1 NTS Challenges and Policy Responses in South Asia Inaugural Meeting of NTS-Asia, Singapore 7-9...

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NTS Challenges and Policy NTS Challenges and Policy Responses in South Asia Responses in South Asia

Inaugural Meeting Inaugural Meeting ofof

NTS-Asia, Singapore 7-9 January 2007 NTS-Asia, Singapore 7-9 January 2007

C R AbrarC R Abrar

Refugee and Migratory Movements Refugee and Migratory Movements Research UnitResearch Unit

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Outcome of the NTS Phase completedOutcome of the NTS Phase completed

RMMRU project specificRMMRU project specific 8 collaborative studies completed8 collaborative studies completed 2 volumes to be published by mid 20072 volumes to be published by mid 2007 1 dissemination workshop held this year1 dissemination workshop held this year Studies, all field based, will hopefully inform Studies, all field based, will hopefully inform

policypolicy Rapport built with the media and also with Rapport built with the media and also with

segments of civil society institutions in the segments of civil society institutions in the host countrieshost countries

Network of South Asian scholars on migrationNetwork of South Asian scholars on migration

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Outcome of the NTS Phase completedOutcome of the NTS Phase completed

Broader AchievementsBroader Achievements Engagement of scholars with the project with Engagement of scholars with the project with

broader theoretical debates on security of the broader theoretical debates on security of the state and those of citizens and aliens state and those of citizens and aliens

Enhanced appreciation that states are still Enhanced appreciation that states are still captured by domestic interests even when captured by domestic interests even when faced with trans-national concernsfaced with trans-national concerns

Development of an pan-Asian ‘epistemic Development of an pan-Asian ‘epistemic community’ to anticipate, analyse and provide community’ to anticipate, analyse and provide policy response mechanismspolicy response mechanisms

NTS-Asia: insitutionalising the process of NTS-Asia: insitutionalising the process of inter-regional networkinginter-regional networking

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Remits of the Past ProjectsRemits of the Past Projects

Broad based social issues encompassing Broad based social issues encompassing pluralism, diversity, ethnicity and genderpluralism, diversity, ethnicity and gender

Specific cross border issues: terrorism, Specific cross border issues: terrorism, migration, environmentmigration, environment

Community level disputes: natural Community level disputes: natural resourcesresources

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Challenges and Policy Responses: Challenges and Policy Responses: Internal to a StateInternal to a State

Sources of Insecurity of Citizens:Sources of Insecurity of Citizens: Poverty and lack of employmentPoverty and lack of employment Political ViolencePolitical Violence Extrajudicial KillingsExtrajudicial Killings Poor governance and the absence of rule of law Poor governance and the absence of rule of law CorruptionCorruption Inadequate health care facilitiesInadequate health care facilities Environmental Insecurity: riverbank erosion, Environmental Insecurity: riverbank erosion,

displacement due to climate change and SLRdisplacement due to climate change and SLR Exclusion of minority communities from national Exclusion of minority communities from national

decision making processdecision making process

Big Question: Big Question: Do the above issues merit Do the above issues merit inclusion in the NTS discourse? inclusion in the NTS discourse?

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Challenges and Policy Responses: Challenges and Policy Responses:

Regional and Cross BorderRegional and Cross Border Movement of Labour through Irregular Movement of Labour through Irregular

ChannelChannel

Migration is increasingly being securitized in post 9/11 Migration is increasingly being securitized in post 9/11 situationsituation

Securitization of migration has impacted adversely on Securitization of migration has impacted adversely on human security of all migrantshuman security of all migrants

There is a propensity for labour to move to fill vacuum There is a propensity for labour to move to fill vacuum that exists in a market and restrictions to migrate that exists in a market and restrictions to migrate through formal channels to a large extent contribute to through formal channels to a large extent contribute to movement through irregular routemovement through irregular route

Specific proposal: Specific proposal: Research and policy advocacy at receiving end in East Research and policy advocacy at receiving end in East

Asia and the Gulf statesAsia and the Gulf states Build networks of academics and civil society institutions Build networks of academics and civil society institutions

of sending and host states.of sending and host states.

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Challenges and Policy Responses: Challenges and Policy Responses: Regional and Cross BorderRegional and Cross Border

Diseases and pandemicsDiseases and pandemics

Rise in incidence of HIV/AIDSRise in incidence of HIV/AIDS Reemergence of drug resistant TB, pneumonia and Reemergence of drug resistant TB, pneumonia and

also of malaria and denguealso of malaria and dengue Rudimentary health care services in Bangladesh and Rudimentary health care services in Bangladesh and

South Asia in general.South Asia in general. The issue has not drawn attention of any security The issue has not drawn attention of any security

expert as yetexpert as yet

Specific Proposal:Specific Proposal: A better understanding of these issues by involving A better understanding of these issues by involving

stakeholders and serious engagement in policy stakeholders and serious engagement in policy advocacyadvocacy

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Challenges and Policy Responses: Challenges and Policy Responses: Regional and Cross BorderRegional and Cross Border

Smuggling and Informal TradeSmuggling and Informal Trade

Contributes to economic insecurity of a stateContributes to economic insecurity of a state Undermines incipient local industrialization Undermines incipient local industrialization

effortsefforts Diminishes employment opportunities of people Diminishes employment opportunities of people

affecting their livelihood optionsaffecting their livelihood options

Specific Proposal:Specific Proposal: Regional study on extent, magnitude and Regional study on extent, magnitude and

impact of smuggling and informal trade on impact of smuggling and informal trade on states and peoplesstates and peoples

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Challenges and Policy Responses: Challenges and Policy Responses: Regional and Cross BorderRegional and Cross Border

Use of Religion in PoliticsUse of Religion in Politics South Asian problemSouth Asian problem Damages the secular fabric of society that is a pre-Damages the secular fabric of society that is a pre-

condition for democracy, peace and progresscondition for democracy, peace and progress Catering to right wing agenda that adversely affects Catering to right wing agenda that adversely affects

education system, gender relations and indigenous education system, gender relations and indigenous cultural values and practicescultural values and practices

Specific Proposal:Specific Proposal: Collaborative study on the use of religion in politics and Collaborative study on the use of religion in politics and

erosion of secular politics in South Asiaerosion of secular politics in South Asia

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Challenges and Policy Responses: Challenges and Policy Responses: Regional and Cross BorderRegional and Cross Border

Exclusion of ethnic minorities and growth of Exclusion of ethnic minorities and growth of militancymilitancy

Unwillingness of nation states to address the Unwillingness of nation states to address the grievances of the national minoritiesgrievances of the national minorities

Domination of the majority and the failure to build a Domination of the majority and the failure to build a pluralist society with equal opportunities to diverse pluralist society with equal opportunities to diverse groupsgroups

Source of inter-state tension as onus is often shifted on Source of inter-state tension as onus is often shifted on neighboursneighbours

Specific Proposal:Specific Proposal: Develop a group of scholars and activists to examine Develop a group of scholars and activists to examine

policies of exclusion of minorities pursued by states and policies of exclusion of minorities pursued by states and how that has contributed to rise of militancyhow that has contributed to rise of militancy