Action Page

Candle Light Vigil in memory of Slain Journalist Saleem Shahzad‏

2011-06-08T22:35:00.000-07:00

Nothing can be more disheartening, than news of someone’s brutal murder. Saleem Shahzad, a veteran Pakistani journalist and a loud voice of reason was first abducted and than killed by the forces of dark in Pakistan.

We never met Saleem Shahzad personally but we the members of Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians here in Vancouver like many others living in Pakistan and hundreds of thousands of conscious people elsewhere in this globalised and interconnected world were saddened, alarmed and got angry over this brutal killing.

Saleem Shahzad who had just turned to 40 was a true professional investigative journalist, who wrote extensively on issues pertaining to global security, especially on Pakistani military and religious militant movements in the Muslim world.

To protest the brutal killing of Saleem Shahzad, a father, a husband, a brother, a son and a journalist, and to wish to see Pakistan a socially progressive, politically democratic and secular country, than please come and join the Canadian Pakistanis and South Asian diaspora here to lit a candle and show support to slain Saleem Shahzad's family, Pakistani journalists and the voices of reason of civil society in Pakistan.

The program is as under:

Candle Light Vigil in the memory of slain journalist Saleem Shahzad

Hum jo Tareak rahoon mein marey gaye/ We, who were slain in unlit pathways..." Faiz

7.30 pm, Sunday, June 12, 2011

Holland Park
(Corner of King George Boulevard and Old Yale Road)
Surrey, BC.

Organized By
CPPC (Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians)

Endorsed By
FVPC (Fraser Valley Peace Council)

SANSAD (South Asian Network for Secularism & Democracy)

Candle light vigil in the memory of jallianwala bagh massacre‏

2011-04-15T12:10:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to invite you at the candle light vigil being organized in the memory of the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Surrey. On 13th April, 1919 the supporters of passive resistance movement were brutally murdered by the British troops at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. The massacre on the Vaisakhi day became a turning point in the freedom struggle. A candle light vigil will be held in the memory of the victims on April 15 at 7 p.m. at the Holland Park, 135 A Street, Surrey across the King George Sky train station. The event is being jointly organized by the Fraser Valley Peace Council (FVPC) and Indo Canadian Workers' Association (ICWA) in partnership with Radio India. We would appreciate if you can confirm your presence. Satirist turned political activist from India Bhagwant Mann will also be in attendance.
For more information contact

Surinder Sangha, President ICWA
604-813-0952

Shahzad Nazir Khan
FVPC
604-613-0735
Gurpreet Singh
Radio India
778-862-2454
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Condolence meeting & memorial service in memory of Late Shahbaz Bhatti‏

2011-03-29T19:37:00.000-07:00

Violence in the name of religion is on the continuous rise in Pakistan. Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, minister for minority affairs and the only Christian in Pakistan's cabinet, was gunned down in Islamabad on 2nd March, 2011, more or less just two months after the brutal assassination of Punjab's governor Salman Taseer. Immediately after the Pakistani Taliban claimed the responsibility of Bhattí''s killing and justified it on the grounds of the minister suggesting changes in Pakistan's infamous blasphemy laws.

Fraser Valley Peace Council in association with the Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians and the Indo-Canadian Workers Association is holding a condolence meeting and memorial service in sad remembrance of Shahbaz Bhatti. Please join us to express solidarity with voices of tolerance and reason in Pakistan.

The program details are as under

'Silence is not an option, Silence means more Deaths...'

Condolence meeting and memorial service

In remembrance of Shahbaz Bhatti,

Slain Pakistani Christian leader, Pakistan's Federal minister for minority affairs

Chief Guest:         Shuja Alam, Consulate General of Pakistan.
Guest Speaker:   Ujjal Dosanjh, MP
Speakers:
Gurpreet Singh (Director News, Radio India Ltd)
Dr. Saif Khalid (Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians)
Surrinder Sangha (Indo Canadian Workers Association)
When:   Sunday, 3rd April, 2011 (1.30 pm sharp)
Where: Newton Library, 13795 70 Avenue, Surrey, BC V3W 0E1

We the organizers strongly believe that the silence is not the option and time has come that the individuals and groups who believe in peace, freedom and human dignity should stand up and make their voices heard against the hard-liner, extremist and violent minority within Pakistan and elsewhere in the world.

In Solidarity and peace,

Members and supporters of
Fraser Valley Peace Council

Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians (Vancouver Chapter)
Indo-Canadian Workers Association

Repeal the Blasphemy Laws! Candlelight Vigil, Vancouver March 15/11

2011-03-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Protect Human Rights of Minorities in Pakistan!
Repeal the Blasphemy Laws!
Candlelight Vigil to Commemorate the Lives of all Victims of Blasphemy Laws
March 15th, 6pm
Outside the Pakistani Consulate, 510 W. Hastings Street
(corner of W. Hastings and Richards, across from SFU Harbour Centre)
As you may know, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was recently assassinated for speaking out against the Blasphemy Laws and the resulting ongoing persecution of religious minorities. This was preceded by the assassination of the Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer who had taken up the cause of Aasia Bibi, a poor Christian labourer who is currently imprisoned awaiting death by hanging under the Blasphemy Laws. Countless other Pakistanis continue to be persecuted because of these heinous legal relics of the Zia dictatorship in conjunction with a dangerous and unconscionable appropriation of Islam, deliberately distorted for the sole purpose of political or economic gain.
We believe that it is the Blasphemy Laws themselves and the resulting persecution and violence that are un-Islamic and contrary to both the tenets of Islam and the founding principles of the nation. We stand in solidarity with the struggles taking place in Pakistan to ensure equality for ALL Pakistanis and feel that we must speak out strongly where other voices are being threatened into silence through harassment and direct death calls.
Through this vigil, we want to begin building alliances with sister organizations and supportive individuals for effective lobbying to put pressure on the Government of Pakistan, the Chief of the Army Staff, and the leaders of all political parties to repeal the Blasphemy Laws, and to abolish religious extremism and vigilantism. We believe, the Blasphemy Laws must be repealed in order to protect Muslim and non-Muslim lives, minority rights, freedom of speech and democracy.
Please stand with us. This issue requires your urgent support.
Protect Human Rights of Minorities in Pakistan!
Repeal the Blasphemy Laws!
Candlelight Vigil to Commemorate the Lives of all Victims of Blasphemy Laws
March 15th, 6pm
Outside the Pakistani Consulate, 510 W. Hastings Street
(corner of W. Hastings and Richards, across from SFU Harbour Centre)
Please join us in a candlelight vigil to
- Protest the persecution of all minorities within Pakistan
- Push for the repeal of the blasphemy laws and all laws that discriminate against all minorities
- Honour all lives lost to extremist violence including the recent assassinations of Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti
- Support the release of Aasia Bibi and all those now being victimized by discriminatory laws
For more info
repealthelaws@gmail.com
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=150985018294095
Organized by
Ad Hoc Group For the Repeal of Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan
Vancouver, BC
..

Sat 1pm: Rally in Vancouver for Egypt democracy‏

2011-02-04T19:10:00.000-08:00

Join a Vancouver rally

For democracy and justice in Egypt 
Saturday, Feb. 5

1pm

At Vancouver Public Library square

Robson & Homer) 
 
Organized by the Lower Mainland's Egyptian community.

Supported by the StopWar.ca Coalition.
 
Facebook event:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=179316532104900
 
'Vancouver rally planned':
http://www.straight.com/article-373213/vancouver/vancouver-rally-planned-support-antimubarak-protesters-egypt
 
Further info 
After the fall of Ben-Ali in Tunisia and the revolution against Mubarak in
Egypt, the revolution is spreading to all Arab countries. The peoples'
movement is basically a call for justice. It is a peaceful struggle for
economical and social development via Democracy.
 
The defiant and deceptive actions of Mubarak with the pathetic stand of
some of the western governments in general and the US in particular
vis-a-vis the legitimate aspirations of the Egyptian people are
unacceptable and counter-productive.
 
We call on the whole free world to support the movement of democratization
in Egypt and the rest of the Arab region. We call on Canada to live up to
the values of freedom, justice and democracy.
 
The struggle has begun. Canadians will continue supporting the brave
people of Egypt who are now at a very critical point in their struggle for
JUSTICE and democracy.

Understanding recent attempts to silence criticism of Israel in Canada

2011-01-31T17:45:00.000-08:00

SPEAKING UP FOR PALESTINIAN RIGHTS:
Understanding recent attempts to silence criticism of Israel in Canada

Free Public Forum
Saturday February 12, 6 pm
SFU Harbour Centre
515 W. Hastings St.

Featured Speakers:

Jenny Peto
- Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (Toronto)

Omar Chaaban
- Solidarity with Palestinian Human Rights – UBC

Brian Campbell
- Seriously Free Speech Committee

Over the past few months, two student organizations at UBC have come under attack for their efforts to oppose Israel’s illegal siege of the Gaza Strip.

The situation at UBC began when the Social Justice Centre approved a donation for the Canadian Boat to Gaza at the request of the UBC chapter of Solidarity with Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR). The
Canadian Boat is part of an international effort to break the illegal siege on Gaza and expose the Canadian government's unjustified support for Israel.

Since then, zionist groups on campus have engaged in a vicious campaign to both block this donation from being granted and to undermine the work of these student groups.

This campaign is part of a wider strategy by pro-Israel groups in Canada to undermine solidarity work for Palestine. As recently documented by Al Jazeera, attacks on Palestinian-solidarity organizations and individual activists are escalating in Canada, from the defunding of the Canadian Arab Federation and KAIROS to the
banning of British MP George Galloway from entering Canada, the condemnation of Israeli Apartheid Week, and the attempts to ban Queers Against Israeli Apartheid from the Toronto Pride Parade.

This repression is happening at a time when, around the world, opposition is growing to the ongoing human rights violations and war crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people. It is also happening at a time of increased repression within the state of Israel itself, where efforts by both Palestinian citizens of Israel and Israeli human rights organizations to challenge Israel's apartheid policies are increasingly criminalized.

Join us for a free public forum to discuss why these attacks on free speech are happening in the context of Palestine support work in Canada, and what we can do to stop them.

About Jenny Peto:
A member of the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid in Toronto, Jenny has a Master's degree in Sociology and Equity Studies from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Her Master's thesis, entitled ‘The Victimhood of the Powerful: White Jews, Zionism and the Racism of Hegemonic Holocaust Education,’ has been at the centre of a recent firestorm generated by pro-Israel groups in Canada. Jenny has faced personal attacks in the media and her work was condemned by three members of the Ontario
legislature. These attacks have been met with a powerful response from hundreds of outraged individuals and from a wide range of organizations including Faculty for Palestine, PACBI, IJV, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) and the Committee on Academic Freedom of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA).

For more background information please check out the following links:
http://www.socialjusticecentre.org/
http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/faultlines/2010/12/2010121125638329942.html
http://pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=1429&key=peto
http://www.caiaweb.org/committees/faculty-for-palestine/

Sponsored by the SFU Teachers Support Staff Union

For more information:
organizer (at) tssu.ca

U.S. hands off North Africa and the Middle East!

2011-01-29T10:08:00.000-08:00

Long live the Egyptian people’s struggle!

Join demonstrations in solidarity with the Egyptian people

A seemingly all-powerful military, police and media apparatus, that has had the support of the U.S. superpower for decades, is crumbling before the even greater strength of a united people who have first conquered fear and may now push the dictator’s regime into the dustbin of history.

This struggle began in Tunisia in December when a young street vender chose to burn himself rather than face humiliation. It has spread to Algeria, to Yemen, to Jordan and now to the largest and most central state in the Arab world, Egypt. This country, with its rich ancient history and its impoverished population -- with more than 80 million people it is the largest of the North African states -- is now finding its way back into center stage of world events.

Ever since the Camp David agreements, Egypt has been a client state of U.S. imperialism. The U.S. has supplied Egypt with $1-2 billion in military aid over the years since the 1979, second only to the aid the U.S. gives to the Israeli settler state. This aid includes the tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and live ammunition supplied the Egyptian riot police.

In turn, Hosni Mubarak’s Egypt supported the U.S. war against Iraq in 1991; it blocks the entrance to embattled Gaza today. Because Egypt is the lynchpin of U.S. imperialist foreign policy within the Arab countries, the current revolutionary crisis in Egypt raises the possibility -- even the likelihood -- that Washington will attempt to intervene in Egyptian internal affairs, with a good chance that this will mean military intervention.

Tonight (Jan. 28) President Barack Obama -- realizing the Mubarak dictatorship’s days were numbered, made some statements distancing the U.S. from the 30-year-old regime in Egypt. We should remember, however, that in his State of the Union message, President Obama spoke of the U.S.’s alleged role spreading ‘democracy,’ but he pointedly avoided mentioning Egypt.

As an anti-war and anti-imperialist solidarity group working within the United States, the International Action Center pledges to help build actions in solidarity with the people of Egypt and of all of those countries where people are struggling for democracy and freedom from imperialist domination. Thus the IAC will join the actions of the Egyptian community in the United States protesting the Mubarak regime, and it will build actions to demand that the U.S. desist from intervening in Egyptian affairs and especially that there be no military intervention against the Egyptian people.

Over the next days there are demonstrations planned in cities around the U.S. to show solidarity with the Egyptian people’s struggle. The IAC calls on its supporters to join these actions.

SEE LISTING OF ACTIONS AT iacenter.org/actions/egyptdemos

Light a candle to say ‘NO’ to extremism this Sundayin Surrey BC

2011-01-27T09:58:00.000-08:00

In remembrance of Salman Taseer and thousands of others who died due to religious intolerance.
And to honor those who were victims of hideous religion-based persecution in Pakistan.
Light a candle to say ‘NO’ to all kinds of extremism
Live and let live!
Please join in for a Candle light vigil for peace, social justice and equal rights for all religious and ethnic communities in Pakistan.
Date: Sunday, 30th January 2011
Time: 4.00 pm (sharp)
Venue: Holland Park, (King George Blvd & Old Yale Rd), Surrey, BC
Candles will be supplied. Just bring in match box/lighter, your family, friends and yourself.
For more info please contact
Dr. Saif Khalid at 778-987-0813
OR
Amal Rana at 604-764-6257
Organized by
Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians (CPPC), Vancouver chapter.
Please Join us for peace this Sunday.
In solidarity,
Shahzad Nazir Khan

Download PDF Poster
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ALL OUT Jan 25 National Day of Action to Stop FBI Repression and Grand Jury Witch Hunts‏

2011-01-24T15:05:00.001-08:00

Join the National Day of Action to Stop FBI Repression and Grand Jury Witch Hunts on Tuesday, January 25, 2011

SIGN THE UPDATED ONLINE PETITION AT http://www.iacenter.org/stopfbi

More than 45 cities will participate in National Day of Actions!
Every day we are getting reports of more cities that are joining the January 25th National Day of Action Against the FBI and Grand Jury Repression. You can view the list of places by clicking here. If you are organizing a protest that is not listed, send the info to StopFBI@gmail.com .

