About Me

Th Labour Relief Campaign was created in the wake of the floods that devastated Pakistan in August 2010. It brings together 8 organizations: Labour Party Pakistan (LPP), Labour Education Foundation (LEF), Center for the cancellation of the third world debt (CADTM), Women worker's helpline (WWHL), Progressive youth front (PYF), National trade union federation (NTUF), Kissan Raabta Committee (KRC), Pakistanis for Palestine (PaksForPal). Our campaign has two separate fronts, the relief work and a political campaign for the cancellation of Pakistan's debt in favor of the flood victims

Friday, October 29, 2010

Debt crisis hits harder in Europe than in the emergent countries of South

Eric Toussaint interviewed by Ram Etwareea (Le Temps, Genève)


Eric Toussaint, a specialist of the third-world debt, considers that Greece should default and audit its debt to point to creditors’ responsibility and radically reduce the debt stock.
Europe’s current indebtedness is deeper than that of South American countries. In most cases the ratio between external debt and GNP has reached 40% in 2010 in South American countries; in Greece, Spain, Portugal or Ireland, it is well beyond 100%. Though governments and the European Commission focus on public debt, private debt is far higher. In Spain, public debt accounts for some 17% of the total debt. The increase in the European public debt is the consequence of three elements: the tax counter-reform that started in the 1990s and reduces state revenues by offering tax breaks to the wealthy and to private corporations; the cost of governments bailing out private banks from 2007 onward, and the fall in tax revenues due to the economic recession in 2009. While social expenditures of European governments have in no way increased public debt, these will be slashed by austerity measures. Moreover the huge debt of some private companies might be turned into public debt if we do not watch out.

This is the way Eric Toussaint, an economist and historian who has studied public finances in countries of the South since the 1980s, analyzes the situation. According to this Belgian expert who works within the Committee for the Abolition of the Third World Debt (www.cadtm.org ), Greece ought to default, set up an audit of its debt to determine creditors’ responsibilities and renegociate repayment while enforcing a radical reduction of its debt. While in Geneva to present his latest book[2], he emphasized that this solution would save the country from the austerity measures currently imposed by the IMF and the EU, which affect the whole population. Some ten European countries are currently ‘helped’ by the IMF.

‘Many of the loans were granted to Greece to buy military material from France and Germany,’ Eric Toussaint explained. ‘After the crisis became manifest, the military-industrial lobby even succeeded in maintaining the defence budget while social expenditure was slashed by more than 20%.’ He recalled that in the very heart of the Greek crisis at the beginning of the year Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of Turkey, i.e. a country with tense relationships with its Greek neighbour, went to Athens and proposed a 20% reduction of the military budget in both countries. The Greek government did not respond for it felt the pressure of the French and German authorities that wanted to support their arms sales. We should add the many loans granted by mainly German and French banks to private companies and Greek authorities in 2008-2009. These banks borrowed from the ECB at low interest rates and granted loans at higher rates, which made for juicy short term benefits. They did not stop to wonder whether the borrowers could repay the borrowed capital in the longer term. Private banks thus bear great responsibility for current over-indebtedness. Loans from EU member states and from the IMF are not granted with a view to serving the interests of the Greek population but to repaying German and French banks jeopardized by their own over-adventurous policies, Eric Toussaint claims.  

When Eric Toussaint recommands defaulting, he knows what he is saying. He was a member of a committee for the auditing of the Ecuadorian debt set up in July 2007. ‘We noticed that several loans contravened basic rules. In November 2008 the new government relied on our report and stopped repaying bonds that come to maturity in 2012 and 2030. Eventually the government of this small South American country was victorious in a tug of war with North American bankers that held bonds on the Ecuadorian debt. It bought back securities for one billion dollars that were valued at 3.2 billion. Ecuador’s public treasury thus saved some 2.2 billion dollars on its debt stock to which we must add $300 million of yearly interest that has not been paid since 2008. This gave the government the financial resources needed to increase social expenditure in health care, education and help to the poorer layers of the population,’ he explained. He also mentioned the example of Argentina that refused to repay its debt from 2001 to 2005 and pointed to the creditors’ responsibility. ‘Thanks to its unilateral moratorium on debt securities for about $ 100 billion, the country could invest its resources and turn to economic growth again,’ he added. ‘Argentina still has a $6 billion slate with the Paris Club. Since December 2001 it has not paid anything to Paris Club members and feels all the better for it. The Paris Club stands for the interests of industrialized countries and does not wish to make a fuss about Argentina not paying for fear that other governments might follow suit.’ Greece too defaulted for over 60 years in the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century.

The IMF has got it wrong
Eric Toussaint further claims that the IMF is deeply wrong when it insists on imposing austerity on indebted countries in Europe, as had been the case for developing countries. ‘Slashing budgets and freezing purchasing power in some ten countries means sabotaging recovery plans. This is insane since in Europe consumption amounts to 70% of the GNP.’

Our expert further points out that not all countries can respond like Germany. Thanks to its industrial apparatus and a policy of wage squeezing, Germany managed to boost its exports. Eric Toussaint explains that the IMF and the EU enforce the Washington consensus –  deregulation – in Europe when it has already had disastrous consequences in developing countries. ‘I cannot see how measures that have failed elsewhere would yield different results in Greece, Spain or Portugal. Countries like India, China or Argentina have managed because of policies in which the state still plays an important part in economy. India, for instance, will not privatize its railways. Year after year the government spends huge amounts on them, but this also means saving a million jobs and good quality public services. The public railway company runs at a profit each year. Similarly, in spite of pressures, the Indian government has not deregulated the banking sector, which sheltered it from the 2007 financial crisis.’

Translated by Christine Pagnoulle in collaboration with Vicki Briault

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Norwegian artists donate 1.48 million Rupees to flood victims

Cultural Life Buoy Campaign to raise funds concluded in Norway


Press Release – Lahore

Several nationally known television and theater artists from Norway have collected rupees 1,480,135  (100670 NOK) in a bid to help the flood victims in Pakistan. The amount has been sent to Labour Education Foundation (LEF) one of the eight organizations that are part of Labour Relief Campaign, an umbrella relief organization of several trade unions, social and political organizations of Pakistan.

Cultural Life Buoy, a Norwegian cultural campaign to support flood victims in Pakistan was started on 1st September by Norwegian-Pakistani actor and Board Member of the Norwegian Actors’ Equity Association, Toni Usman. In a press statement, he said “We artists and culture workers have a special responsibility and opportunity to support people who are affected by natural catastrophes. We know that the UN estimates the death toll will exceed both the tsunami in 2004 and the earthquake in Haiti, we cannot wait to give support.  Flood victims need support now because it is a crisis with serious effects.  It is threatening death in the form of disease and hunger.”

