Anjaman Mozareeen Punjab (Punjab Tenant Association) is organizing a peasant convention in at Sukh Pur Adda Pakpattan Road, tehsil Depalpur, district Okara on 1st March 2009. Thousands of peasants working in Proban abad Army Welfare Trust farms in Depalpur and Pakpattan area will participate in this convention.
The peasants from Military Farms Okara, Renalakhurd and Kalyana Estate will also participate. The main leadership of AMP including Mehr Abdul Sattar, Liaqat Ali, Mian Asharaf, Ashraf Nadeem will speak on the occasion. Farooq Tariq secretary Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee, Nazli Javed women secretary Labour Party Pakistan will also participate in the convention.
The convention is organized as part of a new campaign for land rights in these agriculture farms owned by different sections of Pakistan army. The movement for land rights started in year 2000 in these areas and despite all the state repression it has continued in very peaceful but militant manner. Earlier on 19 January 2009, a peasant gathering in Renalakhurd organized by AMP attracted over 2000.
There are more such gathering have been planned by AMP. There will be more public meetings; on 10 March at Kalyana Estate Okara, on 29 March at Bengali Farms in Lahore and on 15-16 April a massive peasant conference at Military Farms Okara will take place. It is expected that over 20,000 peasants will participate in Okara peasant conference on the eve of International Day of Peasants.
Report by Aon Sahi
coordinator PKRC
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Dear all,
Four of us from Lahore just arrived here at Depalpur Road Okara district. With me are two peasant leader from Bengali Military Farms Lahore.
Over here, peasants from Miltary Farms Okara were waiting to leave for Probamabad peasant convention to be held in two hours. Hundreds have gahtered here waving red flags.
They are on their tractor trolies, vans, motor bikes and big trucks. Some have been waiting here for two hours as others got late from their villages. We started talking about the present crisis. Many were against the governor rule imposed in Punjab by PPP government. I personally know some peasant leaders close to PPP in the past. However, today, they were the first to speak against this action.
One peasant leader commented that PPP is finished as a political power.
The large contingent of Mozareen and peasants from the area are going to this peasant convention to demand for land ownership rights. This is the second large gathering in one month. There will be three more in next two months.
Probanabad is in Depalpur tehsil of Okara. The Mozareen here are working on the land of Army Stud Farms and Army Welfare Trust. They are cultivating the land for over 100 years, still not the owners. Two peasants were killed here by the firing of military and rangers, one Tufail Cheema in 2002, other Zafar Iqbal on 12 May 2007. On both occasion, we visited the area and some other times to speak in public protest gatherings.
The conventin just started at 2pm under the chair of Mehr Abdul Sattar, general secretary AMP. As we arrived, a lot of slogans were raised for ownership of the land. There were around 200 women amd 3000 peasants present in the convention.
On the platefarm are Choudry Abdul Jabar, Nazli Javed, Azra Shad, Bushra Khaliq, Riffat Maqsood,
Asad Farooq, Rahim, Shahzad Ahmad, Chaman, Shabir Choudry, Mian Ashraf, Nadeem Ashraf, Liaqat Ali and some others.
Yaseen Bhutta, local president of AMP speaking on the occasion asked PPP leaders to remember the message of Benazhir Bhutto who supported our demands, he read a message of Benazhir Bhutto for AMP when a local peasant Zafar Iqbal of Bail Ganj was killed by police on 12 May 2007. He narrated that PPP promised to give land to the peasant. Our message to them that they must fulfill their promise.
Aziza Bibi a peasant women from Bail Ganj Military Farms siad that we know how to take our land. They killed our brothers. The politicians from big parties are betraying.
Mohammed Akbar Baluch, another peasant leader from Bailganj military farms condemned the lies of big political parties to give them this land. "We must forge unity and solidarity among our selves. We are Mozareen and will not leave the land in any case. If any has the courage, come and lay your foot on our land, we will tolerate this and will teach them lesson that they will remember whole life" he said.
