International Day of Actions for Rivers Be Free and Restore the Almighty River Indus! New Strategy for Struggle against Dams

International Day of Actions for Rivers
Be Free and Restore the Almighty River Indus!
New Strategy for Struggle against Dams offered by PFF

“People of Sindh may revise their present protest strategy against the dams.
Since a long, they have been struggling against the constructions of upcoming new dams on River Indus to be planned by the rulers but now they should raise the voice not only against the construction of new dams but instead, they also should struggle to break the present dams already constructed on upstream of entire Indus River System and get the confined Almighty Indus untied and restored its indigenous youthful flows and tides.” This surprising new strategy against the dams was loudly ratified by hundreds of men & women activists at the conclusion of colorful celebration of “International Day of Actions for Rivers” organized by Pakistan Fisher-Folk Forum held on 14th March in the middle of waterless and deserted sandy embrace of great River Indus near the venue of Al-Manzar Jamshoro downward of Kotri Barrage’s closed gates towards downstream.
PFF’s Chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah in his concluding speech at the occasion initiated that new and surprising offer of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum for people and civil society’s ongoing struggle against the construction of dams. Fishermen’s national social movement Pakistan Fisher-Folk Forum celebrated the day with gathering of hundreds of men & women fisher activists. A large number of notified water activists representing various civil society organizations also joined the Day. Muhammad Ali Shah said PFF’s new offer of struggle with which the constructed dams would be intended to break was supposed to be seen impossible in our country but it could surely be done and it was being done in all over the world and same should be done any how to restore the indigenous surged flows of Almighty Indus River. He said the movement for breaking the dams had been launching everywhere in the world including United States of America. Instead of their ongoing defensive position, people should come now in the offensive position, he added. Notified intellectuals Karamat Ali of PILER said at the occasion that people should join their struggle with the ongoing struggles of all the countries of South Asian region because their Indus comes and passing through more than one country. He said the rulers of only one country did not confine it but the rulers of India, Nepal and Pakistan jointly made it as hostage by construction of hundreds of dams and canals. The movement against dams was also carried on by the people of India, Nepal & Bhutan, he added. Prof. He emphasized that people of all over South Asia must be come together in that regard. Ali Arsalan, Sharafat Ali, Mustafa Baloch the Regional Manager SPO, Kashif Bajeer, Noor Muhammad Bajeer, water expert Nazir Memon, Tahira Ali Shah, SAWFCO chief Suleman Abro and all the presidents of PFF district units joined and addressed the ceremony.
The Chairperson of PFF called the participants to get the consensus by showing up their hands to put their pressure on the rulers for breaking one of the present dams. He asked: “What would be the first dam you want to break?” Thousands of hands were raised up to show their unanimous consensus for launching movement to break Tarbella Dam at first instance.
Before the commencement of conference, hundreds of men and women wearing multi-colored clothing jointly made a long zigzag human-chain across inside of the waterless river to demonstrate their solidarity, tribute and love with their beloved mother “Sindhu”, Almighty Indus.
After that women led by the leadership of Pakistan Fisher-Folk Forum including its Chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah put so many red roses in Sindhu to express their cheer of love and to give the assertion of sincerity and sacrifice.
In between the intervals of speeches during all over the event the various folk singers including Sodho Jogi, Moula Bux malah, Azad Mirwahi and Aziz Malah had been offering a number of folk songs and melodies bursting with devoted admiration of motherland; its beautiful rivers, mountains, forests, innocent people and soil’s natural panoramas. Songs were also filled with the cries of distresses of deprived natives & mobilizing messages and excitements for struggle. The youthful guys had passionately been thrilling & dancing on the stimulating rhythm of the folk music.
The end Saeed Baloch General Secretary thanks and closed conference.