Event: AMMUN 2002
Students: Saja Fakhral-Deen and Ahmad Al Shammari
Links to other sites on the Web: Back to the 2002-2003 Team page
Similar to the US, India has a federal-like government. However it also has a central government that holds greater power in relation to its states. India's central government's concepts are similar to the British because of the British occupation that ended in 1947.
The president, whose job is largely ceremonial, and the vice president are indirectly elected by a special electoral college. Executive power lies in the hand of the council of ministers cabinet, led by the prime minister, who is appointed by the president. Then, on the advice of the prime minister, the president appoints sub-ordinate ministers.
The Indian bicameral parliament consists of the Rajya Sabha (council of States) and the Lok Sabha (house of the people). The legislators of the state elect 233 members and the president elects 12 members for the Rajya Sabha. Those members serve for a 6 years term. However, the Lok Sabha, which has the real power, consists of 545 members; 543 elected directly by the people, and 2 appointed by the president.
With the large amount of parties in India (more than 500 parties) India is classified as the world's largest democracy. The main parties are (from greatest to smallest) the BJP (Hindu-Nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party), Congress Party, and the Janta Dul (United) Party.
India's Judicial System's concept and procedures are similar to the Anglo-Saxon countries. The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and 25 other justices, all appointed by the president.
India’s population is 1,029,991,145. India's people can be distinguished in many ways. Ethnically, Indians are 72% Indo-Aryans, 25 Dravidians, and the rest Mongoloids or other. Indian people face problems of discrimination of religion at a daily basis. The main reason behind that is that the majority of Indians are Hindus 80% and the minority is Muslim 14%, and the rest of the population consists of Christian 2.4% Sikh 2% and other religions.
Indians tend to speak in the English language, for it is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication, Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people, and other languages spoken include Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Urdu, etc…
India's largest interior problem is the war going on between Muslims and Hindus. Those two groups tend to have different beliefs that oppose each other. For Example, Muslims kill cows for food supply. However, Hindus tend to believe that cows are holy creatures. Solving this dilemma is a great obstacle India is facing. The difficulties mainly are the numerous languages and distinguished cultures.
India lies in Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan. India’s total water area is 314,400 sq km, its total land area is 2,973,190 sq km, and its total area is 3,287,590 sq km. India’s land boundaries total up to 14,103 km, shared with Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Burma, China, and Bhutan.
India’s lowest point is the Indian Ocean, which reaches down to 0m above ground surface, and the highest point is Kanchenjunga, its elevation reaching up to 8,598 m. India dominates the South Asian subcontinent, for it lies near the important Indian Ocean trade routes, in the South, and was involved in a lot of trading activities in the past.
When traveling through India, you may encounter many different landscapes, including glaciers, grasslands, deserts, rainforests etc…, but the things that distinguish India the most are the mountain peaks in Northern India. Northern India is the more mountainous side, while in the South, India has more deserts, and around the borders, grasslands, with the help of water supply from the Indian Ocean.
India’s natural resources include coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, and arable land. As a matter of fact, India has the fourth largest coal reserve in the world.
India produces more natural gas, than it does oil, so, obviously, it imports more oil than natural gas.
India’s exports reach up to $43.1 billion, its exports commodities include textile goods, gems and jewelry, engineering goods, chemicals, and leather manufactures. India’s export partners are the US (22%), UK (6%), Germany (5%), Japan (5%), Hong Kong (5%), and the UAE (4%).
India’s military branches include an Army, Navy (including naval air arm), Air Force, various security or paramilitary forces (includes Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Rashtriya Rifles, and National Security Guards). The average age for military admittance is 17 years of age. The availability of military man power is 280,204,502; those that are fit for military service are 164,410,461. The Indian government spends $13.02 billion for the military, which is 2.5% of the GDP.
The Indian army is considered one of the most disciplined armies in the world. India is also one of the few countries which had participated in all the military operations the Security Council had undertaken so far.
India is threatened by Pakistan for disputes over Kashmir, not militarily, but Pakistan does have a few nukes here and there, it also has border and water-sharing problems. Also, it has been at rivalry with China over border problems.
