<*>[Attachment(s) from William Gomes included below]
Proposal for a South Asian regional union
By William Gomes
Throughout the triumphs and tragedies of the internal politics of
Bangladesh, especially at a moment of crisis or a defining point for
the nation, the neighboring countries of India and Pakistan have
always played a vital role in many ways.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Charter
was formally adopted on Dec. 8, 1985 by the governments of Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to provide a
platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together in a spirit of
friendship, trust and understanding and to accelerate the process of
economic and social development in its member states. But it's really
sad that SAARC itself has failed to accelerate the practical
cooperation of the leaders of the member states for greater
development; in reality, it has become a platform of shame and
failure.
There is a long story of plotting and problems that can go on and on
for many pages. But I want to share the dream of a united union of
secular states, comprised of three countries of South Asia -
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan - and one country of south central Asia -
Afghanistan.
There is struggle for unity in this region, in name of religion, power
and politics, where Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan can
come out of their conflicts; one example is the Kashmir conflict,
where both India and Pakistan refer to Kashmir as an "integral part"
of their respective countries, leading their nations and the region
into further conflict and crisis.
India and Pakistan have fought wars over Kashmir; Islamic militancy
has grown in these countries, with the mood of hatred providing a
welcome environment for the insurgency. We need to work with India and
Pakistan to resolve this crisis, and that will be possible with a
union of secular states. Unless India and Pakistan sit together to
resolve the problem, it will never be solved. The root of religious
oppression is interrelated with the growing crisis in this region.
Also, any crises involving India, Pakistan and Afghanistan affect
Bangladesh. In the same way, any problem that is related to religion
or politics obviously powerfully affects the other countries in the
region.
I dream of a union of secular states, not an atheist or Hindu or
Islamic union of states. A union of secular states will lead with the
concept of secularism, whereby the states in the union are officially
neutral in matters of religion, neither supporting nor opposing any
particular religious beliefs or practices. Where the state treats all
its citizens equally regardless of religion and does not give
preferential treatment to a citizen from a particular religion over
those from other religions.
In the union, there would need to be a centrally planned economy with
a macroeconomic stabilization policy. The economy would be directed
based on economic democracy, by adopting a very firm focus on national
planning with a series of five-year plans. The dreams and expectations
of the small minority of corporate shareholders to the majority of
public stakeholders should be positively reflected in the union's
economic plan. Whereas the people will come under one umbrella, the
union will be a platform for change; every citizen will be a
change-maker. There would need to be a unique currency. The union
should imitate the Asian Tiger economies within their first 10 years.
By encouraging economic interdependence within the union, the union
will be able to deal effectively with problems from outside
competitors.
The education system should be a progressive process of inculcating
ideas, attitudes, and cognitive strategies, enriched with
international, environmental, scientific and professional
methodologies. The states should ensure the right to education by
applying the same standard to all their citizens, while the politics
of the union should be taught systematically to everyone, from the
lower to the upper classes. The union, based on democratic centralism,
would practice direct democracy. This will be a critical combination
of two different democratic processes.
To bring forth the change in the region is not easy as simply writing
down ideas. I want recall the words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the
35th U.S. president, "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible,
make violent revolution inevitable." G. K. Chesterton also said, "You
can never have a revolution in order to establish a democracy. You
must have a democracy in order to have a revolution."
Every revolution was first a thought in one man's mind, which then
spread to others. This thought will spread to the nations of the
region; it will not go backwards. One day, the nations of our region
will not be named in connection with any violence, but will be called
the land of prosperity and possibility.
William Nicholas Gomes is a renowned Human Rights worker; film
Director and freelance Journalist of Bangladesh. He can be reached by
email at cda.exe@gmail.com
<*>Attachment(s) from William Gomes:
<*> 1 of 1 File(s) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/attachments/folder/201320880/item/list
<*> Proposal for a South Asian regional union.doc
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