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On Nov. 3, the government of Pakistani military dictator Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule, suspended the constitution and imposed a Provisional Constitutional Order. Musharraf cited "rising Islamist militancy" and "growing judicial interference in government functioning" as the reasons for the effective martial law. He also dismissed the entire Supreme Court. Among the judges removed was Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, a judge that Musharraf had sacked earlier in this year, only to be forced to reinstate him in response to large protests.
Military forces quickly surrounded the Supreme Court and detained the judges. They have been held under house arrest with their communications cut off. Pakistan's security forces ruthlessly attacked demonstrators, led by lawyers protesting the imposition of martial law. Thousands of lawyers, activists, trade unionists, human right advocates, opposition party figures and others have been detained. The military government placed severe restrictions on the press. A dozen news stations were taken off the air. Even broadcasters from imperialist countries like the BBC and CNN were cut off.
The day before the imposition of martial law, engineers of Pakistan International Airlines went on strike, demanding a wage increase and an improvement in working conditions. The strike caused the cancellation of 92 flights, both local and international. There is an upsurge in labor struggles, particularly among the workers of water and power, telecommunications, railways, the garment industry and others. In recent months, different segments of the Pakistani population have been in motion in opposing the dictatorship, a most worrisome prospect for Musharraf and his U.S. backers. Pakistan has a history as a client state since the formation of the country in 1947; its rulers have been an indispensable part of imperialist policy in the region.
Privatizations and downsizing have lost Pakistani workers thousands of jobs and plunged them deeper into poverty. Indicating his priorities, in his proclamation of the necessity of emergency rule, Musharraf made reference to: "constant interference in Š economic policy, price controls, the downsizing of corporations."
The situation is critical. APTUF decided to launch a campaign against the brutal act of the ruling government and on November 14, 2007 APTUF observed "Black Day" all over the Pakistan and held protest gate meetings. Workers wore black badges and bands, shouted slogans against the government: No martial law!, Go Dictator Go!, Restore constitutional rights!, Release the judges, lawyers, political activists, labor leaders and human rights activists!
Workers wanted to hold protests outside the factory gates, but heavy contingents of police and intelligence agents stopped the workers from coming out from the factories. Police also threatened to go inside the factories, charging with batons and throwing tear gas.
To prevent confrontations, the office bearers of the trade unions told workers to hold meeting inside the factory premises. Some employers in different provinces issued charge sheets to the office bearers who held protest meetings in the factory premises. APTUF contacted all the affiliated unions requesting that they send the names of workers who had been charge sheeted so that the federation could take proper remedy to redress the workers' grievances.
Police threatened union office bearers not to hold meetings in the future, otherwise the cases under 16 MPO would be registered. Police officials said that due to the emergency rule no meetings could be allowed.
GR, RJ, and others spoke on this occasion and strongly condemned the emergency rule that suspended the constitution and imposed a Provisional Constitutional Order that dismissed the entire Supreme Court. Speakers also condemned the government for its actions to arrest judges, lawyers, trade unionists and human right activists, political leaders, and to ban freedom of speech and expression. Speakers stated that Our struggle is a Just struggle for the people and and for social liberation against the Musharraf regime and US Imperialism. Speakers said that it is a shameful act of management to charge-sheet workers who participated in the protest; they also said that our struggle will continue till the acceptance of our demands.
APTUF calls on all members of the society to strongly condemn the brutal act of the government against lawyers, trade unionists, journalists, human right activists, and called to show solidarity with those who are experiencing repression.
APTUF calls upon national trade unions, organizations, human rights lawyers, journalists to urge the government to lift the emergency rule, respect human rights and allow the people to exercise their right to elect their representatives.
Workers demand:
- Worker should give all the facilities to workers such as workers' education funds, or marriage grants for workers' daughters.
- Anti labor amendments should abolished.
- Release all the arrested judges and reinstate them in their jobs.
- Released all the lawyers, trade unionists and political activists.
- Lift the ban on TV channels, which is immoral and illegal; it is a denial of freedom of expression.