As part of the campaign a theater show was arranged on 19thSeptember in Oslo where well known artists performed voluntarily. A variety of stage artists such as Kjersti Elvik, Janne Langaas, Tove Bøygard, Kjersti Fjeldstad , Sølvi Zuckermann Fellus, Shri Lal, Rohini Sahajpal, Jai Shankar, Urmila Berg-Domaas, Sunanda Sharma and Toni Usman took to the stage to raise donations for the flood victims in Pakistan. The show was directed by Kristian Lykkeslet Strømskag who normally works at the National Theatre.  He worked hard, day and night along with Toni Usman for the campaign and said “We asked ourselves why people do not donate enough money for flood victims.  Norway otherwise is a nation that contributes to a great extent during humanitarian disasters. Having that in mind we decided to do something ourselves.  One is completely shattered when you see television images of dying children and know that help is not coming.  Soon the freezing winter will be here. They need support now. Pakistan is part of the world and it is the whole world’s responsibility to help Pakistan now.”

Agder Theatre located in Kristiansand, a city in south Norway decided that instead of giving its employees a Christmas gift this year a contribution to Cultural Life Buoy would be made.  They have contributed in the amount of 30.000 NOK.When disaster strikes, emergency and life saving assistance is essential. Agder Theatre will therefore along with other Norwegian culture institutions be happy to be taking such a responsibility”, said Ingrid Forthun, Artistic Director. 

The Norwegian Actors’ Equity Association leader Agnete G. Haaland said “The flood catastrophe in Pakistan concerns us all.” The Association made a contribution of 10.000 NOK and urged all artists to support Cultural Life buoy.  

The National Theatre in Oslo and the National Stage (DNS) in Bergen also contributed to this unique campaign by starting a collection among its employees. Akershus Theatre, Norwegian Musicians’ Union (MFO), The Norwegian Dancers’ Union (NoDa) and Norwegian Theatre and Orchestra Union (NTO) contributed to the cultural campaign too.

Whilst the campaign was mainly supported by artists associations and performing artists, the Norwegian Transport Workers' Union (NTF), The Norwegian Union of Social Educators and Social Workers’ (FO) section in Hordaland and The State Workers Union (NTL) also gave a contribution to show their solidarity with the people of Pakistan said Toni Usman.
In addition, the campaign was supported by The Drama House, Gjerholm Design, Pax publishers, NILZ printing press and AOF Norway.

Qalandar Memon, coordinator of Labour Relief Campaign (LRC) appreciated the efforts of Norwegian artists and said the amount will be spent on the rehabilitation and relief work in different areas of Pakistan including Pir Sabaq, Noshehra Kalan, Matta in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Moro and Makli in Sindh and Sibbi and Naseer Abad in Baluchistan province.

The LRC is working in all 4 provinces: Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. Several teams of local volunteers from people who are affected by floods are organized. Members of social organizations and trade unions are also part of the volunteer teams in these areas. The LRC has been doing relief work since the beginning of the floods. LRC teams have facilitated some international organizations too for their relief projects in some areas. At the beginning of the floods, LRC mostly focused efforts on distributing food, medicine and clothes. Now that the water level has gone down in most of the areas, it has commenced work in providing help in the construction houses and forming agricultural cooperatives in some parts of Pakistan.

“The campaign Cultural Life Buoy shows that artists are always able to think and react above the religious, cultural and geographical barriers and the Norwegian artists have set an unsullied model of international companionship for many internationally to follow” says Khalid Mehmood director Labour Education Foundation.    

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Land Reforms and Debt Cancellation: A post flood discussion

You are invited to a discussion and teach in session on the land situation post the catastrophic 2010 floods. The discussion will also focus on Pakistan's external and internal debt, Governments spending on development and rehabilitation of the flood victims.

The recent floods have exposed how the poor rural populations of Pakistan are highly vulnerable to natural catastrophes. Having lost their homes, belongings, animals and crops, and some of them landless and in debt, people in many parts in Sindh are suffering severely because of the floods and an unjust system.  At this time, debt cancellation and land reforms are essential for the rural population of Pakistan to emerge from a life of poverty and despair.  

Some of the questions, we had while planning this event were:

-- Why is it that after spending so much on rural development over 60 years, poverty and social indicators remain the same?
-- Why has social development so failed that a child from Sajawal has to travel to Thatta to attend school after 5th class?
-- Why are midwives the sole providers of maternity care in most rural areas of Sindh?
-- Why is there lack of access to adequate drinking water?
-- We have a debt of $54 billion, why then do we see no improvement in the social indicators -- in health, education, and infrastructure?
-- How can one man own 100,000 acres and others be condemned to landlessness, poverty and debt?

We will have a facilitated discussion with the participants after presentations on debt cancellation and land reforms. 

Organized by The Sindh Labour Relief Committee.

Date: Friday 29th October 2010

Time: 7:00 PM-9:00 PM

Location: The Second Floor (t2f), Karachi 

Meeting Minute 23-oct-2010


THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WERE: 
Qalandar Memon, Farooq Tariq, Nasir Mansoor, Farooq Ahmed, Sohail Javed, Younus Rahoo, Khalid Mahmood, Maqsood Mujahid, Murtaza, Ahsan Bhatti, Cindy Zahnd, Aman Kariapper, Kashif Aslam, Bakhshal Thallo.

DISCUSSION: 

- All introduced themselves. 
 - Khalid provided an update and break-down of finances. Around 33 lacs in general budget, the rest is project specific (community kitchen and on trade union members)
- Update from local areas: 
 
KP - Farooq Ahmad talked about the community kitchen and its organisation and service to people.  Mentioned the need to work in Swat. 

Sindh  Younus Rahoo, Bakhshal Thallo and Nasir Mansoor briefed about relief work in Sindh.  Sindh Labour Relief Committee worked in Moro, Hyderabad and collected money from Karachi.   The problems with WATAN cards and governments failure was noted.  Suggested that Sindh needs more funds and has been neglected. 

Punjab - A survey has been conducted in Siraiki areas and a report of it is to be send in the next two days. 
 
Balochistan - Aman outlined the present strategy of the work on going.  Rubina has been compensated for money she spent on medicine.  A new committee has been formed and we await their future proposals. 

 

 
FUTURE PLANNING: 

Three projects were discussed: 

 - Kisan conference - 1.5 lac cost.
 
 - co-operative in Sajawal  - Detailed proposal to come and then final decision to be made. 15 lacs

 - Commune (buying land).  

- Need to work in Swat on agriculture cooperative idea

 - building houses for trade union workers and other workers who have lost their homes. 
 
- Long term projects that are self sustaining desired by all.  

Decisions taken: 

- 5 lacs to Sindh Relief Campaign to be spent on immediate relief efforts - food, clothing, medicine, etc.  Sindh committee to decide how to make use of the money. 

- Khalid to get approval from Apheda for funds for Kisan conference from existing contribution (1.5 lacs) 
 
 - 20, 000 to be given for the construction of two houses of trade unionists who have suffered in floods - one in Gilgit and another in Swat. (from general budget). 

 - 15, 000 for bags for children in KP to be taken from Apheda budget. 
 
