Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following Press Release from the Pakistan Fisherfolk forum and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research.
Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong
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FORWARDED PRESS RELEASE
AHRC-FP-050-2012
A Forwarded Press Statement by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission
PAKISTAN: Organisations call upon people to resist land grabbing and stand for their rights to water, seeds and land for food sovereignty
( Hong Kong, October 16, 2012) Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research held a rally on 11th October, 2012 in Badin District, Sindh on peasant rights under the week of action on food sovereignty.
The rally was participated by large number of peasants both male and female members. The representatives of civil society also participated in the event.
Rally was led by Pakistan Fisher folk Forum Chairman, Mohammad Ali Shah, senior Vic chairperson Tahira Ali Shah. Rally started from DCO Chowk Badin. After walking along all the main roads and bazaars of Badin city such as media offices, the Press Club and & Chamber of journalist Badin, it converted into a Public Gathering presided by Mohammad Ali Shah , Vic Chairmen Tahira Ali shah District President Mohammad Mithan Mallah from PFF Badin and Ishaque Soomro of PILER.
The increasing issue of peasants specially land rights issue creating food insecurity is the failure of state. It was stressed by the speakers.
Muhammad Ali shah said that the peasantry in Sindh is not well protected under Sindh Tenancy Act, 1950. Due to frequent amendments it failed to cater to the needs and fulfill the desires of the peasant class and consequently rendered it ineligible to face the growing challenges of the world and globalization as a whole. Moreover, the relationship between the peasantry and the land lord had never remained ideal and further more the ineffective implementation of tenancy law has further ruined the situation.
Bureaucratic influence favoring the feudal class out of way has caused a serious blow as far as genuine rights and needs of peasants are concerned. Peasants of the Sindh province are particularly faced to range of issues such as forced eviction of the tenants from the lands, faulty mechanism of peasants registration at revenue department, flawed tenancy law coupled with inefficient functioning of tribunal concerned resolving the disputes between the land owner and a Peasant, injustice with peasants at time of division, and unequal share of crop yield, lack of law enforcement and faulty composition of tribunal inflict huge losses in the socio-economic life of a peasant in Sindh.
Moreover the situation after recent disaster (Super flood) and denial of required attention from authorities urges to think on and plan for sustainable solutions of issues related with peasant class. Hence in this connection Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum/PILER organized a Rally at since its inception, Pakistan Fisher folk Forum/PILER has been raising voice against every cause of that deadly devastation of the natural livelihood resources in entire deltaic coastal belt of Sindh.
Speakers demanded genuine land reforms.
The participants demanded:
1. Resist land and water grabbing now!
2. Immediate land reforms
3. Regularization of peasants
4. Women’s rights to land and resources!
5. Genuine agrarian and aquatic reforms now!
6. Assert the rights of Seeds and Water!
7. Stop Hybrid seed business
8. Protect communities from disasters
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