- Immediate restoration of the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the judges of the Supreme and High Courts who have not signed Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).
in this critical situation, Pakistan Workers Confederation-Punjab called its Executive Body meeting on November 18th at 4:00 PM.
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ENDORSERS ON THE APPEAL FOR THE RELEASE OF FARID AWAN,
GENERAL SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE
ALL PAKISTAN TRADE UNION FEDERATION (APTUF)
AND ALL THOSE IMPRISONED IN PAKISTAN
(Signatures gathered as of Nov. 15, 2007
Join us in expanding this protest campaign.
Please endorse the appeal below
(following the updated list of signatories)
Afghanistan:
Left Radical of Afghanistan (LRA)
Bangladesh:
Bangladesh Jatiyo Sramik Federation, BJSF
Jatiyo Sramik Federation, JSF
Brazil:
CUT, Central Unica dos trabalhadores (United Confederation of Brazil Workers)
BERZOINI Ricardo, M.P, president of PT, Workers Party
Felicio Joao Antonio, CUT International Secretary
POMAR Valter, secretary to international relations, PT
SOKOL Markus, member of the PT directorial board
Turra Julio, member of the CUT Executive Commission
Burundi:
STUB, Burundi University Workers Free Union
NKUNZIMANA Paul, president of the STUB
Cameroon:
MBILLE Martin, national secretary, Free CGT, on a personal capacity.
France:
SNUDI Force Ouvrière, National Primary School Teachers Union
SN-FO-LC, National Secondary School Teachers Union
CGT DIT of EDF-GDF, Public Energy Computer Service Workers section of Hauts-de-Seine, 92
Kermin Jean-Charles, Secretary of the CGT DIT of EDF-GDF section of Hauts-de-Seine, 92
FO Federation of regional Public Sector Employees
SIMONNIN Michèle, General Secretary, FO Federation of regional Public Sector Employees
SNUDI FO Primary School Teachers Union of Ardennes, 08
FO Local Union of Eure-et-Loir, 28
Executive Board, CGT Town Employees of the city of Dreux, Eure-et-Loir, 28
FNEC FP FO, Public Sector Employees, Eure-et-Loir, 28
CGT Regional Union of Post-Office Employees of Eure-et-Loir, 28
FO Local Union of the city of Dreux, Eure-et-Loir, 28
CGT Union, Hospital Section, city of Dreux, Eure-et-Loir, 28
FO Union, Hospital Section, city of Dreux, Eure-et-Loir, 28
Public Sector Building Workers Union, FO DDTE-FP, Local Union of Eure-et-Loir, 28
Social Security Workers Union, FO, Local Union of Finistère, 29
SNPRESS-FO section of Western Britanny University, city of Brest, 29
Local union FO of Gironde, 33
SNUDI FO, Primary school teachers union of Gironde, 33
MODEF Small farmers trade union, Local union of Herault, 34
CGT Local Union of Health and social aid sector of the city of Dôle, 39
FO Local Unions of Haute-Loire, 43
SN-FO-LC, National Federation of College Teacher Unions, section of the city of Reims, 51
SNUDI FO, Primary School Teachers Local Union of Rhône, 69
FO Workers union of Health services, Local Union of Rhône, 69
FO Rhodia Operations section, city of Saint-Fons, 69
FO Section of the Hospital of Vinatier, 69
CGT Local Union of the city of Annecy, Executive Committee, Haute-Savoie, 74
FO Social Aid Workers Union, Local Union of Haute-Savoie, 74
FO section of the CRAMIF, National Social Security Union, Local Union of Ile-de-France, 75
CGT section of the CRAMIF, National Social Security Union, Local Union of Ile-de-France, 75
