Press Release

6th Regional Consultation of Child Workers in Asia
(Bangkok, 29-31 January 2003)

PRESS RELEASE

We, the participants of the 6th Regional Consultation of Child Workers in Asia (Bangkok, 29-31 January 2003), would like to express our happiness at the news that the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) has declared a ceasefire and suspended all its military actions in Nepal. We would also like to welcome the decision of the Government of Nepal to withdraw a price tag fixed on the heads of Maoist rebel leaders and red corner notices against top Maoists as announced through the INTERPOL. We sincerely hope that this announcement of ceasefire really materializes and the bloody war being in place for the last 7 years ends permanently. .

We all know that while the adults fight a war, children pay prices for this. As we have gathered here in Bangkok to discuss on issues facing children, millions of innocent children in many parts of the world, including in Asia, are facing a serious threat to their survival, let alone their development. The society they live in has been damaged, the environment they live in has been terrorized. On this backdrop, the news from Nepal, as it is coming in global media networks, gives us a ray of hope that there is a room to resolve such wars and conflicts. At this point, we call on the Maoist rebels, the government of Nepal, NGOs, civil society groups and the people at large to give their attentions and efforts to pursue dialogue in order for resolving underlying issues. We reiterate our call that children should be regarded as a zone of peace in any processes that would follow.

We firmly believe that conflicts, which are part of human society and human relations, can be and must be solved through dialogue. We also believe that it is peace that ultimately prevails over conflicts. The news from Nepal has added substance to our belief. We hope this will inspire other groups, organizations and governments in our region to make their efforts for peaceful conflict transformation.

Proposed by,

Gauri Pradhan

Jan. 30, 2003

Seconded by: Participants of the 6th Regional Consultation

1. Mr Aftab Uddin Ahmed, Bangladesh
   
2. Mr. M Shahidul Islam, Bangladesh
   
3. Dr. M Masum, Bangladesh
   
4. Mr. Chea Pyden, Cambodia
   
5. Ms. Sun Sothy, Cambodia
   
6. Mr. Seng Vone, Cambodia
   
7. Mr. Ngeng Teng, Cambodia
   
8. Ms Omana George, Hong Kong
   
9. Dr. Joseph Gathia, India
   
10. Ms Suman, India
    
11. Ms Kavita Ratna, India
    
12. S Uchhengama, India
    
13. Mr. Karuppasamy, India
    
14. Mr. Novenry Yosep Sembiring, Indonesia
    
15. Ms Irmawati Siahaan, Indonesia
    
16. Mr. Mohammad Farid, Indonesia
    
17. Mr. Arist M Sirat, Indonesia
    
18. Mr Taufan Damanick, Indonesia
    
19. Ms Xuyen Dangers, Laos
    
20. Mr. B Sinniah, Malaysia
    
21. Mr. Bijaya Sainju, Nepal
    
22. Mr. Ratna Karki, Nepal
    
23. Ms Kabita Aryal, Nepal
    
24. Mr. Gauri Pradhan, Nepal
    
25. Mr. Mukunda Kattel, Nepal
    
26. Ukash Nakarmi, Nepal
    
27. Ms. Rupa Dhital, Nepal
    
28. Ms Khalida Salimi, Pakistan
    
29. Mr. Anees Jillani, Pakistan
    
30. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz, Pakistan
    
31. Ms Cecilia Oebanda, Philippines
    
32. Mr. Roland Pacis, Philippines
    
33. Mr. Alex W Apit, Philippines
    
34. Ms Florie May Butiong, Philippines
    
35. Ms Agnes Camacho, Philippines
    
36. Ms Amihan Abueva, Philippines
    
37. Edelweiss F Silan, Philippines
    
38. Ms Maribel Pantajo, Philippines
    
39. Mr. Uditha Gunarathn,e Sri Lanka
    
40. Mr Udayaprasad ,Sri Lanka
    
41. Ms Ratjai Adjayutpokin, Thailand
    
42. Ms Khemporn Wiroonraphant, Thailand
    
43. Ms Narissara Kanluan, Thailand
    
44. Ms Siribua Kanthawong, Thailand
    
45. Ms Sawai Langlah, Thailand
    
46. Ms Wanida Karunan, Thailand
    
47. Leonard, Thailand
    
48. Jurgen Thomas, France
    
49. Dr. Walter Skrobanek, Thailand