Joint Action Committee (JAC), Karachi Chapter has strongly condemned police violence on a peaceful demonstration of the Dadu and Thatta Sugar mills’ workers, who were protesting for their rights, at the Governor’s House on May 11,Thurday.

In a joint resolution finalized at meeting of JAC at HRCP Office on May 12,Friday, the representatives of participant organizations of JAC held the Sindh government and other provincial authorities responsible for the violent police action against women, children and workers, who were peacefully protesting for their jobs in the said mills. The Dadu Sugar Mills, where more than 1,100 workers were employed, was illegally closed and all workers were deprived of their jobs. There were neither given any golden handshakes or other alternative employment.
Participant organizations were Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Shirkat Gah, Aurat Foundation,Labour Party Pakistan, Labour Education Foundation, Urban Resource Center, PILER, Takhleeq Foundation, Roots for Equity ,WAR and others.

Zia Ur Rehman
Labour Education Foundation (LEF)
628,Mashriq
Center,Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Block14, Karachi
Phone # +92-21-485-4643, Fax # +92-21-4141-898
Mobile # 0345-2196749

Police baton charge industrial workers, 70m arrested

May 11, 2006

Sind Police today on 11^th May resorted to baton charge and large scale arrests of the demonstrating industrial workers and their families. The protestors were the workers of sugar mills of Thatta and Dadu. Both factories were closed since 1994 and 1999 respectively. Due to that, 1100 workers have suffered various different malpractices and unemployment.

9 months ago, the workers of the two factories were assured by Provincial Law Minister outside Sindh Assembly that their demands will be fulfilled and notification of that effect will be issued by MAY 2^nd. But until today, no action was taken by government to announce any relief.

Today, these protestors had a plan to bring out procession from Karachi Press Club to Chief Minister House to remind the promises.

When procession was taken out from Karachi Press Club, dozen of police personnel started lathe charge on the protesters, and beat those including women and children.

Labour Party Pakistan and Progressive Youth Front activists including Zia ur Rehman, Sherbaz Khan and Abdul Salam were among those who were baton charged. Around 70 workers were arrested.

National Trade Union Federation general secretary Salim Raza and Labour Party Pakistan general secretary Farooq Tariq has condemned the police attack on the demonstrating industrial workers. Both demanded an immediate enquiry into the incident and action against those responsible for police action on a peaceful demonstration. They demanded the immediate release of all the workers and implementation of the promises made with the workers.

LPP and NTUF are planning a national day of action against the growing police violence against the workers in recent days.