Indian MPs back idea for UN parliament
Saturday December 10, 2011 05:20:13 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi:
Around 40 Indian MPs have backed the proposal for a UN
parliamentary assembly that will comprise member nations'
legislators and lead eventually to direct election of UN
parliament members by citizens worldwide.
Among those who have endorsed the proposal are Science and
Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and ministers of state
Saugata Roy and Dinsha Patel. Former minister of state for
external affairs Shashi Tharoor, former panchayati raj and sports
minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and former minister for water
resources Saifuddin Soz also backed the idea of a UN parliament
which is gathering momentum.
They have appealed to the UN and the governments of its member
states "to establish a Parliamentary Assembly at the United
Nations". They recommended "a gradual implementation of democratic
participation and representation on the global level".
"I support the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly and it
would be good if the proposal is seriously considered by the
United Nations," said Desmukh.
"Of course, a lot of details need to be investigated. Still, the
government of India could express at the UN General Assembly that
in principle, it regards the proposal of a UN Parliamentary
Assembly with favour," said Tharoor at a meeting with
representatives of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly in
Delhi Thursday.
Eminent filmmaker and Rajya Sabha member Shyam Benegal also
declared his support for a UN parliament.
"Today, doubts are often expressed with regard to global
democracy. Based on our experience, I believe that obstacles can
be overcome and that first small steps to build democracy at the
global scale are now necessary and possible," said Benegal.
"At Independence, Jawaharlal Nehru said, 'We look upon the world
with clear and friendly eyes'. One proof of that would be Indian
support to a World Parliament," said Aiyar.
Eminent scientist M.S. Swaminathan, rated by Time magazine "one of
the most influential Asian people of the 20th century", and social
worker Ela Bhatt, the recipient of Right Livelihood Award, have
also backed the idea.
The idea of a global parliament has a long history, but has
acquired momentum in the last four years with the launch of the
Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary
Assembly in 2007. Over 600 members of parliament from over 90
countries have packed the proposal.
The campaign website says a UNPA would give citizen
representatives, not only states, a direct and influential role in
global policy.
"The assembly would not replace existing UN bodies but would be an
additional means to integrate parliamentarians more effectively
into the shaping of globalisation," says the campaign.
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