South Asian women pledge for peace across borders

New Delhi: Year 2009 has witnessed violent internal conflicts in different parts of the South Asian region leading to massive violations of human rights.

Thin Thin Young/ Photo credit: OWSA

The conflict in Sri Lanka has subjected hundreds of people to gruesome violence and left thousands displaced; in Burma (Myanmar) more than 2,100 political prisoners, including 100 women remain in jail in conditions far brutal than anyone can expect; internal turmoil in Nepal and Bangladesh has led to alarming food insecurity situations and widespread malnutrition and hunger problem; and in India’s Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast region, thousands, especially women and children, continue to suffer due to the misuse of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

 Thin Thin Young from the Women’s League of Burma said: “We are dealing with the ruthless regime in Burma. They don’t care for the starving people. All kind of force is unleashed on people to crush their peaceful demonstrations. Intimidation, detention, torture, sexual violence and murders are used as a tool to suppress ethnic minorities. We have sent a letter to the UN to conduct trial of the Junta regime for inflicting violence and sexual crimes.”

Eminent journalist and director of Women’s Feature Service, Pamela Philipose and Kamal Mitra Chenoy, professor at Jawahar Lal Nehru University talked of how the women in the region had been subjected to most violent forms of crimes. They were of the view that countries that prided themselves as democracies largely ignored people’s issues and had embarked on militant nationalism.

Pamela Philipose/ Photo credit: OWSA

Pamela Philipose said: “Our regional identity as South Asians have been wiped out of our consciousness and we are only living as nationals – Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalese, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans and so on. But together we are an entity called South Asia. In our strength lies our biggest hope.”

Professor Chenoy linking patriarchy and militant nationalism said: “We have the most repressive democracies. To fight for a united South Asia, we have to deal with another feature of patriarchy that is linked to militarism. To fight with militarism, we have to talk of replacement of guns with talks. There is a need to build solidarity beyond borders.”

A member of the Tibetan Regional Chapter, Delhi expressed her vision of a borderless Asia. “If the women express their solidarity beyond borders, we can fight problems of food insecurity, climate change, poverty and violence in the region. We are all alike yet made different by borders. Borders ought not to stop us from expressing our solidarity,” she added.

Professor Vibha Chandravedi, director, Women’s Studies Development Centre, focussing on gender injustice in the region said: “Women in South Asia do not get their due and remain marginalised. They have a lot in common across borders that they can share, learn and exchange with each other. There is a need for solidarity for ensuring justice, rights and peace in the region.”

Sangat, the South Asian network of feminists along with different civil society organisations and partners, started celebrating South Asian Women’s Day in India to forge a common identity among South Asian women and those facing similar patriarchy-related concerns.

A folk dance by the Tibetan Regional Chapter, Delhi/ Photo credit: OWSA

Since 2002, every year on November 30 women from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma and Tibet come together to speak in one firm voice about the need to strengthen democracy, peace and human rights in the region.

This year, the day was celebrated in Delhi University by nearly 500 students, activists and teachers to pledge for peace and friendship, and demand justice and human rights across borders.

Different activist groups showcased movies on gender violence in the region along with soulful music presented by regional troupes to commemorate the occasion.