Peace is the fundamental rights of the people

Added: (Mon Dec 12 2005)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Peace is the fundamental rights of the people

By Kamala Sarup

Now this is the globalize world and world community is deeply
inter-connected and interdependent with each other in many respect
therefore, conflict in one country should be considered a threat for
peace in everywhere. We are passing through extremely difficult time
of its history. Years of conflict devastated, paralyzed and crippled
the nation, killed more than fourteen thousand people and displaced
huge number of people from their habitual place of residence. Although
they are not consider "refugee" under the narrow technical definition
of UN refugee convention1951, which has, became outdated in
contemporary global context. In fact refugee convention is too
euro-centric and does not match with present day world reality. And
International community also not properly acknowledged phenomena of
huge and alarming number of internally displaced people. No doubt
years of conflict brought untold suffering for the people. Because of
the violence, people are facing human rights crisis in the
contemporary world.

People need urgent and immediate International attention. World body
like United Nations can play a very important and constructive role in
establishment of democratic peace because world body is equipped with
a means, resource and expertise in this regard. This is the high time
that UN should engage constructively to peace building process and use
its resource, expertise and influence to facilitation of peace
process. And at the same time International civil society has also a
bigger role to play in this context because international civil
society is also emerged as a major actor in shaping of international
policy agenda. World body and International civil society facilitate
the negotiation process and exert pressure to both sides to abide by
International humanitarian and human rights law and norms.

There is massive violation of International humanitarian law and
innocent killing; disappearances, torture and abduction have become
daily routine in the world. This process has to be stopped immediately
and culture of impunity must not be allowed to continue. In addition
to that violation of human rights must be closely monitor by
International community and urgent and immediate measure should to be
taken to stop the violation of human rights and humanitarian law.

Democratic peace is the need of the hour for the world. Peace cannot
exist or secure without full guarantee of human rights, democracy and
rule of law and at the same time social justice and equity is also a
pre-condition of genuine peace. And it is self-evident truth that
peace cannot survive amidst vast social and economic inequality,
exclusion and marginalization. For the establishment of the genuine
and lasting peace root cause of conflict has to be addressed. No doubt
that just and equitable socio-economic order is pre condition of it.

Peace cannot just happen by itself automatically but it need a
concerted and collective action on the part of stakeholder to build
and create peace. Since peace does not means only absence of war or
military conflict but it provides a space for realization of
fundamental rights and liberty for people. Without Peace there could
be no guarantee of well being, prosperity and happiness of people and
without democracy and human rights no genuine peace is possible.

Peace requires a restructuring of social order and existing power
structure, which is unjust, inequitable and undemocratic. Peace
requires socio-economic and political justice. It provides a space for
people to genuine participation in the governance and Nation building
process. For the genuine peace people must have a control over their
destiny. Now peace is our prime national agenda. Therefore just ending
an armed conflict does not create peace by itself it is a necessary
condition of peace but not a sufficient condition of it. It is clear
that world cannot move forward through military means therefore
negotiated settlement is the need of the hour. For the restoration of
peace broad based dialogue is essentials and civil society must play
an active and constructive role.

Peace is too serious to entrust only to handful of politician so
people most come forward and take a responsibility in the peace making
and peace building process of the conflict areas. Without an active
and constructive participation and engagement of people at grass root
level no peace process can move forward. Peace is most fundamental of
the fundamental rights of the people. UN declaration on the right of
people to peace 1984 clearly mentions, "The people of our planet have
a sacred right to peace." And also proclaimed that" the preservation
of the right of peoples to peace and the promotion of the
implementation constitute a fundamental obligation of each state.
Because without peace people are unable to enjoy their any other
rights and freedom.

First of all negotiated settlement is the only way out. We have to
agree on the plain and simple fact that there is no military solution
of this problem and military solution could not be lasting as well.
There must be a strong desire for the peaceful settlement from all
stakeholders. Violation of human rights and humanitarian law must be
stop immediately. Common article 3 of Geneva convention is related
with internal armed conflict so both state actor and non-state actor
must be abide by it.

Geneva convention has become the part of customary International law.
Violation of Geneva Convention considered war crime and crime against
humanity and perpetrator and violator must be held accountable for
their action. And at same time rebel group most come forward for
negotiated settlement.

Political parties, media, civil society and the government must play a
chief role. And also political parties are the major player in the
democratic polity. Any effort to undermine a political party would be
counterproductive and disrupt the peace process. Peace process must be
carefully and efficiently managed. People are the main stakeholder in
this process Participation of Civil society and media must be ensured.
Peace Process must be open and transparent.

There must be a broader agreement of goal and objective among the
concerned parties, such as guarantee of people's sovereignty, basic
human rights, multiparty democracy, independence of judiciary and rule
of law. Likewise freedom of speech and press, right to association,
right to life, right to equality is the basic rights of people, which
are non-negotiable rights. Human rights issue must be at the top of
the agenda of any peace process.

On the other hand, with the destruction of school buildings children
are badly affected. There are growing reports of an increase in the
number of child soldiers. Thousands of children have lost their
parents. And also, they are forced to flee because of terrorism.
Children are very scared. Schools have been turned into recruitment
centres. The misuse of schools, their occupation and attacks on them
are one of the worst violations of women and children's rights.

It is also true, the exploitation of children in the ranks of the
terrorism must end. UN must work hard to end the use of children, the
killing and maiming of children,and abductions. Violent terrorism
disrupts lives and reduces people's access to basic services.
Political stability is essential to effectively implement peace
related programs.

Violence, made people more frustrated. I believe, attainment of
sustainable peace, security and economic prosperity, which largely
depends on the resolution of the current political impasse, requires
consensus and commitment among all political parties and the
government. People need political stability, development, peace, and
true democracy.

Kamala Sarup is an editor of peacejournalism.com