The Protest Call
The call for the protest notes, “In December 2010, under the direction of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, the FBI delivered nine new subpoenas in Chicago to anti-war and Palestine solidarity activists. Patrick Fitzgerald’s office is ordering the nine to appear at a Grand Jury in Chicago on Jan. 25.”

The call continues, “In response we are calling for protests on Jan. 25 across the country and around the world to show our solidarity. Hundreds of organizations and thousands of people will be protesting at Federal Buildings, FBI offices, and other appropriate places, showing solidarity with the nine newly subpoenaed activists and with all the activists whose homes were raided by the FBI.”

Fitzgerald’s expanding web of repression already includes the 14 subpoenaed when the FBI stormed into homes on September 24th, carting away phones, computers, notebooks, diaries and children’s artwork. In October, all fourteen activists from Chicago, Minneapolis, and Michigan decided to not participate in the secret proceedings of Fitzgerald’s Grand Jury. Each signed a letter invoking their Fifth Amendment rights. However, three women from Minneapolis - Tracy Molm, Anh Pham and Sarah Martin - are facing re-activated subpoenas. They are standing strong and we are asking you to stand with them – and with the newly subpoenaed nine activists – by protesting Patrick Fitzgerald and his use of the Grand Jury and FBI to repress anti-war and international solidarity activists.

Defend free speech!   Defend the right to organize! Opposing war and occupation is not a crime!
**Tell Patrick Fitzgerald to call off the Grand Jury!
**Stop FBI raids and repression!

The Committee to Stop FBI Repression has posted a template for local press releases on our web site. Protest organizers should feel free to use any part of it that is helpful to your press work. It is available here(scroll down the main body of the page to the “Resources” section) .

Regional Conferences:
Anti War activism and International Solidarity are not crimes!
The Committee to Stop FBI Repression is putting together regional organizing conferences to push back against the government repression.

    * San Francisco - February 12
    * Chicago - February 12
    * New York - February 19
    * Triangle Area, North Carolina, February 19

Hold this date - the locations and times for the regional conferences will be announced soon.
A leaflet about the conferences (that you can distribute at your January 25 protest) is available here.

Thank you,

Tom Burke,
for the Committee to Stop FBI Repression
The Committee to Stop FBI Repression
www.StopFBI.net - stopfbi@gmail.com -  612-379-3585
petition: http://www.stopfbi.net/petition
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India Lifeline to Gaza: Asian People's solidarity for Palestine

2011-01-16T19:43:00.000-08:00

PRESS INVITATION

MEET THE FIRST EVER INDIAN ACTIVISTS TO ENTER GAZA-PALESTINE

Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malayasia, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, UK!!

Venue: MARATHI PATRAKAR SANGH, AZAD MAIDAN, MUMBAI.

Time: 4.30 pm

Date: January 19, 2011/ Wednesday

Chased by Israeli warships and warplanes in the Meditteranean Sea... held hostage in a cargo ship off Egypt without passports.. the amazing story of grit and determination of more than a 120 activists from 17 Asian countries, over 50 of them from India alone, who entered Gaza (Palestine) last week after a historic month-long 8,000-km bus-ride through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.

The 56 member Indian delegation set of from the shrine of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, New Delhi on the 2nd of December, 2010 & returned home on the 8th of January, 2011. With them, they took life-saving medical equipment, food items, clothes and other aid worth $1 million, weighing 170 tons, for the people of Gaza who continue to suffer unspeakable hardships for nearly five years under the inhuman, genocidal & illegal blockade imposed by the Zionist Israeli-US regimes.

Through its journey, the caravan was greeted by tens of thousands of people and their leaders that included, among others, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hamas chief Khalid Mishal and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, as well as by the leadership of the Baath Party in Syria.

You are cordially invited to meet the delegates at the press conference and share their experience through our testimonies, as well as their rich collection of videos and photographs that documented the historic journey.

The activists included a diverse range of representation from from across the spectrum of people's movements. The delegation from Mumbai itself included Brigadier Sudhir Sawant, West Asian expert and peace activist Feroze Mithiborwala, Arif Kapadia, Pooja Badekar, Shadab Siddiqui, Ajay Gharat, Amruta Waske & Rahul Soni. Student activists from Vidyarthi Bharati in Mumbai, and students from JNU and Jamia Millia comprised the Indian contingent. The Indian delegates hailed from UP, Punjab, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Jharkhand, among others.

KISHOR JAGTAP, Vice-President, Awami Bharat, NAZAR MAHDOO, President-Maharashtra, Jamat-i-Islami, ANAND SWAROOP VERMA, Editor, Teesri Duniya, JYOTI BADEKAR, President, Marathi Bharti, ASLAM GHAZI, Secretary-Maharashtra, Jamat-i-Islami

SYED IFTIKHAR AHMED, Writer & Editor, FARID KHAN, Indians for Justice, ZUBAIR AZMI, Indians for Justice, SARFARAZ ARZU, Editor, Hindustan Daily, MERAJ SIDDIQUI, Muslim Intellectual Forum, ASIF KHAN, Journalist, FAROOQ MAPKAR, Awami Bharat, SQR ILYAS, Spokesperson, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, ZAFARUL ISLAM KHAN, Editor, Milli Gazette,

ANIL CHAUDHARY, President, Insaaf, YAWAR ALI QAZI, Shivrajya Party, SHYAM SONAR, Republican Panther, SUDHIR DHAWALE, Republican Panther, MULNIWASI MALA, Phule-Ambedkar Vichar Manch, JAGDISH NAGARKAR, Phule-Ambedkar Vichar Manch, GAUHAR IQBAL, President, Palestine Solidarity Forum, TITO EAPEN, Awami Bharat, WINNIE THOMAS, Awami Bharat, TASLEEM RAHMANI, President, Muslim Political Council of India, ASLAM KHAN, Vice-President, AISA, SHEHEEN, Solidarity Youth Movement, BISHRUDDEN SHARQI, ex-President, Students' Islamic Organisation, BADAR KHAN, Student, Jamia Millia Islamia, KHUSHBOO KUMARI, Student, JNU, MOHAMMAD IRFAN, General Secretary, Subjects Association, Nelson Mandela Centre, Jamia Millia, SALEEL CHEMBAYIL, Student, Jamia Millia

Feroze Mithiborwala

SUPPORT THE LUCASVILLE PRISONERS HUNGER STRIKE! Sign the Petition

2011-01-13T11:07:00.000-08:00

SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION to the Obama Administration and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction NOW!
at http://www.iacenter.org/prisoners/lucasvillehungerstrikepetition

ADD YOUR NAME TO THE STAUGHTON LYND OPEN LETTER that will be delivered to OSP Warden David Bobby at 1 p.m. on Saturday. A listing of all of the signers of this online petition will also be delivered.

And Sign online to tell President Obama, Attorney General Holder, Ohio Governor Strickland, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Mohr, the Ohio State Penitentiary Warden Bobby, the Ohio Legislature, the Ohio Congressional Delegation, Congressional leaders, U.N. Secretary General Ban, and members of the media you want the Lucasville Hunger Striking Prisoners removed from 23 hour a day lockdown, their consitutional rights respected and their wrongful convictions overturnedl

click HERE to sign both the ONLINE PETITION and the Open Lettter.      click HERE to view petition text and the text of the open letter.

Note from Staughton Lynd:
Date: Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Subject: Open Letter in support of OSP hunger strikers
Friends,
       Greetings.
       Below please find the text of an Open Letter signed by more than 500 persons in support of the OSP hunger strikers, Keith LaMar, Siddique Abdullah Hasan, and Jason Robb...
       The Open Letter has been signed by famous persons like Noam Chomsky, by individuals in Ireland, Norway, Italy, Greece and Nicaragua, and by ordinary Ohioans.
       The letter will be delivered to OSP Warden David Bobby at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 15, the anniversary of Dr. King's birthday. If you live near enough, you are invited to join us at the church parking lot next to the OSP entrance driveway for this purpose
       A small delegation will carry the letter into OSP to leave with the visitation officer.
       If different ones of us have been able to visit with the Three on Friday and Saturday morning, we will report on those conversations.
       On Saturday the Three will have been going without food for almost two weeks.

Staughton Lynd

On Jan. 3, four prisoners held in Ohio State Penitentiary, a supermax prison started a hunger strike to protest the highly restrictive conditions they have been subjected to since they were moved to the prison in 1998. These prisoners are Bomani Shakur aka Keith LaMar, Siddique Abdullah Hasan, Jason Robb and Namir Abdul Mateen aka James Were, all received death sentences as the result of wrongful convictions on charges related to the 1993 prison uprising in Lucasville, Ohio. Hasan and Robb helped negotiate the settlement of the Lucasville uprising, preventing a massacre such as the one in Attica in 1971 which resulted in more than forty deaths.

In his statement of his reasons for the hunger strike Bomani states, "..we have undergone penalty on top of penalty, kept from fully participating in our appeals, from touching our friends and families, denied adequate medical treatment.we who have been sentenced to death must be granted the exact same privileges as other death-sentenced prisoners." ..To see Bomani's complete statement, go to iacenter.org.

The four prisoners have been kept on the highest security designation, "Level 5" throughout their time at OSP. Their solitary confinement is conducted in such a way as to ensure no contact with other prisoners even during showering and "recreation". The doors to their cells are sealed to prevent sound transmission. During visits, they are shackled even while confined within a booth, separated from their visitor by bullet-proof glass, while other death-row prisoners can have contact with their visitors through an opening in the glass.

The good behavior of these prisoners is selectively ignored during their annual reviews by prison authorities because of their alleged crimes during the Lucasville prison rebellion. They were told in writing that "your placement offense is so severe that you should remain at the OSP permanently or for many years regardless of your behavior while confined at the OSP."

While the appeals of the prisoners are at different stages, the results have not been encouraging. Attorney Staughton Lynd, who has done exhaustive investigation of their cases, has documented a clear pattern of deliberate use of perjury by prisoners who were rewarded for their false testimony. Key witnesses have recanted their testimony in recent years. The prisoners have maintained their innocence on all rebellion-related charges.

Please sign on to the online petition below to support the prisoners' right to have their security levels fairly evaluated and reclassified so that they may participate in the small privileges afforded to other death row prisoners. The harsh treatment of these prisoners violates their constitutional rights and is widely recognized as not only inhumane but as a form of torture.

The wrongful convictions which placed these men on death row must also be set aside. The charges must be dropped entirely or the men must receive new trials.

SIGN ONLINE AT http://www.iacenter.org/prisoners/lucasvillehungerstrikepetition NOW!

SAMPLE PETITION TEXT:

To: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Mohr, Ohio State Penitentiary Warden Bobby, Ohio Gov. Strickland, Attorney General Holder, President Obama

cc: Ohio Legislature, Ohio Congressional Delegation, Congressional Leaders, U.N. Secretary-General Ban, members of the media

Stop the 18 year 23 hr a day lockdown of Lucasville Uprising prisoners! Overturn their wrongful convictions!

On Jan. 3, four prisoners held in the supermax Ohio State Penitentiary began a hunger strike to protest the highly restrictive conditions they have been subjected to since they were moved to the prison in 1998. These prisoners are Bomani Shakur aka Keith LaMar, Siddique Abdullah Hasan, Jason Robb and Namir Abdul Mateen aka James Were. They all received death sentences as the result of wrongful convictions on charges related to the 1993 prison uprising in Lucasville, Ohio. Hasan and Robb helped negotiate the settlement of the Lucasville uprising, preventing a massacre such as the one in Attica in 1971 which resulted in more than forty deaths.

In his statement of his reasons for the hunger strike Bomani states, "..we have undergone penalty on top of penalty, kept from fully participating in our appeals, from touching our friends and families, denied adequate medical treatment.. we who have been sentenced to death must be granted the exact same privileges as other death-sentenced prisoners."

The four prisoners have been kept on the highest security designation, "Level 5" throughout their time at OSP. Their solitary confinement is conducted in such a way as to ensure no contact with other prisoners even during showering and "recreation". The doors to their cells are sealed to prevent sound transmission. During visits, they are shackled even while confined within a booth, separated from their visitor by bullet-proof glass, while other death-row prisoners can have contact with their visitors through an opening in the glass.

The good behavior of these prisoners is selectively ignored during their annual reviews by prison authorities because of their alleged crimes during the Lucasville prison rebellion. They were told in writing that "your placement offense is so severe that you should remain at the OSP permanently or for many years regardless of your behavior while confined at the OSP."

While the appeals of the prisoners are at different stages, the results have not been encouraging. Attorney Staughton Lynd, who has done exhaustive investigation of their cases, has documented a clear pattern of deliberate use of perjury by prisoners who were rewarded for their false testimony. Key witnesses have recanted their testimony in recent years. The prisoners have maintained their innocence on all rebellion-related charges.

I support the prisoners' right to have their security levels fairly evaluated and reclassified so that they may participate in the small privileges afforded to other death row prisoners. The harsh treatment of these prisoners violates their constitutional rights and is widely recognized as not only inhumane but as a form of torture.

I also call for the setting aside of the seriously flawed convictions which placed these men on death row. I ask that you use your influence to ensure that the charges be dropped entirely or the men receive new trials.

Justice now for the Lucasville Uprising Hunger Strikers!

Sincerely
(your signature appended here)

Over 800 signers including 60 organizations have sent over 220,000 messages to officials.

SIGN ONLINE AT http://www.iacenter.org/prisoners/lucasvillehungerstrikepetition NOW!

