On Banjul Declaration, well, I must admit no matter how much I learn, there are always surprises awaiting at every corner in terms of new things to learn. Thanks to you, I have now heard of Banjul, and I am studying the documents now. It's implications vis-a-vis subsistence rights vs. political rights are questions that cannot be answered easily. I have been formulating a theory in my mind, and will post a well-articulated response to you a bit later, perhaps after the weekend. Aiya, finally the last part!!! The problem with the UN declaration and other UN led HR conventions and declarations is- They do not take into the economic reality of underdeveloped nations. They value the first generation rights (equality, freedom and liberty) more than subsistence rights because the conventional western thinking is: subsistence rights and political rights are the same. This line of thinking is flawed because subsistence rights and political rights are tow different things. Also in many third world countries, many human rights violations result not from the lack of political freedom but because the people are poor. Transition to democracy and FREEDOM of speech is not going to take care of their problems. People will continue to be poor, starved and the crime rates due to poverty or illiteracy will not just decline. Before people can exercise their rights to speak freely, they need to be fed well, so that they don't just bark and howl. Only a well fed, educated, sheltered and well-dressed (not meaning suited booted like hindi filim ko hero.. but someone whose subsistence rights have been taken care of) can make rational judgement. Hungry, starved and naked people don't necessarily make rational chocies and judgements. This is the third world countries point of view. Of course, they are saying this to legitimize their own dictatorial regimes, but if you think carefully, it does make sense (at least to me). Banjul is thus an attempt to come up with the rights that applies to the African nations. For example, it focuses more on culture and African identity, hoslitics rather than indvidulaistic appraoch of the UN declaration.. and more emphasis on subsitence than political rights. Also regarding the political conflicts in third world countries after 1990, be it Nepal or Peru or Bolivia or African countries, they ahve more to do with poverty and subsistence rights than political freedom. I forgot who exactly, but an Americvan scholar has done a study on "mountain conflicts".. and he sees the povert as the root cause for these violent insurgencies.. karl meyer's book, The Dust of Empire..towards the end quotes from this study.. I found this rather fascinating. I have not read the study myslef, but been searching for it.. will let you know the name and the title as soon as I am able to move around :-)... [Thanks for your concerns and suggestions.. my movemnet is getting less and less restricted now]. Aiya, ahile k k lekhyo thaha chaina.. laamo bhayecha.. plus due to some health problem, I was sleeping all day and these smelly ointments and bitter medicines might have clouded my judgement.. so please feel free to disagree, question and ask for clarification/explanation regarding my views/points and counter-points.