Malik Mohammed Saleem Jakhar, peasant secretary LPP Punjab and president of AMP Kulyana Estate said, that we are now paying the price of our mistake when we agreed to become lessee instead of tenent, now some of is are forced to pay over 25000 Rupees contract money for one acre. Now we have announced that we will not pay more than Rupees 10,000 for one acre. We are fighting for that and are suceeding. Two of our peasants have been killed during the last two years. We are all ready to die but will not accept dictatorial and supressive measures. Over 25 police cases are registered against us based on lies.We demand the withdrawl of all police cases against the peasants.
Baba Mehr Shariff narrated a revolutionary poem and was very well appriciated,
Nadeem Ashraf, Nazim Renalkhurd and vice president AMP announced a series of public meetings and conferences to pressurise for land owner rights.
Our meetings will be attended by thousands. He warned that if our demands are not met till 17 April, then we will have a sit in on the main road in Okara. We will not have a long march to Islamabad but a massive sit in Okara that will force the government to accept our demands.
Bushra Khaliq general secretary Women Workers Help Line spoke of the great secrifices of the peasant women in the movement of the Mozareen. They have been in the forefront of the movement. They will continue to do so. We the women of Pakistan express solidarity with the movement and will continue to side with the most militant movement of Pakistan.
She was very well received by the participant when she asked the peasants not to use any domestic violence against women.
Javed Kanwal, secretary local Press Club expressed solidarity with peasants movement. He said only Socialism can solve the basic issues of peasants and workers. He advised the peasants not to trust the capitalist and feudal politicians.
Noor Nabi leader of AMP Okara demanded the withdrawl of governor rule in Punjab. He also demanded the reinstatement of the top judges.
Choudry Shabir president AMP district Pakpattan narrated the glorious achievements this movement has achieved. "No one can now move us out of land, our power is our unity of men and women.
Azra Shad chairperson WWHL and Nazli Javed women secretary Labour Party Pakistan spoke of the importance of women participation in the movement. Nazli Javed criticised the religiouis forces to force the women inside the homes. "Here a lot of peasant women are sitting with men and there is no problem" she said.
I was like the chief guest of the convention. It was my first attendence in a public gathering after my angioplast. It had a good rest for nearly a month. However, I felt very good to be a here. I spoke of the seven martyers of the movement and said that we fought against military dictatorship and ask PPP government to filfill the promises. " When in opposition, they all sit with is saying that we are with you. Now they are in power, no one remember the promises".
"We will not forgot to demand our rights even at a time when both PPP and PMLN are fighting with each other. We demand an end of governor dictatorial rule and reinstaement of the top judges. We will participate in the long march. Accept our demands till 17 April or face our sit ins and Dharnas" I said.
Mehr Abdul Sattar in his presidential address told the peasants to be ready for another round of struggle. This is our land and will remain so. He warned the politicians of the district that they either help us for land rights or be ready for our reply in the next general elections. We will put up our own workers and peasant candidates in the elections. He appealed for workers and peasant unity. "We will fight for lamd rights for the landless labourers as well" he said.
The convention went on for four hours although there was not proper seating arrangements. Many were sitting on the ground without any shadow. They dispersed raising a lot of slogans and saying that they are here to stay.
By: Farooq Tariq
Secretary Pakistan Peasants Coordination Commigttee
Four of us from Lahore just arrived here at Depalpur Road Okara district. With me are two peasant leader from Bengali Military Farms Lahore.
Over here, peasants from Miltary Farms Okara were waiting to leave for Probamabad peasant convention to be held in two hours. Hundreds have gahtered here waving red flags.
They are on their tractor trolies, vans, motor bikes and big trucks. Some have been waiting here for two hours as others got late from their villages. We started talking about the present crisis. Many were against the governor rule imposed in Punjab by PPP government. I personally know some peasant leaders close to PPP in the past. However, today, they were the first to speak against this action.
One peasant leader commented that PPP is finished as a political power.