Text of the Staughton Lynd Open Letter:

TO: Warden David Bobby, Ohio State Penitentiary
Director Gary Mohr, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
Chief William A. Eleby, Bureau of Classification Ohio Department of Rehabilitation

We the undersigned call for an end to isolated "supermax" imprisonment in Ohio State Penitentiary. We are especially concerned about the cases of Siddique Abdullah Hasan (Carlos Sanders); Bomani Shakur (Keith LaMar); Jason Robb; and Namir Abdul Mateen (James Were), who are on hunger strike in protest against their conditions of confinement. We understand that they have taken this course of action out of total frustration with their hopeless situation at OSP.

These men have been kept in isolation continuously since they were sentenced to death for their alleged roles in the 11-day rebellion at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) in Lucasville, Ohio in April 1993.

Hasan and Robb were two of the three men who negotiated a peaceful surrender in that rebellion and their actions undoubtedly saved lives.

Throughout their more than seventeen years of solitary confinement, these four men have been subjected to harsher conditions than the more than 150 other men sentenced to death in Ohio. The conditions under which they are confined prevent them from ever being in the same space as another prisoner. Judge James Gwin of federal district court noted with amazement during the trial of the prisoners' class action, Austin v. Wilkinson, that death- sentenced prisoners at the highest security level in the Ohio State Penitentiary wanted to be returned to Death Row!

The four have suffered "Level 5" top security isolation since OSP was opened in 1998. This essentially means that they live in 23-hour lockup in a hermetically sealed environment where they have almost no contact with other living beings - human, animal, or plant. When released from their cells for short periods of "recreation" they continue to be isolated from others. During occasional visits, a wall of bullet-proof glass separates them from their visitors. They remain shackled, despite the fact that they could do no harm in these secure spaces. A few booths away, condemned men from death row sit in cubicles where a small hole is cut from the security glass between them and their visitors. They can hold their mother's hand. With a little effort, they can kiss a niece or a grandchild. They do not have to shout to hold a conversation.

Hasan, LaMar, Robb, and Were experience annual "security reviews" but their outcome is predetermined.

The prison authorities have told them, in writing: "You were admitted to OSP in May of 1998. We are of the opinion that your placement offense is so severe that you should remain at the OSP permanently or for many years regardless of your behavior while confined at the OSP."

The lack of a meaningful review violates the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution. Keeping men in supermax isolation for long periods clearly violates the Eighth Amendment prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. Moreover, the emphasized words above directly violate the explicit instruction of the Supreme Court of the United States in Wilkinson v. Austin.

These men are being held in solitary confinement permanently, until they are put to death by Ohio or their convictions reversed. This not simply long-term solitary confinement, but in essence permanent solitary confinement.

Other prisoners sentenced to death for alleged crimes comparable to or worse than those for which Hasan, LaMar, Robb, and Were were found guilty have been moved off of Level 5: to Death Row, to Level 4 at OSP, and out of OSP entirely. One of the four Lucasville defendants asks, "Must I have a mental breakdown in order to get off Level 5?"

We demand that the Ohio prison authorities remove these four men from Level 5 "supermax" security and that they end the cruel practice of long-term isolated confinement.

Jules Lobel, Vice President, Center for Constitutional Rights, Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh
Christine Link, Executive Director, ACLU of Ohio
Noam Chomsky, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
David Goldberger, Professor Emeritus of Law, Ohio State University
Barbara Ehrenreich, author, academic, activist
Mike Ferner, National President, Veterans for Peace
Immanuel Wallerstein, Academic and writer
Boaventura de Sousa Santos, University of Coimbra, Distinguished Legal Scholar, University of Wisconsin
Edward S. Herman, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Prof. Gabriel Palmer-Fernandez, Director Dr. James Dale Ethics Center, Youngstown State University
Andrej Grubacic, Author and lecturer at San Francisco Art Institute
Peter Linebaugh, Historian, University of Toledo, Ohio
Michael Albert, founder, Znet
Professor Thomas Mathiesen, KROM - The Norwegian Associarion for Penal Reform, Oslo, Norway
Jana Schroeder, Former American Friends Service Committee Ohio Criminal Justice Program Director
Jesse Lemisch, Professor of History Emeritus, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY
Denis O’Hearn, Professor of Sociology, Binghamton University - SUNY
Ellen Kitchens, CURE-Ohio, Inc.
Christian G. De Vito, Associazione Liberarsi – Italy
Lorry Swain, migrant rights activist, Ohio
Robert W. McChesney, Gutgsell Endowed Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jason Jaffery, Development Director ACLU of Ohio Foundation
Kathie Izor, Colorado CURE Board
Raj Patel, author and scholar
Katherine Soltis, Chair, Cleveland Coalition Against the Death Penalty
Ioanna Drosou, Greek Initiative for Prisoners’ Rights
Immanuel Ness, CUNY, editor Working USA
Ron Keine, Asst. Director Witness to Innocence
Carlos Ivan Ramos, Ph.D., Executive Director, Hispanic UMADAOP, Cleveland
Michael Parenti, author and scholar
Veronica Dahlberg, Board member, ACLU Cleveland Chapter
Professor Phil Scraton, Law School, Queens University Belfast
Sam Bahour, Management Consultant, West Bank, Palestine
Bob Fitrakis, Editor, Free Press, Columbus, Ohio
Faye Harrison, Southern Human Rights Organizers' Network
Reverend Dorsey R. Stebbins, Cincinnati, OH
Herbert P. Bix, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, SUNY-Binghamton
John Polanski, ordained minister, Mineral Ridge, Ohio
Judith Stanger, retired teacher, Boardman, Ohio
James Gilligan, M.D., Prof. of Psychiatry and Law, New York University
James E. Ray, ordained minister, Poland, Ohio
Marcus Rediker, Historian, University of Pittsburgh
John Stoffer, Elder of Presbyterian Church, Salem, Ohio
Kathleen McGarry, attorney, New Mexico
Mary Ann Meaker, Ohioans To Stop Executions
Paulette F Dauteuil, The Jericho Movement for PP's/POW
Sarah L. Duncan, retired teacher, Vienna, Ohio
Fr. Joseph E. Mulligan, S.J., Nicaragua
Jim Jordan, assistant for autistic children, Vienna, Ohio
Joe Lombardo, co-coordinator, United National Antiwar Cmty (UNAC)
Andrew Lee Feight, Associate Professor of History, Shawnee State University
Jane Stoffer, retired drug counselor, Salem, Ohio
Margaret J Plews, Arizona Prison Watch
Peter Rachleff, Professor of History, Macalester College, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Lynn Thompson Bryant, Presbyterian pastor, Akron, Ohio

And more than 400 others.

SIGN ONLINE AT http://www.iacenter.org/prisoners/lucasvillehungerstrikepetition NOW!

About the IAC | Donate | IAC Books & Resources | Contact Us | Sign the Petition!

International Action Center
c/o Solidarity Center
55 W 17th St Suite 5C
New York, NY 10011
212-633-6646
iacenter@iacenter.org
www.iacenter.org

PAKISTAN: Petition to Chief Justice of Pakistan for Suo Moto action, AHRC

2011-01-13T10:17:00.000-08:00

The AHRC has issued this petition in the solidarity with Citizens For Democracy in their campaign. The petition is addressed to the chief justice of Pakistan for taking Sou Moto action.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you an open letter from Citizens For Democracy to Chief Justice of Supreme Court Of Pakistan.

Please support their campaign by sending the letter here:
<http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/support.php?ua=AHRC-CPL-001-2011>
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PAKISTAN: Government must file FIRs for attempted murder against the religious leaders calling for the killing of innocent persons‏

2011-01-10T22:04:00.000-08:00

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal General: AHRC-UAG-001-2011

10 January 2011
------------------------------------------------------
PAKISTAN: Government must file FIRs for attempted murder against the religious leaders calling for the killing of innocent persons

ISSUES: Blasphemy law; religious intolerance; death threats; impunity; no rule of law

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission received information that on 9 January 2011 according to police officials over 40,000 people gathered in the streets of Karachi, the capital of Sindh Province for a rally. The speakers of the rally announced over their public address system that anyone showing support for the amendments to the blasphemy laws should face the same fate as Salman Taseer. No officer of the law enforcement agencies or government officials including at least 3,000 members of the police, who were present at the meeting area, moved to silence them or did not take any action despite such death threat was made in in public. It has created serious death threats to the ordinary people of Pakistan.

CASE DETAILS:

On 9 January 2011, a rally was organised by Tahaffauz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat, which is a conglomerate of religious parties, opposed to amendments of the country's blasphemy laws. It is these possible amendments that were behind the assassination of the governor of the province, Salman Taseer by one of his own security guards. The rally, while demonstrating against the amendments also showed support for the assassin, Mumtaz Quadri. "He is a hero and we salute his courage," the speakers declared. It is known that more than 3,000 police officers were present, supposedly to maintain law and order. However, when the speakers announced over their public address system that anyone showing support for the amendments to the blasphemy laws should face the same fate as Salman Taseer no officer or government official moved to silence them. The vast majority of the participants were students from the Madrassas. One of the speakers was a member of the banned organisation, Jamaat-ud-D awa which is banned by both Pakistan and the United States; however, once again, no move was made to prevent him from publically representing this banned organisation.

Mr. Salman Taseer was assassinated by police officer Mumtaz Quadri on 4 January 2010 while the other members of his security detail and regular police officers looked on and took no action. Quadri was able to expend 40 rounds from his machine pistol before placing it on the ground before him and surrendering. The speakers announced that if the government was to prosecute Quadri then thousands of 'Quadris' would emerge from their houses to copy the example of what he did to Salman Taseer. The liberal and progressive elements of society would be particularly targeted and would face the same fate.

In similar fashion to the lack of action by the police and the security detail during and following Salman Taseer's death the government has taken no action whatsoever to curtail the hate speeches and religious intolerance by the fundamentalist. Likewise following the rally of the 9th and despite the fact that the speakers openly called for the death of anyone showing support for the amendments to the blasphemy laws the Provincial government of Sindh has taken no action to file cases of incitement to murder against any of the speakers or organisations involved. In a previous Urgent Appeal by the Asian Human Rights Commission, dated 8 December 2010 we called for the government to prosecute the Muslim leader of Mahabat Khan Mosque, Peshawar who urged his followers and all Muslims to kill Aasia Bibi, offering them a reward of Rs. 500,000.00 for the act. Aasia Bibi is a 45-year-old Christian lady who was sentenced to death by a court for committing blasphemy. Her sentence is unde r appeal.

Mumtaz Quadri has been made a national hero by the Muslim religious leaders and throughout the country posters containing his picture are being distributed proclaiming him as a fighter against liberal and secular ideas and even against the United States who is believed to be behind the move to amend the blasphemy laws.

It was believed that immediately after the assassination of Salman Taseer the government would follow criminal and legal procedure in prosecuting the killer and taking action against the perpetrators of the hate speeches that urged him to commit the crime. However, the government's indifferent attitude regarding religious intolerance has proved it incapable of any sensible action. This is what allowed the rally in Karachi to proceed in turning the country into a narrow minded religious state based on hatred, sectarianism and violence.

Where is the law that should protect the ordinary citizen, be they Muslim, Christian or otherwise from the religious intolerance of one group that declares openly that anyone opposing them is marked for death? Article 9 of the Constitution of Pakistan explicitly states:

Security of person -- No person should be deprived of life or liberty save in accordance with law.

So, where and how is the government enforcing this article? According to Pakistani law anyone threatening to kill another person or inciting a third party to kill another person is liable to be tried for attempted murder.

Section 503 of the Pakistan Penal Code states that it is an offense to: Threaten a person with any injury. It further states that it is an offense to: ... cause that person to do any act which he is not legally bound to do as the means of avoiding the execution of such threat,.......

The government must take advantage of the existence of these laws to rein in any person or party that threatens anyone else with death or harm for whatever reason and bring them before the rule of law. It is vital at this time, when the citizens of the country are living in fear in an extremely volatile environment, that it must show courage. Action must be taken immediately against all of the religious leaders openly advocating murder to any person opposing the ideas and beliefs of the fundamentalists. The Sindh government must instruct the police to file FIRs against the speakers of the religious rally of January 9 who urged their followers and the public in general to kill anyone opposed to the misuse of the blasphemy laws. How is it possible that the killer of an innocent man, the chief executive of the province, is made out to be the hero? What message does this send to society? It is because of the silence of the government that sectarian strife will become rampant in P akistan, not in the months and years to come, but in the days to follow.

The government must ban the distribution and exhibition of any posters portraying the killer, Mumtaz Quadri, as a hero and prosecute him according to the law.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write the letters to the authorities mentioned here urging them to take strong action against the religious leaders who addressed to the rally in Karachi, Sindh, calling for death to the people who are asking for the amendment in the Blasphemy law. Please urge the government to courage to file the cases of attempt to murder against the religious leaders and ban all the posters of killer Mumtaz Qaudri which are portraying him as the hero.

The AHRC writes a separate letter to UN special rapporteur on the religious intolerance calling for his intervention into this case.

To support this appeal, please click here:

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear __________,

PAKISTAN: Government must file FIRs for attempted murder against the religious leaders calling for the killing of innocent persons

Name of victim: Ordinary citizens of Pakistan
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1.Maulana Fazlur Rehman,
Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
2.Mr. Munawar Hassan,
Chief of the Jamat-e-Islami,
3.Sahinzada Abul Khair Zubai,
President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan
4.Maulana Yusuf Qasuri,
Markazi Jamiat Ahl-Hadith,
5.Hafiz Hussain Ahmed,
Jamiat-e-Islam,
6.Hafiz Saeed,
Tanzeem-e-Ilami,
7.Maulana Allah Wasaya,
Majlis-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwat,
8.Qari Hanif Jalundri,
Wafaqul Madaras,
9.Pir Abdul Qadir,
Markazi Jamat Ahle Sunnat,
10.Qari Mohammad Yaqub,
Jamayud Dawa,
11.Mr. Halim Adil Shiekh,
Mulim league Q

Date of incident: 9 January 2010
Place of incident: Karachi, capital of Sindh, PAKISTAN.

