Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy
11-Temple Road, Lahore,
Pakistan.

K-14 (F.F), Green Park Extn.,
New Delhi -110 016, India

PAKISTAN INDIA PEOPLES CONVENTION ON PEACE AND DEMOCRACY
Lahore, NOVEMBER 10-11, 1995

Proceedings and Recommendations


Contents
Foreword
Introduction
Report of Inaugural Session of the Lahore Convention 1995
Working Group on Demilitarisation
Working Group on Governance
Working Group on Tolerance
Working Group on Kashmir
Special Groups
Resolutions [ 10 resolutions on Demilitarisation; Governance; Tolerance; Kashmir]
Press Statements in Lahore and in Delhi




Foreword

The Lahore convention of Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy, the second and concluding part of the Forum's launching, proved to be as exhilarating an exercise as the first convention in New Delhi nine months earlier. There were doubts whether delegates from India would be able to travel to Lahore, whether the Pakistan chapter would be able to demonstrate adequate public support in Pakistan for the Forum, and whether it would be possible for the two sides to take a step forward. That these misgivings proved to be incorrect was most gratifying. A large contingent of eminent delegates from India came to Lahore, though there were some more who were keen to come out could not. The Pakistan chapter succeeded in mobilising some prominent industrialists and businessmen, and it was possible for the Lahore convention to take the struggle for peace and democracy in the sub-continent a step forwardhowever small that step may appear at the moment. For whatever success was recorded, the Pakistan chapter gratefully acknowledges the contribution made by the organisers of the Indian chapter. It also owes a heavy debt, on the Pakistan side, who generously gave their time, energy and financial resources. Not all of them are mentioned in this report. Those who chose anonymity deserve special thanks.

The completion of the inaugural phase of the Forum vindicates the sponsors' belief not only in the soundness of their initiatives but also in its timeliness. Indeed, the mass support the Forum's call has received both in India and Pakistan has exceeded the expectations of even the most optimistic among its promoters. But while that is a matter of satisfaction, the Forum cannot possibly ignore the added responsibility imposed on it by greater proof of public yearning for peace and justice on both sides of the border. What follows in this slim publication is thus not only a record of what is past but also, and perhaps more essentially, a reminder of the task undertaken by all Forum members. The cleansing of minds and hearts of hate, prejudice, and intolerance may not be easy on either side of the border between India and Pakistan, but no item should be higher than this on the agenda, before a fifth of the humankind. Every day hundreds of thousands of new babies are born in India and Pakistan and each one of them has a right to demand a better life than we have offered to those born earlier. We can no longer afford to fail them.

I.A. Rehman



Introduction

With the Lahore Convention the Pakistan-India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy completed the first round of its initiative and founded a new approach to people to people dialogue between the two-countries. This was the second part of Delhi Convention held in February, 1995. While the Delhi Convention identified areas of common concern to the two peoples and adopted some basic formulations. The Lahore Convention framed strategies to implement these recommendations. In this Convention the people of both the countries tried to rid themselves of the biases and irrational attitudes which they had been locked in by their ruling hierarchies in the pursuit of their narrow interests.

The initiative to hold a people to people dialogue on the relevant issues concerning both the countries was taken more than three years ago by the concerned citizens of the two countries. Initially there were very few people from the two sides who worked on this idea seriously, but gradually they grew in number.

Two groups from India and Pakistan working on this proposal met in Lahore on September 2, 1994. At Lahore, the participants felt that despite all odds, they should gear up their activities against war mania prevalent in the two countries. The message of the Lahore Meeting was hailed in both the countries especially among human rights activists, labour movement, women rights activists, academics, journalists, lawyers, professionals and other concerned groups.

Following Lahore Meeting, the group again met in Delhi on November 25-26, 1994 and framed their proposals for peace and democracy, tolerance, better governance and other issues concerning the two countries.

The first ever Peoples' Convention for Peace and Democracy held in Delhi on February 24-25, 1995 was a modest but historical progress towards a better future for the people of the sub-continent. Around two hundred delegates participated from India and Pakistan and consolidated the proposals for peace, demilitarisation, denuclearisation, tolerance, better governance and Kashmir.

The Lahore convention was held on 10th and 11th November, 1995, at Holiday Inn, Egerton Road, Lahore. On both days, at the Convention started at 10 a.m. and concluded at around 5 p.m. Cultural programmes were arranged at Ali Auditorium, Ferozepur Road, Lahore.

The Indian delegates numbered 70, while the Pakistani delegation comprised 102 members. The Indian chapter had representation from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. The Pakistan contingent had delegates from all the four provinces i.e. Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Frontier and Islamabad. The delegates belonged to various walks of life, like politicians, human rights activists, environmentalists, women rights activists, professionals, journalists, social workers, lawyers, trade unionists, theatre artists, scientists, writers etc. There were 46 delegates >from Punjab, 35 from Sindh, 9 from NWFP, 5 from Balochistan and 7 from Islamabad. More than 50 observers from Pakistan also attended the convention.