The large contingent of Mozareen and peasants from the area are going to this peasant convention to demand for land ownership rights. This is the second large gathering in one month. There will be three more in next two months.
Probanabad is in Depalpur tehsil of Okara. The Mozareen here are working on the land of Army Stud Farms and Army Welfare Trust. They are cultivating the land for over 100 years, still not the owners. Two peasants were killed here by the firing of military and rangers, one Tufail Cheema in 2002, other Zafar Iqbal on 12 May 2007. On both occasion, we visited the area and some other times to speak in public protest gatherings.
The conventin just started at 2pm under the chair of Mehr Abdul Sattar, general secretary AMP. As we arrived, a lot of slogans were raised for ownership of the land. There were around 200 women amd 3000 peasants present in the convention.
On the platefarm are Choudry Abdul Jabar, Nazli Javed, Azra Shad, Bushra Khaliq, Riffat Maqsood,
Asad Farooq, Rahim, Shahzad Ahmad, Chaman, Shabir Choudry, Mian Ashraf, Nadeem Ashraf, Liaqat Ali and some others.
Yaseen Bhutta, local president of AMP speaking on the occasion asked PPP leaders to remember the message of Benazhir Bhutto who supported our demands, he read a message of Benazhir Bhutto for AMP when a local peasant Zafar Iqbal of Bail Ganj was killed by police on 12 May 2007. He narrated that PPP promised to give land to the peasant. Our message to them that they must fulfill their promise.
Aziza Bibi a peasant women from Bail Ganj Military Farms siad that we know how to take our land. They killed our brothers. The politicians from big parties are betraying.
Mohammed Akbar Baluch, another peasant leader from Bailganj military farms condemned the lies of big political parties to give them this land. "We must forge unity and solidarity among our selves. We are Mozareen and will not leave the land in any case. If any has the courage, come and lay your foot on our land, we will tolerate this and will teach them lesson that they will remember whole life" he said.
Malik Mohammed Saleem Jakhar, peasant secretary LPP Punjab and president of AMP Kulyana Estate said, that we are now paying the price of our mistake when we agreed to become lessee instead of tenent, now some of is are forced to pay over 25000 Rupees contract money for one acre. Now we have announced that we will not pay more than Rupees 10,000 for one acre. We are fighting for that and are suceeding. Two of our peasants have been killed during the last two years. We are all ready to die but will not accept dictatorial and supressive measures. Over 25 police cases are registered against us based on lies.We demand the withdrawl of all police cases against the peasants.
Baba Mehr Shariff narrated a revolutionary poem and was very well appriciated,
Nadeem Ashraf, Nazim Renalkhurd and vice president AMP announced a series of public meetings and conferences to pressurise for land owner rights.
Our meetings will be attended by thousands. He warned that if our demands are not met till 17 April, then we will have a sit in on the main road in Okara. We will not have a long march to Islamabad but a massive sit in Okara that will force the government to accept our demands.
Bushra Khaliq general secretary Women Workers Help Line spoke of the great secrifices of the peasant women in the movement of the Mozareen. They have been in the forefront of the movement. They will continue to do so. We the women of Pakistan express solidarity with the movement and will continue to side with the most militant movement of Pakistan.
She was very well received by the participant when she asked the peasants not to use any domestic violence against women.
Javed Kanwal, secretary local Press Club expressed solidarity with peasants movement. He said only Socialism can solve the basic issues of peasants and workers. He advised the peasants not to trust the capitalist and feudal politicians.
Noor Nabi leader of AMP Okara demanded the withdrawl of governor rule in Punjab. He also demanded the reinstatement of the top judges.
Choudry Shabir president AMP district Pakpattan narrated the glorious achievements this movement has achieved. "No one can now move us out of land, our power is our unity of men and women.
Azra Shad chairperson WWHL and Nazli Javed women secretary Labour Party Pakistan spoke of the importance of women participation in the movement. Nazli Javed criticised the religiouis forces to force the women inside the homes. "Here a lot of peasant women are sitting with men and there is no problem" she said.