 - Meeting called to discuss long term projects (co-operatives and communes) for Thursday 28th October at 6 pm (please suggest other times/dates if this does not work).  It was agreed that decisions would be made on long term projects by 4th Nov. 

Govt refuses WB, ADB loan

By Khalid Mustafa, published in "The News" the 21-oct-2010

ISLAMABAD: In a rare display of defiant courage, the country’s financial managers have turned down a $2 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and another $1 billion loan from the World Bank (WB), which according to sources stunned the ADB in particular as it had already gone ahead with the stage of executive review having taken Islamabad’s erstwhile yes-sir approach for granted.
In the case of the ADB loan, a whopping $50 million portion had been earmarked for the ‘consultants’ alone, who incidentally would have been appointed by the lending institution itself. The multibillion credit lines were meant for the reconstruction of the public sector infrastructure destroyed by the recent floods.

According to sources, Finance Minister Dr Hafeez A Sheikh has conveyed to both the development banks that the government was not interested in using the said loans for the reconstruction of the public sector infrastructure adversely affected by the flood. He told the banks that Pakistan would prefer to use the approximate amount of $1.5 billion to $2 billion, being received from the UN and other sources, for relief and early recovery of the flood-affected areas. “And as far as rebuilding of the flood destroyed infrastructure is concerned, the government shall do it from its own resources,” was the minister’s message according to a source.

Talking to The News, Minister of State for Finance, Hina Rabbani Khar, confirmed that the “government has changed its policy”, under which it will not use the loans offered by the WB and the ADB for the reconstruction of the infrastructure, but would use the other grants of $1.5 billion to $2 billion for relief and early recovery of the masses hit by the flood. She said the federal and provincial governments would divert their resources from the public sector development to reconstructing the infrastructure suffered in the flood-affected areas.

“We have changed our mind following the meeting of the FoDP held in Brussels and meetings with other development partners,” the minister said. However, the federal government, she said, is yet to take the provinces into confidence over its decision not to use the loans of the ADB and the World Bank amounting to $3 billion for the reconstruction phase. “After taking the four federating units into confidence, the final decision will be made to this effect,” she said.

According to a source, in earlier parleys, Islamabad, Khyber-Pakhtunkwha and the Punjab had expressed their opposition to accepting these loans on the offered terms and stated purpose whereas Sindh was the only exception, which supported the loans.

“The government’s decision not to use the loan of $3 billion has really perturbed both the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, as their targets to market their loans in Pakistan would suffer,” sources in both the banks confided to this scribe.

When contacted, Ismail Khan, who deals with the media in the ADB to confirm as to whether the government had refused to use the credit line of $2 billion offered by the Manila based bank, declined to either confirm or reject the news and only said that the ADB’s country director was not available for comments as he had gone to Manila.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Flood affected persons in hunger strike in front of the World Bank

Taunsa Barrage: Hunger Strike of Flood Affected Persons in front of World Bank, Islamabad (Pakistan)

About 70 men, women and children from Taunsa Barrage are holding three days (12, 13, 14th October) hunger strike in front of the World Bank Office, Islamabad.  The event will start at 10: 00 AM.

The focus of the hunger strike is to highlight the role of the World Bank financed Taunsa Barrage Rehabilitation Project in exacerbating the flood disaster in Muzaffargarh District. The rehabilitation project loan, totaling $123 million, was approved in 2005 and it was completed in early 2010.

The main demand of the flood affected people is to establish an independent inquiry commission to ascertain the facts with regard to the failure of Taunsa Barrage.
You are requested to show support and solidarity with the flood affected persons. 

Sindhoo Bachao Taralla

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Rural women of Pakistan mobilize against the debt

Press Release

Cancel all foreign debts of Pakistan now! Rural women of Pakistan join hands with civil society on the issue in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD (16th October 2010): “There is a visible relation between international debt politics and of IFIs and increasing poverty in Pakistan. Therefore, members of Pakistan’s civil society want all foreign debts of Pakistan, owed to bilateral and multilateral creditors to be canceled, besides an immediate freeze on foreign debt repayments. The lenders shall extend Pakistan grants in this need of the hour, rather than loans, which are essential for Pakistan to develop the means to withstand such disasters in future. Pakistan continuously goes deeper in the financial crises if the debt is not dropped it will do more damage than floods. The saved money shall only be used for rehabilitation of flood affected communities and the much-ignored social sector for real and sustainable development”.  This was the theme of a protest by rural women protest, taken out in Islamabad on 16th Oct, Saturday, by Sungi Development Foundation.   
The protest was in connection with the Global anti-Debt Week and to observe the International Day of Action for cancellation of Pakistan’s foreign debts. A number of civil society organizations, activist groups, social and political activists, representatives of flood-hit communities and rural women who were celebrating the International Rural Women’s Day on Oct. 15 here in Islamabad took part in the protest. Rural women from all over Pakistan came and decided to participate in the anti-debt protest against IFIs.
The protest was held at 4:30 pm at Lok Virsa in Islamabad. The protest participants were holding banners and placards with slogans in favor of foreign debt cancellation. The marchers shouted full throat slogans against IMF, World Bank and ADB throughout the way. The anti-debt week did not only mobilize Pakistani citizens, some foreigners also supported the protest.
They demanded the lenders to extend Pakistan grants in this need of the hour after the summer floods, rather than loans, which are essential for Pakistan to develop the means to withstand such disasters in future.
Released by

Aimal Khattak

Friday, October 15, 2010

Article about LRC's campaign for debt cancellation published in a Swiss newspaper

 «Au Pakistan aussi, si nous remboursons la dette, nous mourrons»