CGT Local Union, city of Mureaux and its suburbs, 78
SNUDI FO, Primary School Teacher Local section of Vaucluse, 84
SNUDI FO, Primary School Teacher Local section of Yonne, 89
SN-FO-LC, College Teacher Union, Local section of Yonne, 89
FO-COM, Post-office and Telephone Union, Local section of Yonne, 89
FNEC-FP-FO, State Employees, Local section of Yonne, 89
FO section of Gustave Roussy National Institute for the Treatment of Carcinoma (IGR), 94
WIDMER Florence, Secretary of FO section of Gustave Roussy National Institute (IGR), 94
URSAFF section, Social Security Employees Union CGT-FO of Seine-St-Denis, 93
Bureau of the SDOSSAF-FO, Social Security Employees Union of Seine-St-Denis, 93
Bureau of the Social security Family Allowances Fund CGT-FO of Seine-St-Denis, 93
SN-FO-LC, College Teachers Union of Val d'Oise, 95
SINGER Claude, Secretary of SN-FO-LC of Val d'Oise, 95
FO Local Union of Val d'Oise, 95
DELIGEY Gisèle, public school worker, city of Bègles
LAFON Bruno, EDF-GDF employee, city of Bordeaux
NOYEL Alain, primary school teacher, city of Bègles
RUIZ Lydia, hospital worker, city of Bègles
VENTURE Jean-Luc, teacher, trade unionist, city of Bègles
ZIMMERMAN Carol, college teacher, city of Bègles
ALLIOT Marie-josé, physician
ANH TUAN Bui, physician
BIZIEN A., professor, physician
BUGE Marie-Thérèse, médecin
CHABERNAUD Jean-Louis, physician
DEBAT Martine, physician
DEBAT Pierre, physician
DELON J., physician
DOGUET MH, physician
DZIOMBA S, physician
LAGIER M., physician
LAPORTE J-P, médecin
LE BIDEAU M., médecin
LEGUÉRÉ O., médecin
LEMONNIER Marie-Paule, physician
NUGUES F, médecin
PARAIRE François, physician
RIVIERE Pierre, physician
ROBEL Paul, médecin, syndicaliste
SALVAING Pierrette, physician
TOMINEZ G., physician
VENET C., physician
Workers Party (PT) section of the city of Rouen (76)
Great-Britain:
QUEEN M. Nat, Dr, Queen University and College Union, on a personal capacity
PHILLIPS Nick, BECTU , on a personal capacity
BOWMAN Glenn, University of Kent, Canterbury
RYAN Graham, ATL , on a personal capacity
DENIS Andy, City University, London
Marino Joe, General Secretary, Bakers union, BFAWU, on a personal capacity
Findlay Jeanette, University of Glasgow
Arnott Mike, Dundee Trades Union Council, on a personal capacity
Shepherd Ruth, trade unionist, University of Manchester
Greagsby Anne, Cardiff
Karmi Ghada, Dr, University of Exeter
Bhatia Zarina, Birmingham
DYERS C, Barnstable & District Trades Union Council, on a personal capacity
PETERS Helen, UCU Open University, on a personal capacity
MOTT Henry, TGWU, on a personal capacity
Germany:
Bunz Kerstin, ver.di, RKK, city of Köln
Frey Henning, SDP, city of Köln
KIRSCHNER Bernd, ver.di, city of Köln
KISSELS Uli, SPD OV, Lindenthal, city of Köln
KRUPP Gotthard, SPD, Workers Commission, SPD, Berlin, public service workers union Ver.di
RINGE Herbert, IGM, Mercedes Benz, city of Köln
RÖSER Ingo, ver.di, PR RKK, city of Düren
SCHÜSTER H.W., (SPD) Workers Commission (AfA), city of Düsseldorf
Social Democratic Party (SPD) Workers Commission (AfA), city of Düsseldorf
Guadeloupe:
Guadeloupe General Workers Union, UGTG
GAUTHIEROT Raymond, General secretary, UGTG
Apatout Serge, Guadeloupe General Workers Union, UGTG
FABERT Robert, ATPC
LAPITRE Jocelyn, Travayé é Péyizan
India:
Vasudevan N, coordinator of the Trade Union Solidarity Committee, TSUC, Bombay
WFTU Asia-Pacific regional bureau
Mahadevan H., general secretary, WFTU Asia-Pacific Region
