Resolutions adopted at the Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy Convention
(Lahore, November 1995)
DEMILlTARlSATlON
RESOLUTION 1:
This convention of Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy urges that in view of the debilitating effects of the subcontinent's arms race and the resulting diversion of scarce resources away from pressing social needs the govenments of India and Pakistan:
(1) to negotiate reduction of force levels of war waging capabilities by 25 per cent over a period of three years, simultaneously curtailing military spending,
(2) to enhance confidence by pulling back heavy military deployments from the border and making military exercises of both countries open to observers from either country.
(3) to agree to prevent cross-border support for insurgencies and proxy wars.
RESOLUTIONS 2:
Following resolutions were broadly approved by the group.
(1) The nuclear and missile programmes of India and Pakistan pose a catastrophic threat to the people of both countries. We, therefore, reafirm the recommendations made at the Delhi Convention which, among others, state that:
(a) both countries should restrain nuclear preparations and move towards regional disarmament independent of the wishes or positions of the Nuclear Weapon States and participate in and promote all efforts regarding the crucial issue of global nuclear disarmament.
(2) India and Pakistan should conclude their own Co comprehensive Test Ban without waiting for a global treaty.
(3) All states must commit themselves to cease production of additional fissile materials for nuclear weapons and other explosive purposes.
We further call upon the governments of both India and Pakistan to immediately initiate a direct dialogue aimed at reducing, and eventually eliminating, the chances of a nuclear war by intent or accident. Irrespective of any international negotiations or agreements, this dialogue should include discussion of the following additional issues. (a) A treaty that neitber country will develop, procure, or deploy billlistic missile systems against each other, and refrain from developing advanced systems which might lead to a costly and risky arms race, should be signed.
(b) A treaty that neither country will attempt to produce or procure Tritium, a material which is essential to the production of second generation nuclear fission weapons.
(c) A reaffirmation of commitment to treaties and CBMs signed by both countries on nuclear related issues.
RESOLUTION 3
It was resolved to urge the governments and civil societies of Pakistan and India to take measures to counter adverse of effects foreign and domestic policies of mililaristic nature on the daily life of citizens, reflected in the growth of the culture of violence hatred and guns, and aggressive and communalised nationalism, a distorted model of masculinity and an increasing sense insecurity for citizens of the two countries.
Resolved the RESOLUTION that scholars, scientists, journa1ists and Writers in the two countries take up joint initiatives to write books, pamphlets and other educational material on war, demilitarisation and peace, in particular denuclearisation and demilitarisation. At the same time publishers, writers and journalists from both countries should do their utmost to promote the trend.
RESOLUTION 4:
In keeping with greater aspirations of the people of India and Pakistan for peace, economic prosperity and political stability in the region, the group "A" discussed at length ways and means to put pressure on governments of the two countries to pursue a policy of denuclearisation and demilitarisation to promote peace. Several valuable suggestions were made by tne participants. These include:
* public support should be mustered for denuclearisalion and disarmament through extensive mass mobilisation campaigns, peace marches, mass signature campaigns, seminars and holding huge joint meetings of the people in both countries;
* a joint bilateral public agency should be set up to monitor the reduction in force level of both countries; details of estimated destruction which can be caused by a nuclear attack as well as the benefits of denuclearisation should be made public;
* sections of political parties committed to peace should be associated in work for demilitarisation and denuclearisation;
* anti-nuclearisation groups of professionals like doctors should be formed and students, NGOs and trade unions should be involved in the process of dissemination of the message of denuclearisation;
RESOLUTION 5
It is resolved that the governments and civil societies of Pakistan and India counter the adverse effects of militaristic foreign and domestic policies on the daily life of citizens. This has lead to the growth of a culture of violence and guns; an aggressive and communalized nationalism; a distorted model of masculinity and an increasing sense of insecurity for citizens in both countries. As a first step towards this we demand that:
a. The governments of India and Pakistan should dismantle and refrain from installing weapons of war as national monuments.
b. Wasteful expenditure on military parades and exhibitions of military hardware be stopped.
c. A citizens' monitoring group be setup to monilor hate producing and sexist images of war and military prowess in the media.
