Worldwide Day of Action against Kalabagh Dam

At 03:11 PM 20/03/2005 -0600, Ishaq Tunio wrote:

Friends of Indus River observe Day of Action against Kalabagh Dam

Worldwide fasts, prayers and rallies against blockage of the River Indus:

Sindhi Expatriates to World Bank, IMF and other lending agencies: Link loans, Grants and aid to Preservation of Sindh’s Livelihood and Environment.

Chicago, USA (March 14, 2005): Responding to a call by Friends of the River Indus, thousands of people including , irrigation experts, environmentalists, and human rights campaigners held rallies and meetings in London, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and 23 cities and towns in Sindh. The activities were part of the International Day of Action for Rivers called by the U.S. based International Rivers Network.

Marchers in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Badin, Mirpur Khas and 17 other towns of Sindh protested against the construction of Kalabagh Dam and Thal Canal in Pakistan. These projects would block and divert the water of Sindh. Protestors offered prayers for long life of Indus River, observed token hunger strikes and took protest rallies and organizing seminars. Protesters marched on the main streets of towns and cities in different countries, chanting slogans, “No More Dams!’, “No More Canals!,” “Water for life,” and “Save Indus, Save Sindh,” “Save Indus, Save the Environment.” The protestors asked the World Bank, IMF and other international lending agencies not to give loans to Pakistan for construction of mega-dams and canals on the Indus.


Background

Sindh, currently a province of Pakistan is located in the southeast of the country bordering to India. The 40 million Sindhis account for approximately 25% of the Pakistani population. The Indus River flows through the heart of Sindh, and the livelihood of its citizens depends on it for drinking water, irrigation, and employment.

Dam and canal projects upstream of the Indus River have created a man-made water shortage that has devastated the province of Sindh. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) describes the environmental condition of Sindh’s Indus Delta as being “on the brink of an ecological disaster.” Despite the catastrophic environmental and social consequences that additional water projects along the Indus River will bring, the Pakistani government insists on such projects. The proposed construction of the Kalabagh Dam and completion of the Thal Canal would result in massive deforestation and desertification, mangrove forest destruction, salt water intrusion, loss of coastal land, dry lakes and wetlands, and put rare and endangered species at risk of extinction.


Round-up of Activities

Washington DC USA:

Sindhis from across the mid-Atlantic marched in an noon hour event organized by the World Sindhi Institute (WSI). Khalid Hashmani, a local Sindhi leader and human rights activist, led the marchers from the Washington Post building, past Embassy Row to Dupont Circle, and then concluded at the BBC's Washington office. Participants passed out flyers and petitions to passersby along the route, increasing their awareness about the dire condition of one of the world's great rivers.

"The Indus River is our lifeblood," said Ishaq Tunio, founder of Friends of the River Indus (FOTRI). "Sindhi society evolved from the Indus, and it continues to be a part of our identity, a part of our culture, a part of our soul." Munawar Laghari, Executive Director of the World Sindhi Institute (WSI) added, "We stand here proud to be Sindhis and Sindhi-Americans. Although we no longer drink Indus River water, swim in its shallows, or enjoy the soft breeze from its shores, we can ensure that it remains there for our family and friends, and future generations, to do so."


Los Angeles USA:

World Sindhi Congress (WSC) hosted a seminar entitled, "Indus River Water Mismanagement Crisis." Speakers included Dr. Saghir Shaikh, Chairman WSC, Hassan Mujtaba, an exiled freelance journalist who writes for BBC and other international media, and Irshad Kazi representing the Sindhi Association of North America.

Dr. Shaikh’s multi-media presentation highlighted the findings of the World Commission on Dams regarding the fallacies of building of the mega-dams. We are proud to be part of the global community celebrating the March 14th as an International Day of Action against Dams, and for Rivers” Dr Shaikh added. He ended with a quote of Kenyan Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai: “Recognizing that sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come.”

Hassan Mujtaba in his paper title “Saga of Indus: Past, Present and Future,” said that “Nations celebrate their rivers, and many of them worship them… Sindhis have special connection with the River Indus.” He added, There would be defeat of peaceful and secular civilization in South Asia if Sindhis lost their legitimate, non-violent struggle for their right to waters of the Indus.” Irshad Kazi presented a summary of technical, political and historical reasons against the Kalabagh dam and Greater Thal Canal.






