The Sixth Annual Winter Course on Forced Migration, 2008

13.  

 Inaugural and Valedictory Sessions 
                   

Inaugural session

The inaugural session was held in Hotel Sojourn on 1 December 2008. The session began with the initiating comments by Samir Kumar Das, President, CRG who was the chair of the inaugural session. This was followed by the brief introduction to the course by Sabysachi Basu Ray Chaudhary, Honorary Course Coordinator of the Sixth Winter Course on Forced Migration who introduced the background of the course, the course structure and the significance to bring together people with diverse backgrounds on a platform where they could share and exchange their views on the human rights and forced migration.

In the address by the Guest of Honour, Sanna Selin, First Secretary, Embassy of Finland   appreciated that the course had new aspects such as environmental degradation and impact on displacement and forced migration. She mentioned that South Asia can play a huge role on migration.

The Guest in Chief, Montserrat Feixas Vihe, UNHCR chief of Mission, remarked on the academic interaction with UNHCR, which is unique in the sense that UNHCR is action oriented. She elaborated on the causes of migration and how vulnerability once created persists for long and can lead to heightening of pre existing vulnerabilities.

Prof Ranabir Ramaddar, Director, CRG on the inaugural lecture on Governing Unruly Population Flows expressed the absence of an inherent right or awareness of rights of the displaced. Problems persist, as the onus is not on anyone to develop alternatives. Migration and specifically forced migration contributes to be a complex issue. The governmental methods and techniques are refused to as humanitarian methods both national and international. These issues have to be kept in mind a) The mixed nature of the population flow) the inadequacy of the existing humanitarian methods to cope with it and c) the migration under the conditions of the globalization, transgression of borders and political economy.

The members and faculties gathered also condemned the violent atrocities in Mumbai and remembered the victims of the Mumbai incident by mourning a minute of silence. 

The program ended with the vote of thanks by Ishita Dey, Research and Program Associate, CRG.

Valedictory Session

The Valedictory Session of the Sixth Annual Winter Course on Forced Migration took place in convergence with the farewell hour of the UNHCR Conference on Protection Strategies for Victims of Forced Migration co-organized by Calcutta Research Group on the evening of 15th of December 2008. It was held at the Rotary Sadan, Kolkata and the occasion was graced by the presence of the Honourable Governor of West Bengal, Shi Gopal Krishna Gandhi; His Excellency, the Ambassador of Finland to India, Asko Numminen; Montserrat Feixas Vihe, the UNHCR Chief of Mission to India; and Mirielle Fanon Mendes France, renowned human rights activist.

The session began with a video slide presentation on CRG’s profile and the work from its inception till date.

Ranabir Samaddar, Director, CRG, Kolkata in his welcome address briefly spoke about CRG and the Annual Winter Course on Forced Migration.

This was followed by a brief Report on the Conference on Protection Strategies for People in Situations of Forced Migration by Special Guest, Montserrat Feixas Vihe, Chief of Mission, UNHCR, New Delhi who brought to the forefront the formal adoption of the draft 10 Point proclamation that resulted from the high level dialogue

Mireille Fanon Mendes France, Eminent Human Rights Activist, Paris delivered the valedictory Lecture on “Racism, Immigration and Xenophobia in the World Today”.

Guest of Honour, Mr. Asko Numminen, Ambassador, Embassy of Finland, New Delhi awarded certificate of participation to the successful participants of the Sixth Annual Winter Course. This was followed by brief remarks where he complemented CRG on its ongoing work and promised that the Finnish Government would continue to support this endeavour in the following year.

Sahana Basavapatna from India, Giorgio Grappi from Italy and Roopshree Joshi from Nepal gave their valuable observations on the fifteen-day workshop in Kolkata, as well as the Course as a whole and expressed their gratitude at being able to be a part of it. They all complemented CRG on having conducted a very intense and focused course, enabling them to start thinking about the problem of forced migration from completely different points of view and said they would look forward to be associated with CRG’s work in the near future.