The Indian guests reached Lahore on the evening of 9th November. They were accorded a warm reception at the airport. Besides the reception committee, many senior members of the Pakistan Forum from all the four provinces were present. Except for a few delegates who stayed with friends, the Indian guests were put up at hotels. The next morning, the 10th of November, the convention began with the registration of the delegates at 8 a.m. At 10 a.m. the inaugural session started. It was chaired by Mr. Nirmal Mukerjee and Mr. I.A. Rehman, and facilitated by Mr. Iftikhar Ul Haq. Mr. I.A. Rehman welcomed the delegates and emphasised the need for holding dialogues regularly, as these dialogues reflected the concern of the millions of people of the two countries. He suggested the establishment of joint committees and asked peace activists to increase their activities in their own countries. Mr. Nirmal Mukerjee hailed the convention as a historical event and stressed that central cause of these dialogues was political. He said that the Delhi Convention was a remarkable achievement in itself. More over it was also a significant event that participants of both sides agreed that Kashmir Issue was not merely a territorial dispute, but also an issue concerning people living on both sides of the line of control.

After tea break, the house was divided into four groups to discuss strategies for four core issues, i.e., Kashmir, Intolerance, War, demilitarisation and denuclearisation, and Governance. The four groups discussed at length ways and means to solve those issues, till 5 p.m. Next day, on 11th November, the convention resumed at 10 a.m. The working groups formulated their suggestions and consolidated them into resolutions.

Before the final session, special group meetings were also arranged. In these meetings delegates from the same areas of interest sat together in nine groups and exchanged views on working strategies to co-ordinate activities in their respective fields. After lunch, the delegates again met in a plenary session. Dr. Mubashir Hasan and Ms. Rati Bartholomew chaired the meeting. The resolutions approved by four working groups were presented before the house. After discussion on some points, the resolutions were unanimously approved. The resolutions of special groups were also put before the house which approved them with slight modifications and the convention was declared closed.

The convention was followed by a largely attended press conference which was addressed by Dr. Mubashir Hasan, Mr. Nirmal Mukerjee, I.A. Rehman, and Mr. Kamla Prasad. In the evening, the second part of the cultural programme was arranged at Ali Auditorium.

12th November, provided an opportunity to develop a more personal and warmer relationship with each other. On 13th November the Indian delegates flew back to Delhi. They were seen off by many members of the Pakistan chapter of the Forum.

Arshad Waheed



PAKISTAN INDIA PEOPLES CONVENTION ON PEACE AND DEMOCRACY
Lahore, November 10-11, 1995

The Inaugural Session


Co-Chairpersons : (India) Mr. Nirmal Mukerjee (Pakistan) Mr. I.A. Rehman

Facilitator : Mr. Iftikhar-ul Haq

Rapporteurs : (Pakistan) Mr. Saqlain Imam (India) Ms. Rita Manchanda

The inaugural session of the two-day Lahore Convention organised by the Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy commenced at 10 a.m. on Friday morning (November 10th 1995). It was attended by 78 delegates from India and 102 from Pakistan. A large number of observers and specially invited guests were present.

The Lahore Convention, the largest gathering of its kind on the soil of Pakistan, brought together people representing trade unions, environmental groups, women rights, social and human rights activists, artists, intellectuals and journalists from Pakistan and India.

The proceedings began with Mr. Iftikhar-ul-Haq welcoming the participants. He was followed by the co-chairpersons Mr. I.A. Rehman (Pakistan) and Mr. Nirmal Mukerjee (India).

Mr. I.A. Rehman, in his welcome address, emphasised the need for regular people-to-people dialogues.

These dialogues reflect the concern of millions of people in the two countries who wish to close the chapter of hostility and prejudice and begin a new era of understanding and mutually beneficial co-existence.

He lamented the fact that no improvement in relations between Pakistan and India had been noticed since the Delhi Convention, which indicated that more determined efforts were required for the promotion of peace.

He said the efforts for peace should be geared up as war mongers and opponents of peace initiatives have also stepped up their activities. Extremists on both sides of the border have started crying for holy wars.

Mr. I.A. Rehman said that the delegates at the Lahore Convention had only two days to decide on issues which their rulers had messed up for over four decades.

He said the delegates should work out concrete steps to implement what had already been agreed on between the citizens of the two countries and suggested the establishment of joint committees. "Our task lies in our own countries", he said.

Mr. Nirmal Mukerjee declared that what was achieved at the Delhi Convention in February earlier in the year should not be departed from or diluted in any manner. "In our own small way, we made history in the historic city of Delhi," he said, and added:

The central thrust of the dialogue in Delhi was political. The unstated assumption was that the people of India and Pakistan could not move towards peace unless we squarely face the political issues between us.

He said that both countries should think beyond homilies and try to work according to the Delhi deliberations and suggest an action plan to propose reduction of arms on both side of the border as "we have agreed that war is no longer the option".

Therefore, he proposed, the weapon systems, which could only be used in the context of an Indo-Pakistan war should be dismantled. However, the dismantling of weapons which could not to be used in such a war was not so urgent, he added.

Elaborating on his plea, Mr. Nirmal Mukerjee said that there were certain kinds and generations of weapons in the two countries which could only be used in an Indo-Pak war scenario (such as armoured units, artillery and censor systems). Since we cannot fight a war and win, we should dismantle these weapons.