Views on World Problems:
India is a country which has great influence on other countries. Its compelling voice is always heard everywhere. Its strategic location, size, population, and military structure add up to the magnitude.
India is a member many blocs and organizations. In Fact, India is the leader of the Non-Aligned Movement NAM. Moreover, India is in the SAARC, IDRARC, ILO, IMF, UNHCR, UNESCO, WHO, UNIKOM, and the Interpol. India is an active member of the UN and is frequently visiting the SC. Nowadays, India seeks for the Veto right and a permanent seat in the SC.
India has a large dilemma with Pakistan over Kashmir. This problem started wars between the two countries; the hope of settling their differences by peaceful means is becoming impossible.
India had a good relationship with the formal USSR countries. However it has some territorial disputes with china. As for Bangladesh, there were always some clashes with territories, but nothing very serious.
India's Economy is very substandard. More than half the people can afford an adequate diet; however, 35% of the population lives below the poverty line. India's is flooded with debts that are estimated to be $100 billion, and it received $2.9 billion in aid. However, India is striving to flourish its substandard economy. However, it is miserably blocked by the growing population that India is trying to accept, and eventually control.
India imports many merchandise such as chemicals (opium) steel, machines, and many more. India's top import/export partners are US, UK, Japan and most of Europe. Industries in India include those of textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, and software. India’s budget reaches up to $44.3 billion, and its GDP is 6%.
Since 1991, India has undergone major reforms, consisting of opening up the economy to more foreign trade and investment, and dismantling the industrial licensing system. Whether there is a direct casual link or not may be debated but the fact is that, soon thereafter, India’s growth rate picked up, foreign exchange started to flow into the nation at an unprecedented rate and the information technology sector boomed making India a major player on the global scene. This has led to worldwide interest in the Indian economy, not witnessed since the time of India’s independence.
By the middle of the 18th century, the British East India Company had established itself as the dominant power in India. After the Indian Mutiny was put down, the Company ceded its rights in India to the British Crown. In 1877, the Indian Empire was proclaimed with Queen Victoria as Empress. The Empire included present-day Pakistan and Bangladesh.
From the middle of the 19th century, the British cautiously encouraged Indian participation in the administration of British India. In 1920, the congress, led by Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi (1869-1948), began a campaign of non-violence and non-cooperation with the British authorities. However relations between Hindus and Muslims steadily deteriorated. By 1940, the Muslim league was demanding a separate sovereign state.
By 1945, the war-wearyBritain had accepted he inevitability of Indian independence. However, the religious discord forced the partition of the subcontinent in 1947 into predominantly Hindu India, and Muslim Pakistan (including what is now Bangladesh). India and Pakistan fought border wars in1947-49, 1965 over Kashmir, and again in 1971 when Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan with Indian assistance. There were also border clashes with China in 1962.
Under the premiership of Nehru’s daughter Indira Gandhi, India continue to assert itself as the dominant regional power. Although India remained the world’s largest democracy, local separatism and communal unrest have threatened unity.
In 1991, Rao took power, but he was facing a humongous economic crisis that was predicted to bankrupt India. However, his government worked fast, and loosened the belt on the private enterprises in India, and lowered the tariffs on the foreign investors. This made foreign investor welcomed to invest in India. As a result, India's economy began to rise and it maneuvered a bankruptcy.
At March 1998, the BJP and allies won the majority of seats in parliament and there leader became the vice president. His government made India a nuclear weapon country.
A) SAJA FAKHRALDEEN:
1) The Question of reforming the current United Nations structure including; possible elimination of veto power, more regional representation and more diverse methods of funding amongst others.
An offer was made in New Delhi, India concerning the Middle East peace process during a meeting by the 113-nation non-aligned movement (NAM). During the meeting, the subject of the reformation of the Security Council came up. In a declaration on reforms in the United Nations, India demanded the elimination of the United Nations Security Council veto power, describing it as discriminatory and undemocratic.