The Guest in Chief, Shri Gopal Krishna Gandhi, Governor of West Bengal was invited to release the CRG publication “Women in Peace Politics” edited by Dr Paula Banerjee.

Guest-in- Chief, Shri Gopal Krishna Gandhi, Honourable Governor of West Bengal in his closing address commended CRG and UNHCR on a brave attempt to alleviate the situation of forced migration victims. He spoke on the theme of protection strategies and talked about how it could be possible to draft ways that makes it actually possible to save and resuscitate the victims from further toil and exploitation. It is often the administrative lack of concern and delay that nullifies policy benefits. The Governor therefore advised to stay watchful of the bureaucratic methods of functioning which tend to make humanitarian assistance a matter of contention and consternation.

Elizabeth Ferris, Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement written address to the course participants was read out during the course of the evening. Excerpts form her note are given below

Distinguished guests and dear friends,

…The CRG Winter course – as you all know – is a very special initiative.  Under the able leadership of Ranabir Samaddar, the course is academically rigorous, thought-provoking, and intellectually stimulating.  You have all, I’m sure, learned new things and met interesting people over the course of the time you have been there.  But I see the course as more than just an intellectual exercise over the course of a few weeks.  Last year, when I returned to Washington from Kolkata and my colleagues asked me how it had gone, I replied: “it was wonderful.  I felt that I was seeing the next generation of South Asian activists and academics in the field of forced migration.”  I was impressed with the range of issues on which course participants were working, with the quality of their thinking, and most of all, with the commitment and enthusiasm they brought to the field. I think the time has passed when academics from the north come to southern countries to analyze the phenomenon of forced migration.  CRG’s work in organizing this course to train and encourage South Asian academics is necessary and an important movement in the right direction.  I am particularly impressed with the work of CRG staff not only in organizing a good course, but in nurturing and supporting a network of academics who are working in the field of forced migration.

One of the major challenges in the coming years for the field of forced migration will be the increased blurring of lines and intersection of categories of forced migrants.  Today, for example, conflict-induced internally displaced persons (IDPs) live side by side with those displaced by natural disasters.  Mega-development projects not only force people to move, but can also contribute to social and political tensions which further displace people.  Climate change is likely not only to lead to more displacement as a result of the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, but also to contribute to conflicts over resources.   Yet the categories we use for understanding displacement – IDP, refugee, internal migrant, forced migrants – can obscure the reality of the situation.  For example, in the last few years, an influx of economic migrants and internally displaced persons has tripled the population of Kabul.  But government officials and humanitarian workers have a hard time distinguishing between the categories.  Should someone who originally left his region because of drought but who remains in the city now be considered an economic migrant?  While returning refugees unable to return to their communities are considered IDPs, what about those returnees who could return to their communities, but choose not to?  Should people who came to Kabul in search of jobs be considered as migrants – even when the reason they lost their livelihoods is due to the fact that landmines make farming impossible?   And when the government clears a shantytown inhabited by migrants, do they then become internally displaced persons?   The definitions and categories which appear straightforward in the classroom or the headquarters office often lose their clarity in the areas of displacement. Nowhere is this blurring of lines more evident than in South Asia.

In such a rapidly changing context, I’m very glad that the Calcutta Research Group is encouraging and nurturing the next generation of academics and activists in the field of forced migration.   As your research interests develop and bear fruit, we look forward to learning from the graduates of this course and to continuing our collaboration with the Calcutta Research Group. The Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement is proud to be a supporter of the Winter Course on Forced Migration.  We congratulate you all on your achievements in completing the course and express our appreciation to the Calcutta Research Group and to all those who contributed to the course.   Thank you.

The programme ended with the vote of thanks by Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury, Honorary Coordinator of the Sixth Annual Winter Course on Forced Migration, and Professor, Department of Political Science, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata.