WFFP general assembly to discuss issues of fishermen community
Monday, February 01, 2010
By Jan Khaskheli
Karachi
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=221872
A World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP) delegation led by Herman Kumara met with the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) representatives to discuss the General Assembly proceedings that will be held in Pakistan in November this year.
The international fishermen community leaders will discuss the impact of globalisation, initiatives of World Trade Organisation (WTO) and over all climate change on the lives and sources of livelihood of fisher people at the General Assembly.
According to the WFFP policy, the host country will lead the international organisation for three years. During the event, the progress report of the past three year period will also be presented.
The world fishermen organisation leaders and over 120 delegates from 40 countries will participate and design a comprehensive schedule of activities for the next three years and collective plan to avert the threats to the resources and its ultimate impact on the livelihoods of the communities.
PFF chairperson Mohammed Ali Shah while briefing the visiting team said they are joyous at receiving the offer to host the international event. He hoped that the General Assembly will bring a good name to the country and its message worldwide will be positive.
In this regard, Shah suggested that the government should come forward, appreciate their move and help them host the event in Pakistan.
The assembly will discuss the issues facing the fishermen community in their respective countries and the impact of rivalry between different neighboring countries on their life and livelihood, dividing sea territories and the arrest of fishermen over alleged violation of borders. The use of destructive nets, issuing licenses to deep sea trawlers, over fishing, increase in marine pollution, depleting natural resources and above all the destruction of fish reserves in the sea due to above mentioned reasons, compelling hundreds of millions to be jobless, will also be discussed.
The visiting delegates assured PFF and community activists present on the occasion that the WFFP would raise the issues of Pakistan fishermen, especially demarcation at the sea territory dividing the border between Pakistan and India at international forums so that avoid actions against the poor fishermen.
A PFF spokesman said that they are planning to design different cultural events in which they will involve community from Sindh and Balochistan coastal areas. The community people from inland waters have a different life style and the problems they are facing will also display the issues on the occasion.
Tahira Ali, Mustafa Gurgaij, Asim Abro, Ayoub Shan, Yousuf Kadani, Talib Kachhi, Mustafa Meerani and others were also present to brief the guests.
During the meeting, participants also paid tribute to the world fishermen community leader, Harri Kirshna, who died recently in India. They said that he helped the community and raised their issues at major forums to resolve their prob