India’s statement on the Security Council veto was a key part of the non-aligned group’s call for democratic reforms in the United Nations that received backing from the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, who attended the conference in the Indian capital.
A proposal is pending in a United Nations working group to expand the 15-member Security Council, whose five permanent members have the veto power to shoot down proposals without a majority in the council, which India believes is highly undemocratic, the fact that the fortunes of millions of people of the world are given to a few people to decide.
Furthermore, India suggests the elimination of the veto power from the United Nations, seeing as it is a democratic organization, and the veto power contradicts democracy.
2) The Question of global cooperation to solve international water crises, including the role of multilateral agencies as well as UN sub-organs in providing and sustaining sufficient supplies of water to all nations.
Even though India possesses 314,400 sq km of water, it, as well as other nations on the Indian subcontinent, suffer from lack of potable water. The reasons behind that are water pollution from raw sewage, run off agricultural pesticides, toxic and poisonous factory remnants, and a growing population which is straining the country’s resources. Also, part of India is actually desert, where water is not available.
India believes that the UNEP (United Nations Environment Program), the IMO (International Maritime Organization), and the IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), should all step up and point out all the problems that are caused by lack of water, not only environmental problems, such as drought, but also the social problems and health issues such as malnutrition and dehydration, which can lead to death, especially for children.
In taking a step to try and solve this problem, nations should do as was done back in 1972, when, under the UNEP’s leadership, the nations sharing a regional sea, such as the Mediterranean, or in India’s case, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, cooperate in cleaning it up of all poisonous, contaminated pollutants.
India took a further step by signing and ratifying environment international agreements concerning hazardous wastes, ship pollution, and wet lands. As well as holding the Global Consultation on Safe Water and Sanitation for the 1990s conference in New Delhi, 1990.
B) AHMAD AL-SHAMMARI
1) The role of the United Nation in rebuilding countries recovering form conflicts.
Conflicts happen a lot in each country. But some conflicts are so large that they need big attention by the world. For Example wars, wars create big disasters ranging from financial dilemmas to population dilemmas. Those problems should be treated carefully with great caution in order not to create a spreading contamination.
India thinks that the world should care first with the people's health and safety, and then try to help the nation stand up on its feet. However, India still thinks that the UN should accept countries to volunteer to be in charge of the aids. Those countries should be neighboring countries. This will then aid in flourishing both recovering countries and helping countries, and extend the political and commercial relationships between them.
Also, India understands the needs of those countries, for it has been in situations itself where it needed aid from neighboring countries, but unfortunately the aid could not be reached, and hundreds died as a result. For Example, Kashmir which, as Indians know is part of India, have had many conflicts with Pakistan. War starts over that piece of golden land. However, UN should take care of some conflict and end Pakistan's terrorism on it.
2) The Role of the United Nations in placing a framework that clearly defines women rights and sets guidelines that ensure the implementations of these rights.
India has an elaborate system of laws to protect the rights of women, including the Equal Remuneration Act, the Prevention of Immoral Traffic, the Sati (widow burning) Act, and the Dowry Prevention Act. However the Government is often unable to enforce these laws, especially in rural areas where traditions are deeply rooted. Female bondage and forced prostitution are widespread in some parts of Indian society. According to a government study . . . violence against women -- including molestation, rape, kidnapping, and dowry-deaths -- has increased over the last decade. India had woman in the political system more than the US. However, Indian women is having now some problems in getting in the parliament, domestic responsibilities, lack of financial clout, rising criminalization of politics and the threat of character assassination are some reasons that Indian women are afraid too.
However, nowadays India is jumping a great leap in protecting women rights. It made sophisticated plans to stop foolish cultures of performing prejudice ness against women. It also started strong campaigns that are funded by the government in local places to inform people of women rights. In addition, India is fighting all terrorism and illegal prostitution that are affecting women.
A) SAJA FAKHRALDEEN:
Delegate: Saja FakhralDeen
Issue: the question of reforming the current United Nations structure including; possible elimination of veto power, more regional representation and more diverse methods of funding amongst others.
