Caravan Report

1 | P a g e 2 | P a g e Background: If there is ever to be a Third World War, many believe it will be fought over water, with South Asia serving as the flashpoint. The region houses a quarter of the world’s population and has less than 5 percent of the global annual renewable water resources. Low water availability per person and high frequency of extreme weather events, including severe droughts, further increase the vulnerability of the area. Any disturbance by the country upstream is likely to impact life downstream. Also, as heightened interests to tame and exploit a river through dams, canals and hydel projects suggest, this region will be a zone of constant confrontations in the future. The vision 2025 of Pakistan clearly indicates that the existing flow of water of rivers will be diverted through building various mega schemes for water conservation for energy and agricultural purposes. Such decisions and policies based on vested political interests will further aggravate the socio-economic conditions of deltaic communities of the Sindh. A large water share of the River Indus is utilized by Punjab Province. Resultantly, the lower end of the River Indus that used to be known as “Mighty River Indus” has been reduced to the level of canal shows only tiny inconsistent storage of water. Such a massive destruction of the River Indus has led to the death of livelihood of the deltaic people. The Pakistan government has been planning to build more dams on Indus River. The PFF believes that the indigenous people along with the other natural habitat have the basic right to use the land and water first. Therefore the water must not be deemed as a private property such privatized of water must not be done at the expense of the poor deltaic communities. The PFF believes that by the building dams and barrages, the government has diverted the natural flow of the River Indus, destroyed the rivers’ ecology, and displaced the helpless people whose livelihood depends on the rivers and delta. The bio-diversity of the Indus Delta has been destroyed in the name of national interest and sustainable development. 3 | P a g e Introduction: For nearly two decades now, the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum has been striving for the socio- economic, political and cultural rights of the indigenous fishing and peasant communities of Pakistan. At international level, the PFF carries out the rights-based work through the platform of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) as the PFF currently hold its chair. In continuation with the PFF’s yearly campaign for the restoration for River Indus and Indus Delta, the PFF organized Sindh Peoples Caravan. The Sindh Peoples Caravan was divided into two major phases as mentioned hereunder; MOBILIZATION AND AWARENESS RAISING PHASE: The Mobilization and awareness raising phase started from Faburary 10, 2017 and continued till March 6, 2017. This month long phase included sensitization and political education with regards to the need of a socially organized movement for a strong resistance against the violation of basic right to water. Around 20000 people from fishing and peasant villages, academia, religious leaders, government officers, media and others were sensitized throughout Sindh province. The associate members of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, activist and leaders actively participated in the mobilization phase of 4 | P a g e Sindh Peoples Caravan. During the phase people were invited to actively participate during the next major phase of Sindh Peoples Caravan. SINDH PEOPLES CARAVAN-THE CAMPAIGN PHASE: The second phase included a series of political actions across the province Sindh. This phase started with a week-long campaign from March 7, 2017 and culminated on March 14, 2017 in the form of a massive people’s assembly that will be participated by around 5000 people from fishing and peasant communities, civil society members, academia, government officials, media and other stakeholders. The 2017 Sindh Peoples Caravan was carried out under the theme; PROTECTION OF OUR RIVERS & DELTA. Specific Objectives of Sindh Peoples Caravan included: • To raise awareness among the communities about their water rights and responsibility • To strongly demand from IRSA for reserving at least 35 MAF water downstream of Kotri for regeneration of Indus Delta • To explore the factors damaging health of water bodies and rivers and therefore diminish life and livelihood of indigenous people • To extend strong voice for improved water governance and environment flows of rivers • To sensitize people for no more dams, no more diversions and no more cuts on Indus River in future Caravan in Action: Participants: 100 participants including nearly 50% females participated in the caravan. The participants from fishing and peasant communities belonged to various districts of Sindh. The participants included young and the old alike. Launching Ceremony & Tribute to River Indus: The Launching ceremony of Sindh Peoples Caravan was held at Dhoolha Darya Khan in district Thatta. A number of stakeholders from media, academia, NGOs, civil society members and the participated in the Caravan. Coupled with the program a flower tossing ceremony was also held at the Banks of River Indus to pay homage to the river. 