Paru le Jeudi 14 Octobre 2010 dans le Courrier
   CINDY ZAHND*    
Solidarité APPEL - Huit organisations sociales et politiques pakistanaises réclament l'arrêt du remboursement des 55 milliards de dollars de dette.
A Lahore, la capitale culturelle du pays, un groupe d'activistes se promène en ville en calèche au son des tambours en distribuant des pamphlets et en chantant des slogans pour marquer la semaine d'actions contre la dette. Le 14 octobre a été désigné Journée internationale de solidarité avec le Pakistan. En août dernier, le Comité d'aide ouvrière (Labour Relief Campaign, LRC*) a lancé un appel au non-remboursement de la dette. Cette coalition d'organisations pakistanaises demande au gouvernement de suspendre immédiatement les versements en invoquant un état de nécessité, les droits fondamentaux de la population ne pouvant être assurés.
Thomas Sankara, président du Burkina Faso en 1987, s'exprimait contre la dictature de la dette en ces termes: «La dette ne peut pas être remboursée parce que d'abord, si nous ne payons pas, nos bailleurs de fonds ne mourront pas. Soyons-en sûrs. Par contre si nous payons, c'est nous qui allons mourir. Soyons-en sûrs également.»
Après les récentes inondations qui ont affecté 20 millions de personnes et poussé le pays dans une crise humanitaire et économique sans précédent, la réponse du gouvernement consiste à réduire le budget de la santé et de l'éducation sans toucher au budget militaire et... à faire de nouveaux emprunts aux institutions monétaires internationales. Chaque année, le Pakistan paye en moyenne 3 milliards de dollars à des créditeurs étrangers pour le service d'une dette en grande partie illégitime et illégale car contractée par des régimes militaires dictatoriaux. Comme les autres pays du Sud, le Pakistan a déjà repayé le montant de sa dette plusieurs fois, pourtant le poids de celle-ci pèse toujours plus lourd sur l'économie du pays et s'élève en 2010 à 55 milliards de dollars.
La campagne contre la dette a vite trouvé écho au sein d'une population de plus en plus consciente d'être le sujet d'un théâtre de marionnettes sordide où les intérêts des plus puissants dictent la politique intérieure du pays au mépris de leurs droits les plus fondamentaux. Au nom de plans d'ajustements structurels, les dépenses publiques ont été réduites au profit de privatisations massives, imposant une idéologie capitaliste sauvage et agressive qui permet aux pays les plus riches d'extraire les ressources des pays les plus pauvres.
Les pluies torrentielles ont mis au jour l'étendue de la misère vécue par une grande partie de la population, la corruption de ses élites, mais aussi les visées impérialistes de Etats-Unis quand, sous leur pression, le gouvernement pakistanais a choisi d'inonder tout un district dans le sud-ouest du pays afin de sauver une base militaire utilisée par les Américains. Les dollars des fonds d'aide de secours ne suffisent plus pour cacher l'hypocrisie des donneurs – ni celle de ceux qui reçoivent au nom du peuple mais ne cessent de penser aux moyens de cambrioler le trésor publique.
Cette campagne vise donc un pilier critique de la structure globale d'oppression – c'est-à-dire, la convergence des intérêts des pays les plus industrialisés et ceux des élites locales. Le débat suscité a le potentiel de menacer les fonctionnements de l'Etat pakistanais – et, ainsi, celui du système impérialiste. Il est grand temps que le Pakistan cesse de mendier de l'aide et décide de ne pas rembourser une dette qui n'a jamais servi les intérêts de sa population.

Note : * Mme Zahnd est membre de la LRC, qui est composée de huit organisations: National Trade Union Federation, Women Workers Help Line, CADTM Pakistan, Labour Party Pakistan, Progressive Youth Front, Pakistan For Palestine, Labour Education Foundation et Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee.

International Day of Action for Cancellation of Pakistan's Debt - CADTM

Hundreds join anti-Debt rally in Islamabad
 14th October 2010
Report by CADTM-Pakistan

There is a visible relation between international debt politics and of IFIs and increasing poverty in Pakistan. Therefore the Pakistani civil society members want all foreign debts of Pakistan to be canceled, owed to bilateral and multilateral creditors, besides an immediate freeze on foreign debt repayments. The lenders shall extend Pakistan grants in this need of the hour, rather than loans, which are essential for Pakistan to develop the means to withstand such disasters in future.

Pakistan continuously goes deeper in the financial crises if the foreign debt won’t be dropped it will kill more than floods. The saved money shall only be used for rehabilitation of flood affected communities and the much-ignored social sector for real and sustainable development”.  This was the thematic color of a public rally, taken out in Islamabad on 14th Oct, Thursday, by the debt campaigners, gathered in the federal capital from different parts of Pakistan.  

The rally was organized in connection with Global anti-debt Week and to observe the International Day of Action for cancellation of Pakistan’s foreign debts. A number of civil society organizations, active groups, social and political activists, representatives of flood-hit communities and individuals from Sindh, KPK; Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA; Punjab and Baluchistan  participated in the anti-debt rally against IFIs.

The rally started at 11:30am from National Press Club, Islamabad and after passing through Constitutional Avenue, it terminated in front of the Parliament House. The participants wanted to march towards World Bank Building to culminate their protest but police refused to allow them move ahead of the Parliament House.

The participants were marching behind a big banner inscribed with major demand “Cancel Pakistan’s all foreign debts and divert the saved amount for rehabilitation of flood hit communities”. The rally participants were holding banners and placards reflecting slogans in favor of foreign debt cancellation. Throughout the way marchers continued shouting full throat slogans against International Financial Institutions including IMF, World Bank and ADB. A large number of women from flood hit areas attended rather led the rally. An international debt campaigner from CADTM-International, Stephanie jacqomount, who is visiting Pakistan these days in connection GWA, specially participated in the rally.

Police vehicles were covering the rally from all sides. After marching for 20 minutes the rally culminated in front of Parliament House, where prominent debt campaigners, activists and representatives of flood-hit communities made brief speeches. Among main speakers were Asim Sajjad Akhtar, Bushra Khaliq, Nisar Shah, Sami Memon and Hamida Bibi.  

The speakers criticized the role of IFIs terming their policies as anti-people. They called upon the donor countries as well as the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to cancel all foreign debts of Pakistan, owed to bilateral and multilateral creditors, besides an immediate freeze on foreign debt repayments of Pakistan.

They also be urged the lenders to extend Pakistan grants in this need of the hour, rather than loans, which are essential for Pakistan to develop the means to withstand such disasters in future.



Abdul Khaliq
Focal Person,
Campaign for Abolition
of Third World Debt (CADTM),
Pakistan

Rally Against Foreign Debt in Islamabad: Press Statement

Press Release
Cancel Pakistan’s all foreign debts now! Hundreds join anti-Debt rally in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD (14th October 2010): “There is a visible relation between international debt politics and of IFIs and increasing poverty in Pakistan. Therefore the Pakistani civil society members want all foreign debts of Pakistan to be canceled, owed to bilateral and multilateral creditors, besides an immediate freeze on foreign debt repayments. The lenders shall extend Pakistan grants in this need of the hour, rather than loans, which are essential for Pakistan to develop the means to withstand such disasters in future. Pakistan continuously goes deeper in the financial crises if the debt won’t be dropped they will kill more than floods. The saved money shall only be used for rehabilitation of flood affected communities and the much-ignored social sector for real and sustainable development”.  This was the thematic color of a public rally, taken out in Islamabad on 14th Oct, Thursday, by the debt campaigners of Pakistan.
The rally was organized in connection with Global anti-debt Week and to observe the International Day of Action for cancellation of Pakistan’s foreign debts. A number of civil society organizations, active groups, social and political activists, representatives of flood-hit communities and individuals from Sindh, KPK; Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA; Punjab and Baluchistan participated in the anti-debt rally against IFIs.
The rally started at 11:30am from National Press Club, Islamabad and after passing through Constitutional Avenue, it terminated in front of the Parliament House. The participants wanted to march towards World Bank Building, to culminate their protest but police refused to allow them move ahead of the Parliament House. The participants were marching behind a big banner inscribed with major demand “Cancel Pakistan’s all foreign debts and divert the saved amount for rehabilitation of flood hit communities”. The rally participants were holding banners and placards reflecting slogans in favor of foreign debt cancellation. The marcher shouted full throat slogans against IMF, World Bank and ADB throughout the way.
The rally culminated in front of Parliament House, where prominent debt campaigners and representatives of flood-hit communities made brief speeches. Among main speakers were Asim Sajjad Akhtar, Bushra Khaliq, Nisar Shah, Sami Memon and Hamida Bibi. The speakers criticized the role of IFIs terming them as anti-people. They called upon the donor countries as well as the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to cancel all foreign debts of Pakistan, owed to bilateral and multilateral creditors, besides an immediate freeze on foreign debt repayments of Pakistan.
They also be urged the lenders to extend Pakistan grants in this need of the hour, rather than loans, which are essential for Pakistan to develop the means to withstand such disasters in future.
Released by
Aimal Khattak

