Pakistan-India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy

JOINT INDO-PAK CONVENTION DECRIES GLOBAL HEGEMONY

Allahabad, 31 December 2011

The 8th Joint Convention of the Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) concluded in Allahabad today while calling on the people of India and Pakistan to resist global hegemonism and support peoples’ resistance movements in a spirit of international solidarity.

The three day event comprised cultural programmes, including performances by Seema Anil Sehgal, the Gundecha brothers, Mahmood Farooqi and Nadira Babbar.

In a keynote address to the convention, Dr. Ravi Sinha of the New Socialist Initiative discussed the dangers posed by global hegemony, pliant nation states and totalitarian communities.

In another special lecture, Dr. Jean Dreze rejected the doctrine that mutually assured destruction guarantees peace.

Speakers at a public meeting organised by the Pakistan India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) stressed that there was no alternative to both India and Pakistan but to engage in serious dialogue. They highlighted the need to end the atmosphere of suspicion that has vitiated the relations between the two countries since the terrorist attack in Mumbai last year. The fact is that we are neighbours and must therefore engage in direct dialogue.

The Indian chapter of Pakistan India Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) has urged the Prime Minster, Manmohan Singh to immediately release on humanitarian grounds Mohammad Husain S/o Jyan Mohammad (male, 45) and his wife Yasmin W/o Mohammad Husain (female, 38) both residents of Karachi, Pakistan. Their eighteen year old daughter, Saba Husain, committed suicide in Karachi early this week. It is learnt from reliable sources that the cause of her suicide was her failed efforts to get the release of her parents from India.

Water issue between India and Pakistan needs serious attention and it was suggested today during deliberations in the seventh joint convention of Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum For Peace And Democracy’s (PIPFPD) that the forum should set up a joint committee to look into the water issue, that threatens the ongoing peace process.

Words are not enough to express our shock and grief at the great Tsunami tragedy that has hit peoples' lives and property like never before, in Asia. From Indonesia to Maldives, thousands of lives and millions worth property has been destroyed by this massive Tsunami impact. Coastal areas of Asia, especially South Asia, have been devastated by this tragedy. Tsunami has destroyed thousands of fishing families and coastal communities in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh. There is no confirmed information on the toll among the tribal and indigenous communities of Andamans, Car and Great Nicobar so far. Sri Lankan coast has also faced massive destruction.