I was like the chief guest of the convention. It was my first attendence in a public gathering after my angioplast. It had a good rest for nearly a month. However, I felt very good to be a here. I spoke of the seven martyers of the movement and said that we fought against military dictatorship and ask PPP government to filfill the promises. " When in opposition, they all sit with is saying that we are with you. Now they are in power, no one remember the promises".
"We will not forgot to demand our rights even at a time when both PPP and PMLN are fighting with each other. We demand an end of governor dictatorial rule and reinstaement of the top judges. We will participate in the long march. Accept our demands till 17 April or face our sit ins and Dharnas" I said.
Mehr Abdul Sattar in his presidential address told the peasants to be ready for another round of struggle. This is our land and will remain so. He warned the politicians of the district that they either help us for land rights or be ready for our reply in the next general elections. We will put up our own workers and peasant candidates in the elections. He appealed for workers and peasant unity. "We will fight for lamd rights for the landless labourers as well" he said.
The convention went on for four hours although there was not proper seating arrangements. Many were sitting on the ground without any shadow. They dispersed raising a lot of slogans and saying that they are here to stay.
By: Farooq Tariq
Secretary Pakistan Peasants Coordination Commigttee
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
National campaign against SEZ and Land displacement Nationwide protest on March 25, 2009
Dear,
Every state of the country is witnessing mass protest against land acquisition for SEZ and other projects. Representatives of these protest movements met on December 27-28, 2009 in Sewagram in the national convention of ABA and they unanimously decided to hold a joint protest programme at national level on March 25, 2009. On this day activists of these movements will organise demonstration, meeting, rally, whatever they can according to their preparations and send a memorandum to local, state and central government. The same be also sent to main political parties of the country. A draft of the memorandum is attached with this letter. You can make change in it according to the local requirements. We will appreciate if you write a post card to us.
With regards.
Yours sincerely
(Dr. Banwari Lal Sharma)
National Convener
Azadi Bachao Andolan
Every state of the country is witnessing mass protest against land acquisition for SEZ and other projects. Representatives of these protest movements met on December 27-28, 2009 in Sewagram in the national convention of ABA and they unanimously decided to hold a joint protest programme at national level on March 25, 2009. On this day activists of these movements will organise demonstration, meeting, rally, whatever they can according to their preparations and send a memorandum to local, state and central government. The same be also sent to main political parties of the country. A draft of the memorandum is attached with this letter. You can make change in it according to the local requirements. We will appreciate if you write a post card to us.
With regards.
Yours sincerely
(Dr. Banwari Lal Sharma)
National Convener
Azadi Bachao Andolan
Thursday, February 26, 2009
A petition to Sri Lanka courts against sand mining in Eastern coast
Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 17:40 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Feb 25, Colombo: Challenging the selection of a multi-national company to excavate mineral sands on the coast between Nilaveli and Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka Marxist party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today filed a petition at the Court of Appeals.
JVP parliamentarians Bimal Ratnayake and Jayantha Wijesekara with the corporation of an inter-company workers union representing the party filed the petition.
Petitioners have named the Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama, Coast Conservation Department, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Sri Lanka Board of Investment and Environmental Development Authority as the respondents of this petition.
They have pointed out that the Minister of Industrial Development has selected a multi-national company to mine mineral sands from Pulmoddai following the approval given by the Cabinet of ministers on December 2nd last year.
The petitioners appealed the Courts to issue a suspension order on this decision pointing out that the project had been given to an Austrian company without adhering to an accepted tender procedure.
Copyright © 2000, 2009 by LankaPage.com (LLC) :
The news and other contents on ColomboPage are copyrighted property of LankaPage.com, LLC. Any unauthorized use of any information on ColomboPage may constitute a violation of copyright laws. You need written permission to reproduce, republish, post, transmit, broadcast or distribute, material from this site from LankaPage.com, LLC. However, news organizations or broadcasters in Sri Lanka may republish the news items in ColomboPage with proper acknowledgment to ColomboPage.