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Shout out for Pakistan


Four Days of activism on Global Week of Action vs Debt

October 14 will be the “Shout out for Pakistan Day”

The Tanga activism 


Labour Relief Campaign is organizing four days of activism in Lahore in association with Oxfam from today 11th October till 14 October against Pakistan debts on the call of several international organizations includingJubilee South – Asia/Pacific Movement on Debt and Development (JSAPMDD), Jubilee South European Network on Debt and Development (EURODAD), CADTM International, Jubilee USA Network, Jubilee Debt Campaign UK, Debt and Development Coalition Ireland,  South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), Freedom from Debt Coalition Philippines (FDC), Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), Equity and Justice Working Group- Bangladesh (EquityBd), SUPRO Bangladesh, Koalisi Anti-Utang Indonesia (KAU), Institute for Essential Services Reform Indonesia (IESR), Monitoring Sustainability of Globalization Malaysia (MSN), Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), LDC Watch and  Migrant Forum Asia (MFA).

At 3pm today three tangas (horse ridden carts) will move around with Lahore distributing leaflets demanding Pakistan to say no to foreign debts and asking the International financial institutions to drop Pakistan debt. Please find enclosed an appeal by LRC, Labour relief Campaign is a network of 8 social and political organization of Pakistan that include National Trade Union Federation, Women Workers Help Line, Progressive Youth Front, Labour Party Pakistan, Pakistan For Palestine, CADTM Pakistan, Labour Education Foundation and Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee. The tangas will be decorated with banners and over 100,000 leaflets will be distributed among the ordinary citizens of Lahore. This is an effort to put pressure on the Pakistan government to change its present economic policies and do more for flood affetees.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Meeting minute LRC , Oct 7 2010

Attendance: Mahmood Butt, Farooq Tariq, Khalid Mahmood, Ahad Awan, Niaz Khan, Maqsood Mujahid, Cindy Zahnd, Stephaney (CADTM Belgium), Kashif Aslam, Qalandar Memon, Ehsan, Murtaza.

  • Review of the last meeting minutes was presented. No questions or queries rose.
  •  Updates from South Punjab:
    • survey has started in 6 districts
    • report expected in four days
    • need Rs. 10,000 for traveling for survey
  • Updates from Baloachistan:
    • Meeting of some activists held in Quetta; Rubina Baloach has sent report which will be shared on email list.
    • A separate meeting will be held on Saturday to discuss the Baloachistan committee situation and the future strategy.
    • Oxfam:
      • Suggestion of one additional activity of Tanga March in Lahore has been submitted and approved by Oxfam. Balance budget from the previous support by Oxfam will be used for this activity.
      • Detail of this suggestion already shared on email list.
    • Visit of TDH representative: 
      • Mr. Shyam from Nepal visited Lahore, Mardan and Nowshehra in last week.
      • He was satisfied with the LRC work over all and development of Community Kitchens in Pir Sabaq and Nowshehra Kalan Union Councils.
      • Suggestions of developing work on children education and hygiene came up during the discussions with him.
      • More than 195 families around (1600 people) are getting meal daily from both community kitchens.
    • Sindh:
      • Sindh LRC committee in Moro is very active, has provided support to UN agencies as well for distribution of goods.
      • More financial support is needed in Sindh for distribution of relief items.
      • Suggestion of a Peasant Conference in Moro to focus on land rights issue has been put forward by the Sindh LRC committee.
    • Mardan:
      • Survey of 80 Afghan carpet workers’ families has been completed by LEF Mardan team.
      • Rs. 150,000 for distribution of relief items to these families is needed.
    • Child Labour / sexual harassment Issues:
      • A suggestion was discussed to address the child labour and children sexual harassment issues.
      • A spate meeting will called in early next week to discuss the possibilities of developing some work on these issues.
    • CADTM International:
      • Ms. Stephaney from CADTM Belgium participated in the meeting on request of LRC.
      • She briefed about the global debt campaign, CADTM work, International Week of Action on IFIs and call Shout out for Pakistan.  
    • Tanga March:
      • Tanga March will be organized in Lahore from 11 to 14 October
      • 12 comrades from PYF will be engaged for this March.
      • 50,000 leaflet on debt issue will be printed for distribution during the Tanga March.
    • Khalid briefed about the meetings and events connected with relief work during his foreign visit
      • TDH Germany is interested in working on children education
      • STS Demark raised Danish Krona 20,000 for LRC
      • A union in Gothenburg, Sweden raised SEK 60,000
      • Social Democratic Party in Gothenburg raised SEK 33,000
      • OPC asked for a concept for usage of funds allocated (SEK 50,000) for trade union members in KPK province.
      • Talks in New York University, Berkeley University and Pakistan America Cultural Center about Labour and Floods situation in Pakistan.
    • Decisions made for transfer of funds:
      • Rs. 300,000 for Sindh
      • Rs. 150,000 for Afghan Carpet Workers in KPK
      • Rs. 10,000 for traveling needed in Siriaki Waseb for survey
      • To fund the Peasant Conference after discussing the budget required for this.
      • To fund the Peasant Conference after discussing the budget required for this.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Article based on Khalid's speech about the floods (Swedish)

Khalid is a member of the Labour Relief Committee and the director of Labour Education Foundation. He recently went to Sweden where he gave speeches on the situation of Pakistan after the Floods. This article is based on one of his speeches and was published in Swedish weekly internationalen.

