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Media Coverage
Peasants Conference demands land rights
On 17 April 2008, the international day of peasants, a massive peasant conference in Okara gave two months to the government of Pakistan Peoples Party to fulfill the promises they made while in opposition. Held at Village 15/4L Military Farms, over 5000 participated in the conference organized by Anjaman Mozareen Punjab (AMP). Peasants came from all over the districts while representatives of different peasant and political organization came from all over Pakistan.
This was the first show of strength by the AMP after the formation of the new government. The peasant’s leaders reminded the PPP government of promises of Late Benazir Bhutto, who declared the PPP will give ownership rights to the tenets working at Military Farms. They also reminded of 8 pages declaration by Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) for supporting the rights of the peasants to the land that they cultivating for over 100 years.
Both promises were made by the two former prime ministers during the thick of the militant movement by AMP in 2002/2003 against the military efforts to take over this land from the peasants. The AMP resisted and seven peasants were killed, hundreds injured while over 100 false cases were registered against the leaders of the movement. In retaliation, the AMP declared that they have paid enough and will pay no more. They refused to pay the 50 percent share of the crops; they were paying for over 100 years to Military Farms administration. Till today, the rebellious peasants are not paying successfully and have taken over the land under their control.
The peasants came with red flags flying over their tractors and trolleys and waving the red flags in the processions, they were non-stop for over two hours. Village after village came out to participate in this historic conference. The slogans were very militant, “We are hungry because the Army generals have looted everything, Ownership or death, Down with military dictatorship and long live peasants workers unity.
Farooq Tariq secretary Pakistan Peasant Rabita Committee and spokesperson Labour Party Pakistan spoke about the courageous movement of the peasants and declared that give us ownership right within two months, or we will have a long march to Islamabad. He said that if we can fight the military dictatorship than we can also do the same with civilian governments if they do not fulfill the promises. Farooq Tariq, the main speaker at the conference, told the history of the peasant international day and said the history is littered with the bloods of peasants fighting for land rights.
Farooq Tariq demanded an immediate withdrawal of all the false cases against the peasant leaders registered during the last eight years. He said unfortunately false cases are still registered while the civilian government is in power.
Mehr Abdul Sattar, general secretary AMP reminded the new government about their promises of land rights and asked to fulfill it. He said we have given sacrifices and many of us have lost lives. However, it will not in vain. He said that the local administration should stop taking orders from the military generals and start a new round of talks with us about how to proceed further. He made it absolute clear that no one in Pakistan can take this land back from us and we will fight until the end. He said that we will organize the international day of peasants every year in Okara.
Asif Khan Chairman Liberal Forum Pakistan spoke about the need of a new agenda for the peasant and agriculture. He said we fully support the demands of the peasants for land ownership and demanded an end of feudalism in Pakistan. “go for a land reforms and give the land to the tillers, of Pakistan has to grow” was his message.
Asim Sajad Akhtar, convener Peoples Rights Movement (PRM) said that peasants have all the rights of ownership of the land. “The AMP was the first organization to start the fight against the military dictatorship, now every one is against the military dictatorship. Peasants demands restoration of judges and an end of military dictatorship” he said.
Nadeen Asharf vice president of AMP told the conference that a three member federal cabinet committee is formed two day earlier to solve this issue. We welcome the formation of the committee and expect that the committee decided in our favor of land rights. Asif Zardari co chairperson of PPP has asked all the relevant documents that we have submitted to them through a PPP member of parliament. We will march to Islamabad if our demands are not met, he said.
The four hours conference ended with a great enthusiasm. It was broad caste live by different private television channels and dozens of journalist were present at the conference. A team of senior journalist traveled from Lahore to Okara, a distance of two hour, to cover the conference, showed the interest of the media in this conference. Radio FM 103 had a live broad cast reports of the conference.
