Asia Regional Dialogue on People’s Movements:
held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on June 19 to 23, 1996

Regional Dialogue on Asian Rural People’s Movements: Analysis and Strategies in an Era of Globalization

We, the participants from the Asian Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Asia (AsiaDHRRA) network, in solidarity with the other participants from Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, and NGOs in Yogyakarta participating at the Asia Regional Dialogue on People’s Movements: Analysis and Strategies in an Era of Globalization” held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on June 19 to 23, 1996 jointly issue this declaration.

We are concerned that:

The current globalization, with its export-driven and market-led strategy, has influenced the national programs of Asian and other countries. It has influenced the Asian rural people’s dialogue of life and their work for autonomy and empowerment.

Its moving force is the accumulation of more wealth for a few rather than the care and sustainability of the life-support system. The high-rise growth model, as exemplified by the newly industrializing countries (NICs), has altered the grassroots people’s worldview, ethics, and lifestyle into a culture of materialism, commercialism, and consumerism. All of these run contrary to the principles of sustainability.We recognize that globalization also has its positive impact. However, the rapid process of globalization has resulted in the exclusion of the vulnerable grassroots people from the decision-making and benefits of the development processes. They have been excluded from the mainstream of the economic, political, social, and cultural processes and from the socio-economic security networks.

Dependence on the global market system has reduced their capacity to produce their own food. The production of basic food crops, which in the past ensured the food security of communities, has been discouraged. This has increased the risk of food shortages and greatly reduces food quality and nutrition.

Indigenous cultural communities, not having the necessary protection and preparation, have been dramatically affected by the technologies brought about by globalization. Asian rural peoples have had their sense of wisdom and creativity challenged and, in many cases, they have lost since modern science view their knowledge as primitive and illogical.

The push of poverty in the poor countries and the demand for labor in the developed countries and in the NICs increased the demand for migrant labor, especially burdening poor women. This has also has social costs, including the weakening of the family, the basic unit of society.

The importation of agricultural products resulted in the displacement of our agricultural farmers. GATT’s intellectual property rights clause has enables transnational corporations to patent indigenous knowledge and even life forms. This has been to the detriment of our farmers, fisher folks, rural women, and indigenous peoples who have possessed such knowledge for generations. This knowledge has served them well and has been proven effective. It should be acknowledged and considered in decision-making.

Small fisher folks have been affected by the increased presence of local and transnational commercial fishing vessels. Mangrove areas have been destroyed to construct fishponds and other aqua-culture ventures which cater mostly to the international market.

The current model of consumption is plainly unsustainable and unhealthy. The majority of the world population is divided into over and under-consuming classes. Some people eat the choicest products of the world’s markets while many others suffer from poverty, malnutrition, and loss of habitat.

n many places in Asia, there is a resurgence of demands that local and national ethnical, cultural, and religious values and rights be upheld, maintained, and protected.

In the light of the above, we pledge to work together for an alternative development paradigm based on the following principles:

• Food Security. Food is a basic right and not just nutrition. It is also a matter of culture and power. Food systems must therefore be community-based and be founded on people’s empowerment and self-reliance. Indigenous knowledge of farmers, fisher folks, and cultural communities must be recognized, nurtured, and protected.
• Sustainable Human Development. Authentic human development is development of the people, for the people, and by the people. Development of the people means investing in human capabilities so that they can work productively and creatively. Development for the people means ensuring that the economic growth they generate is distributed widely and fairly. Development by the people is giving everyone a chance to participate.
• Environment. Balance and harmony, not only “sharing the earth” but also “caring for the earth” for the future must be essential elements of our life. We work with nature and protect its biodiversity as stewards of natural resources.
• Good Governance and Democratization. Social integration and development efforts can be greatly enhanced by bringing the government closer to the people through democratization. This is arrived at through programs such as promoting grassroots organizations. The creation of avenues for direct people participation in the process of decision-making, planning, implementation and evaluation of community and government programs facilitate this.
• Local People’s Economies. Economic development will largely be dependent on equitable access to resources and capital, and on the capacities of local people’s economies to address their own peculiar conditions. Maximizing opportunities and local resources to complement global initiatives enhances it. Indigenous, community-based, self-reliant and environmentally sound people’s small scale and micro enterprises should also be encouraged and supported. Greater avenues for people’s participation in defining the economic agenda of their respective communities and governments are a crucial step to ensure that the fruits of economic development will benefit the greater number.
• Peace and Social Reform. The need to integrate efforts of peace initiatives and social reforms is crucial for lasting peace and human security. A new concept of security must arise – from security through arms to security through human development, and from territorial security to food, employment and environmental security.
• Gender Equity. Gender in relation to development is seen as imperative. There must be transformation of gender relations so that women become equal partners in all development processes. Women’s equal rights to land and resources must be ensured.
• Partnership and Stakeholder in Development Efforts. One distinct characteristic of the development imperative is its call to go into partnerships. This includes the government, social movements, scientific and academic institutions, the religious and other significant players in strategic areas. There is the imperative to open the doors for coordination, complementation and collaboration. International cooperation should move beyond aid.

Given our orientation is rooted in our historical experiences of working with the Asian rural peoples through dialogue of life, that is

• Trust in the Asian rural people’s potentials and capabilities;
• Trust in their capacity to pool local resources for local development; and
• Trust in the Asian rural people’s ability to help themselves in dignity and in solidarity with one another.

Therefore, we work for

• The development of community level cooperative agricultural enterprises following the sustainable agriculture concepts of organic farming, diversification, integration of farm modules, improved seeds and sustainable soil and water practices;
• The widespread adoption of an agro-industrialization strategy which is holistic – complemented and/or integrated with urban land reform, agrarian reform, rural development, and sustainable agricultural development;
• Participatory research, analysis, policy formulation, and advocacy on issues affecting the Asian people; this is aimed at influencing and effecting changes in government policy and programs based on social justice, human rights and self-reliance;
• The transformation of multilateral and global institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations; this will be directed towards their adoption of standard project impact analysis, planning and implementation guidelines consistent with the sustainable development principles of people’s participation and empowerment, environmental protection, gender equity, human rights and social equity;
• The creation of an alternative regional trading and economic bloc that strengthens Asian cooperation and provides for more effective and culturally sensitive decision making; this economic bloc should also recognize the autonomy of nations to design and realize their own people-centered sustainable development with gender equity and human dignity; and
• The formation and strengthening of mechanisms such as dialogue, networking and coalition among Asian rural people’s movements; these mechanisms will strengthen coordination, complementation and cooperation with each other, with government, and with other sectors of civil society.

In truth, much has already been achieved along these lines from the community level up to the international level. These joyful achievements have been made through the efforts of various non-government and people’s organizations, individuals, communities, and networks. These have been made possible with the grace of God. And it is this, which gives us hope as we continue our work together.

It is imperative that we continue to work together for the future of Asia and it people in the spirit of solidarity, social justice, and self-reliance. People’s dialogue of life and action for social justice are the conditions for peace and survival.