Italy:
Adduci Nicola, teacher, Torino
Algostino Alessandra, CGIL, Torino
Ascoli Davide, researcher, Torino University,
Bertasi Monica, teacher, Caronno-Varese
Brandellero Luigi, worker
Carrettoni Lorenza, former shop-steward Vittuone, CISL, Milano
Chieffa Antonella, shop-steward RSU CISL-school Abbiategrasso, Milano
Colombini Elena, shop-steward RSU-CISL-school Magenta, Milano
Colombo Andrea, secretary of the school trade Union CISL, Torino
Croce Ugo, International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples
Daniele Gabriella, shop-steward RSA CGIL-Trade employees, Torino
Faraggiana Giorgio, reseacher, Torino University
Fenocchio Angela, teacher, Torino
Glisoni Maria, employee
Grego Daniele, shop-steward RSU CISL-Ecole, Torino
Guglieri Giovanni, shop-steward RSU-UIL-Chimici
IANNI Bianca Maria, directorial board, Fiom CGIL, Parma
LANAVE Cecilia, reseacher, CNR, Bari
Masciavè Nella, teacher, Torino
Meli Diego, secretary UIL- Torino e Piemonte
Mondon Luisa, member of the executive committee of the school union UIL, Torino
Montanari Guido, trade unionist, CGIL, Torino
Pian Alberto, CGIL, Torino
Roberti Roberta, member of the national board of CGIL-FLC, Parma
Roseo Marcella, teacher, Torino
ROVELLI Dario, steelworker, shop steward, RSU CGIL ,Metalmeccanici,
Sala Maria Grazia, shop-steward RSU CGIL-school, Milano
Varaldo Lorenzo, member of the executive committee, UIL-school, Torino
Ventre Vanna, editorial board of " Tribuna Libera ", Torino
Viotto Maria Grazia, shop-steward RSU CGIL-School, Torino
Zangarini Claudio, film director, Torino.
Bottale Piero, trésorier national UIL-Ecole
Totaro Beppe, part time worker, ATM-Milano
Vicino Beniamino, member of the leadership UIL-School, province of Torino
Esposito Elena, shop-steward RSU-Cobas, Bologna
Poggio Claudia, member of CISL-School, Acqui, Alessandria
Lombardi Rossella, teacher, Milano
Mauritius:
CHOOLUN Mohammad Saleem, Government teachers' Union, Port-Louis, Mauritius
Philippines:
Labor Party
Sénégal:
SOW Bayla, General Secretary, SUTTAAAS
Spain :
Aguilera Rafael, trade unionist, UGT, General Workers Union
Arrizabalo MONTORO Xabier, Economy Professor, University, Madrid
CCOO section of John Deere Iberica
DE BLAS Jesùs, trade unionist UGT, Telefónica
Executive board of the UGT FSP public service employees of Leganes, Madrid
GARCIA Paloma, General Secretary, Yell Publicidad Section, CCOO
Gonzalez Luis, trade unionist, CCOO
Novoa Lopez Jose Antonio, UGT Fez Vitoria trade union
RIVILLA Maria, worker, Ensenansa, UGT
Yell Publicidad Section, CCOO
Switzerland :
FIASTRI Marzia, Public Services Trade Union, SSP, Geneva
Geneva Trade Union Action Committee, CGAS
Switzerland National Union of Public Services, Health, Social and Parapublic sector, SSP
Public Services Teachers Trade Union, SSP, Geneva
ROBERT Max, president of the Public Services Teachers Trade Union, SSP, Geneva
Sri Lanka:
Maliyagoda Jayaratna, president of the LGSU, Lanka General Services Union
United-States:
BOHN Diana, AFT, Campaign for Labor Rights, Berkeley, Calif., for id. only
BRADSHAW Larry, Chief steward, Paramedic Chapter, SEIU Local 1021, San Francisco, Calif, for id. only
BRESLAU Margaret, Chair, Coalition for Justice, Blacksburg, Virginia, for id. only
COLVIN Paul, International Typographical Union, retired San Francisco, Calif.
DARLING Jean Siegfried, Rev. Peoples Church of Chicago, Ill.