Report by: Tariq Mehmood Reserve 33pc
posts for women: Speakers urge political parties <TOP> Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a seminar yesterday called upon the womenfolk of the country not to vote for the political parties that oppose the proposal of Election Commission (EC) to reserve 33 percent posts within a party. “If womenfolk decide not to vote the political parties opposing the EC proposal, then those parties would probably change their stance,” said Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Motia Chowdhury at the seminar.She said ideally women should have 50 percent representation in the political parties. Commenting on the representation of women in AL Motia said, “In its presidium the proportion of women and men is 40: 60,” adding, “We have to improve the situation in working and other committees." The seminar titled 'Political empowerment and advancement of women' was organised jointly by Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha (BNPS), Institute for Environment and Development, and South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication at the National Press Club in the city. Emphasising the need for united movement with like-minded men Justice Ghulam Rabbani said, “Women did not get anything free of cost in the past and in the coming days also they will have to gain everything through struggle.” Urging the women not to be used as commodity in this era of commercialisation, he posed a question, “Why a beautiful lady would appear in the advertisement of a toothpaste?” “Rather a specialist should explain the usefulness of its ingredients in the advertisement,” he added. Country Director of ActionAid Farah Kabir said when women's contribution to country's economy is highly appreciated, only a few people want their due representation in the political parties. She also stressed the necessity of creating pressure on the political parties to include women's issues in their election manifestoes. BNPS Executive Director Rokeya Kabir conducted the programme which was also addressed by former lawmaker Nurul Islam Nahid, Prof Syed Anwar Hossain and Prof Shawkat Ara Hossain of Dhaka University and Dr Makduma Nargis of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad. Source: The Daily Star, Bangladesh (2007-12-07) SAAPE launched in Brussels; interaction on Bhutan held <TOP> The second Poverty Report of the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) titled "Poverty in South Asia 2006: Civil Society Concerns" was launched in Brussels on November 8. In the same event, a strategic discussion on "Bhutan: Democratization amidst protracted Refugee Crisis" was also organised . The event was organized in coordination with SAAPE's Northern partner, Eurostep and facilitated by the Europe External Policy Advisors (EEPA). Dr D.N.S Dhakal, Vice-President of the Bhutanese National Democratic Party (party in exile) and one of the authors of the SAAPE Poverty Report 2006 presented it to Neena Gill MEP, Head of Delegation for relations with India in the presence of Jaromir Kohlicek MEP, Vice Chairperson of the Delegation for relations with South Asia; Ambika Luitel, Charge d'Affaires of Embassy of Nepal; Minister K.J. Francis representing the Embassy of India and other representatives from the European civil society. Dr Dhakal said that it was a historic event in terms of a refugee voice getting the opportunity to be heard in Europe for the first time amidst key actors who are crucial for the successful resolution of the protracted crisis. He strongly expressed that the upholding of the right to return only would provide justice to the Bhutanese refugees who have been victims of legal ethnic cleansing since the last 17 years and advocated an inclusive people-led democracy in Bhutan. He appealed the EU to urge the government of India to engage with the royal government of Bhutan towards realising national reconciliation and an amicable comprehensive resolution of the long-standing refugee problem. Neena Gill MEP after acknowledging the presentation of the SAAPE Poverty Report 2006 expressed that it is extremely important for the EU being a major donor to understand the root causes of poverty and its engagement with civil society is as necessary to effectively achieve poverty eradication. On the issue of democratisation in Bhutan and the refugee problem, she strongly expressed respect for human rights, equality, freedom of speech, free media and broadening of the political parties. Source: nepalnews.com (Nov 10 07) SAAPE condemns ADB precondition on Valley's water management <TOP> South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) has condemned the precondition laid down by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), imposing the Nepal Government to set up the Kathmandu Valley Drinking Water Limited in order to hand over the distribution and management contract of the Valley's drinking water to a British multinational company. “Privatization is the usual weapon of conditionality used by the ADB for releasing its funds. ADB is now threatening that if the contract is not awarded to STWI by May 15, it would terminate its loan number 1820, worth US $ 120 million, committed to the project,” a SAAPE press statement said Friday, adding, “SAAPE vehemently condemns the arm twisting tactics of the ADB on the poor Nepalese people." ADB, which is the largest donor to the multi-billion rupees Melamchi Drinking Water project, is said to have been pressuring the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works to award the water distribution and management contract to UK 's Severn Trent Water International (STWI). To ADB’s displeasure, physical planning minister Hisila Yami recently wrote to the Limited saying that the government would not sign the management contract for the time being. Saying that water is too precious and too basic a human right to be placed at the mercy of multinational companies, SAAPE further said, “Water needs to be protected from predatory capitalism promoters, like the ADB, who forces privatization as a pre-condition for loans to developing countries." "Inevitably, water then becomes more expensive and the quality drops contrary to higher quality claims by the so-called experts and promoters. It’s the common people, especially the poor who then suffer as the soaring water price makes it impossible for them to afford the otherwise widely and easily available natural resource,” the statement further said, describing the ADB’s precondition as “violation of human rights”. “SAAPE also extends its support and solidarity
