HRCP condemns the 597 years of jail sentences to “Faisalabad 6”)
Human Rights Commission Pakistan (HRCP) director I A Rehman speaking at a press conference today in Lahore commented, “Even smugglers are not given 99 years of sentence that is been handed over to Faisalabad Labour leaders”.
He also condemned “the registration of cases against Gilgit labour activists under terrorist laws” he demanded an immediate withdrawal of these cases against “human rights defenders” stop registration of cases under terrorist laws against labour leaders he commented,
IA Rehman was speaking at press conference along with Zehra Yousaf chairperson HRCP, Salima Hashmi, vice chair HRCP in Lahore on the launch of the observatory and annual report 2011 on the protection of Human Rights defenders.
He said no area of Pakistan is safe for human rights defenders. he condemned the brutal killing of Zarteef Afridi, HRCP coordinator in Khyber Agency, he was killed today by some fanatic groups while he was on his way to the High school where he was teaching.
Correspondent, December 8, 2011
The Free Union “August 80” in Poland
Katowice, December 6th, 2011
Solidarity declaration
The Free Union “August 80” in Poland is worried by the alarming information concerning the very strong anti-union repression currently underway in Pakistan. “August 80” strongly condemns the interference of national states in the free and independent trade unions and protests against their criminalization. We join in solidarity with the labor movement in Pakistan, forced to act in these difficult times.
The international workers’ movement cannot tolerate the denial of trade union rights, including the important rights to demonstrate or strike. This is why the conviction of six union leaders - Akbar Ali Kamboh, Babar Shafiq Randhawa, Fazal Elahi, Rana Riaz Ahmed, Muhammad Aslam Malik Asghar and Ali Ansari - of the Labour Qaumi Movement (LQM), sentenced to a total of 597 years [1] in prison deserves outrage and protests from the trade union movement worldwide. LQM organized a demonstration of 100 000 people in Pakistan and strikes in the textile factories in Faisalabad. The conviction was pronounced – which is the worst - by the antiterrorist Court. Organized workers struggling for their salary and for the right to social security are not terrorists, they are even opponents of the economic terror of employers. This terror continues because of the desire to earn profits. Capital denies the value of employees’ lives. In Pakistan, in the social conflict in Faisalabad, two trade unionists were murdered and many others were seriously wounded. None of the employers who ordered the aggression against the workers’ representatives have been charged.
The Free Union “August 80” invites the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Poland to transmit to the Pakistani authorities our request to stop the repression, including assaults, murders and imprisonment of trade union representatives with a social mandate. The purpose of the trade union movement is to fight for the right to decent working conditions, decent wages and social protection. We therefore demand the immediate release of activists and union leaders jailed and respect for the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively.
We express our solidarity with the Pakistani workers and their organizations subject to repression, such as the Labour Qaumi Movement (LQM) of Faisalabad and with those involved in this struggle, as National Trade Union Federation (NTUF). We wish success to the development of Labour Party Pakistan (LPP).
BOGUSŁAW ZIĘTEK, Chairman WZZ „Sierpień 80” (Free Trade Union „August 80”)
Declaration sent to the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Warsaw.
The Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia
P r e s i d e n t
Ljubljana, 29 November 2011
Colleague
Niaz KHAN
President
NATIONAL TRADE UNION FEDERATION PUNJAB
Dear Colleague,
The Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia is strongly protesting against violence which is carried out against workers and Trade Unions by employers in Faisalabad, Pakistan. This violent actions of employers represent a violation of fundamental human rights and of basic labour standards, which is totally unacceptable for us. Campaign against workers and Trade Unions has now culminated in a decision by Court to put six trade union leaders from the Labour Quami Movement to a total 597 years in jail, which is absolutely unacceptable and shows the relationship of state authorities and employers in the operation against workers and trade unions.
The Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia fully support your struggle for full respect of fundamental human rights and internationally recognized labor standards in Pakistan and we declare our support and solidarity in your fight.
In solidarity,
Dušan SEMOLIČ, M.Sc.
AFTUS President
Labour Start/ITGLWF Campaign
As of December 6, the letter/petition initiated by Labour Start in coordination with International Textile, Garments and Leather Workers Federation (ITGLWF) in defense of the “Faisalabad 6” had already been signed by over 4060 groups and individuals.
Here is the link of that, please open this link and sign the petition started .
http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1168
See alos on ESSF (article 23593): Pakistan: Free jailed union leaders now – Join the campaign!
For the financial solidarity campaign, see ESSF (article 23670):
Financial update of the 2011 Pakistan Solidarity Campaign