15th February 2007; Time: 11am - 4pm
USO House, New Delhi

Dear Friends,

The Process towards a 'Peoples Conference of South Asia'

The 14th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit is going to be held at Delhi on 3-4 April 2007. Although SAARC was created with the aim of promoting 'the welfare of the people of South Asia' it has for the most part been a forum at which our governments posture against one and another or put in place agreements to serve the interests of the ruling class. SAARC has comprehensively failed to take up issues confronted by the people of this region, home to the largest number of the world's working poor.

These issues were discussed in various meetings, the peace and justice conference in February at Mumbai, and the foreign policy conference in December at Mumbai. A few individuals and organisations from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives, India and Sri Lanka had the convenience to be part of 2 rounds of discussions, on January 23 and 24, on the sidelines of WSF 2007 at Nairobi.

The few decisions taken were:

* We should all come together, along with mass organisations and social movements hitherto not present in these discussions, in an inclusive process to decide on holding a 'Peoples Conference of South Asia' to coincide with the SAARC summit.

* The key issue that was agreed upon by all present was the need to assert the importance of peace and democracy in the sub-continent as a necessary condition for addressing issues of poverty and injustice. Hence the preferred over-arching theme for the conference could be Peace, Justice and Democracy.

* There were specific suggestions to hold the 'Peoples Conference of South Asia' in Kathmandu with mass organisations to mark the victory of the peoples struggle for democracy in Nepal. This conference should be held a week in advance of the SAARC summit. Also, another conference could be held at Delhi 2 days prior to the official summit. An assimilated outcome of these efforts along with others which might take place on this issue, could be taken forward to the representatives of South Asian governments as the people's agenda for South Asia. Furthermore, a protest march or rally could also be held in Delhi in advance/during of the SAARC meeting.

Immediate Agenda

* National level meetings in each country by February 15, 2007 and then meet in Kathmandu on the 19th February 2007 for a regional meeting to plan the events.

* To discuss the issue and coordinate the effort, a national meeting is being organised in Delhi on 15th February 2007.

We call upon you to join in this effort.

The venue and logistics for the meeting on 15 February are appended below.

In Solidarity
Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP) - Anil Chaudhary
Focus on Global South - Meena Menon
Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) - Wilfred D'Costa
New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI) - Gautam Mody
Vikas Adyayan Kendra (VAK) - Ajit Muricken

Date:    15th February 2007; Time: 11am - 4pm
Venue:
USO House,
USO Road/ Jeet Singh Road,
Between ISI - JNU
New Delhi - 110067
Telephone: 26525146, 26561103

In case of any difficulty you can contact INSAF office at: # 011-65663958, 011-26517814 or contact Lun at 986859276.
Limited accommodation is also available at USO House at Rs.600 for double bedroom (confirmation needed soon)