Översvämningen i Pakistan får politiska följder

– Översvämningen i Pakistan i augusti är en katastrof som kommer att lämna spår i historien.
Det sa Khalid Mahmoud, representant för Labour Relief Camp (LRC), vid ett seminarium på ABF i Stockholm i förra veckan.
– 30 procent av jordbruken är förstörda. 3,9 miljoner kvinnor och barn är i akut behov av medicin och mat. 8 procent av dessa kvinnor är gravida. Inflationen har gått upp 20 procent och detta medan de drabbade är de fattigaste i landet, berättade Khalid Mahmoud.
Han är representant för Labour Relief Camp (LRC), en organisation som samarbetar om att föra ut hjälp till den drabbade befolkningen i Pakistan. LRC bildades 2005 i samband med jordbävningen i Kashmir, och består av Labour Party Pakistan, National Trade Union Federation, Women’s Help Line och Labour Education Foundation.
Seminariet anordnades av den nybildade Svenskt-pakistanskt informationsforum, och inleddes av Farooq Sulehria som förklarade vikten av de politiska konsekvenserna av katastrofen samt påpekade bristen på kunskap om detta i omvärlden. Initiativtagaren till seminariet, Martin Gemzell från Svenskt-pakistanskt informationsforum, beklagade den dåliga bevakningen av översvämningskatastrofen i Pakistan och lovade att en hemsida och fler seminarier om Pakistan och konsekvenserna av översvämningen inom kort ska genomföras.
– Vi i LRC samlade 1,5 miljon rupier som distribuerades i form av mat, medicin och andra nödvändigheter bland folket och nu har vi börjat återuppbyggnaden. Redan har vi byggt 100 hus i Kashmir och satsar mer på den fattigaste delstaten Baluchistan, berättade Khalid Mahmoud som också är VD för Labour Education Foundation.
Mahmoud tackade och nämnde bland annat de organisationer från utlandet som bidrog, liksom Olof Palme center, Solidaritet utan gränser, LO och liknande i andra europeiska länder.
Han förklarade att trots behovet av akut humanitär hjälp ska man inte glömma det långsiktiga och politiska arbete som krävs. Han berättade om de politiska konsekvenser av katastrofen i Pakistan som kommer att drabba ännu fler människor både i Pakistan men även i regionen.
– Medan den pakistanska militären prioriterade att evakuera sin personal, lokala feodalherrar, stora jordägare och mäktiga politiker från de drabbade områden samt flyga in utländska journalister för rapportering om sina försenade räddningsåtgärder, drabbades vanligt folk och dog i tusentals. De som redan inte hade mycket förlorade allt.
– Den pakistanska regeringens legitimitet är mer än någonsin i fara. Detta innebär allvarliga politiska konsekvenser för ett land som Pakistan. På de flesta drabbade områden fanns det inte en enda statlig representant kvar för att hjälpa folket medan talibanska och reaktionära krafter, bland dem Jamaate Islami Party, fanns och tog över.
Enligt Khalid Mahmoud ger IMF nu ytterligare lån till den redan skuldsatta pakistanska regeringen som inte används för återuppbyggnad, utan för räddningsarbetet.
Ett krav som får alltmer stöd i världen är att inte skuldsätta Pakistan mera utan istället bidra till investering i återuppbyggnaden av landets ruiner. Efter Stockholmsbesöket skulle Khalid Mahmoud vidare till USA för att knyta kontakt med bidragsgivare och systerorganisationer.
Text och bild: Sholeh Irani

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Khalid Malik's interview by a trade union journalist in Stockolm (Swedish)

Khalid Malik is a member of the Labour Relief Committee and he is the director of the Labour Education Foundation. He recently went to Sweden where he was interviewed by a trade union journalist


Facklig kamp för ett demokratiskt Pakistan

Khalid Mahmoudi är chef för den pakistanska folkbildningsorganisationen Labour Education Foundation, LEF, som drivs av ett 40-tal pakistanska fackliga organisationer och har stöd av Palmecentret. Han är i Sverige på kort besök, och hamnade mitt i det svenska valet.
- Sverige är ett föregångsland för progressiva människor världen över, vi drömmer om er demokrati och starka fackföreningsrörelse. Därför känns det naturligtvis mycket dystert att rasister kom in i ert parlament, säger han beklagande.
Inom den demokratiska fackföreningsrörelsen i Pakistan är Khalid Mahmoudi en välkänd och mycket respekterad person. Genom LEF har tusentals pakistanska arbetare fått utbildning i facklig organisering, jämställdhet och ledarskap. LEF är bedriver också ett omfattande opinionsarbete för fred.
- Nästan ingen av våra deltagare kan berätta för arbetsgivaren att de är på facklig kurs. Risken finns att de får sparken eller blir trakasserade på annat sätt, konstaterar Khalid Mahmoudi.
Av Pakistans omkring 50 miljoner arbetstagare är drygt 3,5 miljoner, eller cirka 7 procent, med i facket. Rädsla för trakasserier är bara ett av flera skäl till den låga anslutningsgraden. Landets arbetsmarknadslagar är mycket fackföreningsfientliga och utesluter flertalet anställda från rätten att organisera sig fackligt, bland dem den stora och mycket utsatta gruppen lantarbetare och en majoritet av de offentliganställda, till exempel lärare, sjukvårdspersonal, polis och militär.  Dessutom är fackföreningsrörelsen splittrad, det finns omkring 8 000 fackliga organisationer och en del av dem styrs i praktiken av arbetsgivarna.
Vad gör att människor ändå vågar gå med i facket?
- Oftast börjar det med ilska över låga löner. De flesta arbetare får inte ens den lagstadgade minimilönen på 7 000 rupier, knappt 700 kronor i månaden, berättar Mahmoudi.
- Minimilönen gäller för åtta timmars arbetsdag. Men oftast måste arbetarna jobba minst tolv timmar om dagen - och får ändå inte minimilönen.
Strejker i protest mot låga löner och usla arbetsförhållanden förekommer, och det händer ofta att polis, militär eller av arbetsgivarna inhyrda gangsters stoppar aktionen med grovt våld. Förra året dödades tre textilarbetare som deltog i en protestaktion, och flera deltagare hålls fortfarande fängslade.
- De flesta pakistanska arbetsgivare är feodala och anser att anställda inte ska ha några rättigheter alls, och regimen stödjer den hållningen. Som fackliga företrädare kan vi inte uppmana våra medlemmar att ta risker som hotar dem eller deras familjer, utan vi måste agera försiktigt. Att förlora jobbet betyder svält och misär för väldigt många, det är den verklighet vi lever i.
- Samtidigt måste vi agera. Fackföreningsrörelsen är den bästa motkraften mot talibaner och andra former av fundamentalism i vårt land. Vi vill ha utveckling, ett modernt arbetsliv och en progressiv stat. Genom att stödja oss stödjer man ett demokratisk Pakistan!
LEFs kurser är 2-3 dagar långa och hålls runt om i Pakistan i hyrda lokaler – eller utomhus om nöden så kräver. Deltagarna rekryteras via LEFs medlemsfack, cirka 25-30 per kurs.
- Grundutbildningen är för nya medlemmar, ledarutbildningen för dem som varit aktiva ett tag – och jämställdhetsutbildningen är för alla – nya och gamla medlemmar, kvinnor så väl som män, skrattar Khaled Mahmoudi.
 Han växte upp med en stark mamma som behandlade döttrarna och sönerna lika – i alla fall efter pakistanska mått mätt - och som trots knappa inkomster såg till att alla de fem barnen fick utbildning. Ändå blev den jämställdhetskurs han själv gick för 15 år sedan revolution.
- Jag hade ingen aning om vilka fördomar jag faktiskt bar på. Jag hade inte varit den jag är idag utan den kursen, säger han med eftertryck.
Nu är han med om liknande livsuppgörelser, som lärare på jämställdhetskurserna.
- Det finns män som till en början vägrar lyssna när vi talar om att kvinnor och män är lika värda, men som faller i gråt efter ett tag. Det är när de inser att deras döttrar, fruar och systrar tvings vara med om, enbart för att de är kvinnor i form av diskriminering, sexuella trakasserier, tvång och utnyttjande.
Problemet, säger han, är att kursdeltagarna återvänder till ett arbetsliv och samhälle som är djupt ojämlikt.
- Men all förändring måste börja någonstans!
Redan innan den översvämningskatastrof som just nu plågar landet och hittills gjort 20 miljoner människor hemlösa levde cirka 40 procent av landets totalt 175 miljoner invånare under fattigdomsgränsen. Var siffran hamnar nu vet man inte än, men klart är att det redan mycket utsatta landet är i en katastrofsituation. Vad kan omvärlden göra?
- Jag tror på internationell solidaritet, att vi hjälper varandra över gränserna när det behövs. Nu behöver vi er hjälp, helst via gräsrotsrörelser som verkligen når ut till de drabbade. En dag kanske det är tvärt om, att ni i Sverige behöver vår hjälp!
Under Sverigebesöket har han träffat vänner han lärde känna 1995 när han pluggade ekonomi och körde taxi i Karachi för att klara studierna. Eftersom han kunde engelska blev han anlitad som chaufför åt en svensk delegation med deltagare från Grafiska fackförbundet, Lärarförbundet och Palmecentret som skulle påbörja ett projektsamarbete med facket i Pakistan.
Ju mer han hörde dem berätta om svensk fackföreningsrörelse, desto mer nyfiken och intresserad blev han. Och när han sista dagen fick frågan om han ville bli ekonomiansvarig för projektet tackade han ja. Sedan dess har han ägnat sig på heltid åt facket och LEF.
- Annars hade jag kanske jobbat som ekonom på ett multinationellt företag idag. Men jag ångrar mig inte ett dugg. Tvärt om, att stärka fackföreningsrörelsen är kanske det viktigaste uppdraget man kan ha om man tror på rättvisa och demokrati!
AGNETA CARLESON
Global Reporting

