As part of advocacy efforts, the advocacy unit and six volunteers from SDPI organized speech contests in seven different schools in katchi abadis. This event was organized with reference to Earth Day in collaboration with the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) Unit, Ministry of Environment. This year's theme for Earth Day was “Water for Life”.
Principals of these schools commended SDPI's efforts on Earth Day to raise awareness among their students regarding environment, importance of clean water and what could be done to keep our environment and water clean.
SDPI staff participated in their school functions and told the students about the importance of the day with special emphasis on water.
The winning students were awarded first, second, third and fourth prizes by SDPI. Badges with environmental message were distributed among the students. Through these speech contests, we reached out to more than 2,300 students and 50 teachers.
Many people wondered and questioned why SDPI had organized a seminar on the Wana Operations in the tribal areas of Pakistan as they could not link sustainable development issues and military operations. We believe that in connection with the systems of governance and security, the legitimate or illegitimate use of violence impact development options and as well as the future roadmap for sustainable development. Therefore, for us, there are several important implications of the Wana operations. These range from human rights concerns, concerns for women's and children's rights, local governance arrangements, center-periphery relations, regional implications, and international pressures or constraints.
In her welcome address, Saba Gul Khattak, Executive Director, SDPI, asserted that we are not only concerned with the need to stop violence but wish to highlight the possibilities of non-violence, as the response to violence with violence does not solve the issue of violence. Perhaps this is because the relationship between violence and power is mutually destructive, i.e. violence destroys power and indicates its loss (Hannah Arendt, 1969). She, thus, concluded that we need to understand that if violence is about power, then it is here to stay with us until we redefine power and its exercise.
The one-day seminar was divided into three broad sessions that addressed the history and social economic development status of the area, human rights and media perceptions, and the political, military strategic considerations. Speakers included: Dr Waqar Ali Shah, Historian, Dr Sarfaraz Khan, Area Expert, Afrasiab Khattak, Human Rights Activist and Politician, Imtiaz Gul, Journalist, Aimal Khattak, Journalist, Air Commodore (retd) Sajjad Haider, and Gen. (retd) Asad Durrani. The speakers presented their accounts and concerns about the developments in the area and maintained that the current tensions will impact the future options and arrangements of state society relations. It was therefore important to debate the Wana operations and assess possible solutions that would lead to a peaceful resolution of the issues without further adversely impacting people's lives.
Some of the recommendations that came forth for reforms in tribal areas were:
1) Including extension of the devolution plan to the tribal areas.
2) Giving appeal rights to people of the areas.
3) Allowing all the political parties to function in the tribal areas so that its affairs could be streamlined.
4) Introducing a new law to replace the notorious FCR.
5) Restricting the powers of the political agents and making them answerable to the judiciary.
6) Holding of local bodies elections in tribal areas.
7) Constituting a separate council for Fata, like the Northern Areas Council.
8) It was argued that though the jirgas of the affected territories had proved ineffective in 'smoking out foreign terrorists' and the local elements sheltering them, they should be given more time to settle the issue internally.
9) It was repeated that though the primary responsibility of any government is to protect the lives of its citizens from all militant forces and terrorists, however, any action against such forces must be carried out within the ambit of humanitarian law.
10) Taking Parliament and the people into confidence about the on-going military operation in Wana.
11) Addressing the growing concerns about the casualties, military and civilian, suffered in the fighting and the hardships, including threats to life, caused to local residents, especially women and children.
12) A full disclosure of the facts about the deaths in Wana, about the operations that have left an estimated 30,000 people homeless and details about those arrested be made public. This was felt to be especially necessary given local claims that innocent civilians were being rounded up rather than foreign militants.
13) Permitting journalists to visit the area.
14) It was affirmed that one cannot bring modernity or development by force of arms.
15) Bringing schools, hospitals and economic development to these remote poor regions.
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