to Hisila Yami, Minister for Physical Planning and Works for her
firm and committed stance against water privatization invading
the country.” nepalnews.com mk May 011 07 Source: www.nepalnews.com Form
Commission to End Conflicts in South Asia: SAAPE
<TOP> Members of the South Asian Association for Poverty
Eradication (SAAPE), Bangladesh, have called for the formation
of a South Asian Peace Commission to end armed conflicts, trafficking
and illegal use of small arms in the region. According to the International Action Network
on Small Arms, out of around 75 million firearms in South Asia,
63 million are in the hands of civilians. India and Pakistan respectively
have 40 and 20 million small arms, beside substantial local production
as well. The agendas call for the adoption of Arms Trade
Treaty at the United Nations, ban on nuclear activities and its
proliferation in the region. "These steps can help establish
an arms-free South Asia," the SAAPE said, calling for the
reduction in defence expenditure and channelisation of funds thus
saved in development activities. Sharif A Kafi of the SAAPE Bangladesh said poverty,
unemployment and economic disparity have a direct link with the
circulation and use of small arms in the region. Kafi added that nations like India and Pakistan,
misusing scarce resources, are competing for the production of
weapons of mass destruction when people of the region are deprived
of basic needs. "The amount of money needed to make a nuclear
bomb is enough to run 1,000 quality education institutions free
of cost for 15 years." Source: The Himalayan Times (27 March, 2007) Kashmir issue obstacle to peace: SAAPE <TOP>
KATHMANDU: The second general assembly of the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) held in the Nepalese capital this week has declared that the unresolved India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir is a serious obstacle to both peace and grassroots democracy in the region as enormous defence budgets of both countries deprive the poor in these countries of much-needed health and education facilities and food security. In a declaration adopted at the end of the general assembly, the participants drawn from the Saarc region, including Afghanistan, declared to do everything possible to mobilise its members in favour of peace and justice for the Kashmiri people and to pressure the two governments to resolve the conflict in accordance with their wishes. The declarations said that peace in the region still eluded because of civil strife in Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, growing state repression in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, and continuing atrocities in Bhutan. The participants resolved to support each other in the struggle for peace. The declaration took note of various problems in the region -– the inability of Bhutanese refugees to return to their homes in Bhutan; state repression in India’s Gujarat and other states by religious fundamentalist political groups; and the use of military power by South Asian governments. The declaration emphasised that poverty and hunger in the region were not natural, but something created and perpetuated by the global forces of plunder and exploitation, working in collaboration with the elitist regimes in these countries. The SAAPE members pledged to mobilise millions of the poor and their organisations to complete the process of de-legitimisation of the global financial powers. They also declared to work for the achieving the objective of food sovereignty and food security for the people of the region. Referring to the continuing patriarchal customs and practices in the region, the participants also declared that SAAPE would ensure that women had equal participation as members of decision-making bodies. Observing that fundamentalist religious forces, mingled with politics, had caused deprivation and poverty, the participants expressed concern over their rise in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. The declaration said that all activities undertaken by SAAPE would be secular in perspective. Source: http://www.dawn.com/ (July 10, 2006) Globalisation
little use to Nepali poor <TOP> Kathmandu, May 18:Research
by South Asian experts on privatisation and globalisation has
found that the poor section of Nepali people will not be able
to reap the benefits of globalisation, while the developed world
has been terming 'globalisation' a better tool for achieving economic
prosperity for people belonging to the low-income group. According
to a recent study on 'Poverty in South Asia', prepared by South
Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), the national economy
has not integrated internally in Nepal. In such a situation, globalisation
only favours the rich and fuels economic inequality, the study
reports. Initially, the industrialisation process in Nepal was
state-led which started back in 70s. The programme could not be
continued following the introduction of structural adjustment
programmes in 1985. During 1990, Nepal's economic policies were
further liberalised in areas like trade, investment, foreign exchange,
financial and industrial sectors coupled with the delicensing
process. Although the state launched the privatisation
programme with a view to improve the management of state-owned
enterprises, the result has been extremely negative, leading to
the loss of billions of rupees so far, according to the study.