Feb 25, Colombo: Challenging the selection of a multi-national company to excavate mineral sands on the coast between Nilaveli and Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka Marxist party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today filed a petition at the Court of Appeals.
JVP parliamentarians Bimal Ratnayake and Jayantha Wijesekara with the corporation of an inter-company workers union representing the party filed the petition.
Petitioners have named the Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama, Coast Conservation Department, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Sri Lanka Board of Investment and Environmental Development Authority as the respondents of this petition.
They have pointed out that the Minister of Industrial Development has selected a multi-national company to mine mineral sands from Pulmoddai following the approval given by the Cabinet of ministers on December 2nd last year.
The petitioners appealed the Courts to issue a suspension order on this decision pointing out that the project had been given to an Austrian company without adhering to an accepted tender procedure.
Copyright © 2000, 2009 by LankaPage.com (LLC) :
The news and other contents on ColomboPage are copyrighted property of LankaPage.com, LLC. Any unauthorized use of any information on ColomboPage may constitute a violation of copyright laws. You need written permission to reproduce, republish, post, transmit, broadcast or distribute, material from this site from LankaPage.com, LLC. However, news organizations or broadcasters in Sri Lanka may republish the news items in ColomboPage with proper acknowledgment to ColomboPage.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Four house affected & 19 people displaced by fire in Kotagala
National Fisheries Solidarity , PPD Network And Praja Abhilasha Network involved in this issue. 25th february the Coordinator of PA have visited on behalf of these three network and Provided (some materials) to rebuild their houses through FOLISEB Lanka. also provided exercise books and other materials for education. here with few families received clothes too from our network.
Source from : Virakesari dated 24th February 2009
Refusal from the estste manegement for cultivating in the home garden
Source from : Virakesari dated 24th February, 2009
COLOMBO, 23 February 2009 (IRIN) - Food convoys for thousands of displaced in Sri Lanka's north remain suspended after more than a month, despite rising concerns over a growing food crisis.
"The security situation since 16 January has not been conducive for food convoys to go in," Adnan Khan, country representative for the World Food Programme [WFP] said in Colombo, citing concerns over small arms fire and possible landmines en route.
Since the middle of September, the Vanni (which includes parts of Kilinochchi and Mulaithivu districts, about 300 km north of the capital) has been a "no-go" area after security concerns by the government prompted the relocation of aid operations to the northern town of Vavuniya, within government-held territory.
Earlier this month, the UN food agency warned that the entire population of the Vanni faced a food crisis.
"Food assistance is urgently needed for those still trapped in the conflict zone," Khan told IRIN. "The resumption of convoys will only be possible if there is a lull in the conflict, but right now that's not happening."
According to the UN, tens of thousands of civilians remain in the Vanni after heavy fighting between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who have been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland since 1983.
WFP began food convoys to the Vanni on 2 October after its relocation from Kilinochchi in the Vanni.
A total of 11 WFP convoys comprising up to 60 trucks at a time continued until 16 January, when they were suspended following violent clashes that resulted in convoy personnel being trapped in the Vanni for almost a week.
An additional convoy carrying WFP food, but belonging to the government, was dispatched on 28 January.
Altogether 8,400MT of food assistance was distributed, including about 800MT of food that WFP procured locally.
Key to the overall operation was the government, according to Khan, as well as other stakeholders, including the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), which negotiated with the government forces and the LTTE for safe passage of the convoys into the conflict zone.
"There were a lot of parties involved in making the convoys happen," the WFP official said.
As WFP and others had withdrawn from the Vanni, government collaboration was particularly important in terms of security clearance, as well as the downstream distribution of the food to beneficiaries, he added.
Sea deliveries
"We have to find an alternative route to provide food for the internally displaced people since road transportation is impossible," S Divaratna, the commissioner-general for essential services, said in Colombo, according to the Defence Ministry.