Monday, October 4, 2010

Meeting minutes: 3 Oct 2010

Meeting with Nasir Mansoor from LRC Sindh

Attendance: Nasir, Aman, Ahad, Cindy

Nasir Mansoor was in Lahore, we met him to hear him talking about his idea to organize agro based cooperatives in Sindh.
Overall, the central idea is to focus our efforts on building a sense of community and solidarity among the displaced poor through concrete projects that bring them together to work on common goals.


Agro-based cooperatives
  • How many families in supported camp: 70
  • Location of camp: a school near Thatta
  • Relief provided by SLRC: food items (uncooked) worth Rs. 30,000, every three days
  • This is in addition to food and shelters provided in other areas such as Morro. In Morro, the UN distributed around 2,000 shelters in collaboration with the SLRC.
  • How many families per cooperative: 20 - 40
  • Activities planned: dairy farming, traditional Sindhi weaving and needlecraft, poultry farming, fish farming (in artificial pond)
  • Each activity would be managed and staffed by a group of seven to ten families, depending on how many of them have already done this kind of work.
  • Ownership and management: the cooperative will be managed by a committee consisting of women and men from the affected families (with a slight majority of women?) The committee will also include a few members of the SLRC whose role will be to facilitate the organisation and running of the cooperative. The question of the final ownership of the cooperative is, to my mind, still open. Will it be registered as a partnership or a private limited company with shares for the committee members? In whose name will the land, on which the cooperative is founded, be registered? I think it would be important and interesting to find the appropriate legal framework for this initiative.
  • Location of cooperative, land: there is a lot of land available for purchase between Karachi and Thatta and also on the Hub side. Some of the affected families own land in these areas and are willing to provide it for the cooperative (1-2 acres). The question would be: should the cooperative buy it from them? However, the ideal size of the cooperative is around 6.5 or 7 acres, so that all the facilities envisaged can be constructed without congestion. So, we will in any case need to augment the affected families' landholdings with some additional purchases in contiguous areas.
  • Price of land: about 1 million PKR for 10 acres 
  • Rationale of the selection of activities: these are all activities that these families were involved in before the flood - some for their landlords, some for contractors. The SLRC will connect the families directly with the urban and semi-urban markets for their produce, enabling them to gain sovereignty over their own labour.
  • The NTUF's previous experience with running women's cooperatives in Karachi and Hyderabad will be very valuable in tending to all the important details of setting up the cooperative in a just and fair manner such that:
    • no one family or group of families gains at the expense of the others
    • no child labour is involved
    • the basic needs of all the member families are met, while, at the same time, those who do more or better work, gain in proportion to the value of their produce. In other words, this is not communism, but a kind of tamed capitalism (Scandinavian model?)
    • women are recognised as equal or even the determinant members of the committee and of the families whose voice and whose role is critical to the achievement of the objectives of this alternative model
    • solidarity, accountability and self-help are established as the core values of the functioning of the committee
    • These 3 cooperatives are now self ruling
  • Nasir was skeptical about the feasibility of prioritising the construction of communal structures such as schools and dispensaries over individual houses. This means that the setup cost of the cooperative goes up quite a lot, given his rough estimate of Rs. 30,000 - 40,000 per house. That is, a minimum of Rs. 900,000 just for house-building.Rebuilding house for the members of the cooperative whose houses have been destructed is a prerequisite
  • Just as with the cooperatives in the cities, these cooperatives would also function as social clubs for the community, enabling them to resolve their internal disputes and to back each other up in case of difficulty.
  • The cooperatives will be the venue for the holding of study circles, adult literacy programmes that would also educate the members in terms of practical skill development, hygiene, basic nutritional needs, esp. of women and children, reproductive health, etc.
  • We might be able to use the funding of TDH for theses projects but only if we can prove their beneficial effect on children as they are their main focus. A proposal for TDH should be written with a section on how these cooperatives would improve the live of the children. 
  • Nasir told us that one of the most worrying problem that is starting to arise is the sexual abuse of children in the camps as well as children being used in hotels as sex workers. Ensuring that their parents have an income would be a way to act against those forms of children exploitation.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Pir Sabbaq: not washed away


I am a member of the Labor Relief Committee in Lahore and visited some of the areas affected by the floods. I would like to share with you theses portraits I wrote after interviewing some of the volunteers of the campaign in Pir Sabbaq, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. I was really impressed by their commitment and the amazing work they have been doing. Even while distributing first necessity goods in the very beginning, they also started a damage assessment survey that now records more than 900 families, noting how badly they were affected and what their needs are. This has enabled them to deliver the aid in a very systematic manner, prioritizing the more needy ones. Two international organizations are now following their advice in their work and these collaborations have led to the development of relief as well as rehabilitation projects. To the families whose houses are completely destroyed, they are providing tool kits that are designed to help them clear away the rubble and construct small shelters. They have also decided to open a community kitchen in the village, where food will be cooked according to the dietary requirements of children and women. Most of the volunteers have lost all they possessed but they have not lost their spirit of solidarity. They seem to believe that another world is possible, where those who are suffering from one of the worst disasters of our times should not become the victims of a system where aid is distributed in accordance with the interests of the donors but that the aid should be used to support and empower them so that they can not only rebuild their lives but also a more just society.