He also proposed that a joint public committee should be set up, comprising the representatives of the Pakistan-India Peoples Forum. In their respective countries, members of this committee could supervise arms reductionas per the plans chalked out during the Lahore Convention.

Recounting the Delhi deliberations, he said that delegates from both countries have also agreed on demilitarisation, denuclearisation and the undeniable need for peace. However, no substantial action plan was adopted.

Mr. Mukerjee said that some of the remarkable achievements of the Delhi Convention were, first, that it was actually held, and secondly, that participants on both sides also agreed that Kashmir was not merely a territorial disputeit was an issue affecting the lives of people on both sides of the line of control.

He said the delegates had also proposed that the governments of the two countries should improve the level of governance in their respective countries, especially the manner in which the police and the military dealt with the people. Efforts for the creation of a tolerant and just society should be increased.

Underscoring the need of action plans as a follow-up to the Delhi deliberations, he said that the Lahore Convention should come up with some practical plans to realise the objectives defined in Delhi.

He said that the peace activists in the two countries should work for a genuine democratic system that could help the governments of their respective countries to take concrete steps for peace in the region.

Referring to socio-economic developments in the post-independence societies of both India and Pakistan, he said that except for a section of war mongers and elites who benefited from the status quo, all people were in favour of peace.

Mr. Nirmal Mukerjee also said "we are at the hinge of history" and that the Indian and Pakistani societies were divided into the classes of oppressors and oppressed. "This situation is a window of opportunities through which changes could be influenced," he added.

The speeches of the two co-chairmen were followed by two moving poems on peace, co-operation and common cultural heritage, recited by Mumtaz Jehan Mirza from India and Anis Haroon from Pakistan.


WORKING GROUP ON DEMILITARISATION, DENUCLEARISATION AND PEACE PROMOTION

Co-Chairperson : Justice (Rtd.) Durrab Patel (Pakistan) Sumanta Banerjee (India)

Rapporteurs : Nasir Jamal (Pakistan) Amir Mirza (Pakistan) N.D. Jayaprakash (India)

Proposed terms of Reference for discussion only:

A. Demilitarization

1. Reduction of force levels by 25% within 3 years to be monitored by a joint public agency.
2. Reduction in expenditure on defence related items, and on the development, acquisition and production of armaments.
3. Stop production, development and deployment of ballistic missiles.
4. Pull back military forces and heavy weapons from border.
5. Military exercises should be open to observers from the other country.
6. No use of heavy weapons in such exercises.
7. An arrangement to prevent cross-border support for insurgencies and proxy wars.


B. Denuclearization

To operationalise the following recommendations of the New Delhi Convention held in February 1995:

1. Both countries should restrain nuclear preparations and move towards regional disarmament independent of the control of other nuclear weapons states as well as participating in, and promoting all efforts regarding the crucial issues of global nuclear disarmament.

2. India and Pakistan should conclude their own Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty without waiting for a local treaty.

3. The nuclear weapons states must accede to a treaty of no first use of nuclear weapons and to a commitment on "no use ever against non-nuclear weapons states", and India and Pakistan should jointly negotiate an agreement for a Nuclear Weapon Free South Asia and Indian Ocean to come into effect when signed by the existing nuclear weapons states.

4. All states must commit themselves to cease additional production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other explosive purposes, and a treaty banning the acquisition and production of Tritum.

5. Joint inspection of nuclear facilities in India and Pakistan (Pakistan-India Agreement for Joint Accounting and Control of Nuclear materials).


C. Peace Promotion

1. The preparation of pamphlets, monographs and books.
2. Production of audio, video material where possible.
3. Arranging seminars, workshops and lecture tours.
4. Drafting of joint memoranda for the two governments.
5. The issuance of joint statements by eminent persons.
6. Peace marches.
7. Mass signature campaign.
8. Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
9. Move Supreme Courts of India and Pakistan simultaneously to declare development, production, acquisition and deployment of Nuclear Weaponsa violation of International conventions and treaties signed by the two states.
10. Declare 24th February as South Asia Peace Day.


Group Report:

The discussions centered around the proposed terms of reference for action programs a copy of which had already been circulated to all the delegates. The objective was to seek ways to operationalize the recommendation adopted at the Delhi convention of the Forum held in February, 1995.

The discussion began by taking note of the failure to make sufficient progress in the area since the last convention. Steps had to be initiated to remedy this. It was felt that the first prerequisite was to spread the Forum movement by setting up the chapters in at least all the major cities of the two countries at the earliest. However, it was absolutely necessary to broadbase the movement by approaching new sections, experts (professionals and others including retired bureaucrats and retired army personnel who are sympathetic to the cause) as well as non-experts (people from all walks of life including members of political parties, women's organizations and concerned individuals). Without becoming a force to reckon with, the Forum, would not be able to influence state policies.

The situation as it existed was that the political leadership of the two countries was solely dependent on bureaucrats and the military establishment for formulating vital policies affecting the lives of the people of both the countries. The persuasive influence exercised by the hawkish lobby over the political leadership restrained them from examining saner alternative policies.