On 18 February, the government sent 40MT of food assistance by ship to civilians sheltering along the north-eastern coast near Mullaitivu.
But this is just a fraction of what is needed.
The UN and other relief agencies believe up to 200,000 are still trapped in the Vanni, while the government estimates half that number.
"The question of sufficiency is directly linked to the question of numbers," Khan said.
According to WFP calculations, 40MT can only feed about 11,500 people for a week.
WFP sent 10MT of wheat flour by ship under the ICRC flag on 20 February and is in negotiations with the government on regular shipments via government-arranged ships.
WFP is also providing food assistance to some 35,000 ethnic Tamils who have fled to Vavuniya and are staying at 16 transit sites, primarily schools, in the area.
The government has asked WFP to be prepared for up to 50,000 displaced in Vavuniya; however, that number may be revisited.
"We need to be prepared together with the rest of the UN and NGO family to see how we can be of assistance," Khan said.
An earlier government plan envisioned that up to 100,000 people may flee south in need of assistance.
By: Mr. Herman Kumara
"The security situation since 16 January has not been conducive for food convoys to go in," Adnan Khan, country representative for the World Food Programme [WFP] said in Colombo, citing concerns over small arms fire and possible landmines en route.
Since the middle of September, the Vanni (which includes parts of Kilinochchi and Mulaithivu districts, about 300 km north of the capital) has been a "no-go" area after security concerns by the government prompted the relocation of aid operations to the northern town of Vavuniya, within government-held territory.
Earlier this month, the UN food agency warned that the entire population of the Vanni faced a food crisis.
"Food assistance is urgently needed for those still trapped in the conflict zone," Khan told IRIN. "The resumption of convoys will only be possible if there is a lull in the conflict, but right now that's not happening."
According to the UN, tens of thousands of civilians remain in the Vanni after heavy fighting between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who have been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland since 1983.
WFP began food convoys to the Vanni on 2 October after its relocation from Kilinochchi in the Vanni.
A total of 11 WFP convoys comprising up to 60 trucks at a time continued until 16 January, when they were suspended following violent clashes that resulted in convoy personnel being trapped in the Vanni for almost a week.
An additional convoy carrying WFP food, but belonging to the government, was dispatched on 28 January.
Altogether 8,400MT of food assistance was distributed, including about 800MT of food that WFP procured locally.
Key to the overall operation was the government, according to Khan, as well as other stakeholders, including the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), which negotiated with the government forces and the LTTE for safe passage of the convoys into the conflict zone.
"There were a lot of parties involved in making the convoys happen," the WFP official said.
As WFP and others had withdrawn from the Vanni, government collaboration was particularly important in terms of security clearance, as well as the downstream distribution of the food to beneficiaries, he added.
Sea deliveries
"We have to find an alternative route to provide food for the internally displaced people since road transportation is impossible," S Divaratna, the commissioner-general for essential services, said in Colombo, according to the Defence Ministry.
On 18 February, the government sent 40MT of food assistance by ship to civilians sheltering along the north-eastern coast near Mullaitivu.
But this is just a fraction of what is needed.
The UN and other relief agencies believe up to 200,000 are still trapped in the Vanni, while the government estimates half that number.
"The question of sufficiency is directly linked to the question of numbers," Khan said.
According to WFP calculations, 40MT can only feed about 11,500 people for a week.
WFP sent 10MT of wheat flour by ship under the ICRC flag on 20 February and is in negotiations with the government on regular shipments via government-arranged ships.
WFP is also providing food assistance to some 35,000 ethnic Tamils who have fled to Vavuniya and are staying at 16 transit sites, primarily schools, in the area.
The government has asked WFP to be prepared for up to 50,000 displaced in Vavuniya; however, that number may be revisited.
"We need to be prepared together with the rest of the UN and NGO family to see how we can be of assistance," Khan said.
An earlier government plan envisioned that up to 100,000 people may flee south in need of assistance.
By: Mr. Herman Kumara
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