Defining veto as the "rejection of something proposed" according to the Oxford dictionary and thesaurus,
Having studied that the ministersof Japan, Denmark, Costa Rica, Moldova, Korea, Turkey, and Canada, the foreign minister of Egypt, the President of Poland, as well as foreign ministers of P5 countries themselves, China and France, have admitted to the need of instant reformation of the Security Council,
Emphasizing the fact that the question of global security cannot be left in the hands of five countries (Security Council permanent veto-power members) or any other group of states who are accountable to the rest of the general body of the United Nations on a permanent basis, yet it still is,
Pointing out the fact that India can help the UN work towards the problems of poverty, illiteracy, urban sprawl, natural calamities, etc… India being a sufferer of those evils can contribute a great deal towards formulating a workable approach at the United Nations on these issues, such as the recent floods in Europe, the earthquakes in Asia, poverty in Africa and Asia, etc…
Affirming the fact that the willingness of the Indian state to send its soldiers on various peace-keeping operations, with their army being considered one of the most disciplined armies in the world, is an important qualification for its being given permanent membership, seeing as it will be called upon by the United Nations and the Security Council to play a major role in resolving future conflicts, more and more, AND also India has been one of the few countries which had participated in all the military operations the Security Council had undertaken so far,
Taking into consideration the fact that some current Security Council permanent, veto-power members, such as France believe in the need for better representation in the council while preserving the efficiency of its work, France was prepared to accept an increase of five permanent members, including India,
Keeping in mind that the Secretary General himself, Kofi Annan, backed the issue of the Security Council reform, which came up in a meeting of the Non-aligned Movement which was held in New Delhi, India, they proposed the need of Asian and African, which include Islamic voices in the Security Council, because they should have a say in what happens in and around them in the world,
Taking note that the Indian sub-continent, South America, Australia, and Africa, which includes Islamic states, do not have any permanent voice whatsoever in the Security Council,
Taking into account the fact that decisions on Security Council expansion were related to Charter amendments and were, therefore, subject to adoption by the same two-thirds majority of the General Assembly membership as that specified by Article 108 on Charter amendments,
Recalling the Gulf War, in which Kuwait had to suffer seven months under the Iraqi occupants because the Security Council was too slow to make a decision and take action, furthermore, had Kuwait attended the sessions held regarding the Gulf War, the Security Council would have had many proposals presented by the country, which might have contributed to ending the war faster and more efficiently,
Referring to the African rivalries of Ethiopia, Eritrea, DR Congo, and Liberia, countries such as Nigeria and South Africa could have been very helpful if present in the Security Council during debate time, but unfortunately the SC does not accept them, which lead to the wars being prolonged and lasting even longer than necessary,
1. Requests the addition of four more countries and an organization to the Security Council as permanent veto power members, the new arrangement would be as follows
a) the current five nations, which include points of view from:
i) North America,
b) the Organization of African Union (OAU), which would present Africa’s point of view in general, or in specifics if necessary,
c) India, which would present the Indian Sub-Continent’s point of view,
d) Argentina and Nicaragua, presenting South and Central America’s points of view, so both have permanent seats in the Security Council, but they will be sharing the veto power, they will switch possession every two years, along with the non-permanent member change,
e) GCC countries, presenting the Middle East’s and Islamic points of view, every year the nations will rotate; therefore, it will be a six year circle;
2. Urges the Security Council to expand its non-permanent seats (non-veto members), to hold countries from different regions of the world, in order to diversify policies, points of views, and proposals, and the arrangement would be as follows:
a) two seats for Asia, one for the Indian sub-continent, and one for East Asia, with China and the GCC countries as permanent members, that will make four,
b) two seats for either Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific and Oceanic islands,
c) two seats for South and Central America, with Argentina and Nicaragua as permanent members, that will make four,
d) three seats for Africa, one for an individual member of the OAU, and two for African countries that are not members of the OAU;
3. Recommends that the non-permanent members be chosen wisely, taking into consideration different questions, such as
a) is the country involved in any current issue, crisis, etc…?