The working group felt that the Forum could tackle this problem at two levels; (i) by submitting proposals to the governments after formulating alternative policies with the best professional help; (ii) by explaining the alternative policies to the people (most of whom are victims of current governmental policies) in a language and forum which they could easily understand. On the one hand, in order to evoke a positive response from the governments, the Forum proposals had to be realistic and at tainable within a specified time limit. To win over the confidence of the people, it was necessary to demonstrate that the Forum proposals were not utopian dreams but really tangible solutions. The fact that the entire debate centered around the concept of security and on threat perceptions, it was high time that we not only redefine the concept of security but also closely scrutinize the sources of threat to our security.

With this perspective, the working group recommended that the following appeals be made to the two governments:

1. to negotiate reduction of force levels of war-waging capabilities by 25 percent over a period of three years, simultaneously curtailing military spending;
2. to enhance confidence by pulling back heavy military deployment from the border and making military exercise by each country open to observe from the other country;
3. to agree to prevent cross-border support for insurgencies and proxy wars;
4. to immediately intimate a direct dialogue aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating, the chances of a nuclear war by intent, miscalculation or accident;
5. to stop development, production, procurement and deployment of ballistic missiles aimed at each other;
6. to sign 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;
7. to reaffirm commitment to treaties and confidence building measures (CBMs) signed by both countries;
8. to sign without further dealing all those treaties and CBMs on which negotiations have been completed and agreements have been reached; and
9. to sign a treaty of peace and friendship.


The working group also decided to recommend setting-up of joint committees comprising members of the Forum from both sides to study the implications of the above mentioned recommendations and to pursue the following:

a. to prepare pamphlets, monographs and books;
b. to produce audio and video material where possible;
c. to arrange seminars, workshops and lecture;
d. to prepare joint articles by journalists in the media and to brief the media on issues relating to peace;
e. to draft joint memoranda for the two governments;
f. to issue joint statements in support of peace by eminent persons;
g. to organize peace marches, including peace marches to the border;
h. to intimate mass signature campaigns in support of peace;
i. to extend support to the proposal before the world court to declare the use of nuclear weapons illegal and a crime against humanity;
j. to probe into the activities of third parties in promoting disaffection between the peoples of the two countries; and
k. to investigate the role of arms merchants in enhancing threat perceptions and fomenting conflicts.


WORKING GROUP ON GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION

Co-Chairperson : Mr. Manoranjan Mohanty (India) Mr. Latif Afridi (Pakistan)
Rapporteurs : Adnan Adil (Pakistan) Walter Fernandes (India)


Proposed terms of Reference for discussions only:

A. Democratisitation, decentralisation and decriminalisation of political, social and economic states of affairs.
B. Constitutional and legal reform for equality and justice as laid down in the UN charter of human rights and other international covenants (e.g. police atrocities and corruption; and the facilitation of fair justice).
C. Elimination of discrimination against women.
D. Strengthening South Asian co-operation in trade, industry and investment in the context of globalisation and liberalisation.
E. Preserving and strengthening the right to livelihood, basic needs and social security of the working people and labouring classes (e.g., formulation of a social charter, reform and enactment of laws, struggle of victims of environmental degradation, etc.).


Group Report:
Since the concept of "governance" has been increasingly used in a restricted sense of administrative and managerial response of the social crises. This group suggested renaming the theme as "Democratic polity and Economic Co-operation". The joint committee emphasized the fact that democratisation of polity was a pre-condition for peace in the region.

During the first session, there was a general discussion on all the five points on the agenda taken together. As a result of the discussion, the theme of ecology was added. During the second session the group was divided into three sub-groups,

1. Item on Democratisation, decentralisation etc. was combined with item B on judicial reforms etc.
2. Discrimination and crimes against women and labour.
3. South Asian cooperation in the economic and ecological fields.

A view that came out strongly was that decentralisation and decriminalisation were not answers in themselves. The Pakistani and Indian societies were essentially feudal. As such there could neither be decentralisation nor decriminalisation without major changes in social order. There were no easy answers to it other than to say that these measures should be combined with important changes in society. Though it was a slow and difficult process, it should be recognised and made a public issue.

The second major commonality between the two countries was the role being played by IMF, the World Bank, WTO and others. No one could hope for democracy and decentralisation as long as these forces continued to control policies because they wanted stability based on central control and law and order. These forces should be tackled jointly at the South Asian level. The five points given for discussion had to be studied within this perspective and action on them taken simultaneously.

As a result of accepting these external pressures, each South Asian country is committed to reducing tariffs in trade with countries outside the region. But tariffs and protectionist measures against each other within the region kept increasing. This is one region without a trade bloc. Better trade relations within the region can make our economies complementary. It will be beneficial to the common people, traders and manufacturers. Besides, our people will get goods cheaper. Today they are imported from other region. The participants also emphasised the need to make a panel of the chambers of commerce and industries and independent economists at the South Asian level.

The participants also felt that because of centralisation, the common people are losing control over their resources. Biodversity is being destroyed. Hence social change with decentralisation requires combining mobilisation of communities at the local level with action at the level of apex bodies. SAFTA has remained only a theory. That should be encouraged. NGOs should come together into an apex body and encourage such a process with a South Asian perspective.

