opinion to make it possible
for the two governments and the people of Kashmir to find a solution to this long standing problem. The following recommendations are made :
1. The PIFPD joint committee on Kashmir will hold regular meetings with Kashmir leaders on both sides of the LOC. The understanding obtained from these meetings can be used for recommending future course of action.
2. The joint committee on Kashmir will attempt to organize a meeting where representatives of Kashmir from both sides of the LOC can come together.
3. Activities will be undertaken which educate people and decision makers about the facts
and real issues about Kashmir and the urgency for resolving the conflict. In particular
it is recommended that a newsletter should be published by the forum. The Joint committee should also organize meetings with parliamentarians to acquaint them with issues which concern peoples of India and Pakistan.Gender Justice
Given the lack of gender justice in the legal systems of the two countries, the Forum decided to formulate a Joint Charter of Egalitarian Principles which will be the determining factor in civil, religious and personal laws in both countries. It shall campaign and lobby with the governments and the citizens of the two countries to commit themselves to this charter.
For further information contact:
The Other Media
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India.
Ph : 91-11-6863830/6856640
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Email : deena@tom.unv.ernet.in