Kathmandu, 12-13th March, 2011

1. The South Asian Peace Conference organized by Nepal Peace and Solidarity Council was held in Kathmandu on 12-13th March, 2011. Delegations from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan attended this meeting. A four member’s delegation from CPAPD of China also attended the meeting.

2. On the occasion of this conference a public meeting was held on 12th March. The Conference was inaugurated by H.E. Jalanath Kanahal, Prime Minister of Nepal. It was also addressed by the Executive Secretary of WPC Mr. Iraklis Tsavdaridis and prominent personalities from Nepal and the leaders of the participant’s countries.

3. The Conference expresses deep shock and grief and expresses condolences to bereaved families who have been victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The Conference calls on the international community to stand by the people of Japan in their difficult time.

4. The conference expressed deep concern over the continuing deterioration in international situation in general and particular in South Asia. This complex and dangerous situation in different parts of the world is due to the aggressive policies of imperialism led by USA aimed at achieving world domination by intensifying arms race, especially nuclear arm race, prolonging military conflicts and aggressive wars and expanding military bases in different parts of the world, thus endangering peace and security of the peoples throughout the world.

5. South Asia possesses the largest number of population forced to survive in poverty, hunger and underdevelopment has remained one of the explosive areas of the world, a springboard of military provocation and armed conflicts as well as of arms build-up and interference that have seriously threatened peace and security in this area. The present developments in this region have proved that the US and the NATO having more common imperialist strategies for South Asia. The ongoing US and NATO military intervention in Afghanistan and Pakistan is not only jeopardizing the peace and stability of South Asia but also strengthening the forces of religious fundamentalism and terrorism in South Asia.

6. The growing menace of religious fundamentalism of all shades and terrorist activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan and increasing intolerance among the Hindu fundamentalist organizations of India poses grave threat to the peace and stability of South Asia. In Bangladesh the activities of religious fundamentalists somehow have been contained by the state and through mass mobilization by all secular democratic forces.

7. The Conference takes note that while all nations in South Asia face common problems and challenges, the ruling governments have hardly any initiatives to meet these challenges jointly. On the other hand the lack of confidence building initiatives for building good neighborly relations among the nations are the main reasons for the continuation of mistrust among the nation.

8. In this context the conference underlined the important role of the peace and solidarity organizations of South Asia to build the friendship among the people of this area and to act in a way that the ruling governments will be forced to take appropriate measures to overcomes existing problems through dialogue and strengthen the economic and cultural cooperation for the benefit of the people of South Asia.

9. The Conference supports the demands the trial of the war-criminals of 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh and condemn the attack on Prime Minister Shaik Hasina by the fundamentalist organization.

10. The Conference expresses its full support and solidarity with the people of Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Jordon and Libya for their struggle against the autocratic rules for democracy and human rights and opposes any interference in Libya from outside mainly from US, NATO and European Union.

11. The conference supports the Palestinian people in their struggle for an independent state within the borders of 1967 and with East Jerusalem as its capital and support the unity of Palestinian people and its territories.

12. The conference supports the demands of the WPC for the complete abolition of Nuclear Weapon states, the right of each nation for the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

13. The conference expresses its solidarity with the people of Nepal and hope that it will carry forward the peace progress and finalization of the new constitution within the stipulated time to meet the aspiration of the Nepalese people thus open the new era for peace and progress in Nepal.

14. The conference supports the struggles of the people of Burma for the restoration of democracy and for the release of all political prisoners.

15. The conference expresses its solidarity with those Bhutanese people who are fighting for returning to their own homeland.

16. The Conference calls upon all peace and solidarity organizations all mass organizations of students, youth, Trade Unions and other civil society organizations to build a strong movement against the policies of imperialist globalizations and war and to build South Asia a region of peace, stability, democracy, human rights, justice, equality and developments as well as get rid of foreign bases, occupation, terrorism, religious fundamentalism and weapons of mass destructions of all kinds.

17. To achieve the above objectives, the conference recommends to form a broad based South Asian Peace & Solidarity Network in proper consultations with member organizations of WPC, other likeminded peace and solidarity organizations and groups from South Asia. Conference believes that the functioning modalities of above network will be finalized later on by the member organizations of the network.

18. The Conference expresses their sincere gratitude to the Nepal Peace & Solidarity Council for hosting such important meeting and hospitalities they have extended to all participants.