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A Move by Benazir
The move bv Benazir Bhutto ot Pakistan to hold a meeting of opposition leaders from various SAARC nations in Karachi on Tuesday is both innovative and challenging, offering considerable possibilities but. indeed, a few risks The fact that the Awami League chairperson, opposition leader Sheikh Hasina nas accepted the invitation, apart from VP Singh ci India. Slrunavo Bandaranalke of Srl Lanka and a leader from Nepal would suggest Bhuttos call has generated a positive response from within the region It is a pity that there are no opposition parties in Bhutan and the Maldives whose representatives could take part at the Karachi meeting
The move deserves support for the simple reason that interaction among opposition leaders in SAARC countries is Just as important as a contin uous dialogue among heads oi governments or. for that matter, even among parliamentary groups. There are national, regional and international issues on which concerned groups, like opposition parties, undoubtedly need to develop better understanding. not necessarily a common plan of action.
The proposed Karachi meeting offers this potential. However, it also raises a few tricky questions which may well develop into unjustifiable concern in government circles. This is because little has been published in the media about the agenda for the meeting, except that it may produce what has been rather ambiguously described in the press as "SAARC Opposition", while the same report has focused on "gradual realisation among many that a change in political style is essential." It is not clear whose "political style" is being referred to It could well be of governments in power and/or of the opposition parties We hope, it means both
While participants al the Karachi meeting would obviously brief one another on internal politics in their countries and. In this context, perhaps blast their governments, it is important that they do not get bogged down in this sensitive area of discussion. Instead, they will do well to look at the wider regional scene and suggest what should be done to strengthen co-operation among South Asian countries in such fields as trade, investment. Joint vennires. and educational and cultural exchanges They should feel free to say that efforts by governments in these areas have so far fallen snort of popular expectations Here is. therefore, an opportunity for opposition leaders to offer alternative programmes.
It is said that the meeting will also discuss how democratic practices can be strengthened in SAARC countries, especially in countries like Bangladesh. Pakistan and Nepal which have only recently emerged from one form of authoritarian rule or another. An assessment of what is obstructing the process of consolidation of democracy is. Indeed, essential. In this context, one must discuss if the opposition parties themselves have been doing their share in establishing their credentials as alternative governments. How many of them have their own shadow cabinets or specialists tn such fields as agrarian reforms, industrial development, educational reforms and even defence ? The tendency among most opposition parties, even in an old democracy like India. ol merely reacting to government policies, often negatively, have helped little in raising the credibility of parties taking part at the Karachi meeting
No matter what direction is given to the deliberation organised by Bhutto. It should move along constructive, regional lines and. as far as possible, avoid rhetoric, recrimination, charges and counter-charges. Let 11 set a new tone to the role of opposition parties In SAARC countries.