SAARC and the Communist SAARC

By Indra Adhikari

While the summit SAARC basically focuses on capitalism perspectives of economic development, unsatisfied opposition political fronts from the six SAARC countries have begun campaigning for a communist SAARC.

The first of their meetings has recently concluded in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu which they called People's SAARC. Leaders from ruling and opposition parties from Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lana and Pakistan threatened that they would overthrow the capitalist SAARC if it did not listen to what people say.

In their Kathmandu Declaration, the pro-left groups, of course democrats were also the active participants of the three-day conference, said the government SAARC has been a pawn in the hands of the west, especially capitalist America and is imposing the title of terrorists to the organizations of people who have been demanding liberation from injustice and economic abuses.

Criticism of SAARC

SAARC has been criticized for years due to its inability to implement all declarations it made and commitments expressed during the summit conference. The tussle between Pakistan and India has disrupted the summit several times. Political disturbances in other countries have delayed regular summits. In all these, India has been the prime factor, denying its attendance at the summit. The provision of the SAARC charter states that the summit conference ceased to be held if one of the members deny attending on any pretext.

Since its establishment in 1983, SAARC attempted to address the people's issues, decrease poverty and accelerate economic development. Dozens of resolutions have been passed in its quarter-century history but all of them remained flatly on paper. Poverty has ever since increased and economic development attained especially by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, wobbles around the middle and high class urban population.

The SAARC failed to bring the marginalized and economically backward ethnic minorities into nation's mainstream. Tamils are fighting in Sri Lanka and India. Nepalis are fighting in Bhutan. Indigenous and Madhesis are fighting in Nepal. In India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, large numbers of marginalized and oppressed people have been trying to come into the political mainstream for equality and justice.

As of late 1990, there was even gossiping among the bureaucratic and political circles that SAARC had no more relevance as a regional pact. A few recommended dissolution of the association.

Nepal Venue

The unsatisfied opposition to all the mismanagement took the communist dominated volatile Nepal's political situation to start fresh consultation from Nepal itself.

For a fresh start, Nepal became an inspiration for them. South Asian leftists, not all, think the Maoist success in Nepal is certain which would pave way for a larger left uprising in this region. The success of the Nepali Jana Andolan last April was due to the involvement of the Maoists in the struggle of the seven parties who were fighting for active monarchy. With the success of the movement, communist dominance has prevailed in Nepali politics, but communists in other countries are yet to achieve that status.

This encouraged them to hold the conference in Nepal and decide that its headquarters will be based in Nepal. SAARC also has its headquarters in Nepal.

Contemplation to redress the demands of the poverty stricken people of this region, the communist lobbying might get momentum if the capitalist Nepal Congress fail to grab the government seat in the upcoming elections slated for June. Yet the doubtful election, whether it would be held by that time is yet to be declared, and which party would win is unpredictable. India, America and Europe are working hard to avoid any dominance by communists in the new Nepal.

SAARC and People's SAARC

Incidentally, the concept of People's SAARC has been put to the table in three different political developments South Asia is facing. The first is the decisive future of communist dominance in Nepal which I discussed earlier. The second point is important enough to note here: the inclusion of China as observer in the 14th SAARC summit scheduled for next month in New Delhi.

China has been invited as observer but western countries fear that the presence of China in the regional pact would increase communist influence throughout the sub-continent. Subsequently, America, Japan, South Korea and EU made their efforts for seats of observers and accepted.

Connotation of the word 'People' links up with the communist cliché derived from the Chinese politics. Over the past half a century, communist manifestation in South Asia has been accelerated like slow poison to flourishing capitalism. China has slowly stretched its hands with India fore regional business and with this, there has been rising communism in India. The communists in India's mainstream politics abruptly rose to distinction after Sino-India relations improved in the last five years. This indicates the growing Chinese influences from the people's level. Yet America and Europe wish capitalism remain intact at the decision making level.

The third reason is based on the decision of the CCOMPOSA held in Indian some six months ago, in which its members, mostly operating underground, decided to make the sub continent a 'flaming field of communist' in the coming decade. With this decision, the US vigilance on Nepali Maoists has grown up in sweeping rate.

Communist SAARC

The movement has begun, as they say, and will continue until people become the leaders attending SAARC summit ending American interference. They claim, they have come from the poor community, Dalit community, suppressed and marginalized communities, who are in majority in the region but were never heard by government SAARC. And finally they vow to overthrow the current SAARC, which has become the pawn to capitalism to further suppression of poor people. Victory by poor and majority people is sure, certain. 'We shall overcome some,' they said repeatedly.

Wishing them all the best.

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