Women's Empowerment and Leadership Development for Democratisation
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Bangladesh: Indo-Bangla women's meeting
South Asia's rich tradition of pluralism and tolerance must be upheld in total refusal of growing communalisation of politics which inculcates hatred for the "other."
The governments of Bangladesh and India must find rational solutions based on international human rights standards to the cross border movements of people rather than resorting to "witch-hunts" and forced "push-back" and "push-in", according to a press briefing of the Women's Initiative for Peace in South Asia (WIPSA).
Originally published in the 19 May 2003 edition of The
Independent (Dhaka).
The governments of Bangladesh and India
must find rational solutions based on international human rights standards to
the cross border movements of people rather than resorting to "witch-hunts" and
forced "push-back" and "push-in", according to a press briefing of the Women's
Initiative for Peace in South Asia (WIPSA). The briefing also emphasised that
both governments must resolve the conundrum of why movement of capital is
unfettered and labour is restricted.
The press briefing styled "Journey
of Peace: Kolkata to Dhaka" was held in the National Press Club auditorium to
mark the departing hour of 34 women peace agents of India who met in Bangladesh
on May 14. The 34 women came from different parts of India, from Kashmir to
Tamil Nadu. Among them were journalists, artists, film-makers, writers,
academics, peace and human rights activists, women's rights activists and
students. The journey was organised under the auspices of WIPSA. Presided over
by journalist Nasimun Ara Minu, the press briefing was addressed by Indian human
rights activists Kamla Bhasin, Sayeeda Hamid and Mohini Giri, historian and
former Parliamentarian Bharati Roy, poet Mallika Sengupta, Bangladeshi Legal and
Human Rights activist Advocate Sigma Huda, Advocate Sultana Kamal and others.
Mohini Giri, said, "We can form a union of consensus in South Asia with common
cultural heritage. War should be waged collectively against trafficking and
migration of women and children and crisis of livelihood of people of broader
South Asia." Sayeeda Hamida read out a written statement on behalf of her Indian
sisters to the press.
About the background of the formation of WIPSA,
Sayeeda Hamida said the mission was to articulate women's common understanding
and aspirations in Bangladesh and India for peace and security in the region.
This mission was preceded in March 2000 by a Womenís Peace Bus from Delhi to
Lahore right after the Kargil war. Two Women's Peace Buses returned with
Pakistani women from Lahore to Delhi in April 2000, she said.
In
accordance with WIPSA's philosophy, the mission was self-funded. Indian women
travelled at their own expenses and were hosted by Bangladeshi women who pooled
their hospitality and opened their homes to the visitors.
While in
Bangladesh, the Indian women interacted with grassroots level women members of
Doorbar, a network of 450 organizations from 64 districts. In smaller groups,
they visited NGOs working with grassroots level women and men, such as Gono
Shastha Kendra, Nijera Kori, BRAC, Proshika, Humger Project and Research
Initiatives Bangladesh (RIB). They met several government ministers and
officials, and leaders of Bangladesh Awami League.
Several funcions were
arranged for their meetings with artists and writers. A special art exhibition
PEACE SONG with paintings of 28 women artists of Bangladesh was held. Sammilito
Nari Samaj arranged a photographic exhibition displaying women in struggle since
the beginning of the Language Movement in 1952.
The WIPSA members visited
the Smiriti Shoudho at Savar and paid their respects to the martyrs of the War
of Liberation. They met trade unionists and women workers by courtesy of
Karmajibi Nari. An evening of music and dance was arranged at the Mahila Samiti.
A lively discussion meeting with students and teachers at Dhaka University was
hosted by the Centers for Peace and Conflict and Women's Studies. They also
attended programs arranged by Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, Bangladesh Women
Lawyers Association, Narigrantha Prabartana and Nari Pakhkho and visited the
Museum of the Liberation War.
"We are opposed to war in the region or in
any part of the world. We condemn the indiscriminate bombing of Afghanistan and
Iraq as well as the continuing aggression in Palestine. We want a nuclear free
South Asia and a nuclear free world for the future generations and ourselves. We
demand an immediate end to production of weapons of mass destruction by all
countries," said the Indian and Bangladeshi womenís rights activists in shared
unity.