Of the 17 privatised enterprises, four have already folded up
while the rest are in serious financial trouble. One of the reasons
for failed privatisation is attributed to rampant corruption,
according to the survey. "Privatisation has affected the economy
negatively such as reduction in employment, low tax collection
and revenue spending without proper planning and clarifications,
no name just a few." The survey findings state, "The benefits of joining World Trade Organisation (WTO) are unclear for Nepal. Unless exports increase, Nepal will not benefit from tariff reductions. On the other hand, it may well be adversely affected by the dumping of surplus products by developed nations. WTO membership poses many challenges to Nepal's agriculture sector and rural community who will find it extremely difficult to flourish in the competitive environment." In an environment where small economies are under survival threats due to excessive global competition, being a WTO member will not yield positive results. In such an environment, trade policy plays a critical role in alleviating the plight of small farmers and the rural poor, suggest experts. It has been felt that the government should develop a policy that protects farmers' rights and livelihoods, and ensures their rights to save, exchange, reuse and sell seeds. Source: The Himalayan Times (MAY 19, 2004) Speakers demand united South Asia <TOP> By Our Reporter
Speaking at the inauguration of the 4th People's Summit organized by the South Asia Partnership (SAP) and South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) in time to present to Saarc states' heads their point of view on the issues that are likely to figure in their summit beginning here on Sunday. Attended by a couple of hundred social activists from Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the inaugural ceremony began with a theatre performance by the Lower Sindh Rural Development Association, Mirpur Khas. The play almost constituting the theme of the conference set the tone for the subsequent proceedings. Mohammad Tahseen, executive director of the SAP, Pakistan, said that while other regions had overcome their past rivalries for mutual benefit of their peoples, the South Asian countries remained indifferent to the need of combating poverty, hunger, malnutrition, illiteracy, etc. Though global military spending declined by about 37 per cent during 1987-94, in this region it went up by 12 per cent. Similarly, South Asia was expanding its standing armies at a time when other nations were reducing theirs, Mr Tahseen said, commenting that South Asia was one of the most militarised regions in the world. His criticism, that Saarc unlike other regional blocs had hardly achieved anything concrete since its inception in 1985, was one of the refrains of the first day proceedings. Other speakers included: Ms Taleya Rehman (Bangladesh), Mr Babu Mathew (India), Dr Rohit Kumar Nepali (Nepal), Mr Karamat Ali (Pakistan) and Dr Padma Ratnayake (Sri Lanka). They chided the governments of regional countries for cheating the people of their hopes and aspirations. It was observed that the working people had more rights in 1947 than now. These governments had not fulfilled the promise made at the first Saarc moot to devote their energies for the welfare of the people, they said. The pledge was to maintain the region as a nuclear weapons-free zone and to dedicate all the energies to the alleviation of poverty and uplift of the people. While India and Pakistan flaunted their nuclear weapons in 1998, other regional countries congratulated them, one speaker noted. The people of all the regional countries suffered from common problems which, however, took different forms in different countries, and it was the common man who suffered as a result of these internal conflicts. Another hot topic was the conduct of the governments under the dictates of imperialist capitalism led by the United States. Thus the public sector, which ushered in industrialization in the countries after liberation from colonialism, was being dismantled by them. A delegate said hunger was spreading because of the dictates of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Consequently, 60 million ton of food grains were rotting in the government godowns, but the people could not draw their requirements from these. Source: http://www.dawn.com (03 January 2004)
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