[sacw] [ACT] Dhaka Declaration

[Harsh Kapoor]

20 Feb 2000
FYI
(South Asians Against Nukes)
--------------------------------
Press Release, 20 February 2000

Conference Calls for Freeze in India-Pakistan Nuclear Weapons Programmes
Also demands a South Asian Nuclear-Free Zone

India and Pakistan must immediately freeze and dismantle their nuclear
weapons and missile programmes and thereby save not only their own
populations but all South Asians from the humanitarian and strategic
repercussions of their nuclearization.

This was the conclusion of more than 150 activists and scholars from
South and South East Asia who met in Dhaka from 18-20 October for a
nuclear disarmament conference, the first of its kind to happen after
India and Pakistan conducted their nuclear tests in 1998. At the end of
their deliberations, the participants issued a 'Dhaka Declaration',
which embraces a wide range of concerns relating to the unaffordable
social, economic, political and strategic costs of the parallel nuclear
weaponization programmes of the two countries.

The Declaration notes with regret that there had been a hardening of
nuclear postures in South Asia with the announcement of India's Draft
Nuclear Doctrine and Pakistan's "Command and Control' structures. It
calls on the two countries to "cease all activity pertaining to the
development, manufacture, induction or deployment of nuclear weapons
and ballistic missiles". The Conference also demanded that the two
countries sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Referring to the damage done to regional cooperation by the
nuclearization, the Conference asked the other members of SAARC to
persuade India and Pakistan to enter into effective dialogue. It also
appealed to the neighbouring states of Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka
to use their "individual and collective influence" to bring about a
nuclear weapons-free zone in South Asia. Those three countries should
also "explore innovative affiliations, such as the possibility of
joining the South East Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone (the Bangkok Treaty)."

Among other things, the Conference also demanded that the five
recognized nuclear powers honour their disarmament obligations under
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to live up to the spirit of
CTBT. It invited civil society organizations in all South Asian
countries to work effectively on nuclear disarmament, and emphasized
that abolition of nuclear weapons could not be brought about without
ending the reliance on nuclear power generation.

Karamat Ali, a participant and prominent Pakistani human rights
campaigner, expressed satisfaction with the Conference's work, saying,
"We South Asians must take our initiative for our own sake, and the
Declaration is evidence of this intent. Nuclear disarmament is a South
Asian concern and has nothing to do with what the West may want." Mr.
Ali expressed particular satisfaction over the fact that it had been
possible to hold the Conference in Dhaka, as Bangladesh had shown ample
concern over the deteriorating security environment in South Asia.

Rehman Sobhan, the eminent economist of Bangladesh, said it was
important that the nuclear disarmament be taken up by the mainstream
discourse in each regional country. The Declaration made amply clear
the "social and economic opportunity cost of nuclearization", he said.
"There was once a time when South Asia, particularly India, was the
voice of reason in the campaign for nuclear disarmament. We should try
to go back to that state," he added.

Former Chief of the Indian Naval Staff Admiral L. Ramdas said the Dhaka
Declaration reflected the view of the participants that, "Common sense
and statesmanship demand that India and Pakistan give up nuclearism and
learn to live as good neighbours. This will release resources for
tackling the sheer poverty which is our real problem and challenge."

The Conference was supported by anti-nuclear and peace groups from all
over South Asia and organized by the Community Development Library
(CDL) of Dhaka and the Focus on the Global South, an organization based
in Bombay and Bangkok.