LONDON ( UK ):

In London, World Sindhi Congress ( WSC) staged a peaceful protest rally in Parliament Square in Central London, in front of the UK Parliament House of Commons under the leadership of WSC, Europe Organizer Suraiya Makhdoom.

The rally was attended by Sindhis all over the UK and others supporters of healthy rivers. The protesters were holding banners and raised slogans condemning Pakistan’s anti-environmental polices affecting peoples of Sindh and Balochistan. The protestors also demanded an end to the persecution and killing of Sindhi and Baloch human rights activists, and condemned the Pakistani military dictatorship for its development and proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Ms Suraiya Makhdoom, the UK and Europe Organizer of WSC in her speech said that “More than 90% of 40 million Sindhi people are dependent on the Indus River. Along with the survival of the Sindhi people, the survival of hundreds of species of birds and mammals is now endangered because Pakistan has built several mega-dams and barrages upstream that have impeded the flow of the Indus River and its tributaries to Sindh.”

Others who spoke on the occasion were Dr. Haleem Bhatti, and Ms. Hafeezan Talpur of World Sindhi Congress and Mr. Kadir Jatoi of the World Sindhi Institute. The speakers asked for international support in resolving this issue, and urged the nations that provide Pakistan economic assistance to condition such aid on improvement of human rights conditions of the minority nations of Pakistan. After the speeches, the protesters marched peacefully around the Parliament Square carrying banners, chanting slogans and distributing leaflets.

See Attachment for Resolutions passed, city-wise details of The Day of Action for Rivers and against Kalabagh dam observed and background information about, Sindh, Kalabagh Dam and Indus River.

Sindh, Pakistan

Sukkur:

A protest rally started from Sukkur Press Club and marched towards Sadh Belo, an island that has been sacred for Sindhis since ancient times. Protesters fasted on the banks of the Indus near Dhobi Ghaat, and then moved to offer prayers for the river at Sadh Belo. A ceremonial offering of flowers was made to the River Indus. The event was organized by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) Sukkur under the leadership of Sattar Zangecho.

Larkana:

A protest rally and fast was observed. The event was led by JSQM leader Maqsood Quraishi, activist Sudheer Tunio, and Awami Tahreek leader Dr Zulfiqar Rahujo.




Hyderabad:

Highlighting the extent of water blockage, Awami Tahreek and Sindh Water Committee activists headed by veteran politcal leader Rasool Bux Palijo staged a sit-in near Jamshoro on the dry bed of the once mighty Indus. The Awami Tahreek workers were joined by Ibrar Qazi, Muzafar Sadiq Bhatti advocate, Ayaz Lateef Palijo advocate and human rights activist, Nazeer Memon, Member of Sindh Provincial Assembly Sassui Palijo, Wishnoo Mal and other water experts and community leaders. Afterwards the rally moved towards Husainabad where under the leadership of Sayed Qaim Ali Shah, President Pakistan Peoples Party, Member Sindh Assembly and former chief minister of Sindh, PPP leaders and workers staged another sit-in near Gudoo Chowk.

Hyderabad City:

Another sit-in was staged at Press Club Hyderabad by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) under the leadership of Abdul Wahid Areesar and Dr Niaz Kalani. A fast was observed and a protest rally held. The Sindhi nationalist leaders appealed to the world community to join their united struggle against proposed construction of Kalabagh Dam and Thal canal.

Badin: Mirpur Khas , Dadu, Ratodero and other towns of Sindh: JSQM workers observed token fast and staged protest rallies to demand that Pakistan stop plans for building Kalabagh Dam and stop the construction of Thal canal.

Karachi:

A big protest rally was taken out and sit-in was staged in front of Karachi Press Club by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz ( JSQM ) under leadership of its Chairman Bashir Khan Quraishi.. About two thousand people observed a fast and offered prayers for the long life of Indus River. The sit-in and protest rally was joined by Asif Qazi, a member of the organizing committee for Friends of the Indus River.

Another sit-in in front of Karachi Press club was staged under the leadership of Awami Tahreek leader Noor Nabi Rahujo about 100 women and 30 children observed token fast with hundreds of Awami Tahreek workers.

Contact : Ishaq Tunio Itunio@hotmail.com, fotri_org@yahoo.com (Visit www.kalabaghdam.org www.friendsoftheriverindus.org ( for details).