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding a rally of Muslim extremists in Karachi on January 9, 2010 where all Muslim leaders threatened the common citizens of the country
to face the same fate as the late governor of Punjab, Punjab, Mr. Salama Taseer faced while cricising the blasphemy law.

It is for my shock that there was more than 3000 police officers and no one has moved to take action against the speakers who were openly threatening to kill and announcing a killer as the hero. No case yet has been lodged against the speakers.

For my knowledge the details of the case are; on January 9, 2011 according to police officials over 40,000 people gathered in the streets of Karachi, the capital of Sindh Province for a rally. The rally was organised by Tahaffauz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat which is a conglomerate of religious parties opposed to amendments of the country's blasphemy laws. It is these possible amendments that were behind the assassination of the governor of the province, Salman Taseer by one of his own security guards. The rally, while demonstrating against the amendments also showed support for the assassin, Mumtaz Quadri. "He is a hero and we salute his courage," the speakers declared. It is known that more than 3,000 police officers were present, supposedly to maintain law and order. However, when the speakers announced over their public address system that anyone showing support for the amendments to the blasphemy laws should face the same fate as Salman Taseer no officer or government of ficial moved to silence them. The vast majority of the participants were students from the Madrassas. One of the speakers was a member of the banned organisation, Jamaat-ud-Dawa which is banned by both Pakistan and the United States; however, once again, no move was made to prevent him from publically representing this banned organisation.

Salman Taseer was assassinated by Quadri on January 4 while the other members of his security detail and regular police officers looked on and took no action. Quadri was able to expend 40 rounds from his machine pistol before placing it on the ground before him and surrendering. The speakers announced that if the government was to prosecute Quadri then thousands of 'Quadris' would emerge from their houses to copy the example of what he did to Salman Taseer. The liberal and progressive elements of society would be particularly targeted and would face the same fate.

I am appalled know that in similar fashion to the lack of action by the police and the security detail during and following Salman Taseer's death the government has taken no action whatsoever to curtail the hate speeches and religious intolerance by the fundamentalist. Likewise following the rally of the 9th and despite the fact that the speakers openly called for the death of anyone showing support for the amendments to the blasphemy laws the Provincial government of Sindh has taken no action to file cases of incitement to murder against any of the speakers or organisations involved. In a previous Urgent Appeal by the Asian Human Rights Commission, dated 8 December 2010 we called for the government to prosecute the Muslim leader of Mahabat Khan Mosque, Peshawar who urged his followers and all Muslims to kill Aasia Bibi, offering them a reward of Rs. 500,000.00 for the act. Aasia Bibi is a 45-year-old Christian lady who was sentenced to death by a court for committing blasphe my. Her sentence is under appeal.

I am shoked to know that Mumtaz Quadri has become a national hero and throughout the country posters containing his picture are being distributed proclaiming him as a fighter against liberal and secular ideas and even against the United States who is believed to be behind the move to amend the blasphemy laws.

It was believed that immediately after the assassination of Salman Taseer the government would follow criminal and legal procedure in prosecuting the killer and taking action against the perpetrators of the hate speeches that urged him to commit the crime. However, the government's indifferent attitude regarding religious intolerance has proved it incapable of any sensible action. This is what allowed the rally in Karachi to proceed in turning the country into a narrow minded religious state based on hatred, sectarianism and violence.

I call upon you that where is the law that should protect the ordinary citizen, be they Muslim, Christian or otherwise from the religious intolerance of one group that declares openly that anyone opposing them is marked for death? Article 9 of the Constitution of Pakistan explicitly states:

Security of person -- No person should be deprived of life or liberty save in accordance with law.

So, where and how is the government enforcing this article? According to Pakistani law anyone threatening to kill another person or inciting a third party to kill another person is liable to be tried for attempted murder.

Section 503 of the Pakistan Penal Code states that it is an offense to: Threaten a person with any injury. It further states that it is an offense to: ... cause that person to do any act which he is not legally bound to do as the means of avoiding the execution of such threat,.......

I urge that the government must take advantage of the existence of these laws to rein in any person or party that threatens anyone else with death or harm for whatever reason and bring them before the rule of law. It is vital at this time, when the citizens of the country are living in fear in an extremely volatile environment, that it must show courage. Action must be taken immediately against all of the religious leaders openly advocating murder to any person opposing the ideas and beliefs of the fundamentalists. The Sindh government must instruct the police to file FIRs against the speakers of the religious rally of January 9 who urged their followers and the public in general to kill anyone opposed to the misuse of the blasphemy laws. How is it possible that the killer of an innocent man, the chief executive of the province, is made out to be the hero? What message does this send to society? It is because of the silence of the government that sectarian strife will become rampant in Pakistan, not in the months and years to come, but in the days to follow.

I also urge that the government must ban the distribution and exhibition of any posters portraying the killer, Mumtaz Quadri, as a hero and prosecute him according to the law.

I look forward to your prompt action to provide substantial and comprehensive policy responses on the freedom of expression and prosecution of the religious Muslim leaders who openly justifying the murder of a governor and inciting the religious bigots to kill to who so ever asking for the amendment in blasphemy laws so that laws should not be misused.

Yours sincerely,

----------------
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
President of Pakistan
President's Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9204801 +92 51 9204801 +92 51 9204801 +92 51 9204801 +51 9214171
Fax: +92 51 9207458
Email: publicmail@president.gov.pk

2.Mr. Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9221596
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk, pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk

3.Dr. Zaheeruddin Babar Awan
Federal Minister
Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs
Government of Pakistan,
R block, Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: 92-51- 9202712 92-51- 9202712 FAX: 92-51-9202541
E-mail: minister@molaw.gov.pk

4. Mr. Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani
Federal Minister for Human Rights
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US AID Building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9204108
E-mail: sarfaraz_yousuf@yahoo.com

6. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
E-mail: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk

6.Mr. Muhammad Ayaz Soomro
Minister for Law, Parliamantry Affairs & Criminal Prosecution Service
Sindh Assembly Building,
Court road, Karachi, Sindh province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9211982
E-mail: secy.law@sindh.gov.pk

7. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
E-mail: info@sindhhighcourt.gov.pk

8. Ms. Nadia Gabol
Minister for Human Rights
Government of Sindh,
Pakistan secretariat, Barrack 92,
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9207044
Tel: +92 21 9207043 +92 21 9207043 +92 21 9207043 +92 21 9207043
E-mail: lukshmil@yahoo.com

9. Inspector General of Police
Police Head office, I. I. Chundrigar road
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9212051
E-mail: ppo.sindh@sindhpolice.gov.pk

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme

Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)

Asian Human Rights Commission

19/F, Go-Up Commercial Building,

998 Canton Road, Kowloon,
Hongkong S.A.R.
Tel: +(852) - 2698-6339
Fax: +(852) - 2698-6367

URL: humanrights.asia
twitter/youtube/facebook: humanrightsasia

Please consider the environment before printing this message.

Demonstration against Blasphemy Laws, Shariat Court's Judgement, Islamabad‏

2010-12-29T12:40:00.000-08:00

As per the unanimous decision in a meeting of Insani Huqooq Ittehad in Islamabad on Dec 23, and a joint announcement made by the Ittehaad in a press Conference in Islamabad the following day, we are holding a demonstration against the unjust laws of blasphemy, for an immediate repeal / amendment to these laws, abolition of Federal Shariat Court (and all parallel structures of judiciary in Pakistan) and calling for an immediate petition from the government against the judgement of the Shariat Court against Women's Protection Bill.

The demonstration will be held

Dec 30, 2010

2 pm

Parade Ground Islamabad

(in front of the D-Chowk Parliament House).

People from all walks of society, academia, media, lawyers, activists, students, political workers, business and professional organizations, trade / labour unions, students unions, minority groups - all who believe in a just society with equal rights for all citizens - are invited to kindly join us in this struggle and come to the demo as your statement of dissent.

Media personalities in this list are requested to kindly ensure the coverage by their respective media house.

Please forward this message generously to your mailing lists and social networking sites. Thanks.

Looking forward to see you on Dec 30th at Parade Ground at 2 pm,

Members of Insani Haqooq Ittehaaad
Socialist Pakistan News
________

PAKISTAN: Appeal to amend the Blasphemy Laws‏

2010-12-21T09:47:00.000-08:00

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-183-2010

To support this appeal, please click here:
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/support.php?ua=UAC-183-2010

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the introduction of a private member's bill to the National Assembly Secretariat that would end the death penalty for blasphemy, curtail abuse of the blasphemy laws for the purpose of harassing and victimising religious minorities and take steps to ensure equal protection for all religions under the law. The bill was introduced by People's Party member of the National Assembly Ms. Sherry Rehman, former federal minister, who said, "The bill amends both the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC), the two main sources of criminal law. The aim is to amend the codes to ensure protection of Pakistan's minorities and vulnerable citizens, who routinely face judgments and verdicts in the lower courts where mob pressure is often mobilised to obtain a conviction."

CASE NARRATIVE
Following the Asia Bibi case, in which a Christian woman was sentenced to death under the blasphemy laws, Ms. Rehman has introduced an amendment to the Pakistan Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure. The amendment would end the death penalty for blasphemy and take steps toward ensuring equal protections for religious minorities under the law in Pakistan.

Currently, extreme militant Muslim organisations may use blasphemy laws as a way to pressure and oppress religious minority groups. So far, the government has failed to protect the lives and property of the minority community. Although there is formal protection in place for religious minorities in the Constitution and although the blasphemy law has made it compulsory that no police officer below the rank of Superintendent of Police can investigate the charges, these statutes are rarely respected.

Religious minority groups in Pakistan remain vulnerable due to the continued use and abuse of blasphemy charges, despite section 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code. The police, who fail to follow the code and who operate under the directives of extremists in the community, must face strong legal action. Charges of blasphemy are still met with the death penalty in Pakistan.

The deliberate institutionalisation of Islam’s status as protected and predominant promoted the perpetuation of religious intolerance by Islamic fundamentalists. According to data collected through different sources at least 1030 persons were charged under these anti-blasphemy clauses from 1986 to August 2009, while over 30 persons were killed extra-judicially by angry mobs or individuals.

Militant Muslim organisations are using blasphemy as a tool as the best way to keep religious minority groups under pressure and even forcibly take land. The State is failing to protect the lives and property of the minority community.

In August 2009 after the attack on the Christian population in Gojra, Punjab province, in which seven Christians were burnt to death, the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani again announced plans to review "laws detrimental to religious harmony" in a committee comprising of constitutional experts, the minister for minorities, the religious affairs minister and other representatives, but the government has again hesitated to initiate change due to their unwillingness to antagonize fundamentalist groups.

To support this appeal, please click here:
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/support.php?ua=UAC-183-2010

Recent cases in Pakistan suggest a criminal collaboration among government authorities, police, and fundamentalist organisations, in which the Muslim clergy, on receiving bribes from land-grabbers in the National and Provincial Assemblies, colluded with local police to expropriate land owned by minorities by bringing allegations of blasphemy against them. The situation is especially worrying in Punjab province after the formation of the PML-N government, which has a record of intolerant policies against Christians and Ahmadis in particular.

SUGGESTED ACTION
The introduction of an amendment in the National Assembly that would limit the abuse of blasphemy laws is a major development in Pakistan and must be supported strongly. Please write letters to legislators, officials, and civil society leaders urging them to support and lobby for this law.

The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of religious minorities calling for his intervention into the misuse of blasphemy law.

To support this appeal, please click here:
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/support.php?ua=UAC-183-2010
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VOTE: Globe and Mail poll on security perimeter‏ between USA and Canada

2010-12-16T11:20:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,
Please take few seconds and vote for a NO on the link below of a Globe and Mail survey. This newspaper survey is about to get a public opinion on whether Canada and the U.S. should go for a more deep collaboration on surveillance and data-sharing in the name of a so-called North American perimeter.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/vox-populi-continental-border-deal/article1835151/?from=1837982

P.S: At this hour 10.15 am PST, the results are;

49% 3143 votes

Yes

51% 3245 votes

A Globe and Mail on-line poll is asking, "Should Canada and the U.S. collaborate more deeply on surveillance and data-sharing in the name of a so-called North American perimeter?"

At this hour, 52 percent (or 2957 people) say yes, while 48 percent (2741 people say no).

To add your voice to the no column, please go to http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/vox-populi-continental-border-deal/article1835151/?from=1837982.

For recent Council of Canadians commentary on this issue, please see these media releases: http://www.canadians.org/media/trade/2010/10-Dec-10.html and http://www.canadians.org/media/trade/2010/09-Dec-10-2.html.

For recent campaign blogs on this, please see the first four blogs at http://www.canadians.org/campaignblog/?s=%22security+perimeter%22.

For documents that outlined this type of plan in the Security and Prosperity Partnership, go to http://www.spp-psp.gc.ca/eic/site/spp-psp.nsf/eng/00055.html and http://www.spp-psp.gc.ca/eic/site/spp-psp.nsf/eng/h_00014.html.
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Palestine Freedom Flotilla Surviver Kevin Neish Speaking in Surrey

2010-11-27T10:12:00.000-08:00

Sunday 28th November

At 2:00 pm

Strawberry Hill Library, Surrey

In 1942, some leading Zionists met in New York to formulate plans for a Jewish state, and from that time the history has witnessed nothing but the brutal and severe war crimes and an organized genocide by zinoist forces of that state on the land of Palestine. The dirty game plans of imperialism generally all over the world and particularly in occupied territories took thousands and thousands of lives of the civilians including a vast majority of women and children.

In 2010, when brutal blockade of Gaza enters the fourth year, people from different faiths, colors and origin decided to make an effort to break and challenge this barricade by taking humanitarian aid under an arrangement of six ships to Gaza in the name of "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" in the month of May, 2010. Five of the ships were apprehended without loss of life or severe injuries. But on the MV Mavi Marmara, clashes broke out after activists resisted the Israeli forces. Nine activists were killed (Eight Turkish nationals and a Turkish-American), and dozens of activists left severely wounded. A peace activist from Victoria, Kevin Neish was among others on MV Mavi Marmara who witnessed all this brutality with his own eyes.

To meet Kevin Neish in person, to know what happened there and to be in solidarity with people of Palestine, Fraser Valley Peace Council is holding a public forum in Surrey.

UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
A public forum on Palestine featuring
Kevin Neish The Canadian survivor of Gaza Freedom Flotilla

Guest Speakers:

Terry Greenberg: Member Executive committee of

Canadian Independent Jewish Voices

Omar Shaban: Student leader at UBC, President of

Solidarity for Palestinian Human

A free event, however we are expecting your generous donations for the 'Canadian Boat to Gaza' project.

Please join us, show solidarity with Palestinian brother/sisterhood and be a part of the world who is against all forms of oppression, discrimination and inequality.

Yours for peace,

Shahzad Nazir Khan

On behalf of Fraser Valley Peace Council

A member organization of Canadian Peace Congress and Canadian Peace Alliance

Stop Drone Attacks, Stop Religious Fundamentalism

2010-10-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Labour Education Foundation (LEF) and South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) are jointly organizing a peace rally “Labour for Peace” at

Shimla Pehari ground Lahore

Thursday, 21^st October, 2010

3:00 pm

Main theme of the rally is

“Stop Drone Attacks, Stop Religious Fundamentalism”.

Hundreds of trade unions and social and political activists will take part in this rally. They will come from different industrial zones of Lahore, Sheikhupura and industrial suburbs of these two districts.

South Asia not only a home to the largest number of world’s poor but also a region where minimal efforts are made to promote justice and peace. Different types of internal conflicts are prevalent in almost all countries. At the same time occupation of Afghanistan and presence of imperialist forces in the region is generating different kind of threats to peace and justice. Human rights of different communities and people are violated in various pretexts.

The consequence of conflicts, violence and war causes unbelievable suffering particularly for women and children. Communities have been reduced to terror, suspicion and insecurity. The livelihood of millions of people has been severely affected and the fabric of social relationship between people and communities torn apart.

In last few years, Pakistan has faced terror of religious extremism and attacks by the US forces in form of drone attacks and direct military operations. Thousands of people have been killed by Taliban in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Tribal areas of the countries and in other provinces by suicide attacks and targeted killings. Since January this year more than 700 people are killed in drone attacks in Northwest of Pakistan by US forces.

The strategy of the American imperialism to curb the growing influence of religious fundamentalism by drone attacks mounts a direct attack on Pakistan sovereignty. The military solution of religious fundamentalism is counterproductive and helping the fanatics to grow more. We can not support one monster against the other. We have to oppose the both and create an alternative social voice. This peace rally is a effort in that direction.

Even though some national and bilateral peace initiatives at the level of civil society are taking place, there is need of a vibrant civil society initiative to take this issue at the regional platform. So under South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) a comprehensive peace initiative has been taken. It is being further strengthened and expanded by organizing different peace initiative at the country level.

You all are cordially invited to attend the rally.

Fraternally,

Khalid Mahmood

Director
Labour Education Foundation
Ground Floor, 25-A Davis Road,
Lahore, Pakistan.
Tel: 0092 42 6303808, 0092 42 6315162
Fax: 0092 42 6271149
Mobile: 0092 321 9402322
.
.

A Public Forum on Afhanistan featuring Malalai Joya

2010-10-10T00:25:00.000-07:00

A Public Forum on Afhanistan

"Can West brings Peace and Prosperity to Afghanistan? An Afghan woman's perspective."
Featuring Malalai Joya

When: Monday, October. 11th 4.00 pm PM
Where: Room No. 3310 Simon Fraser University (SFU) Surrey Campus, Central City, 13450 102 Avenue, Surrey

(South of the Surrey Central SkyTrain station)

A free event, however donations are much encouraged.

Organized by Fraser Valley Peace Council, For more information, please contact 604-613-0735

(Please see attached poster for further details)

The story of Malalai Joya is the story of another Afghanistan. When the Russians entered her country in 1979, she was just four days old. She with her family fled and lived in poverty-stricken refugee camps until she was 18, first in Iran and then Pakistan. During studying at a secondary school in the Pakistan refugee camp, she volunteered to teach afternoon literacy classes. While her stay as a refugee in Pakistan Malali Joya, as a teenager, also did humanitarian work for various organisations in Pakistan to help provide for her family. Joya began her campaign for social and political change after returning to Afghanistan around a decade ago. Immediately after her return to Afghanistan, she started a secret underground school for girls under the brutal Taliban regime and when they were toppled, she cast off the burka, ran for 2005 elections representing Farah province and became the first ever youngest member of Afghan parliament, . She was later suspended from her position for criticizing the war-lords MP's and the the way Karzai government was handling the country. Women’s rights activist, politician and one of the bravest women in Afghanistan has received countless death threats and survived four attempts against her life but she refuses to be silenced. She lived in hiding for five years and never spends more than 24 hours at the same house.

Malalai Joya is now an angry woman. She's angry about the war being carried out by the international coalition in her country, Afghanistan, angry about the NATO bombs that are killing civilians in their villages, angry about calls for reconciliation with the Taliban and the war lords.

According to her there is no difference for ordinary Afghans between the Taliban and the equally fundamentalist warlords. The recipient of various international prizes for bravery, she speaks of her commitment to defend the rights of women and children despite the threats on her life. Malalai Joya is an inspiration for the all the peace loving individuals and groups around the world. She wants to replace bullets, blood, and tears in to peace, hopes and smiles. Malai Joya is now a household name in Afghanistan and a very well known figure internationally. She was called "Afghanistan's most famous women" by the BBC a few years ago. Last April, she was ranked among the 100 most influential people of the world by Time Magazine.

Please join us and listen to her and tell others!

In Solidarity,
Shahzad Nazir Khan
on behalf of executive and members of
Fraser Valley Peace Council
(A member organization of Canadian Peace Congress)
Tel: 604-613-0735

October 16th: International day of Action against Agribusiness and MonsantoOctober 16th: International day of Action against Agribusiness and Monsanto

2010-10-01T22:22:00.000-07:00

La Via Campesina release

October 16^th^:International day of Action against Agribusiness and Monsanto

On the occasion of the meeting of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Nagoya, Japan, and to mark World Food Dayon October 16, 2010, La Via Campesina calls for actions around the world to denounce the role of agribusinesses such as Monsanto and their destruction and corporatization of biodiversity and life.

Even though the UN declared 2010 the International year of Biodiversity, the CBD is meeting at a time of unprecedented biodiversity destruction. As well as animals, insects and birds, the world is also seeing the disappearance of thousands of plant varieties as agribusiness destroys, contaminates and privatizes the World Heritage stored inside the seeds and plants nurtured by generations of farmers over thousands of years of agriculture on Earth. Since 1900, approximately 90% of the genetic diversity of agricultural crops has been lost from farmer's fields. Biodiversity is also endangered by land-grabbing and the displacement of communities who are actually protecting biodiversity.

Agribusiness corporations are attempting to monopolize seeds through the use of hybrid seeds, patents and laws that make farmers' seeds illegal. Intellectual property rights systems that are upheld or enforced by institutions such as WTO or TRIPS are putting nature into private hands. Monsanto has become a true giant – the company owns almost a quarter of the patented seed market worldwide, and keeps taking over seeds companies particularly in Europe. The top ten biggest companies control almost 70% of the world's seeds. The company is now entering the “aid business”, selling its seeds in Africa with the Bill Gates Foundation through the “Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)”.

Not only do the TNCs sell seeds, they also provide toxic chemicals with devastating effects. Huge monocultures treated with cocktails of agrochemicals will further destroy the world's biodiversity as well as peasant communities. In the world of Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer and others, there is no space for biodiversity, just uniformity, biotechnology and profit.

Within the decision making spaces on climate change, agribusiness promotes aggressively technologies that destroy biodiversity such as transgenic trees plantations or GM seeds, solutions which are fasly presented as better adapted to the new climate.

La Via Campesina knows that the future of our planet depends on our ability to protect, nurture and promote agro biodiversity. We, peasant men and women propose to develop the richness and diversity of our farms, plant varieties, cultures and traditions. Seeds are part of the World Heritage and should remain into public and community-based use, not private ownership.

It is the model of peasant agriculture in its diversity that will allow us to adapt to the demographic and climatic changes which are already upon us.

As we confront the agribusinesses in our fields through promoting our alternatives, we refuse to recognize their “rights” as owners of the planet's biodiversity and we will also confront them through political actions in the coming weeks, at the FAO, the CBD and the UN Climate Talks (UNFCCC).

We call for Actions worldwide around October 16th to protect biodiversity and confront transnational corporations such asMonsanto.

La Via Campesina invites you to coordinate your actions with the call of the network “Climate Justice Action!” in order to organise direct actions worldwide for climate justice on October 12^th, 2010. (/www.climate-justice-action.org/)

International Operational Secretariat

Stop FBI Raids and Harassment, Protest Actions on Sept 27-28

2010-09-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

Emergency Actions to Support Anti-War and International Solidarity Activists

A demonstration has been called at
The Minneapolis FBI Office
(111 Washington Ave. S.).

Monday, September 27th at 4:30pm

We denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment of anti-war and solidarity activists. The FBI raided seven houses and an office in Chicago and Minneapolis on Friday, September 24, 2010. The FBI handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to eleven activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. The FBI also attempted to intimidate activists in California and North Carolina.

This suppression of civil rights is aimed at those who dedicate their time and energy to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian and Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war. The FBI has indicated that the grand jury is investigating the activists for possible material support of terrorism charges.

The activists involved have done nothing wrong and are refusing to be pulled into conversations with the FBI about their political views or organizing against war and occupation. The activists are involved with many groups, including: the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, the Palestine Solidarity Group, the Colombia Action Network, Students for a Democratic Society, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. These activists came together with many others to organize the 2008 anti-war marches on the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

We ask people of conscience to join us in fighting this political repression, as we continue working to build the movements against US war and occupation.

Take Action
Call the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at 202-353-1555 or write an email to: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov.
Plan and Support national days of protest at FBI offices or Federal Buildings, September 27 and 28th.

Demand
- Stop the repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.
- Immediately return all confiscated materials: computers, cell phones, papers, documents, etc.
- End the grand jury proceedings against anti-war activists.

In Solidarity, the Anti-War Committee – www.antiwarcommittee.org

The following is a list of the 19 planned protests that we have heard of so far, and the list is growing. Please participate in the one nearest you, or if there is not one in your city, organize one and let us know at iacenter@iacenter.org so we can publicize it and add it to the list:
Please be in touch with the Minnesota Anti-War Committee - www.antiwarcommittee.org

Monday 9/27

Minneapolis, MN - 4:30, FBI Office Monday, 111 Washington Ave. S.

Chicago, IL - 4:30 Fedeeral Building, Federal Plaza.

Kalamazoo, MI - 4:30 Federal Building, 410 W Michigan Ave

Salt Lake City, Utah - 9 AM at Federal Building

Durham, NC - 12 noon Federal Building, 323 E Chapel Hill St

Buffalo, NY- 4:30 pm at FBI Building - Corner of So. Elmwood Ave. & Niagara St.

Gainesville, FL - Monday, 4:30 PM at FBI Building

Tuesday 9/28

NYC, NY - 4:30 to 6pm Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza,

Newark, NJ - 5 to 6pm Federal Building Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA - 4:30pm Federal Building, 6th & Market,

Washington DC - 4:30 – 5:30 FBI Building, 935 Pennsylvania Ave NW.

Boston, MA - 5 pm, JFK Federal Building

Detroit, MI - 4:30 pm McNamara Federal Building, Michigan Ave. at Cass

Raleigh, NC - 9 am. Federal Building, 310 New Bern Ave

Asheville, NC - 5 pm Federal Building,

Atlanta, GA - Noon, FBI Building

Los Angeles, CA - 5 pm, Downtown Federal Building, 300 N Los Angeles St

Tucson, AZ - 5 pm Federal Building

Wednesday 9/29

Albany, NY - 5 to 6 pm Federal Building

...

LA Event: Pakistan Flood Relief Fund Raising Dinner and Variety Performances

2010-09-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

Saturday, September 18th, 2010
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Palos Verdes Art Center
5504 W. Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Cover Charge: $50

Buy Tickets Online http://lafloodrelief.blogspot.com
Or Call Saghir 8189176910

Delicious Dinner
variety of Gala Performances (Music, Comedy, and Dance)
DJ Le Mast Mast
Camille Solari (Comedian and Film Director)
Du Kirplani (Comedian)
Mujahid Kamal Khan (UK) (Musician)

Several Giveaway Prizes
Deluxe Raffle Contests

Organized by Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) a 501c(3) organization.

Sponsored by
South Asia Forum
DJ Le Mast Mast (http://lemastmast.com)
World Sindhi Congress
YoungSindhiAdults.org
BBQ Tonite of Hawthorne, CA
JoshDesign.com

100% of benefits and donations will be transferred to grass-root organizations working on rescue, relief and rehabilitation of flood affected in Pakistan.

Pakistan wide communication jam by PTCL workers, Sept 7

2010-09-08T12:41:00.000-07:00

150 striking workers have been arrested from the venues of demonstration including their leaders and raids have been conducted by the police all over Pakistan. Hundreds of Pakistan Telecommunication (PTCL) workers demonstrated at the front of Pakistani parliament on Friday in Islamabad under the leadership of Malik Maqbool, general Secretary Staff Lion Union who is also arrested to raise their protest voice against the “Etase lat” administration who owns the 26% shares after the privatization of PTCL with whole management and administrative powers of the largest communication establishment of the country.

Yesterday there were three protests at different places in the capital Islamabad to press for their demands. More than 27,000 workers have been on strike for 22 days but the foreign owner of this public entity doesn’t curtsy to the just demands of the workers instead of accepting the demands management has terminated 1200 employees who are activists of different unions in the PTCL and have been leading the protest campaign of the workers.

Till today 16,000 workers have been issued show cause notices and monthly salaries have been stopped as well as the withholding of Eid bounces.

The strike call was given by the nine union alliance recently formed “United workers alliance” on the initiative of PTCL Staff Lion Union (PTCLSLU) which is affiliated with National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) and stand runner up in recently held referendum. The management unlawfully stooped the second round of referendum and gave Collective Bargaining agent (CBA) status to the pocket union to further her anti worker agenda to retrench 15,000 workers. It is interesting that one fraction of CBA union also join the strike from first day.

