Workshop Report

PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN INDIA AND PAKISTAN

Montreal 4-5, 1999

Report from the workshops

The participants met in five groups, with 5 to 12 people in each group. They were asked to consider four themes or areas. This report will summarize the discussion of the first three, while the suggestions for changes to the declaration (fourth area) were given to the drafting committee who were charged with the task of preparing a final draft for adoption.

Priorities for Peace and Human Rights in India and Pakistan

The problematic

Human rights violations occur in the defense of state sovereignty, in the name of patriotism. Therefore these violations are hidden and difficult to oppose. The main hindrances to achieving peace in the subcontinent are:

1. the Kashmir conflict which needs to be addressed urgently in order to achieve peace in South Asia;

2. militarization which takes away scarce resources from human development and is a threat to peace;

3. vested interests that thrive on the war industry and perpetuate conflicts in the sub-continent;

4. the lack of rights of ethnic and linguistic minorities;

5. the culture of ignorance that exists and needs to be challenged; people need to be empowered;

6. the reality that culture is constructed in the service of fundamentalist and political interests;

7. that there is a false sense of nationalism and stereotypical notions of the `other' among South Asian communities.

 

Effect of Culture and Identity in the Diaspora

The problematic

Cultural identity varies from one immigrant group to another and also reflects their historical experiences of colonialism. Racism, fundamentalism and linguistic differences contribute to the construction of new identities in immigrant communities .

Racism:We live in a racist society. Multicultural policies of the state support the most retrogressive elements in the name of preservation of culture and identity. Stereotypes are used as a tool by the State to create differences and deny the common experiences of immigrants in order to maintain the status quo. The fragmentation of the immigrant populations create a need for a separate and distinct identity for the second and third generations. The consequent feeling of insecurity is used by fundamentalists to recruit youth and reinforce differences between communities, linguistic, religious or otherwise.

Fundamentalism: Reactionary groups have created a homogenized version of religion that denies the rich and varied heritage of South Asians. They succeed in creating false memories about their culture and history.

Women and gender: Conservative and negative attitudes to women, raising of female children, etc. are continually exacerbated by growing fundamentalist trends. As has always been the case the onus of maintaining and transferring of tradition has been placed on women and reinforces patriarchal values. Cultural and religious intolerance also targets gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans-gendered people in repressive and horrific ways.

Language: Language is crucial to culture and identity. While English is a homogenizing language and is the neutral ground for communication between South Asians in the Diaspora it also reinforces greater class differences among South Asians. The language experiences of first, second and third generation South Asians are distinct and these contribute to questions of identity. Those differences however can be negotiated and addressed through collective organizing around community issues.

Culture: Culture is constructed in order to promote particular ideologies. It is used by religious forces. This must be evaluated.

Actions That Can be Undertaken

To work towards solidarity between South Asian communities in the Diaspora to advance common causes of South Asians beyond their ethnic and national identities we need to:

1. take urgent action regarding human rights violations and lack of democracy in South Asia in places like Kashmir;

2. condemn human rights violations, particularly with respect to women, children and bonded labour; and develop strategies to oppose these violations;

3. promote exchange of information, ideas and goods across the borders in order to build bridges of understanding and cooperation amongst individuals and organizations of South Asia;

4. network using any available media in South Asia and the world to construct viable modes of positive communication; ensure journalistic accountability; share resources (methodologies like camps, films, publications, speakers, educational tools, etc.);

5. uphold the UN charter of human rights, especially the reference to "right to life" and "human dignity" in the context of tremendous aberrations such as the nuclear blasts and economic under-development;

6. challenge the stereotypical notions of "the other" among South Asian communities and build positive images of each other and prevent divisions within the community;

7. promote gender positive and non-homophobic forms of culture and identity;

8. ensure that existing community spaces are not used to promote fundamentalist agendas; alternative spaces should be created to develop secular ideas and friendship among South Asians;

9. re-work and create educational materials in the Diaspora and South Asia to reflect the diversity of history and cultural experiences;

10. learn and utilize the most effective lobbying methods used by other groups to influence our Diasporic governmental representatives with respect to peace and human rights in South Asia;

11. foster a South Asian /persons of colour identity that celebrates our shared history and collective struggles;

12. develop awareness and critique neo-liberal agendas and their linkages to the rise of the Right at national and international levels;

13. act in defense of natural resources and populations whose lives are jeopardized by development projects [including those generated by neo-liberal agendas]; protection of property rights with regard to patents.

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