5 | P a g e Leading the caravan, PFF chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah highlighted the issue of Indus Delta and River Indus. The unique initiative in the shape of the Caravan was launched to mobilize people at the time when the country, especially Sindh, is experiencing political, social and economic crisis. The ceremony aimed at highlighting livelihood issues of fisherfolk and peasants who were considered extremely vulnerable to the grave issue of sea intrusion and other climatic changes. The ceremony reiterated the demand for stopping proposed mega water projects of the River Indus like dams and diversions. Previous projects should be modified to restore natural flow of the river and it should be ensured that water reached its ultimate destination, the Indus delta, he said, adding that tail-end area people had also right over that water. The participants and speakers of the launching ceremony believed that fishing and peasant communities have the courage to lead a social movement in the shape of various public actions to protect natural resources like forests, rivers, canals, sea and wetlands and pressurize the government for the fresh water flow of 35 MAF downstream Kotri in the River Indus & Indus Delta. 6 | P a g e Groups of Caravan Participants: At the end of the launching ceremony of Sindh Peoples Caravan, the participants were organized into groups with equal participation of males and females. The groups were oriented about the proceedings of the Caravan by Muhammed Ali Shah who led the action from the front. Team leaders from among the groups were also selected so that discipline throughout the movement could well be ensured. Sujawal Town: Welcoming the Caravan with the rally: The 100 people Sindh Awami Caravan was warmly received by hundreds of local residents with flowers and garlands of roses at the entrance of Sujawal, the district headquarter. The hosts than accompanied the Caravan to the Press Club Sujawal in rally. Media briefings and speeches were held at the Press Club. Afterwards, the Caravan left for next planned destination. Sujawal, Choohar Jamali: The locals from the Choohar Jamali, one of small markets of district Sujawal awaited Sindh peoples Caravan so that they can give them a candid reception. The locals including community people, students, teachers and other members of civil society rallied along with participants of the Caravan in the market. The procession then gathered at crossroad for speeches. Leaders of the PFF body district Sujawal and others accompanying the Caravan spoke on the occasion. Muhammed Ali Shah, who led the Caravan thanked them for warm welcome and reminded them of the struggle that they were carrying out for the protection of River Indus & Indus Delta. 7 | P a g e Village Haji Ali Muhammad Theamore: Haji Ali Bux Theamore from the Village Ali Muhammad Theamore received Sindh Peoples Caravan while it was on its way to Jati Town early in the evening. Haji Ali met with Muhammad Ali Shah and rest of the activists of the Caravan. Night Stay: The Caravan stayed in Jati after a full day of rallies and speeches highlighting the struggle for the protection of rivers and delta. Meetings, Orientation and Discussions: On March 8, 2017 the social activists of Sindh Peoples Caravan gathered in Jati office in the morning. Chairman Muhammed Ali Shah conducted the orientation session. Feedback and discussions for the previous day and on the next destinations and activities were held in participatory way. Public Reception, Rally and Speeches in Jati: Soon after the morning meetings of the Caravan participants were over, the participants got ready for a march in Jati central market. The participants boarded off the buses at a distance of around one Kilometer from the Jati central market and walked in processions towards the market where hundreds of community members awaited their arrival with flowers and gifts of Ajrak in their hands. In the midst of the flower, resounding slogans, and songs of freedom for rivers and delta, the Caravan was received by the poor masses that danced and cheered at the slogans of the struggle. 8 | P a g e The local activists, PFF district organizational leaders spoke of the issues that the coastal belt of Sindh faces. Noor Muhammed Theamore raised voice against the multinational companies that destroying the deltaic area of the coastal districts. Chairman Muhammad Ali Shah bluntly spoke against the dams and their destructive impact on river Indus. The procession of the Caravan started marching ahead in Jati after the speeches for water rights. Electrified at the voice of slogans and songs for the rivers and rights, the Caravan veterans kept moving to the entrance of Jati town where they planned to leave district Sujawal for the next destination.

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