Many speakers emphasised the need to strengthen contacts between trade unions, and various movements and NGOs of women, social scientists and environmentalists which would strengthen the struggle for peace and democracy. While doing this one should also remember that concerted attacks are being made on NGOs in South Asia. A new law is being contemplated in Pakistan to restrict the activities of NGOs. There have been similar attempts in India and other South Asian countries. Forum activists should come together against such moves.

The governments of both countries should be pressurised to remove restrictions on travel and exchange of literature and information. Exchange of information on the struggle of women for their civil rights relating to family, marriage and inheritance should also be promoted.

Free exchange not merely of goods but also of populations is important to free the region from the vested interests which depend on the status quo.

The participants also expressed their concerns that since the two countries have not yet marked their marine boundaries, fishermen from one country are arrested by the authorities of the other country for alleged violation of maritime boundary. At present around 15 Indian fishermen are in Pakistani jails and their boats have been impounded. Some Pakistani fishermen are also in Indian jails.

The participants also deliberated on the issue of trafficking in women and children in the region. They said that stopping this traffic requires concerted effort from people committed to human rights. To tackle this question one has to go beyond the perspective of discrimination against women and focus on crimes against women. One also has to deal with the role of the media that present the woman as a commodity in the commercials. Also the consumerist value system encouraged by them results in demands for a big dowry. The participants expressed concern that satellite transmissions are promoting crime and violence among the youth. They said that these forces too have to be tackled by encouraging regional cooperation in the media.

Some women participants also expressed their concerns at the discrimination being made against them in distribution of civic amenities and food rations.

At the present, a meagre one hour a month is given for SAARC programmes on the electronic media. Can we suggest that it becomes one hour a day? Besides, the programmes should not be limited to dances and entertainment.

The legal system at present seems to support this unjust centralised system. Both India and Pakistan have many repressive laws. They have to be changed. To study this we should have a committee of legal experts that studies their history, social biases etc and takes concerted action. This group should also work in coordination with others working on issues around human rights, displacement, resource drain, etc. A major thrust has to be land reforms and local control over resources. These issues have been negleted in both the countries. In tackling these issues we should remember that at the resource and popular level there is already a basis for cooperation among our peoples. There is a common peoples economy according to their geography and ecology. For example, there is a common ecology and economy of the hill regions, another of the coastal area etc. But the tension between the two countries deprives the people of the benefits of their shared ecology and economy.

The participants also said that the Forum may take initiative in organising joint seminars, conferences cultural festivals, indigenous technology fairs and indigenous medicine fairs.



WORKING GROUP ON RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE:

Chairpersons:
Mr. Tahir Mohammad Khan Pakistan
Ms. Syeda Hameed India

Rapporteurs:
Arif Shamim Pakistan
Dilip D'Souza India

Preposed Terms of Reference for Discussion:

A. Free movement of People.

1. The visa regime should be liberated to enable large numbers of Pakistanis and Indians to visit each other's country.
2. Visas within 48 hours and multiple entry for all particularly those with relatives, ancestral homes and places of worship in the other country, students, cultural groups, journalists and scientists.
3. End to the oppressive system by removal of restrictions and harassment of applicants (eg. police reporting, bureaucratic delays in the issuance of visas, etc.).

B. Free exchange of Information.

1. Availability of newspapers, magazines, videos etc.
2. Dissemination of alternative voices from each other's country.
3. Setting up a joint publishing company and Forum News letter/magazine.

C. Combating Religious Intolerance.

1. Reactivating the relevant provision of LiaqatNehru Pact relating to communal violence in both countries.
2. Removal of prejudices and communal propaganda in respective education systems, especially in the social sciences.

D. Group Report:

The substance of the discussion in the group was:
The Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy should redouble its efforts to fight the curse of intolerance in both countries. For this purpose, the group proposed the setting up of a joint India-Pakistan Committee to:

  1. Promote street and commercial theatre particularly commercially viable plays and TV serials to promote tolerance.
  2. Persuade directors from one country to direct plays from the other.
  3. Pursue setting up of common, viable TV channels.
  4. Arrange syndicated articles by journalists on both sides particularly in the national languages press.
  5. Set up youth forum and student exchanges.
  6. Prepare a compendium of teaching about tolerance from all holy books.
  7. Arrange for the exchange of greetings on August 14-15 and non-religious holidays.
  8. Pursue renaming of roads and building monuments to common historical heroes.
  9. Set up a joint committee to analyse school text-books. A team of historians to meet within three months to analyse history text-books and suggest changes.
  10. Explore common text-books for both countries.
  11. Organize meetings between professionals and other groups (lawyers, journalists, women etc.)
  12. Organize small teams to visit grassroots organizations in both countries so that people could break down prejudices.
  13. Organize peace march to the border on Feb. 24.
  14. Arrange admissions to students from across the border.
  15. Set up a committee within a month to facilitate visa processing.
  16. Pressurize governments to take decisions on visa formalities unilaterally.
  17. Form units of the forum at district and tehsil levels.
  18. Send the results of the Forum's work to these units and to people in those areas.
  19. Send the Forum reports to prime ministers and other leaders of both countries.
  20. Invite existing like-minded groups to the Forum's deliberations.
  21. Work within existing frame-works of other groups.
  22. Set up a watchdog group within six months to monitor communal violence in both countries.
  23. File cases and take other action within individual countries (the watchdog group will do this).
  24. Issue joint reports regularly (the watch dog group will do this).
  25. Form a common South Asian Fund to fight communalism.
  26. Organize a cricket match between a joint India-Pakistan team and the rest of the world as a fund-raising exercise.
  27. Form a company or a cooperative society to raise funds for Forum work; whether by making and selling videos, publishing text and childrens books, promoting and distributing movies that uphold tolerance.


WORKING GROUP ON KASHMIR

Co-Chairpersons : Dr. Eqbal Ahmed (Pakistan) Kamla Prasad (India)
Rapporteurs : Mary Khemchand (India) Ashar Rehman (Pakistan)

Proposed Terms of Reference for discussion only:
1. Prevention of violence and human rights violations.
2. Working for future democratic resolution of the Kashmir.


Group Report:

The session was divided into morning and afternoon sittings and a wide range of views were expressed by the Indian and Pakistani delegates and observers. In his opening remarks, co-chairperson Kamla Prasad said that while the Forum had recognised Kashmir as a disputed territory at its inaugural session in Delhi in February, it also excited the emotions of the people. Mr. Prasad stressed that in the second convention, the participants should focus their attention on discussing action plans, keeping in mind the principles agreed upon in Delhi.

The discussion mainly revolved around the following questions: how can the Forum check the two governments from further aggravating the situation in Kashmir? Whether the Forum should play the role of a facilitator or should it try to search for a solution? And how can it help counter disinformation in Pakistan and India?

The views expressed on possible steps to further the Forum's work can be divided into two categories. One group (Madhu Kishwar and others) forcefully argued for a more radical approach, suggesting, among other things, simultaneous peace marches to the border in India and Pakistan, debates on the issue on television and signature campaigns in both the countries.

The other group (Tapan Bose and Gautam Navlakha, etc) called for modest steps, indicating that the Forum still had a fair distance to go before more ambitious tasks could be undertaken.

In the opinion of some participants, the Forum should work for creating such an atmosphere where the three parties to the conflict, at present locked in their positions, could sit together for talks. Gautam Navlakha felt that while the participants would continue to contribute towards the ideal of peace in their individual capacities, there was need for devising a strategy for work at the Forum level. Another important suggestion made at the meeting was Abbas Rashid's idea of holding an opinion poll in Kashmir under the auspices of the Forum.

According to views expressed at the meeting, the time was right to broaden the working of the Forum by seeking mass support for a peaceful solution through public meetings and processions and through exchange and dissemination of information to counter disinformation and propaganda in the two countries. It was suggested that the Forum made full use of E-mail and Internet and of regional press towards meeting these objectives.

First to speak after the opening remarks of the two co-chairperson, Pakistani delegate Awais Sheikh emphasised that the discussion on Kashmir would be incomplete without the participation of the Kashmiris. He proposed that Kashmiris should be invited to the third convention which could even be held in Jammu. He also supported inclusion of international observers and youth in the process at various level.

Indian delegate Madhu Kishwar said the Kashmiri viewpoint won't be ignored during discussions at the Forum. The question that should be discussed, she added, was how can "we retain the two governments >from further worsening the situation".

Indian political worker Aram Pal said any solution to Kashmir had to be consistent with the principles of peace and democracy. Speaking on the human rights situation in Kashmir, he said some Indian organizations had done a good job in reporting and protesting against HR violations. But such work, according to him, had not been duly publicised. He was quite firm in his assertion that Delhi must hold dialogue with Kashmiris and said that it could take place even without the holding of elections in J&K state.

Mr. Pal said that the people of Laddakh and Jammu would never agree to holding of a plebiscite in J&K, an observation that later got backing from Ms. Madhu Kishwar.

Prominent Pakistani political activist Abid Hassan Minto said that the people had gathered for the second convention of PIPFPD not to churn out recommendations but to devise action plans. He strongly criticised that performance of the Pakistani chapter of the Forum and said that no work had been done here on the guidelines provided at Delhi Convention (M H Askari disagreed with Mr. Minto saying the Forum, or at least its Karachi branch, had done quite a lot of work within the framework sketched at the inaugural convention).

Mr. Minto said that Kashmir was basically a political issue and argued for identifying political parties on both sides that could be brought into the process. He proposed inter-sectoral meetings between professionals from the two countries.

Nayyar Zaman of the Paktoonkhwa Qaumi Party (PQP) said his party was committed to peace between India and Pakistan and believed that every nation had a basic right to self-determination (similar views were expressed by Anis Haroon, who drew a parallel between Kashmir and Quebec). Mr. Zaman agreed with the view that the third PIPFPD convention should be held at a neutral venue.

One of the delegates expressed the view that the official Indian and Pakistani policies on Kashmir were dictated by fundamentalist parties in the two countries. He called for resolutions condemning the CharareSharief incident and AlFaran kidnapping, and welcoming intra-Kashmir contacts, besides suggesting the launching of a signature campaign.

