Peoples' SAARC

SAAPE strongly condemns the threat to life of Herman Kumara, President, National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO), Sri Lanka

Monday, 05 March 2012 05:04

4 MARCH 2012, KATHMANDU, NEPAL

The South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), a regional civil society network encompassing all eight countries of South Asia, strongly condemns the imminent threat to life of Mr. Herman Kumara, the President of our member organisation National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) in Sri Lanka.

Mr. Kumara is a senior human rights defender, engaged in defending the rights of Sri Lankan fisher folks, who are currently agitating against the steep fuel price hike that has unjustifiably hit them the hardest. In this context, he has been alleged of instigating the fisher folk constituency into steering the ongoing agitation against the Government of Sri Lanka, and has been thus intimidated with attempts of abduction and even life threats. Although NAFSO has already filed an official complaint with the Pannala Police station, no credible actions have been taken to investigate this genuine complaint.

SAAPE resolutely stands up for human rights, democracy and the rule of law and hence, urgently calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure the full protection of her citizen Mr. Herman Kumara, as duly enshrined in the Constitution of the country. We also request the international community to extend all possible support to uphold and defend the rights of human rights defenders including all Sri Lankan citizens.

Dr. Arjun Karki

Regional Co-ordinator

People's SAARC Planning Meeting held in India

Friday, 02 March 2012 00:00

The members of PSAARC India and some representatives from Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Maldives, and Afghanistan discussed on plan and strategies of PSAARC for future. Similarly, meeting also discussed on organization of conspicuous events before the official 18th SAARC summit to be held in Nepal. The meeting also shared and discussed the political situation of Afghanistan and Maldives.

Peoples' SAARC Nepal chapter demands for reinstating democracy in the Maldives

Thursday, 23 February 2012 09:11

22 February 2012, Kathmandu, Nepal

The representatives of civil society organizations in Nepal are deeply troubled with the recent undemocratic political move in the Maldives. We express our grave concern regarding the conflict between the ruling and opposition political parties of the Maldives that led to the ousting of the elected president Mohammed Nasheed allegedly with coercion. The current tendency in the Maldives; the use of military power to overthrow the elected president means undermining the people's power, democratic norms and values and human rights. We strongly believe that military authority in any case cannot be justified as legitimate under any pretext.

People's SAARC Memorandum 2011 submitted to the 17th official SAARC process

Friday, 11 November 2011 05:57

The Peoples' SAARC delegates assembled in Maldives have submitted the "Memorandum" to the 17th official SAARC Summit being held in Addu City through the office of the President of the Maldives.

The memorandum is a common aspiration primed by the representatives of various civil society organizations in the region who have created a parallel process called "Peoples' SAARC". The memorandum reflects the harsh reality in connection with the status of security, peace, justice, human rights, development, environment, refugees, migration, gender among others in South Asia region from peoples' perspective. The memorandum calls upon the SAARC as a regional grouping and the member states to seize the opportunity towards engaging themselves in serious dialogues for envisioning a region fit for over one fifth of the world's population, a majority of which is consistently denied of rights and deprived of basic standard of living.

People's SAARC Press Release

Thursday, 10 November 2011 08:44

Eradicate Poverty and Injustices by Building Bridges and Connecting People

PEOPLE'S SAARC-2011

Press Release

psaarc November 10, 2011, Addu City, Maldives

The 17th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit that is being held in Addu City, Maldives on 10-11 November, 2011 is expected to ink several deals covering the areas of food security, collective response in natural disasters as well as trade, customs and good governance. This year’s summit appropriately titled “Building Bridges” by the host nation, strives to improve communication and collaboration among the eight members of the South Asian grouping.