The leader senior Vice President of Staff lines Union Nadeem Hyder Jaffery who is also the main leader of NTUF has been suspended from job along with Malik Maqool General Secretary of the same union. Naddem Hyder’s wife who is also the employee (GM Adm & Security) of the PTCL sacked from the job too because of her spouse is at the forefront of the present movement. Police has registered criminal case against Nadeem Hyder Jaffery on 19^th August at Boat Basin police Station in Karachi with other union activists and police has unleashed a reign of terror in month of Ramadan and trying to harass family members every day and night.

The management is trying all its tactics to thwart the workers move and government, opposition, superior judiciary have not been listening to the cry. All these have proved they are with the management on different scale.

Now situation is becoming worsened for the workers from flood affected areas who are already living in very harsh conditions.

The workers demands are to

Give 50% increase in their running basic salaries as announced by the government
100% increase in medical amount
Eid bounce as PTCL earn 60 billion in the financial year
12% stock shares as per government announced policy.

It is very unfortunate that the judiciary is no more pro active and vocal on workers issue, government is in total support of foreign private owners of the very important public entity and media has neglected the going on heroic struggle of PTCL workers since the start of strike on 16 August 10.

National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) is going to held solidarity demo on 7 Sep Tuesday at 3pm at Chairing Cross, Mall Road, Lahore.

Nasir Mansoor

National Trade Union Ferderation,Pakistan (NTUF)
404 & 628,Mashriq Center, Gulshan Iqbal 14,
Karachi, Pakistan.
Phone +9221-4142025 Fax +9221-414-1898 Mobile +92300-358-7211
email; ntufpak@gmail.com
.
.

Information Session: Canadian Boat to Gaza, Sept 9

2010-09-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

Thursday, Sept. 9
Information Session: Canadian Boat to Gaza
5:30pm at the Maritime Labour Centre (111 Victoria Dr)
 
-Interested in supporting the Canadian Boat to Gaza?

Want to learn more about this challenge to the Israeli siege of Gaza?

Join us for an information session and discussion.

More information about the project here:

http://canadaboatgaza.org/

Support action for Mapuche hunger strikers Sept 9

2010-09-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Mapuche Solidarity Collective – Unceded Coast Salish Territory:
 
In a declaration of solidarity with 33 detained Mapuche hunger strikers
whose current medical status is of grave concern, the Mapuche Solidarity
Collective – Unceded Coast Salish Territory has joined the International
Campaign in Support of Mapuche Political Prisoners  and, we are inviting
community activist from the Vancouver and surrounding areas of the Lower
Mainland and all those concerned with the rights of indigenous people, to
attend a demonstration in front of the Chilean Consulate (located at 1185
West Georgia St., Suite 1610 – Vancouver, BC) to formally declare our
opposition to the Chilean government's continued application of Pinochet-era
anti-terrorism legislation against Mapuche democratic protest.

The event, which will involve the presentation of a letter to the Chilean Consul in
Vancouver, will take place on Thursday, September the 9th at 1:00pm.

Read more here: http://rabble.ca/whatsup/protest-solidarity-mapuche-people

The Statement of the protest action of August 28, 2010

2010-08-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

100 Cities Around the World Against Stoning

On August 28, 2010 one hundred cities around the world are rising up to protest the barbaric practice of stoning, as well as to save the life of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani in Iran. This day will be recorded in the annals of humanity as a manifestation of the protest, during the prior weeks, by millions of people across the globe against stoning as the most heinous form of medieval cruelty. It is a disgrace to humanity that, at the close of the first decade of the twenty-first century, stoning is still practiced in Iran and similar Islam-stricken countries. We, the citizens of 100 cities, hereby unequivocally declare that this blot must be removed from the face of humanity immediately and permanently.

On this day we also protest against the regime of stoning in Iran. This regime has, during the 31 years of its existence, committed genocide, established a system of sexual apartheid in Iran, and made imprisonment, execution, torture, rape of political prisoners, and the rule of pre-medieval Islamic Sharia the law of the land. Such a regime is not the representative of the people of Iran. It is their murderer, and its leaders must be brought to trial before international tribunals for their crimes against humanity.

Further, the international protest of August 28 is yet another manifestation of the solidarity of people around the world with the people of Iran, who have heroically risen up to bring down the regime of stoning, the Islamic code of punishment (Qesaas), Hijab, torture, and execution. We, the citizens of 100 cities worldwide, proudly declare that we consider ourselves the standard bearers of the universal front of humanity against barbarity. We support the struggles of the people of Iran against one of the cruelest regimes in the history of humankind. We, therefore, emphatically declare, on behalf of the world’s civilized humanity, that the path to the liberation of the Iranian people will not pass through threats or military action against, the country, but through the removal of the regime of the Islamic Republic by the power of the struggles of people in Iran and across the world.

The following are our common demands on August 28, 2010 throughout 100 cities of the world:

1- The immediate and unconditional freedom of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and all other prisoners in Iran sentenced to be stoned to death.

2- The abolition of stoning in Iran and elsewhere. We demand that the United Nations urgently adopt a specific resolution forbidding stoning as an inhuman punishment all over the world.

3- Not recognizing the Islamic regime of stoning in Iran as the government of that country and, thus, banning it from all international bodies.

4- Bringing to trial the perpetrators of stoning. Stoning is one of the most abominable forms of crime against humanity. Any individual, group, organization or state executing the punishment of stoning must be prosecuted and tried by international tribunals.

We continue our struggles until we have achieved all of these demands. As an immediate, primary step to that end, we demand that Mahmood Ahmadinejad, the president of the regime of stoning, be stopped from entering the General Assembly of the United Nations in September 2010.

Free Sakine, No Stoning, No Execution, No more, Nowhere!
http://www.iransolidarity.org.uk/
http://stopstonningnow.com

Pakistan: Multi-Party Conference Update

2010-08-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

Several political parties and social movements have confirmed to participate in the Multi-Party Conference (MPC) in Lahore.

The MPC will be organized by Labour Relief Campaign on 29^th August at Hotel Ambassador.

Those who have confirmed include Senator Hasil Bizenjo of National Party, Abid Hasan Minto President Workers Party Pakistan, Ihsan Wain General Secretary Awami National Party, Choudry Manzoor Ahmad President Peoples Labour Bureau, former Senator Tariq Choudry of Tehreek Insaaf, Nisar Ahmad Shah General Secretary Labour Party Pakistan, Jamil Omar Awami Jamhoori Forum, Nazar Mengal of Pakistan Trade Union Defense Campaign, Lal Khan Editor Asian Marxist Review, Ilyas Khan Secretary Peoples Lawyers Forum, Manzoor Gilani President Istiqlal Party, Mian Abdul Qayum Chairman Labour Qaumi Movement, Mehr Abdul Sattar Secretary Anjaman Mozarein Punjab, Dr. Mohammed Zahid Pakistan Medical Association, Majid Wazeer, President Professors and Lecturers Association, Shahtaj Qazalbash Convener Joint Action Committee for Peoples Rights, Nasir Mansoor Deputy Secretary National Trade Union Federation, Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman President Lahore Gymkhana and Jahangir Badar General Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party. Senator Pervaiz Rashid Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz has also indicated that he will join the conference. Representatives of Lahore High Court Bar Association, Supreme Court Bar Association and District Bar Association Lahore will also participate in the conference.

Abdul Khaliq Shah, the focal person in Pakistan of the Campaign For the Cancellation of Third World Debt and Aasim Sajjad Akhtar of Workers Party Pakistan will open the conference and will outline the main purpose of the conference. They will argue that non-payment of foreign debts is a way out of our crises that the Pakistan government should adopt. They will also demand that the IMF and the World Bank should abolish the Pakistan’s debt.

Ammar Ali Jan, one of the Multi-Party Conference organizers said in a statement that the conference wishes to forge a united platform on how the country can tackle the current crisis. In particular, we are keen to suggest that international donors and organizations make ‘grants’ not ‘loans’, wipe off Pakistan’s debt or re-negotiate its ‘servicing’. Likewise, our domestic military budget has to be revised and discussed. Further, we believe it is important that all parties are alert at this time and mobilized in directing the country forward. The grassroots relief efforts that have emerged across the country are heartening, but a crisis of this magnitude can only be handled by an institution with the resources and reach of the federal government. As in all disasters, the assistance of the military will be necessary — but this must be subject to civilian oversight, and must not be exploited to glorify the Army at the expense of the civilian government. The military's relative strength is a direct legacy of pro-Army federal budgets, Ammar Ali Jan said.

Labour Relief Campaign is a network of 8 political and social organizations including Labour Party Pakistan. It has raised funds of over 3 million rupees and distributed among the flood victims through setting up of relief camps in different cities all along the Indus Valley from Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa to Sindh and Baluchistan.

Farooq Tariq

spokesperson
Labour Party Pakistan
40-Abbot Road Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: 92 42 6315162 Fax: 92 42 6271149 Mobile: 92 300 8411945

labour_party@yahoo.com www.laborpakistan.org www.jeddojuhd.com

Funds for flood victims in Pakistan, Surrey August 28

2010-08-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

With one-quarter of the country inundated, more then 1600 deaths and nearly 20 million people affected, Pakistan is facing its worst natural calamity in history. Billions of dollars of basic infrastructure and homes have been washed away and according to the initial estimate by UN about 7.3 million hectares of productive crop land has been wiped out.
The rescue and relief efforts started immediately there and people all over the globe including the Greater Vancouver area initiated aid campaigns towards flood victims. We all contributed and participated at our best in those efforts but there was a feeling to do more. Feeling the pain of our fellow human beings, we the members of Fraser Valley Peace Council (FVPC) & Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians (CPPC) decided to took an initiative to raise some more funds at our own and close family and friend’s circle.

During this campaign in a small but dedicated effort we have collected just over $13000. Both the organizations have decided to donate this amount to the world's leading independent international medical relief organisation MSF/ Doctors without Borders.

We hereby invite you to a small ceremony where we’ll deliver the above mentioned amount's draft to Doctors without Borders. It is matter of privilege to announce that organizations Vancouver chapter’s representative Mr. Ian Adair will join us there. Ian is in long time association with Doctors without Borders and he has worked in different field locations around the globe including Pakistan. He will share us about his previous experiences from Pakistan and a latest update of floods and role of MSF/ Doctors without Borders there.

When: Saturday, 28^th August at 1.30 pm

Where: Strawberry Hill. Library 7399 - 122nd Street Surrey, BC V3W 5J2

The calamity is merciless and could have hit anyone, anywhere! We know that the amount that we collected is just like a drop in an ocean but we believe that every drop counts and the important thing however is that something is done and that it involves more than giving money.

Please don’t forget that our fellow human beings are in great need and the opportunities to help are endless.

Fraser Valley Peace Council (FVPC) &
Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians (CPPC)

Invitation to CADTM-Pakistan meeting on 21 August, 2010

2010-08-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

CADTM-Pakistan, the Campaign for Abolition of Third World Debt, is a group of civil socitey activists, lawyers, journalists and individuals working on debt issues of Pakistan. With the on-going worst natural calamity hitting Pakistan, issue of foreign debt owed by Pakistan has emerged as strongest question under the prevailing humanitarian and economic crisis. in view of the gravity of situation, available international legal spaces and precedents to refuse foreign debt, CADTM-Pakistan thinks it high time for Pakistan to unilateraly suspend foreign debt liabilities and the amount saved thus be spend on relief and rehabilitation of flood-hit communities.

In this context, CADTM-Pakistan is organizing a broad-based meeting to formulate and strategize future line of action. All CADTM members, debt campaigners and those who support the cause are cordially invited to this meeting:

Venue: Sufi Mansion, 7/Egerton Road, Lahore

Date: 21 August 2010

Time: 5:00 pm

Agenda

Update on Debt situation of pakistan
Update on campaign to refuse external debt
Discussion on proposals to expand campaign

Abdul Khaliq
focal person
CADTM-Pakistan
cell: +92 42 3219402325

CADTM-Pakistan Position Paper

Pakistan is facing the worst disaster of its history. About 20 million of its population is badly affected by the recent huge devastation caused by angry floods. Major infrastructure is totally destroyed in major parts of the country. Besides continuous human causalities, the economic loss is in billion dollars. The country has suffered a loss of about Rs250 billion only in the agricultural and livestock sectors and the flood recovery costs may run into billions of dollars. Pakistan is in real and worst human and economic crisis. Though international donors are announcing commitments for relief and rehabilitation, but these are pea nuts vis-à-vis the degree of catastrophe. We think this is the time, instead of begging for much-needed aid for relief and rehabilitation, Pakistan must stand up and announce unilateral suspension of repayment of foreign debts, owed to IFIs, donor countries and clubs. Currently Pakistan is paying about $ 3 billion on debt servicing every year. As our present foreign debt of $ 54 billion is increasing, the debt servicing will be up by the same ratio.

Under the prevailing critical circumstances, we have to think about coping with this severe debt domination. Various laws and international protocols favor if Pakistan refuse to pay its debts right now, especially under the prevailing circumstances, Pakistan is passing through. To refuse payment of debts is not a new thing; many poor countries had exercised this just and lawful right in the past.

There are spaces in international law that can be invoked as legal justification to refuse the external debt. One of these justifications is called “State of Necessity”. This rule is characterized by a situation that jeopardizes the economic or its political survival- such as the situations which creates the factor of impossibility of fulfilling the very basic needs of the populations (health, education, food, water, housing etc). The "State of Necessity" justifies the repudiating of debt, since it implies the establishing priorities among different obligations of the state.

Therefore, a natural calamity-like the one hitting Pakistan creates the very factor of “State of Necessity”. The UN Human Rights Commission has adopted numerous resolutions on the issue of debt and structural adjustment. One such resolution was adopted in 1999, asserts that “The exercise of the basic rights of the people of the debtor countries to food, housing, clothing, employment, education, health services and a healthy environment cannot be subordinated to the implementation of the structural adjustment policies, growth programs and economic reforms”

State of Pakistan is no more able to fulfill fundamental human needs of its 20 million flood-hit population. People are facing worst hardships, have no access to food, clothing, shelter and medicines. Therefore, Pakistan is simply unable to repay or service its debt responsibilities. IFIs and the creditors should not expect Pakistan to continue debt repayments, leaving its people hungry, shelter less, close its schools, its hospitals, its courts and abandon the public services, creating chaos and anarchy in the communities.

