CONSIDERING

THAT peasants and fisherfolk constitute a large part of Asia's population who are the primary food producers and who are often denied food and thus have been more the victims than the beneficiaries of economic development;

THAT peasants and fisherfolk are denied the basic rights of human dignity, including adequate subsistence, political participation and social justice;

THAT their knowledge of resource conservation and ecological harmony is disregarded;

THAT the dynamism, diversity and authenticity of their cultural values and traditional ways, which are the foundation of Asian cultures, are increasingly devalued and placed under threat;

THAT peasants are frequently denied ownership of the land they till, are subjected to feudal and other forms of unjust tenancy, are forced into debt and are driven off their land without fair compensation at the whim of landlords, governments, developers and foreign corporations;

THAT fisherfolk are increasingly prevented from following their traditional livelihood by over-fishing by modern fishing fleets employed by big businesses which are both local and foreign interests, by coastline industrial development and pollution, and by modern fish markets which disadvantage them.

THAT industrialisation marginalises both peasants and fisherfolk who are seen as inefficient producers who do not return profits and they are therefore increasingly displaced by agribusiness and that peasants are increasingly transformed into agricultural workers;

THAT peasants are frequently displaced by irrigation and energy schemes without respect for their right to cultivate their land;

THAT peasants' traditional agricultural methods are often overwhelmed by new farming techniques and businesses without their consent;

THAT the children of peasants and fisherfolk are often denied access to education and health care and become the targets of counter-insurgency laws and operations;

THAT there is an alarming situation for the fisherfolk of not having free access to aquatic resources because of constructing dams and embankment which leads to large-scale destruction of fish habitats, thus affecting the livelihood of fisher community and they are unemployed.

IT IS AGREED

THAT peasants, fisherfolk and agricultural workers have the right to pursue their livelihoods and to maintain their communities;

THAT peasants have the right to own the land they till and to be free from oppressive landlord relationships;

THAT fisherfolk have the right of access to fishing grounds, to have their traditional fishing rights legally recognised and protected especially through protection from foreign or large commercial fishing and to preservation and protection of communal fishing grounds.

THAT peasants and fisherfolk have the right to education to adequate health care and housing.

THAT peasants and fisherfolk have the right to organise on all levels, such as regionally and nationally, and to set up corporations;

THAT peasants and fisherfolk have the right to participate and to be represented in decision-making processes that affect their lives and livelihood and that determine agricultural priorities and the development of marine resources;

THAT peasants and fisherfolk have the right to be protected by the government against the aggression of foreign agricultural and "aquatic" interests and against the consequences of unequal trade and other economic relations with foreign countries;

THAT peasants, fisherfolk and agricultural workers have the right to pursue their livelihoods and to maintain their communities and they should be provided with necessary inputs in subsidy;

THAT peasants and fisherfolk have the right to get fixed/guaranteed price for their produce.