SAARC as vehicle for peace and prosperity

by Sarath Wijesinghe

[email protected]

It is hard to live in the changing world in isolation as everything is interlinked, interconnected and globalised in the present global village where borders have disintegrated as a result of modern and amazing technological developments.

One could manage a multinational giant company from a remote village with the help of a sophisticated modern and powerful mega computer.

Bill Gates has successfully captured the world via his computer. Prabhakaran runs the terror kingdom from the jungle with modern equipment given to him on a plate by local and international interested groups. He is now on the run.

SAARC is a region with similar or same cultural and religious origins and beginnings, and queuing for membership are indications that the rest of the world family members have taken the organisation seriously. EU has taken 50 years for the current achievements and we have the opportunity to learn from them and achieve our goals early.

The stage is set and the ground is fertile with the leadership of the respected nation Sri Lanka and most seasoned and senior politician in the world - President Rajapaksa. He has lot to achieve during his tenure despite internal responsibilities sparked and initiated by irresponsible and unpatriotic elements.

He must harness natural resources such as untapped oil and natural gas as in Afghanistan, and promotion concepts of happiness from Bhutan, the country rated as the home of happiest people in the world though labelled as poor while taking steps to achieve the targets set via declarations and decisions by the predecessors.

President Rajapaksa’s pet area is E-com and he should use modern technology to bring people of the region together via his popular program Nana Salas set up over 600 villages today.

The allegation of the ineffectiveness of the organisation must be met with new vigour and strength and innovativeness. There should be proof that the decisions taken at the apex trickles down to the village consisting of the majority of the region.

President Rajapaksa’s will go down in the history of the region and people will venerate him if he is successful in this one to one meeting of citizens of the region physically and via modern technology during his tenure of office for the development of the region.

But the message is clear - our salvation is unity and collective efforts based on mutual understanding and goodwill as envisaged by SAARC.

Calamities and famines

World is facing calamities and famine coupled with energy crisis and climatic changes.

We must be self-sufficient and be ready to fight back as West is no longer able and willing to help us. SAARC has realised this and the leaders are bound to take the reins and lead the organisation effectively.

India and China are self-sufficient and heading to lead the globe. Ours is the best in the region with different climatic conditions in which anything would grow and surrounded by sea and natural beauty and diverse climatic conditions with educated and intelligent people. I do not understand what is lacking in us for not being economically free.

Economic integration

The entire world is engulfed in the war on terror and food. The fuel crisis has accelerated the future dangers of famine and disorders of world economic and political orders.

Late President Zia Rahman, and five more leaders of the region namely Rajiv, Indira, Benazir and Premadasa were brutally eliminated by terrorism in the region which is still spreading as a wildfire.

Our member nations appreciate the dangers and difficulties faced by the region but not the West. India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are the most affected due to terrorism and they do not accuse one another on preventive measures taken to eliminate terrorism in the guise of breach of outdated principles of Human Rights formulated 60 years ago based on western values and mode of thinking which needs drastic changes with the United Nations Organisation itself.

In the year 1993 the 7th Summit stressed the need to give high priority to SAARC Convention of Suppression of Terrorism urging all member states to make every effort to finalise before the 8th SAARC Summit.

Common enemy

Terrorism is the common enemy of all and it is happy to note that the 15th Summit gives this matter priority considering the importance of suppression of terrorism in the region and the entire globe. Cross border terrorism in the region has threatened the very existence of the ordinary man anywhere - in Bombay, Lahore, Kabul, or Colombo. For economic stability peace is an essential ingredient.

We must achieve peace at any cost and today leaders give special emphasis to the security of the ordinary man and food security by establishing a food bank and a SAARC bank with an initial contribution of $30,000 with a major contribution by India.

SAARC policy and economic policies of all member countries are compatible with “Mahinda Chintana” policy’s concepts and programs as the majority of SAARC population is rural based.

Member countries have a lot to learn, exchange and interchange in many areas and fields. Sri Lanka could learn and earn a lot on dairy industry in India and Afghanistan and cultivation techniques in Bangladesh.

EU and SAARC are to learn from others. European Union is a political and economic community of 27 member states located initially in Europe and currently fast expanding to other areas. It was formed in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome between only six European countries.

Main two prerequisites to join the organisation today are practising democracy and management of economy at the expected level. It is day by day reaching the state of the powerful United States of Europe.

Elected leaders

Today all eight SAARC countries have democratically elected leaders and governments, out of which President Rajapaksa who and whose government is going to take the reins of this powerful regional organisation as

the most senior leader of the state in all respects. Apparently SAARC has followed EU as an unseen guiding force for the current success. The current SAARC model has most of the EU feathers and it is salutary and advantageous to learn from the powerful and successful regional body.

At some stage of history the members of Europe were archenemies fighting bitter wars for hundreds of years and fought two world wars! These wars have led to the formation of the United Nations, European Union and connected and affiliated organizations.

Almost all the countries including the United Kingdom have surrendered their sovereignty to the EU and living in harmony free from war and eternal infighting. This union was initiated by only six members as an economic union and all other reluctant members such as the United Kingdom is in the forefront.

Expenditure

There are complaints of extravagance and colossal amounts spent on summits and meetings of leaders and officials. Definitely it is a burden to poor members struggling hard economically though exceptionally rich culturally and on natural resources such as environment are exceptionally rich.

But the seen and unseen long and short term advantages are invaluable and many. India today is an emerging world power. Sri Lankan and Afghanistan leaders are the most threatened leaders.

Recently elected leaders still have not got the opportunity to meet in this most important and powerful bloc and meeting one another personally is hard and rare due to security and political reasons.