The first and foremost thing in such circumstances is the fulfillments of all fundamental human needs of the populations, hit by natural calamities and disasters. So this is high time for Pakistan to stand up to its creditors and say a big NO. Pakistan had already missed one such opportunity in 2005 when devastating quake hit Kashmir, leaving millions of people in misery. This time it is more lethal calamity, and we should no more be silent. We have number of precedents in history when debtor countries refuse debt payments on account of “State of Necessity”. Latin American countries including Argentine, Burkina Faso, Peru, Mexico, Paraguay, and Ecuador took such positions in the past. Very recent IMF had to cancel all its debt (US $ 268 million) owed by Haiti, after devastating earthquake hit Haiti in 2009.

The cancellation is given via the newly established Post-Catastrophe Debt Relief Trust Fund, which was set up for this purpose and which can now be accessed by other indebted, low income countries hit by disasters. Another example is Argentine. The country went into serious crisis after 2001 economic crisis. Though Argentine leaders had always implemented unpopular policies dictated by IMF, it was the people of Argentine who come on the roads in 2001 to protest the debt domination. This popular action succeeded in altering the history. As a result country’s president announced the biggest unilateral suspension of foreign debt in history, a total of more than $ 80 billion, owed to private creditors, countries and Paris Club. Thus Argentine demonstrated that a country could stop debt repayments for a lengthy period of time.

Burkina Faso is another country, which stood against IFIs and refused payment of debts. In 1987, its President Thomas Sankara announced unilateral suspension of foreign debts. What he said. “The debt cannot be repaid, firstly because if we do not pay, the money lenders will certainly not die, on the other hand if we pay, we will certainly die. Those who have led us to debt trap have gambled as though in casino. When they were winning there was no debate. But now when they have lost through gambling, they demand that we repay them. No! According to rules of the game we cannot pay and refuse to pay all foreign debts.”

Pakistan’s current external debt liabilities stand at $54 billion. It spends $ 3 billion at average every year under debt-servicing. With the rising of foreign debt liabilities the ratio of debt servicing is also increasing. Pakistan’s total debt-to-GDP ratio has crossed 61 percent this fiscal year, breaching the 60 percent limit set under the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act. According to WB if Debt-to-GDP ratio exceeds the limit of 80%, the default is sure. The major portion of Pakistan’s national budget is consumed by two Ds; Debt-servicing and Defense. We have to review allocations against these two Ds. Under the circumstances, there is no denying the fact that Pakistan’s single source of economy vulnerability is debt crisis. We do not have any other option to come out of this economic but to refuse repayment of debts.

Repatriate Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to her home in Pakistan, Sign by Aug 14

2010-08-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

We urge all individuals concerned with human rights to sign this international petition to U.S. and Pakistani government officials, urging the immediate repatriation to Pakistan of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.

SIGN THE PETITION AT
http://www.iacenter.org/SiddiquiPetition

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is being held in federal prison in New York City awaiting sentencing, now scheduled for September 23. This is a campaign for justice, solidarity and compassion for a woman and a political prisoner who has been severely injured and abused.

A coordinated campaign of petitions will be delivered in NYC, London, and to officials in Pakistan on August 14 – Pakistan Independence Day. The kidnapping and illegal extradition to the U.S. of this Pakistani citizen is an insult to the dignity of all Pakistanis and an affront to Pakistan’s sovereignty.

In New York City petitions will be presented at 12 noon on Saturday, August 14 at the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations at 8 East 65th St, between 5th Ave and Madison Ave, NY, NY 10065 to the office of Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon.

Messages will call for this simple act of compassion during the month of Ramadan.

Aafia Siddiqui holds a place in the hearts of people of conscience internationally irrespective of their faith, nationality or location. There is already immense international outrage about her case. Aafia Siddiqui has repeatedly maintained in court appearances that she was tortured while in U.S. custody.

This U.S.-educated doctor of neuroscience has come to symbolize the many hundreds of Pakistanis who have been secretly disappeared, detained and tortured, as well as the national outrage at the continuing deadly U.S. drone attacks.

The plight of the disappeared and missing in Pakistan is a cause of great national pain. Let us begin with this act of compassion to address this grievous problem.

Dr. Siddiqui’s five years in secret detention in Pakistan and Afghanistan, her grievous injuries, her two years in solitary confinement in the U.S. and her trial in New York City were continuing top news in Pakistan. Civil rights, religious and women’s organizations marched and petitioned, demanding the return of this “daughter of the nation” to Pakistan.

Dr. Siddiqui’s family and supporters have launched an international campaign for her repatriation to Pakistan. Aafia Siddiqui’s elderly mother is seriously ill and has pleaded for her daughter’s return.

Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, Aafia Siddiqui’s older sister, in stressing the urgency of a campaign for Aafia Siddiqui’s repatriation, explained that under U.S. law a foreigner tried by a U.S. court could be repatriated to the country of his or her nationality on the request of their own government before the pronouncement of a sentence. She said there were 19 such precedents in which prisoners after indictment were repatriated to their countries on the request of their respective governments.

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is neither a U.S. citizen nor a permanent resident. She had only one passport, issued by the Pakistan government.

Dr. Siddiqui was not charged with committing any crime on U.S. soil; therefore she should not have been extradited to the U.S. for trial but either tried in Afghanistan or extradited to Pakistan. Dr. Siddiqui is not charged with terrorism nor is she charged with injuring or harming anyone anywhere. She is a victim of terrible life-threatening injuries.

The Pakistan government through diplomatic channels should insist on Aafia Siddiqui’s repatriation. The U.S. government, based on overwhelming Pakistani sentiment for Aafia Siddiqui’s return, should grant this humanitarian request.

Dr. Siddiqui was convicted despite all physical and forensic evidence that she could not have committed the acts with which she was charged.

The U.S. government should release all the secret documents regarding Aafia Siddiqui’s disappearance that were suppressed at her trial in NYC and the documents on the many other disappeared and missing people in Pakistan. As we have seen in the recent release of documents by Wikileaks, we cannot count on governments to give a true accounting of events that may prove embarrassing to various government officials.

BACKGROUND TO CASE

In March 2003, at the age of 30, Dr. Siddiqui disappeared along with her three children from a street in Karachi, Pakistan. On March 31, 2003, the Pakistan media reported that Dr. Siddiqui had been arrested and turned over to U.S. officials.

Dr. Siddiqui mysteriously reappeared on the streets of Ghazni, Afghanistan, following five years of secret detention. There she was immediately re-arrested, shot and almost killed. After emergency treatment, she was brought to the United States and held in solitary confinement for almost two years before being placed on trial in a federal court in New York City.

The government charges were preposterous. Dr. Siddiqui had supposedly been arrested in July 2008, five years after her disappearance. The U.S. claims that when U.S. military personnel came to interrogate her after the arrest, Siddiqui grabbed a U.S. soldier’s M4 gun, fired off two rounds and was herself shot while being subdued.

Questions of how the bullets, supposedly fired by Siddiqui, failed to hit a single one of the 20 to 30 people in a small, crowded room, or hit any wall or floor, or leave any residue or fingerprints, were never answered. Witness testimonies often contradicted their earlier sworn testimonies and the testimony of others. The prosecution urged the jury to ignore science and irrefutable facts and believe the contradictory testimony of U.S. Special Forces soldiers and FBI agents.

Despite her severe wounds and her pleas for mercy the court imposed daily abusive and painful strip searches. The court through unprecedented security measures sought to close the trial and intimidate all support. Most important is that throughout her trial Aafia Siddiqui refused her lawyers and made it clear that she was not represented by lawyers of her choice.

Dr. Siddiqui’s missing son Ahmed was reunited with his aunt in late 2008 while daughter Maryum was dropped near her aunt’s home in Karachi in April 2010 after she had been missing for seven years. Dr. Siddiqui’s youngest child, Suleman, who would now be about seven years old, remains missing and is feared dead.

There have been massive demonstrations in Pakistan’s major cities demanding the return of this 38-year-old mother, now dubbed the “daughter of Pakistan.”

For more information on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's trial and treatment and the campaign to repatriate her, go to:
www.FreeAafia.org or www.JusticeForAafia.org.

SIGN THE PETITION TO U.S. AND PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

You can send this message or you can edit and revise it.

COPIES WILL ALSO BE SENT TO MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA IN THE U.S. AND PAKISTAN.

To: President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Joseph Biden, Attorney General Eric Holder, Sen. John Kerry (Chairman, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee), Congressional leaders, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi

cc: Ban Ki-Moon (Secretary-General, United Nations), UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, UN High Commissioner on Refugees, and members of the Pakistani and U.S. media

Dear President Barack Obama, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani :

As the sentencing of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui draws closer at the Federal District Court in Manhattan, I urge you to repatriate Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to her native Pakistan as a matter of urgency. Given all the facts and circumstances of this case, repatriation of Dr. Siddiqui to Pakistan would not only serve the interests of justice, but is also warranted on humanitarian grounds.

This simple act of compassion during the month of Ramadan would be of special significance.

There are numerous credible reports that Dr. Siddiqui was abducted from Pakistan with her three young children in March 2003. Dr. Siddiqui claims that her captors detained her in a series of secret prisons for five years during which time she was abused in a variety of ways and tortured. Her youngest son, Suleman, remains missing to this day.

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is a citizen of Pakistan. She was not charged with committing any crime on U.S. soil, nor is she a U.S. citizen. She should not have been extradited to the U.S.

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is not charged with terrorism nor has she been charged with injuring or harming anyone anywhere. She is a victim of terrible life threatening injuries.

The plight of the disappeared and missing in Pakistan is a cause of great national pain. Let us begin with this act of compassion to address this grievous problem.

In light of the circumstances of this case, in which it appears that at a minimum, Dr. Siddiqui suffered severe physical and emotional trauma, we call upon you to exercise all lawful authority to allow Dr. Siddiqui to be repatriated to Pakistan on humanitarian grounds.

Sincerely,
(your signature will be appended here)

SIGN THE PETITION AT
http://www.iacenter.org/SiddiquiPetition

International Action Center
55 W 17th St #5C
New York, NY 10010
212-522-6626
www.iacenter.org
iacenter@iacenter.org

Help Flood Victims in Sindh, Pakistan

2010-08-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

Appeal for Donations
UN declares that “the floods in Pakistan are worse than the 2004
tsunami". Massive floods in Pakistan during August have created
unprecedented damage to all the peoples of Pakistan. UN estimates
that 14 million people are affected by this natural disaster, and the
worst repercussions of the flooding are yet to come. Public health
officials anticipate a higher death toll due to diseases associated
with environmental disasters, such as malaria and diarrhea, to which
children are the most vulnerable.

The famine and devastation at the lack of food and the total destruction of infrastructure will persist
far longer than the actual flood. The province of Sindh, situated at a lower riparian of the Indus River and possessing the worst poverty index in the region is especially in dire need of relief.

On behalf of Sindhi Association of North America (SANA), we appeal to you to send your donations. Your donations will be disbursed to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the area for rehabilitation projects. A 100% of the donations will be given to affected people directly.

SANA is registered as a 501c(3), so donations are tax deductible in USA

Make your donations payable to SANA and send them here:
In the USA
6441 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
In Canada
1001 13 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R, Canada
Pay Online
You can pay through your credit card:
http://www.sanalist.org/sana/newsite/onlinepayment.aspx

Ask your employer for donation matching
Tax ID # 13-369-8207

More Information:
• Aijaz Turk (+1-269-998-3206)
• Saghir Shaikh (+1-818-917-910)
• Asim Kaghzi (+1-403-975-2746)

Or write to saghir.shaikh@gmail.com
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Remembering Hiroshima

2010-08-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

The Institute for Peace and Secular Studies is organizing a candle light vigil in commemoration of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

August 6 marks the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, followed by the bombing of Nagasaki three days later. The 200,000-plus deaths from those attacks, and the perceived need to reduce the number of such weapons, is the focus of an alliance of groups.

Time: 6.30 p.m
Date: August 6th 2010
Location: Chairing Cross, Mall Road, Lahore
Event: Candle Light Vigil.
Please feel free to bring your own candles!

A Nuclear free South Asia Initiative by I.P.S.S

For more information, contact Diep at

Institute for peace and Secular studies

91-G johar Town Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Ph 042-5219862/ 042-5219863

mobile 0321-844-5072,0300-844-5072

www.peaceandsecularstudies.org

"you must be the change you want to see in the world" Gandhi

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE IN MONTREAL AUG. 13-16

2010-07-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

“For a Militant Global Women’s Movement in the 21st Century”

Your Help is Needed! Donate at http://iacenter.org/women/donatewfnmontreal
With the theme, “For a Militant Global Women’s Movement in the 21st Century,” women will assess the achievements of and discuss the struggles of women worldwide. The goal is to draw up an action plan for building an International Women’s Alliance based on solidarity, to establish a network to coordinate activities to oppose war, occupation, racism, gender discrimination, the exploitation of women workers, including migrant workers and all forms of oppression.

The conference will also celebrate the centennial of International Women’s Day, which was declared in August 1910, in Copenhagen, Denmark, at an international women’s conference attended by women from 17 countries. They established this special day to further the global solidarity of women, to fight for the rights of working women and to oppose militarism and war. For 100 years, women worldwide have marked this day.

Women will come together in Montreal who are workers, including migrants, students, farmers, youth, Indigenous people, refugees, academics, artists and more. Anti-war, anti-racist, immigrants’ and workers’ rights activists will be present.

The Women’s Fightback Network is helping to organize women activists from the U.S. to attend this conference.

We Need Your Help! Funds are Urgently Needed to bring activists to Montreal! Donate at http://iacenter.org/women/donatewfnmontreal

Many of you have organized against war and occupation or worked in your community or workplace to improve conditions or oppose inequities and injustice. Many of you have donated financially to assist these struggles.

The Women’s Fightback Network is asking you to donate to the success of this conference by helping with travel expenses, so that women activists from the U.S. can attend, and help to build a strong global women’s fightback movement.

The Women’s Fightback Network will also bring back news and reports from this conference, which will be sent out nationally. The People’s Video Network will produce videotapes for educational purposes.