b) is the country’s policy needed, required, or requested for this issue?
c) is it necessary for the country to hear what the other countries’ policies are?
d) is the country suffering from this issue or anything related to it?
e) if the country benefit itself and/or the world by attending the sessions?
these questions will be answered according to a majority vote in the Security Council (no vetoes) and later a majority vote in the General Assembly;
4. Resolves that the Security Council do the following for the non-permanent member decision:
a) to write out the names of the countries needed/wanted, with clearly stating the reason in a proposal,
b) the proposal will be sent to the General Assembly, where it will be amended if necessary, and then voted upon,
c) this procedure will take place six months prior to the rotation, in order to give the countries chosen time to prepare;
5. Further resolves that the non-permanent members will be rotated every two years, no nation is allowed to be in two consecutive two-year terms, unless the presence of that country is necessary, and that would be determined by the permanent, veto-power members, who would write the country’s name(s), and specifically why they need it in the SC in their proposal to the General Assembly which will debate it and vote on it;
6. Trusts that the entire world would benefit from such arrangements, seeing the diversity of attendees in the Security Council, ensures a diversity of policies, points of views, proposals, etc… it also ensures the availability of nations suffering/benefiting from the current issues being discussed, and countries that have experience in the issue, can be extremely helpful, for they would know important information such as
a) what kind of problems could result of whatever issue is being discussed, which could then be taken into consideration,
b) the insight of social, economical, and political instability that can result of the issue being discussed.
B) AHMAD AL-SHAMMARI:
Delegate: Ahmad Al-Shammari
Issue: The Role of the United Nations in placing a framework that clearly defines women’s rights and sets guidelines that ensure the implementations of these rights.
Defining rights as something that people are allowed to do or have,
Congratulates the world for the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 that was the largest conference ever held by the United Nations where governments agreed on a "platform for action" aimed at removing the remaining obstacles to women's full participation in society,
Recalling the three world conferences during the U.N. sponsored International Women's Decade (1976-1985) set an agenda for the advancement of women and of women's rights, nationally and internationally,
Recognizing all the efforts presented by UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women)_1967_ which is an autonomous agenassociated with the UNDP that supports projects benefiting low-income women in developing countries,
Noting with deep appreciation all the efforts presented by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women as well as its monitoring bodies stationed in different nations of the world,
Emphasizing on the fact that two thirds of the world's 876 million illiterates are women and the number of illiterates is not expected to decrease significantly in the next twenty years as the UN Statistic Division noted,
Taking into Consideration that women now comprise an increasing share of the world's labor force---at least one third in all regions except northern Africa and western Asia, UN Statistic Division,
Bearing in mind the fact that women's rights are ignored by ALMOST 50% of all nations of the world,
Deeply disturbed by the fact that in some nations sterilization by women is considered a felony, and that such a procedure is only permitted when a woman's life was in danger and then only with her husband's permission,
Noting with deep regret the fact that a new law that states "if a rapist married the woman he attacked, he was not liable for prosecution" is a remaining legal inequity in some nations,
Alarmed by the fact that physical and sexual abuse affect millions of girls and women worldwide-yet are known to be seriously under-reported, UN Statistic Division, on the fact that in some nations, sexual crime committers (rapists) as well as abusers (physical, mental, and sexual) often go unpunished,
Emphasizing Women and girls comprise half of the world's refugees and, as refugees, are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence while in flight, in refugee camps and/or during resettlement. UN Statistic Division,
1. Resolves the formation of the UNOWR (United Nations Organization for Women's Rights) that would have headquarters in Switzerland, and have branches in at least five nations on every continent, it would have an annual meeting scheduled in June to discuss issues such as:
A) the involvement of women in legal issues,
B) the involvement of women in political issues,
C) the involvement of women in economic issues,
D) the involvement of women in social issues
E) the women rights organization around the world