Many delegates were of the view that there was a need to make the common man in India and Pakistan aware of the price he was paying purely economic terms due to the Kashmir conflict. One delegates expressed the fear that even if Kashmir dispute was settled, India and Pakistan would think of some other reason to fight with each other.

For want of time, the post-lunch sitting saw the participants concentrate on passing resolutions on aspects where the two sides were in accord. Pakistani co-chairperson of the session, Dr. Eqbal Ahmed, said that there had been no official contact between the Pakistan for 28 months, since the foreign secretaries of the two contries had met. He added that this stalemate on the official level made it all the more important that private channels such as PIPFPD were kept open.


SPECIAL GROUPS

On the second day of the convention after lunch, when the workshop on four core issues had already concluded, the delegates representing different interest groups formed following nine sectoral groups:

1. Women rights activists
2. Lawyers and human right activists
3. Social activists
4. Labour and trade union activists
5. Journalists, media and academics
6. Art and culture
7. Political activists
8. Education, Literary and text -books improvement
9. Youth and Students



The groups identified common problems in their respective fields and formulated their recommendations for collaboration. They stressed the need to develop lively and meaningful interaction within their common areas of interests. They suggested that both the governments should relax the visa restrictions so that journalists, painters, politicians, women and human rights activists could freely travel across the border. Art exhibitions should be organized in which painters of both the countries could participate. Seminars on issues of common concern should be organized and speakers from both the countries should address then. The governments of India and Pakistan should lift the restrictions on exchange and trade of books between the two countries.

The idea of joint T.V. channel was also appreciated and it was proposed that joint bodies of common interest groups be constituted which should try to co-ordinate the struggle for peace and democracy in the two countries.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT THE LAHORE CONVENTION

(Nov. 11, 1995)

The final plenary session of the Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy at its second convention on November 11, 1995 at Holiday Inn, Lahore, with Dr. Mubashir Hasan (Pakistan) and Ms. Rati Bartholomew (India) in the Chair, passed the following resolutions recommended by the four working groups formed on the first day of the Convention:

Resolution 1:

This convention of Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy urges that in view of the debilitating effects of the arms race in the subcontinent and the resulting diversion of scarce resources from pressing social needs, the governments of India and Pakistan:

1. negotiate a reduction the levels of forces and war waging capabilities by 25 percent over a period of three years, simultaneously curtailing military spending;

2. 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. agree to prevent cross-border support for insurgencies and proxy wars.


Resolution 2:

1. The nuclear and missile programmes of India and Pakistan pose a catastrophic threat to the people of both countries. We, therefore, reaffirm 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 Comprehensive Test Ban (CTB) 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 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 neither country will develop, procure, or deploy ballistic missile systems against each other, and that both countries will refrain from developing advanced systems which might lead to a costly and risky arms race.

(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 confidence building measures (CBMs) signed by both countries on nuclear related issues.


Resolution 3:

It was resolved :

1. to urge the governments and civil societies of Pakistan and India to undertake measures to counter adverse effects of foreign and domestic policies of militaristic 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 of insecurity for citizens of the two countries.

2. that scholars, scientists, journalists 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 these trends.


Resolution 4:

* It was resolved that, public support should be mustered for denuclearisation and disarmament through 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 of life 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 disamantle 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 monitor hate producing and sexist images of war and military prowess in the media.


Resolution 6:

It was resolved to redouble its efforts to fight the curse of intolarance in both the countries. For this purpose the convention resolves to set-up a joint India Pakistan Committee to undertake the following tasks:

i) Revision of school text books expecially on history, with a view to eradicate falsehood, and intolerance.

ii) Organization of meetings between professionals and other groups, such as lawyers, journalists, women, trade unions, with a view to demolishing prejudices that breed intolerence.

iii) Mobilization of media and the arts to promote the values of tolerance through street theater, T.V. plays, joint production of plays, films videos, exchange of artists, sponsorships of syndicated articles/features in newspapers, and efforts to set-up 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.


Resolution 7:

It was 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, suchg as the public safety Act (India), Armed Forces Special Powers Act (India), Frontier Crimes Regulations (Pakistan), Maintenance of public Order Ordinance (MPO, Pakistan).

2. The use of state machinery to oppress and suppress political dissent should be stopped.

3. Laws and practices which perpetuate economic disparities in relation to land, rent, forestry, industrial relations and resources distribution should be repealed.

4. Both India and Pakistan should ratify all international instruments in the field of human rights including covenants on socio-economic and civil and political rights of 1966, and additional protocol to Geneva Convention 1976, without derogation.

5. Provisions regarding defence budget should be discussed in detail by Parliaments and the expenditures on defence should be made accountable.

6. Human rights courts should be established at SAARC level.

7. Laws pertaining to juvenile jusitce should be promulagated in all parts of the two countries.

8. Laws that discriminate against women in both countries 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 activities and massive corruption. In order to end this malaise, this sense of insecurity has to countered.

10. The governments of the two countries give top priority to the concerns of the people of South Asia whil edevising their trade policies with other countries. In order to realize this purpose:

(i) Arrangments for exchange of goods and services, that can be shared between the two countries must be drawn up and implemented.

(ii) After meeting local and national needs, agricultural surplus, should preferably be exported to the nations of South Asia.