Poet Mallika Sengupta recited one of her poems asserting holistic
faith, "We women from Kashmir to Kanya Kumarika rejoicing pluralism in Quran and
Gita, In Karl Marx and Kate Millet, In tradition and protest."
Finally,
all raised their voices in slogan, "We don't want walls of hatred, we want open
skies of friendship."
Independent (Dhaka).
The governments of Bangladesh and India
must find rational solutions based on international human rights standards to
the cross border movements of people rather than resorting to "witch-hunts" and
forced "push-back" and "push-in", according to a press briefing of the Women's
Initiative for Peace in South Asia (WIPSA). The briefing also emphasised that
both governments must resolve the conundrum of why movement of capital is
unfettered and labour is restricted.
The press briefing styled "Journey
of Peace: Kolkata to Dhaka" was held in the National Press Club auditorium to
mark the departing hour of 34 women peace agents of India who met in Bangladesh
on May 14. The 34 women came from different parts of India, from Kashmir to
Tamil Nadu. Among them were journalists, artists, film-makers, writers,
academics, peace and human rights activists, women's rights activists and
students. The journey was organised under the auspices of WIPSA. Presided over
by journalist Nasimun Ara Minu, the press briefing was addressed by Indian human
rights activists Kamla Bhasin, Sayeeda Hamid and Mohini Giri, historian and
former Parliamentarian Bharati Roy, poet Mallika Sengupta, Bangladeshi Legal and
Human Rights activist Advocate Sigma Huda, Advocate Sultana Kamal and others.
Mohini Giri, said, "We can form a union of consensus in South Asia with common
cultural heritage. War should be waged collectively against trafficking and
migration of women and children and crisis of livelihood of people of broader
South Asia." Sayeeda Hamida read out a written statement on behalf of her Indian
sisters to the press.
About the background of the formation of WIPSA,
Sayeeda Hamida said the mission was to articulate women's common understanding
and aspirations in Bangladesh and India for peace and security in the region.
This mission was preceded in March 2000 by a Womenís Peace Bus from Delhi to
Lahore right after the Kargil war. Two Women's Peace Buses returned with
Pakistani women from Lahore to Delhi in April 2000, she said.
In
accordance with WIPSA's philosophy, the mission was self-funded. Indian women
travelled at their own expenses and were hosted by Bangladeshi women who pooled
their hospitality and opened their homes to the visitors.
While in
Bangladesh, the Indian women interacted with grassroots level women members of
Doorbar, a network of 450 organizations from 64 districts. In smaller groups,
they visited NGOs working with grassroots level women and men, such as Gono
Shastha Kendra, Nijera Kori, BRAC, Proshika, Humger Project and Research
Initiatives Bangladesh (RIB). They met several government ministers and
officials, and leaders of Bangladesh Awami League.
Several funcions were
arranged for their meetings with artists and writers. A special art exhibition
PEACE SONG with paintings of 28 women artists of Bangladesh was held. Sammilito
Nari Samaj arranged a photographic exhibition displaying women in struggle since
the beginning of the Language Movement in 1952.
The WIPSA members visited
the Smiriti Shoudho at Savar and paid their respects to the martyrs of the War
of Liberation. They met trade unionists and women workers by courtesy of
Karmajibi Nari. An evening of music and dance was arranged at the Mahila Samiti.
A lively discussion meeting with students and teachers at Dhaka University was
hosted by the Centers for Peace and Conflict and Women's Studies. They also
attended programs arranged by Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, Bangladesh Women
Lawyers Association, Narigrantha Prabartana and Nari Pakhkho and visited the
Museum of the Liberation War.
"We are opposed to war in the region or in
any part of the world. We condemn the indiscriminate bombing of Afghanistan and
Iraq as well as the continuing aggression in Palestine. We want a nuclear free
South Asia and a nuclear free world for the future generations and ourselves. We
demand an immediate end to production of weapons of mass destruction by all
countries," said the Indian and Bangladeshi womenís rights activists in shared
unity.
Poet Mallika Sengupta recited one of her poems asserting holistic
faith, "We women from Kashmir to Kanya Kumarika rejoicing pluralism in Quran and
Gita, In Karl Marx and Kate Millet, In tradition and protest."
Finally,
all raised their voices in slogan, "We don't want walls of hatred, we want open
skies of friendship."