Meetings of these leaders will benefit the region, the member states and the ordinary people who are ultimate beneficiaries. Friendships and differences of leaders and the countries have a direct effect and influence on the ordinary citizens who are the ultimate beneficiaries or sufferers in this process.

There are also complaints of lethargy and inefficiency and that this is merely a talk shop rather than an effective international organisation. There is definitely a truth in this complaint which the members must take a serious note of.

Sixty years of existence of the United Nations cannot boast of the achievements and efficiency in the absence of an effective mechanism for equal treatment to all the members including the needy brethren. It is the power of the rich and powerful - law of the jungle - still in existence.

Though SAARC too is committed to follow the UN charter, this is an opportunity for us to discuss, resolve and find solutions to our issues in our own way as our problems could be understood only by us. We are day-by-day achieving our goals and becoming stronger and stronger.

China the other emerging world power is tapping the main door of SAARC seeking observer status and membership with many others. China, Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mauritius, and the USA are in the doorstep seeking membership or observer status for very good reasons.

West is in disarray and helpless and will not help us any longer. It is time, we organise as an effective regional organisation for our safety and benefit of the peoples of the region awaiting a better day.

We have problems to settle in an amicable way. Kashmir issue is an issue which has set apart India and Pakistan for some time. We must learn from EU and “MUST” find a solution the way Madam Bandaranaike used her “GOOD OFFICE” to settle Indo-China border dispute.

President Rajapaksa is equally or more competent on negotiations using his negotiating skills and reputation as a leading regional and a world figure.

India’s unilateral diversion of water affecting 145 million Bangladeshi people, and Taleban Issue between Afghanistan and Pakistan are matters President Rajapaksa has to make a note of in the agenda, while initiating steps to enhance the mandate of SAARC which restricts matters beneficial to all and in all the areas whether uni-or multi-lateral.

SAARC Pride Time is ripe for us to think act and work as a group for the success of the organisation. The reality and main issues are the enormity and disproportionate magnitude of India for which she cannot do anything about.

The answer is in the hands of members. Small nations should be careful not to gang together and mighty India too should not bully other brethren all of whom inherited the culture, religions and resources from India.

India has developed the thinking and concept “be Indian and buy Indian” which SAARC should moot to the region by effectually implementing the existing declarations on cross border, connectivity via road, sea and air, and bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.

Conventions

We are learn to be proud of SAARC and the achievements of members. We should and need not attack India developing so fast. Why cannot we share the pride. Our great religions, languages and cultures originated from India.

So what is the difficulty in appreciating and accepting the reality. The success story depends on India and Sri Lanka taking over the leadership from India in few hours. India is ambitious to be a world leader and she definitely deserves it on her own right.

She is equally qualified as UK, France or China. Both UK and France are members of EU and the world has changed completely since 60 years when west elected five world powers namely France, USSR, USA, UK and China to the security council in the aftermath of the second world war after bloody fighting, the Europeans today are living in harmony as a happy family.

India should not try to take advantage of her enormity and try to rise together with the rest of the family members. Though small in size they are mature and respected by the world family. The conduct of India in the recent past vis-a-vis her neighbours is exemplary and excellent.

Our politicians and peoples too understand world power realities and how the United Kingdom who taught us the concept of sovereignty has surrendered her sovereignty to EU after having joined late as a reluctant member. Today it is one of the most active members subject to EU rulings.

India as world power

Sri Lanka and SAARC should promote India as a world in UN By promoting India and the SAARC as a region we promote ourselves as we are far too remote from UN.

Those who visit us and those who are in high positions from the west either do not understand us or are selfish and self centres as even in the world family there bound to be jealousies and differences. But it is not so among us. In terrorism, economy and human rights we speak with one voice and are armed with our religious and cultural backgrounds based on kindness and harmony to be firm and steady.

We need confidence building and trust as envisaged in the inception and continuous declarations for 23 years. It is time for President Rajapaksa to use his skills, experience and charm to achieve these within the next 365 days in the interest of 1/4 of the of the population living in poverty - out of which one billion living in villages - expecting the organisation to deliver goods early. Our bonds will be strengthened when the other member countries try to promote Mother India for the position she is entitled to which will be beneficial to the entire region.

The 15 the summit and the future of SAARC and SAARC Court of Appeal 15th Summit will consider issues like food security, energy, trade, connectivity, mutual legal assistance and terrorism. There should be a uniform and fair legal system with checks and balances with provision to appeal against local and ultimate decisions with complete overhaul of legal system based on equality, justice and fairplay.

Areas on agriculture, fertiliser, energy are areas set for discussions.

Food Bank and the Bank to be set up in line with IMF will be given priority. We need to develop closer ties with EU and ASEAN which have proven to be successful regional powers. We must act together and work together against adverse propaganda.

We must be a catalyst to energise the ailing and outdated UN which needs urgent changes and new blood. We can do wonders if we are connected to Delhi, Chittagong, Lahore, Kabul, Kathmandu and other member states by road, sea and air freely to help one another which process is in the agenda under “Connectivity”. Learning from mistakes President Rajapaksa should improve Budget Airlines and our national carrier to meet this requirement.

We must also agitate for fairplay for landlocked Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim in order to be equal partners learning from EU where all members are treated equally. We need not wait to achieve this for 50 years - If India is willing and I am positive she will in her own interest- as in EU, it will be a matter of days if not weeks to modernise the most successful foreign policy in India. We look forward to a more vibrant and effective year to come for the peoples of SAARC.

The writer is a senior Solicitor of England and Wales and Chairperson SAARC Study Centre United Kingdom