11. Both governments must urgently reduce trade levies, postal and telecommunication rates.

12. We as citizens committed to the ideals of peace and democracy should set up joint committees to monitor the conduct of military and para-military forces towards the civil population and press for judicial investigation into excesses against the peoaple of both countries.

13. The national economic policies should recognise the large number of unorganized workers in our region. In this context, we urge the governments of Pakistan and India bring in minimum wage, provide identity cards, to all unorganised working people, set provide identity to regulate employment at country, state, and up labor boards to regulate employment at country, state, and local level, implement social secucrity provision such as for old age, sickness, disability, 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 workforce in the unorganized sector is female, representation of women workers should be constitutionally guaranteed on all representative bodies of labour.

15. The governments especailly ministries of labour of labour in both countries should effectively pursue the idealism of abolishing child labour. They should recognise especially in relation to women workers a minimum wage category.

16. Taking into account its enormous ill effects on the famil, the governments of the both countries should work towards the climination of bonded labour. They should undertake appropriate legislation on war-footing basis in this area.

17. The governments should also ensure implementation on immediate basis the ILO Convention especially on freedom to unionise and form industry level trade unions.

18. Governements 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 uproductive expenditures.

19. The convention strongly opposes the present oppressive system of granting visas followed by the governments of Pakistan and India, which restricts the free movements of Pakistan and India, which restricts the free movements of citizens across the borders, and resulting in harassment of applicants and visitors in the form of delay in the granting of visas, reporting at police stations, barring of entry into all towns, etc. The convention, therefore, calls upon both governments to remove all restrictions whatsoever and to allow citizens of Pakistan and India to visit all parts of each other's country,


Resolution 8:

Taking note that,

1. Both the governments of India and Pakistan are continuing to disregard the wished and aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir.

2. Both sides are projecting propaganda as news.

3. The parties to the conflict are locked in fixed positions taking further the discussions recommendations of the Delhi Convention in February, we suggest a three point action plan:

We resolve to:

1. Appoint a joint Indo-Pak Committee on Kashmir - The committee will 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 makers.

3. To seek access to alternative electronic, visual and written media.

Resolution 9

It was resolved that the next convention shall be held in India which shall be even larger than this one.


Resolution 10

It was resolved to establish Joint Groups/Committees to undertake the implementation of recommendations or resolutions in all the four areas of concern.




PRESS STATEMENT IN LAHORE BY PAKISTAN CHAPTER

The final plenary session of the PakistanIndia Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy on November 11, 1995 at Holiday Inn Hotel Lahore, with Dr. Mubashir Hasan in the Chair, passed the following resolutions recommended by four groups formed on the first day of the Lahore Convention:

(see resolutions above)


PRESS STATEMENT IN DELHI BY INDIAN CHAPTER

More than 250 citizens of India and Pakistan met in Lahore on November 10-11, 1995, to build consensus over issues which their ruling elite have in the last four decades turned into the politics of confrontation. The Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy in its follow up meeting in Lahore built upon the common understanding on such contentious issues such as Kashmir and denuclearisation to work out joint strategies for action.

At the first ever peoples dialogue in Delhi on Feburary 24-25, 1995, 200 citizens from Pakistan and india met and reaffirmed their urge for peace over the language of war hysteria . This has made it imperative for a dialogue at peoples level to cut through the rigid and fixed postures of the two governments.

Taking up the four themes of Delhi Convention, the Lahore meeting, the Kashmir dispute, Demilitarisation and Denuclearisation, Religious intolerance and Governance, the delegates demonstrated that at the peoples level the areas of concern outweighed those of confrontation.

The Lahore Convention decided to set up joint committees to implement the recommendation of the Forum. On Kashmir, a joint Indo-Pak Committee is to be set up to hold discussions with all parties including Kashmirs from both sides of the Line of control to contribute towards a peaceful and a democratic solution. The Joint Committee will bring out "Dossier" on Kashmir for distribution among media persons in India and Pakistan.

On demilitarisation, in pursuit of the Forum's position "outlawing war as an option", the Forum called for negotiations to mutually reduce force levels by 25 percent in three years.

On denuclearisation, carrying further the Delhi appeal for regional and global nuclear disarmament, the Forum urged that India and Pakistan sign 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. The Forum also decided to extend support to World Health Organisation's plea before international Court of Justice to declare the use of nuclear weapons as illegal and a crime against humanity.

To fight the curse of Intolerance in both the countries, the Forum called for a revision of school texts and preparation of common text books on history. Following from the perspective that peace and democracy were interlinked, the Forum called for the repeal of all anti democratic laws in both countries and denounce internal militarisation. Concrete programmes for co-ordinated actions are being considered in this regard.

Lahore not only brought together citizens from India and Pakistan representing grassroots groups, workers unions, womens groups, doctors, lawyers, journalists, film makers, cultural artists and civil servants but gave an opportunity to share their experience and hopes, sector wise, with a view to having joint programmes in the future.

The Convention also issued an appeal urging the governments to stop military expenditure and use the resources to eradicate poverty, malnutrition and illiteracy and pledged to work jointly for peace and democracy.

The next people to people dialogue will held in India in 1996 and is proposed to be much larger.


Return to the Homepage