DUNCAN Larry, co-producer Labor Beat TV, Chicago, Illinois, for id. only
FINAMORE Carl, president, Air Transport employees, IAMAW Local 1781, Calif., for id. only
GALLIE Denis, UAW Local 325, St Louis, Mo., for id. only
GOLDBAUM Nathan, Chicago Teachers' Union, for id. only
HARRIS Mark T., journalist, Bloomington, Ill.
HERRERA Laura D., Senior Legal Assistant, co-ordinator, Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal, San Francisco, Calif., for id. only
HEYMAN Jack, member, Exec. Board, ILWU Local 10, San Francisco, Calif., for id. only
HIRSCH Fred, member Exec. Bd., Plumbers and Fitters, Local 393, San Jose, for id. only
IRMINGER Robert, Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific/ILWU, delegate Labor Council, San Francisco, Calif., for id. only
KAIHATSU Chris, Marxist.com, Chicago, Ill., for id. only
KVITKY Zev, SEIU Local 2007, for id. only
MESSICK Jerry, AFSCME, Norman, Oklahoma, for id. only
OSMER Chloe, student, UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif.
PROPHET Mary, Co-Chair, CTA Peace and Justice Caucus, USLAW, Berkeley, Calif., for id. only
ROGALIN Suzanne, USLAW, Labor Committee for Peace and Justice, Berkeley, Calif., for id. only
SALEMME Tim, Chicago Students For a Democratic Society, for id. only
SASSON Michael David, Former president Coalition of University Employees, Local 3, Oakland, Calif., for id. only
SCARR Carolyn, Program coordinator, Ecumenical Peace Institute/CALC, Berkeley, Calif.
SCHOENMAN Ralph, co-producer Taking Aim, WBAI Radio-New York Vallejo, Calif.
SCHWARTZ Bob, AFSCME Local 31, retired Chicago, Ill.
SHAHMORADI Azizeh, Anti-imperialist former political prisoner/activist, Berkeley, Calif.
SHONE Mya, co-producer Taking Aim, WBAI Radio-New York Vallejo, Calif.
SOMBURU Kwame M.A., retired school teacher, Somerville, Mass.
STINSON Timothy, labor rights activist, McLoud, Calif.
THOMAS Clarence, national co-chair, Million Workers March Movement, Oakland, California
UNGAR Roselva, United Teachers of Los Angeles, Calif., for id. only
VANN James E., Oakland Tenants Union, Calif., for id. only
WEBER C.T. California State employees Assoc. Region 3 Director, for id. only
WOHLFORTH Nancy, International Secretary Treasurer, OPEIU, Washington DC, for id. only
WORTH Ann, Display and Allied Crafts Local 510, Berkeley, Calif., for id. only
WRIGHT Judith G, C.T.A., San Jose, Calif., for id. only
International
ILC, International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples
UITA, International Agricultural, food industry and hotel workers' union
------------------
SIGN-ON EMERGENCY PROTEST LETTER
(Please fill out endorsement coupon below)
Attention:
General Pervez Musharaff
President of the Republic of Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan
Mr. Musharaff:
We, the undersigned trade unionists and activists from all around the world, call upon you to lift the State of Emergency in Pakistan and to free all the detained union leaders, lawyers and political activists -- including Mr. Farid Awan, Assistant General Secretary of the All Pakistan Trade Union Federation (APTUF).
We have been informed by leaders of APTUF that Farid Awan was arrested in Karachi on November 4, together with dozens of activists who were marching in front of the Press Club in Karachi to demand an end to the imposition of the Emergency and Provisional Constitutional Ordinance, which suspended basic democratic, human and labor rights and imposed curbs on all the media.
We also were informed that Farid Awan and the others were transferred to the Karachi District Jail, where they have been treated brutally by the police.
We call for the immediate lifting of the State of Emergency and the restoration of all elementary democratic rights, beginning with the release from prison of Farid Awan and all the jailed activists.
Sincerely,
cc. Pakistani Embassy in Washington, DC
-----
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