Furthermore, it will give tasks to UN organizations and sub-organization to perform this resolution, each with its job. It will fund there tasks;
2. Urges countries to condemn violence against women and refrain from invoking any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid their obligations with respect to its elimination;
3. Have resolved that countries produce a curriculum that fulfills both genders without discrimination;
4. Further recommends that all nations provide women with elegant health care with equal terms as men;
5. Further urges that nations change their legal system to allow women to ownership right of premises and assets with equal terms as men;
6. Further encourages all nations to change their legal system to give women all the economic and financial opportunities of investing with equal terms as men;
7. Further Resolves government to start a zero-tolerance campaign on violence against women, with punishing all sexual crime committers (rapists) and abusers to be promptly transferred to court, which would punish them at a minimum of 5 years in jail to a maximum of 20 years, the sentence will be determined on how bad the victim is harmed either physically and mentally by court;
8. Further urges Nations to ensure care for victims of rape, assault, sexual harassment to get help needed by Hospitals, Social help, psychiatrists, Economic, Police station, but if the country can't afford it than the UNDOWR will fund them after a thorough check by its technicians;
9. Recommends that people be educated about the growing menace of violence against women through ways of mass media, including TV, school assemblies, radio, pamphlets etc, which will be provided by the UNOWR if the countries’ budgets don’t allow them to have any mass media;
10. Requests the establishment of a real equality of opportunity for men and women in their access to elective and party positions by means of affirmative action in the regulation of political parties and in the electoral system;
11. Recommends countries to produce new marriage laws that fights concubine, polygamy, hitting women, and discrimination.
I) SAJA FAKHRALDEEN:
Honorable delegates, ladies and gentlemen…
From the Himalayan mountain peak, to the Indian ocean, its land painted with grasslands, deserts, rainforests, and glaciers, India would love to welcome all fellow delegations to this United Nations General Assembly session, hoping with all its heart that it would be a beneficial one, not only for itself, but for the world.
India is hoping for a peaceful session, where problems are resolved, and not brought up, especially not childishly, by speaking ill of other nations, which is a game the Pakistani president unfortunately seems to enjoy…
India wishes that the entire world would pull together and go through all measures to end the suffering of nations such as Kashmir, Palestine, and other nations, and in conclusion, India wishes that all nations here will propose their ideas, participate, and have a wonderful time,
II) AHMAD AL-SHAMMARI:
Ladies and Gentleman, Namasta
Forgive a soul, who called India a place, forgive him for not calling it a paradise on earth… a green suit of forests and jungles cuts the land, the land of Mohandas Gandhi, the Creator of more than 200 distinguished languages, many ethnic groups, a multitude of religions, and most various culture. GHANDI led them into liberty… independence… and gave them there rights by his No-Violence campaign.
As we speak, (look at the wrist-watch) more than a hundred girls are born per minute. They are raised to be good citizens. However, not all of them feel secure. Not all of them get there rights. Many suffer from discrimination. Aren’t we here to create a better life for generations to come… for our off springs, our children and daughters.
India is here to help, to give, and to share a dream… a dream of a secure happy life for the coming generations. To a better world… to a better world…
General Assembly A
India main submitted a resolution concerning the expansion of the veto power, however it failed due to lack of debate time. India trashed Pakistan in vain, seeing as the Pakistani delegate was inactive, and would not reply to any of the speeches. The other issue discussed was concerning the internationals water crisis. India trashed every resolution debated with no mercy. India’s representative was declared the smartest delegate in the session by the delegation of the United Kingdom, Brazil, as well as a couple of other delegations.
General Assembly B
India was a very aggressive delegation in Amman MUN (AMMUN), for it always trashed Pakistan’s speeches. India signed a few resolutions, one by the delegate of Ireland on the issue of women’s rights, and the other by France, on the issue of the role of the UN on rebuilding countries recovering form conflicts. India did build up popularity for over five countries nearly declared war on India. However, the delegates’ speeches were replied upon flawlessly. In every speech, India stated to the UN how it affected its country, always adding a good flavor of attacks on Pakistan. India’s representative was declared the most annoying delegate with the concurrence of Pakistan.
In conclusion, India was an active delegation at Amman MUN (AMMUN).