Hunger strike observed to support Sindh fishermen

http://thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=77065&catid=17

The Post, 11 January 2007,

Sajjad Malik

ISLAMABAD: Activists from various progressive organisations and movements observed a token hunger strike Wednesday here at Zero Point to express solidarity with the fishing communities of Sindh in conjunction with the shutter down strike held across the interior of Sindh.

Responding to the strike call given by The People’s Rights Movement (PRM), representatives of the All-Pakistan Alliance for Katchi Abadis, Sindhu Bachao Tarla, PTCL trade union, students, journalists and intellectuals assembled at the Zero Point.

They protested against the construction of the Diamond Bar Island City, Karachi, which the fishermen in the area had termed as a direct threat on their fishing rights.

The strikers pointed out that the Diamond Bar Island City project catered exclusively to the urban elite by marginalising the historical claims to the coastal belt of the true indigenous population.

They said this pattern had repeated itself time and again and the downstream population had totally lost faith in all of the government’s promises of the benefits of development.

It was pointed out that only in the case of the Karachi coast, numerous initiatives had been undertaken in the past that promised to improve the indigenous fisher folk but delivered only to the elite including Gizri creek.

The strikers asserted that an all-party conference would be organised in conjunction with the PFF towards the end of the month in Islamabad and if the government failed to respond favourably to the demands of this growing resistance movement, then a permanent hunger strike camp would be set up in front of the parliament house.

Asha Amirali of PRM presenting a resolution on the behalf of the hunger strikers, strongly condemned the eviction of residents of Bandar and Bundoo islands of the coast of Karachi to facilitate the construction of the proposed Diamond Bar Island City project.

She said the state’s resort to evictions and creation of a no-go zone had confirmed the worst fears of coastal fishing communities who had vehemently opposed the project since its announcement.

She said the shutter down strike in Sindh reflected that nationalist and progressive forces had joined hands with the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and that protests will continue until the project is shelved once and for all.

Sindhu Bachao Tarla activist Azhar Lashari pointed out that many other development projects along the Indus River were destroying centuries old eco-systems and subjecting innumerable people to deprivation.

He said this model of development was totally unsustainable and will ultimately end in disaster. He said the victims of water development in the Siraiki belt fully support the struggle of Sindhi fisherfolk against the Diamond Bar project and consistent coordination of resistance between violated communities across the country was the only way to combat the designs of the state and its external patrons.

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Protest against Diamond Bar Island project

http://nation.com.pk/daily/jan-2007/11/nationalnews4.php

The Nation, 11 January 2007

OUR STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD - The People’s Rights Movement (PRM) on Wednesday staged a token hunger strike here at Zero Point to show solidarity with the fishing communities of Bandar and Bundoo islands in conjunction with the shutter down strike held across the Sindh against the construction of the Diamond Bar Island City project.

PRM activists along with the representatives of the All-Pakistan Alliance for Katchi Abadis, Sindhu Bachao Tarla, PTCL trade union, students, and intellectuals gathered at the hunger strike camp and shouted slogans against the construction of the Diamond Bar Island City project.

Presenting a resolution to the press on behalf of the hunger strikers
Asha Amirali of PRM strongly condemned the eviction of Bandar and Bundoo islands residents (Karachi) to facilitate the construction of the proposed Diamond Bar Island City project.

“The shutter down strike in Sindh reflects that nationalist and progressive forces have joined hands with the Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum (PFF) and the protests will continue until the project is shelved once and for all”, she added.

Sindhu Bachao Tarla activist Azhar Lashari pointed out that many
other ‘development’ projects along the Indus River are destroying centuries-old Eco-systems whilst also subjecting innumerable people to total exclusion and deprivation.

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 Fishermen observe strike against sale of twin islands

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=38444

The News, 11 January 2007

By our correspondent

KARACHI: The fishermen observed a shutter-down strike and black day against the ‘federal occupation’ on Sindh’s twin islands — Bundal (Bhundhaar) and Buddo (Dingi) — on Wednesday.

As a result, hundreds of boats remained anchored in protest against the selling of twin islands to a Dubai based construction company, Emaar, which intend to develop the Diamond Bar Island City.

On the call given by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and Sindh’s major political parties, complete strike and black day was observed in the coastal belt of Karachi, including several other cities of the province.

The fishermen and major stakeholders showed their reservations on the project and said that it would endanger their livelihood.

The strike call was also supported by the Pakistan People’s Parliamentarians (PPPP), Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam.

Sami Memon, media coordinator of the PFF said it was a joint call by the political parties and called it a successful protest against the federal occupation.

All business activities in Sindhi and fishermen areas of the city remained suspended, while fishermen hoisted black flags on boats and their houses. Although major markets of Karachi remained open, strike was observed in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Ghughar Phattak, Pipri, Razaqabad, Yousuf Goth (village), Bhains Colony, Memon Goth, Sachal Goth, Bhittai Abad, Safooran Goth, Malir, Rehri Goth, Ibrahim Hyderi, Chashma Goth, Karachi Fish Harbour, Khadda Market, Shireen Jinnah Colony, Keamari, Hawks bay, Abdullah Goth, Mubarak Goth, Sangu Goth, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Ayub Goth, Bilal Colony, Dhani Bux Goth, Chakra Goth, Jumma Goth and other areas of fishermen community.

A protest demonstration led by Saeed Baloch, Secretary General of the PFF, Kausar Sadiq and Majeed Motani was held at the Karachi Fish Harbour in front of the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS).

They chanted slogans against the sale of the islands and forced migration of the fishermen and also demanded that the agreement with ‘Emmar’ be withheld and islands should be handed over to the fishermen.

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KARACHI: Protest against sale of islands

http://www.dawn.com/2007/01/11/local12.htm

Dawn, 10 January 2007

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, Jan 10: A strike was observed in coastal areas and other parts of the province in protest against the sale of two islands to the UAE-based firm for ‘Diamond City’ project.

According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum on Wednesday, the strike was successful in Gagar Pattak, Gulshan-i-Hadeed, Pipri, Razakabad, Yusuf Goth, Cattle Colony, Memon Goth, Gadap, Sachal Goth, Sheerin Jinnah Colony, Khadda Market area, Bhitaiabad, Safoora Goth, Malir, Khokrapar, Rehri, Chashma Goth, Keamari and coastal villages including Hawksbay areas such as Mubarak village, Abdullah Village, Singu Goth Chakra Goth and Juma Goth.

The business establishments in these areas were closed to express solidarity with the fishermen community.

A protest rally was also held in Karachi Fish Harbour where demonstrators urged the government to cancel the sale deed.

The Fisherfolk Forum also claimed that there was shutter-down in Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Kotri, Thatta, Badin, Kotri, Sanghar, Nawabshah, Qambar and Sukkur.

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Saeed Baloch

General Secretary PFF

#209 Regal Trade Square Saddar Karachi.

Phone092 21 2750581-5090543-5092862

Cell.092 333 2175 243

web. www.pff.org.pk