SAARC – the time is ripe to be more than just a talk shop

There is much hype about the upcoming SAARC Summit, at least in Sri Lanka. This is mostly due to the closed roads, demolished houses and the numerous billboards sprouting in the city of Colombo. The SAARC, after nearly a quarter century in existence, has reached a stage where it should be much more than what it is today; a talk shop.

The South Asian region can only look with envy at the many of its regional counterparts that have evolved into bodies of greater cooperation. Let alone the likes of the European Union and ASEAN that have now successfully integrated into political and economic power houses, even the more modest African Union is immerging as a regional body with teeth to address a diverse array of issues concerning its member states.

On numerous occasions the African Union has taken stern action to bring its members in line with accepted norms that collectively unite them. Though there may be criticism that the organisation has not done enough to resolve the burning crisis in Zimbabwe, Sudan and the likes, the point to be noted is that it has done something in that effect compared to SAARC that has maintained silence in any crisis.

SAARC in contrast has been mumbling the manthra of non-interference in internal matters and has excluded bilateral issues from its mandate. By doing so, the organisation has ended up becoming a talk shop for the region without much tangible benefits for its people. The summits of the past (quite possibly even the forthcoming one) has seen many a despot being welcomed with much pomp and pageantry, giving legitimacy to corrupt dictatorial regimes. The regional body has even failed to uphold the basic principle of democracy in the region.

Little or no progress has been made in the economic front either. The once hyped about South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) has now become a distant memory. Instead of becoming an integrated regional economy South Asia is now competing for the same Western markets. The bilateral agreements such as the Indo-Lanka and Sri Lanka-Pakistan FTA have made SAFTA redundant in countries such as ours.

The much talked about ‘people to people contact’ has not been some thing to gloat about. A common visa was mooted at one point, which was marginally operational for government officials. However, even that has now become dysfunctional with several countries not honouring the commitment.

So, while the Heads of State of South Asia meet again for the 15th time in a few days, it would do enormous good for all the people of the region if their leaders take a moment to reflect up on what it has achieved, and more importantly what it has not, throughout the years. By doing so it is hoped that SAARC will take its first step towards becoming something more than a talk shop, which is a burden for all her people.

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