Chairpersons
Dorab Patel - Pakistan Sumanto Bannerjee- India
Rapporteurs
Amir Mirza- Pakistan N.D. Jaiparkash - India
INTOLERANCE
The Lahore Convention of the Pakistan India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy to redouble its efforts to fight the curse of intolerance in both the countries. For this purpose the convention resolves to set-up a joint lndia Pakistan committee to undertake the following tasks:
i. Revision of school text books especially on history, and exploring of possibilities for preparing common text books for both countries.
ii. Organizations of meetings between professionals and other groups, such as lawyers, journalists, women, trade union, with a view to demolishing prejudices that breed intolerance.
iii. Mobilization of media and the arts to promote the values of tolerance through street theatre, T.V plays, joint production of plays, films, videos, exchange of artists, sponsorships of syndicated articles/features in news papers, and efforts to setup a common radio/T.V channels.
iv. Exchange of students and youth and promotion of joint activities by them.
v. Monitoring of communal violence and discrimination in both countries.
vi. Production of books containing material from diverse sources that propagate peace and democracy.
vii. Ensuring widest possible dissemination of forum activities.
Chairpersons:
Tahir Mohammad Khan - Pakistan Syeda Hameed - India Rapporteurs Arif Shamim - Pakistan Dilip D'Souza - India
GOVERNANCE
The working group on governance began with a recommendation that / the group should be renamed as Democratisation and Decentralisation:
Resolved that:
1. Laws or parts of laws which offend fundamental rights/human rights, civil liberties and bar judicial review of administrative action should be repealed, such as the Public Safety Act (India), Armed Forces Special Powers Act (India), Frontier Crimes Regulations (Pakistan), Maintenance of Public Order (MPO, Pakistan).
2. The use of state machinery to oppress and suppress political dissent should be stopped.
3. Laws and patterns which perpetuate economic disparities dealing with land, rent, forestry, industrial relations and resource distributions should be repealed
4. Both India and Pakistan should ratify all international instruments in the field of human rights including covenants on socio-economic rights 1965, convenants on civil and political rights 1965, additional protocol to Geneva Convention 1976, without derogation.
5. Provisions regarding defence budget should be discussed in detail. Parliament and the expenditures on defense should be made accountable.
6. Human rights courts should be established at SAARC level.
7. Laws pertaining to juvenile justice should be promulagated in all parts of the two countries.
8. Laws discriminating against women in both countrie should be repealed.
9. The developed and mature sense of political, economic and social insecurity has resulted in criminalisation of the political, social and economic state of affairs and massive corruption. In order to end this malaise, we have to address this sense of insecurity.
10. The governments of the two countries give top priority to concerns of the people of South Asia while devising their trade policies with other countries. In order to realize this purpose:
(i) Trade possibilities, all goods and services, that can be shared between two countries must be explored and implemented;
(ii) After meeting local and national needs, agricultural surplus, should preferably be exported to the nations of the South Asia.
11. Two governments must urgently reduce trade levies, postal and telecommunication rates.
12. We as citizens committed to the ideas of peace and democracy, should set up joint committees to monitor the conduct of military and para-military forces with reference to the civil population and press for judicial investigaton into excess against the people of both countries. Of specific concern here are the numerous incidents of mass rape and dispossession of the peasantry and urban poor in places where armed presence is high.
13. The national economic policies should recognise the large unoganised workers in our region. In this context, we urge the governments of Pakistan and India bring in minimum wage, provisions, identity cards, to all unorganised working people, set up labor boards to regulate employment at country, state, and local level, implement social security provision such as for old age, sickness, disablement, accident compensation, maternity facilities for women workers. And to give to all the categories of workers the freedom to associate and unionise.
14. Since nearly half the work force in the unorganised sector are women representation of women workers should be constitutionally guaranteed on all representative bodies of labour.
15. The governments especially ministries of labour in both countries effectively persue the idealism of abolishing child labour and that they implement, especially in relation to women workers a minimum wage category.
16.Taking into account the enormous ill effects on the family, the governments of the both countries work towards the elimination of bonded labour. The govenments should also undertake appropriate legislation on a war-footing basis in this connection.
17. The governments should also ensure implementation on immediate basis the IL0 Conventions especially the freedom to unionise and form industry level trade unions.
18. Governments of the two countries must increase their expenditures in social sectors such as health, education, public distribution, workers' housing, especially for single and widowed woman workers, and reduce their unproductive expenditures .