Mukhiara Bibi
In her work with the LRC, Mukhiara Bibi has focused on the women, because, as she explained, given that many of them hardly leave their houses, now with their houses destroyed, they have become even more vulnerable. One of the projects of the LRC in Pir Sabbaq in which Mukhiara Bibi is involved is a community kitchen where food will be cooked for about 500 people and according to the specific dietary requirements of women and children. “I am a very good cook, I am very healthy so I can work hard for this project, I am ready to cook for 500 people!” Ready to invest herself in the relief work, Mukhiara Bibi also sees the importance of a pro-people political campaign in the region. “I want to use this community kitchen to bring the women together, organize them, tell them about their rights. We are going to organize weekly workshops on women's role in politics, we want women to stand for the next elections. We also want to use this space to have workshops on different income generating skills. I can teach embroidery, we also want to organize a beautician's course because they are no beauty parlours in the village and according to our tradition women like to have their make-up done for weddings or other occasions. The flood has devastated our village, we are now working towards rehabilitation but we also need to start thinking ahead of that. My belief is that families will only be able to get out of the cycle of misery once their women will be able to generate an independent income.”

Shabnam Faiz
21 years old, she is the mother of a 2 month-old baby. One of the few women who had the chance to complete her education until F.Sc., she was working as a school teacher in a private institution in the village before the school was closed after the building got destroyed by the floods. The water has taken her source of income from her, partially destroyed her house and swept away all her belongings. Her husband is a labourer, the flood has made him jobless too. “I have joined the campaign because I am from this village, therefore I know who really needs the help unlike outside donors whom I feel are not always delivering the goods to the right people. I am going to help with the community kitchen project but what I would like the most is to make use of my skills in teaching to help either children or adults.” Shabnam is going to participate in organizing and conducting different kinds of workshops with the LRC, focusing her efforts on women's empowerment.

Amarullah
Very active in the Labor Relief Committee, Amarullah explained to us how some organizations are using this catastrophe for their own profit. Not only are they making a business of people's misery but they are also getting a good name out of it. “A Turkish organization came to our village and brought some shelters, they have put up 300 of them until now. According to their plan, they were to be equipped with air conditioning, that was without thinking that there is almost no electricity supply now in the village [the electricity supply in Pakistan, even before the flood was not constant].”
I was invited into one of the boiling hot metal shelters. Amarullah later explained to me why they were planning to hold a demonstration against the Turkish organization: “Those shelters were made in Turkey and then imported by air. The price of only one of them is 7000 USD, this is more than 600 000 PKR! Do you have any idea what these families could have done with that money? They could easily have built a very good house and still have enough money to restart their lives!”

The emergency situation the country is facing has revealed the courage and the commitment of many, but unfortunately it has also revealed the opportunism of others who, in their contemptuous disregard for human life, do not hesitate to exploit the most vulnerable. Boat owners charging unbelievable amounts of money in order to rescue animals and goods, pharmaceutical companies finding in relief organizations a good way to get rid of their expired medicines, for “a very good price”, the list is far too long to be mentioned here... Unexpectedly, I came back from Pir Sabbaq very optimistic. I am optimistic because I have met self-reliant, very strong, committed people. They were not desperate so why should I be? They were not begging for help so we will not give them alms. The people I have met were just ready to work hard for themselves and others to get back on their feet, it is therefore our duty to support them in their efforts. Let us follow their example and support them in any way we can.

Cindy Zahnd

Monday, September 27, 2010

Report: Work with trade union in District Nowshehra (Pir Sabaq)

25-Sept-2010

Pir Sabaq union council is situated on the bank ofKabul River. The population of union council is about 35000. Pahar Mazdoor Union (Stone CrushingWorkers Union) was established and registered with Labor Department Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa province few years earlier. Now the union has 1400 membership in the area. The stones are used for making marbles and for the construction of the buildings.

During the recent catastrophic floods, the Pahar Mazdoor Union (PMU) workers are playing a vital role for providing relief and rehabilitation work in the Pir Sabaq area. On the third day of the floods, PMU called a meeting to organize the workers of the union for flood relief. They decided to join Labour Relief Campaign committee and started relief works.

Two weeks earlier, some local effectees told to the Labour Relief Committee members that a local landlord of this area is hiding 10 relief goods truck and keeping them in his house. The committee decided to take an action that we will recover these trucks and will distribute among the flood victims through the Labour Relief Committee. They organized some 500 local workers and community people and raided the landlord house, where he was hiding the relief goods.

Police was also there for the protection of the landlord. But the comrades of PMU and LRC didn’t show any weakness before the police. They raised slogans and continue shouting against the landlord and their protectors. Finally they succeeded to get in and brought the relief goods into labour relief campaign camp and distributed among the victims.

IN another incident, the Turkish Red Crescent with the help of Turkish organization Hurreyat launched a project of shelters in the area. They chose an area to set up the camps that was about two kilometer away from the Per Samba village. And they started the shelter camp there. Because of the distance of the shelter camp from the village, the people of Pir Sabaq had problems to live in these shelters. They wanted to rebuilt their houses and to go on foot two kilometer away from the village daily was difficult for the locals. LRC decided to demand for stopping making shelters over there and organized some demos and interviewed to some local channels also. This put pressure on the Turkish organization and they agreed to stop making shelters in a distance place. The locals demanded that they should provide the shelters on their own house land. Now negotiations are going on with the Turkish organization.

Labor Relief Campaign with the help of trade union organized the demos in front of District Coordination Officer (DCO) office Nowshehra twice and demanded for fare distribution of relief goods and also exposed the involvement of the DCO with local landlords and industrialists that was paving the way for corruptions in relief works.

Now PMU with the help of National Trade UnionFederation and Labour Party Pakistan is to organize demos for the restoration of their jobs. The Pahar Mazdoor Union workers are working in local area hills. The mine owners have  closed the mines. For the last two months the workers are jobless because they were working on daily wages. Now they are starting campaign against the mines owner and lease holders.

These are the few successful stories of LRC in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa province during the last few weeks.

Now the trade union of the area fully involved in a relief works with the labour relief campaign. 
Farooq Ahmad
Coordinator
Labour relief Compaign KP