19. This convention strongly opposes the present oppressive system of visa issuance followed by the governments of Pakistan and India, which restricts rhe free movement of citizens across the borders, and harassment of applicants and visitors by bureaucratic requirements like delay in the granting of visas, reporting at police sations, barring of entry into all towns, etc. This convention, therefore, calls upon both governments to remove all restrictions whatsoever so as to allow citizens of Pakistan and India to visit all parts of each other's country.
Chairpersons:
Manoranjan Mohanty - India Latif Afridi - Pakistan
Rapporteurs
Walter Fernandes - India Adnan Adil - Pakistan
KASHMIR
Three broadly shared concerns on Kashmir shaped the discussion and recommendations of the convention:
1. Both the governments of India and Pakistan are continuing to disregard the wishes and aspirations of people of Jarnmu and Kashmir.
2. AlI sides are projecting propaganda as news.
3. The parties to the conflict are locked in fixed positions.
In this context, taking further the recommendations of the Delhi Convention in February, we suggest a four point action plan:
We resolved to:
1. Appoint a Joint Indo-Pak Committee on Kashmir - The committee to hold discussions with all the parties including Kashmiri participants from both sides of the line of control. The intended objective is to contribute towards a peaceful and democratic solution.
2. Preparation of a quarterly Kashmir dossier for distribution amongst others to the press and decision rnakers.
3. To seek access to alternative electronic, visual and written media.
Co-chairman- Mr. Eqbal Ahmed, Mr. Kamala Prasad, Rapporteurs - Mary Khemchand and Ashar Rehman
RESOLU T ION ON MUTUAL SOLlDARlTY IN WOMEN'S ~ STRUGGLES FOR JUSTICE AND DIGNITY
This convention thinks that when the whole of South Asia is under the shadow of the rising forces of religious fanaticism, it is important to recognise the need for an Alliance and friendship between the women of India and Pakistan, formed on the basis of a long, rich, and common history. The convention is also aware that these forces direct their onslaught not only against other religious groups and communities, but also against the weaker and subjugated sections within their own groups and communities. These forces also subjugate women in particular to various types of sexual, social and cultural oppression in the name of national, religious or community interests. The Convention also takes into account the phenomenon of economic structuring and the policies consequent thereof that particularly affect women and marginal sections of society in both countries.
RESOLUTlON ON DEMILITARISATION
This Convention feels that war cannot solve outstanding, disputes between India and Pakistan, and can never be a substitute for peaceful settlement of those disputes. The preparations for war renders any peaceful settlement that much more difficult. It therefore calls upon both the governments of Pakistan and India to refrain from the self-destructive path of competing within each other in a military race. and reduce their force levels by 25% within three years . This process will be monitored by a joint public agency.
RESOLUTION ON FREE MOVEMENT
This Convention strongly opposes the present oppressive system of visa issuance followed by the governments of Pakistan and India, which restricts free movement of citizens across the borders and harasses applicants and visitors by bureaucratic requirements like delay in the granting of visas, reporting at police stations, barring of entry into all but specified areas etc. This Convention therefore calls upon both governments to remove all restrictions so as to allow as many people as possible to visit all parts of each other's country, particularly those with relatives, .ancestral homes , places of worship in other country, as well as students, cultural groups, journalists and scientists.
RESOLUTiON ON COMBATING RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE This Convention considers the struggle against religious intolerance as crucial for peace and democracy in India and Pakistan. It is impertive that both governments implement existing treaties and agreements, enact necessary legislation, and take all possible action to promote secular, democratic values, and combat communal ideologies and forces. The Convention also believe it is the duty of the political parties, mass organisations and all secular individuals to combat all forms of religious intolerance and to defend the rights of their religious minorities. Theprotection of the places of worship, sacred places and the specific cultural identity of all religious communities is a crucial responsibility of the two governments.
RESOLUTION ON MEDIA, CULTURE AND EDUCATION This Convention believes that the restrictions on the movement of people, information, ideas and culture between the two countries obstructs the strengthening of peaceful ties. High postal and tele-communication rates, lack of media distribution networks, and interference by government agencies in crossborder exchanges have detered substantive people to people ties. In addition, the production of news media and educational materials in both countries feeds the distrust between citizens. The Convention demands that news items and textbooks dealing with history, religious, political and military affairs be conveyed in a factual and unbiased manner. The convention also demands that in order to promote domestic and cross-border freedom of expression, the Dramatic Perfomance Act 1876 be repealed.
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