For those in the New York City area: We invite you to a fundraising party to support women activists’ travel to this key organizing conference. It’s on Sat., July 31, at the Solidarity Center, 55 W. 17th St., Manhattan. (See www.iacenter.org) Or email wfnetwork-ny@peoplesmail.net

For details on the Montreal conference, see www.miwc2010.org or email wdofdo@gmail.com

Donate at http://iacenter.org/women/donatewfnmontreal

'People to people' towards peace and friendship- Celebrating 14th & 15th August together‏

2010-07-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

As two key nations of South Asia India and Pakistan are getting gear-up to mark their 63years of independence next month in August 2010, continuing to the our previous year tradition, Fraser Valley Peace Council (FVPC) is presenting two days events in joint collaboration with South Asian Network of Secularism and Democracy (SANSAD) and South Asian Film Education Society (SAFES). Our aim is to celebrate the formal end of colonialism in the subcontinent and to commemorate the loss of more than million lives during that period. The program details are as under; (Please also see the attached poster)

Day 1^st

Saturday, 14^th August 2010 (2.00pm to 5.00 pm)

Newton Library Hall

13795-70^th Avenue, Surrey, BC

Public Educational Forum

“Discovery of Independence: South Asia at 63”

A Talk by Dr. Hassan Gardezi

Free Event- Donations are welcome

Dr. Hassan Gardezi, is a political activist, sociologist and anthropologist, a well known writer and an intellectual. He earned his PhD at Washington State University, USA and has served as Head of Department of Sociology, Punjab University, Lahore. He wrote several journal articles and books on the political economy of Pakistan and South Asia and also published translations of and commentaries on Sufi poetry written in Punjabi, Siraiki and Sindhi languages. Hassan has taught and lectured at a number of North American colleges and universities as well as Pakistani institutions.

Day 2^nd

Sunday, 15^th August 2010 (2.00 pm-5.00 pm)

Simon Fraser University-Surrey Campus (SUR 2600)

13450 102 Avenue, Surrey, BC

Screening of ‘THE SKY BELOW’

A Best Film Debut Award winner documentary on the Partition of India and Pakistan by Sarah Singh.

Sarah will be present at the screening to introduce the film and conduct a discussion with the audience.

Organized by South Asian Film Education Society (SAFES) and supported by SFU, Surrey Campus and Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group (SFPIRG) and co-sponsored by SANSAD, Pakistan Action Network, Fraser Valley Peace Council (FVPC) and Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS).

Admission by Donation.

Sarah Singh was born in Patiala, Punjab and now living in US since 1974. She is an artist, filmmaker and an accomplished photographer. Much of her fine art from the last 15 years is included in private collections. Sarah has worked in the film and television industry in New York for over 5 years. Her work as a cinematographer, editor, director, and writer has been featured on MTV, Showtime, and the History Channel, along with many independent films

For more information please contact Chin Banerjee 604-421-6752 or Shahzad Nazir Khan 604-613-0735

Please join this people to people struggle for peace, communal harmony and shared progress in Indo-Pak sub continent.

In Solidarity,

Shahzad Nazir Khan

604-613-0735

International Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani Day, July 24/2010

2010-07-21T07:49:00.000-07:00

24 July 2010 - International Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani Day

Citizens of the World against Stoning

( In Vancouver @5 Pm. Sat. Art Gallery Robson St.)

View complete text of this message and names of signatories

Join us to show support for 43 year old Sakine Mohamadi Ashtiani who may be executed in Iran at any time for ‘having an illicit relationship.’

We call on people everywhere to intensify their protests by marking Saturday 24 July as the International Sakine Mohamadi Ashtiani Day. On the Saturday, we ask you to come out on to the streets and in city centres across the globe at 2pm local time bringing photos of Sakine and messages in her defence and against stoning and execution. Other measures that can be taken include highlighting her case wherever possible, signing petitions (http://stopstonningnow.com/sakine/sakin284.php?nr=50326944&lang=en), http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?cl=651962225&v=6766 and (http://freesakineh.org/), joining rallies, and keeping pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran.

On 24 July 2010 at 2pm join us and make the world stand still in its rage against medieval-ism and barbarity and in its support of humanity. Sakine, her children and the many others awaiting death by stoning and execution deserve nothing less.

Friends of Women In The Middle East
(FWME)
http://www.equal-rights-now.com/english_site/index.html
Zahra A.

View complete text of this message and names of signatories

Albany, NY Rally, July 25 Solidarity with the Muslim community

2010-07-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

Follows United National Antiwar Conference -- July 23 to July 25

Sunday Demonstration info: www.projectsalam.org

Registration, information for conference: nationalpeaceconference.org

The Muslim Solidarity Committee and Project SALAM (Support And Legal Advocacy for Muslims) have called for a public demonstration on Sunday, July 25 in Albany in solidarity with the Muslim community there, that has been subject to discrimination and persecution by the U.S. political police. The demonstration is set for the end of a national anti-war conference in the city. The organizers have called on conference participants to meet at east steps of the Capitol, Washington & State Streets, a block from the Conference site, at 1 p.m. for a march to Masjid As-Salam at 278 Central Avenue. The Muslim Solidarity Committee and Project SALAM will also participate in a luncheon panel on political repression and closing Guantanamo. (See www.projectsalam.org)

The resentencing of attorney Lynne Stewart on July 16, quadrupling her sentence from 28 months to 10 years in federal prison, has put on the front burner of the movement the need to fight against the demonization of Muslim people and the FBI and police frame-ups of Muslim youth and all who defend Muslims against state repression.

The International Action Center will participate in this protest demonstration, after taking part from Friday, July 23 to Sunday July 25 along with hundreds of other anti-war and community activists in the anti-war conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Albany. This National Conference to Bring the Troops Home Now will be an intense weekend of plenary sessions, workshops, education, resolutions and networking.

The weekend comes as casualties among NATO and especially U.S. troops are rapidly increasing, and when the disarray in the U.S. command following Gen. McChrystal’s “resignation” highlight the disintegration of the U.S. war strategy.

The conference’s action proposal demands an immediate end to the illegal occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and calls on the movement to be prepared to respond to an attack on Iran. It also joins those essential anti-war demands with others that call attention to the enormous waste of human resources to feed the war machine. The conference will take up actions for the coming Fall and next Spring.

Workshops will take up issues from Palestine, the U.S. occupation of Haiti, U.S. intervention in Colombia, global warming and the environment, the role of poor people’s movement’s and developments in the GI resistance movement.

The IAC is committed to determined activism and resistance to U.S. militarism, racism and corporate greed. We want to link international solidarity to fighting oppression in the U.S. We are interested in meeting up with other revolutionary activists and militant community organizations at this conference.

Along with 30 other antiwar, peace and justice national organizations, the International Action Center is a co-sponsor of this conference.

A look at the schedule for the weekend indicates that there will be opportunities for anti-imperialists to intervene and fight for their positions within the context of building the broadest possible anti-war actions.

(See nationalpeaceconference.org for more details of Conference registration, schedule of speakers, workshops, panels and housing)
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Emergency Protest Demonstrations against Baloch leaders' murders in Pakistan

2010-07-15T00:43:00.000-07:00

Karachi
Participate in a joint demo to condemn the killings of Balochistan politicians Shaheed Maula Bakhsh and Habib Jalib Baluch carried out by Pakistani state's secrete agencies.
Thursday, July 15/2010
4pm
Karachi Press Club
Organized by:
Worker Party Pakistan (WPP), Labour Party Pakistan (LPP), Awamni Party Pakistan (APP), Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM)
Contact:
Nasir Mansoor, Labour Secretary, LPP
0300 3587211

Baluchistan

Baluchistan's LPP has announced a three days mourning of Habib Jalib Baluch, the late General Secretary of Baluchistan National Party who was killed this morning outside his home. He was a former Senator and was one of the most respected leaders of Baluchistan.

Contact

Aziz Baluch, General Secretary, LPP Baluchistan

03337042716

Lahore

Emergency Protest Demonstration

Thursday, July 15/2010

3pm

Lahore Press Club

Organized by the LPP Lahore

Hyderabad

Friday, July 16/

12pm

In front of Hyderabad Press Club

Contact

Nisar Lighari

Youth Secretary, Labour Party Pakistan

03342618651

Demonstrate against killings in Lahore

2010-07-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

Labour Party Pakistan invites you to come and join a protest against killings at Data Darbar.

When: Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Time: 5pm

Where: Bhatti Gate, Lahore

The demonstration will raise voice against the suicidal attacks by religious fanatics. They will also condemn the American imperialists' regular drone attacks in tribal areas, and the whole sale army actions in different parts of the country.

After, the demonstrators will go to Data Sahib's shrine to lay down flowers in memory of those killed by the two suicidal attacks. We appeal to all the trade unions, peasant organizations, social and political organizations to participate in this demonstration to show their opposition to both, the religious fanatics and the advocates of the “war on terror”.

The demonstration will start on Wednesday 7^th July at 5pm just across from Bhatti Gate aka Beroon Bhatti Gate.

Please bring your banners and placards.

RSVP: Farooq Tari

Spokesperson, Labour Party Pakistan
40-Abbot Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: 92 42 6315162

Fax: 92 42 6271149

Mobile: 92 300 8411945

labour_party@yahoo.com

www.laborpakistan.org

www.jeddojuhd.com

Crisis in Pakistan, West Coast Socialism Special Event

2010-07-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

Bushra Khaliq is a leading member of the Labor Party of Pakistan. She will discuss the political and economic crises wrecking Pakistan as well as the impact of the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan and increasing intervention in Pakistan.

While the American media portrays the only political opposition in Pakistan as based on the Taliban and other religiously-based organizations, Pakistan also boasts a vibrant labor movement and a broad struggle for women’s rights.

Come hear a first-hand account from the frontlines for social justice in Pakistan.

Speakers:

Bushra Khaliq is General Secretary of the Women Workers Help Line based in Lahore, Pakistan and a leader of the Labor Party of Pakistan.

Thursday, July 1 at 7pm

Oakland Marriott Convention Center

1001 Broadway, Oakland

Across the Street from 12^th Street Oakland BART

$10 admission at the door

Seating is limited, so pre-register for this event at www.SocialismConference.org

Select the “single session” option to secure your seat. Or register for any larger part of the conference to guarantee your seat.

Ssnehal.shingavi@mail.utexas.edu

JAIL SOLIDARITY RALLY! Toronto Condemns Police Violence

2010-06-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 28th

5:30pm

Police Headquarters,

40 College Street (at Yonge Street)

Speakers:

Naomi Klein

Ben Powless

Judy Rebick

David McNally

Abeer Majeed

Testimonies from people who've been brutalized by police

Over the past two days, police have rounded and arrested up hundreds

of people. They have been denied access to lawyers, telephones, food

and water, and held in deplorable conditions in makeshift steel cages.

Many have been beaten in the streets and in their homes; shot at with

rubber bullets and tear gas; some have been sent to hospital with

severe injuries. Hundreds are still in custody as of Sunday night.

We need to get our people out. We need to take our city back from the

armed fortress that it has been turned into.

We will let the police know that we will not tolerate the arrests,

beatings and attempt to intimidate the people of Toronto. Our

community stands with the people whose lives have been disrupted by

the G20, and by police violence. We will demand that all those

arrested be released, and released now!

_______________________________________________

Community.organize mailing list

Community.organize@masses.tao.ca

https://masses.tao.ca/lists/listinfo/community.organize

EYEWITNESS REPORT: ISRAELI MASSACRE ON FREEDOM FLOTILLAS

2010-06-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

A Public Forum With Flotilla Activist Kevin Neish
 
Friday, June 18, 7pm
Vancouver Public Library (Central Branch), Alice McKay Room
350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 6B1
 
Free admission. Donations will be collected and all proceeds will go to
the next Freedom Flotillas.
 
 
For more information email sphr.ubc@gmail.com or phone Omar Shaban
604-379-4050 (and scroll down!)
 
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs297.snc3/28523_693481300961_21008236_42807057_6295252_n.jpg
 
 
Sponsored by
 
Boycott Israeli Apartheid Campaign (BIAC)
Canadian Islamic Congress
Canada Palestine Association
Canada Palestine Support Network
Independent Jewish Voices (IJV)
No One Is Illegal
Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) UBC
StopWar.ca
Voice of Palestine
 
 
Background
 
 
Kevin Neish, from Victoria, B.C., was a part of the international
solidarity flotilla to break the siege and blockade of Gaza which was
brutally stopped by the Israeli commandoes in the early morning hours of
May 31, 2010. The flotilla, which included six ships with over 600
activists from more than 30 countries, was carrying 10,000 tons of
humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
 
 
Neish explained, "I got a taste of life in Gaza for the day," after
witnessing the massacre on board the MV Mavi Marmara, where Israeli Forces
killed at least nine people. In addition to witnessing and speaking out,
Neish smuggled out photographs documenting the Israeli massacre which have
been published in the Turkish press, including photos which showed Israeli
soldiers being treated by the activists. In addition, he was the passenger
who discovered a mysterious list of selected passengers in one of the
pockets of the Israeli soldiers. This can be seen in the exclusive
one-hour long raw footage from Iara Lee on
http://www.culturesofresistance.org/gaza-freedom-flotilla that was
recently released to the UN.
 
 
This latest Israeli crime has been condemned worldwide. There have been
protest actions across Canada -- including three rallies in Vancouver
alone -- condemning the flotilla assault and the Harper government's
uncritical support of Israel, whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was
visiting Stephen Harper in Ottawa when the May 31 massacre was carried
out.
 
 
Further reading: Victoria's B-Channel News has compiled stories about
Kevin Neish here: http://bchannelnews.tv/?p=5144

Protest the Israeli Massacre of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla!

2010-05-31T23:26:00.000-07:00

A Sea of Black:

Protest the Israeli Massacre of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla!

When: Tomorrow, Tuesday June 1st at 6:00 pm

Where: Vancouver Public Library (Hamilton Side)

There will be a demonstration at*** 6 pm tomorrow at the Vancouver Public Library*** to denounce the Israeli military massacre of activists on a Gaza aid convoy. **To show solidarity with the brave activists who were killed fighting for the rights of Palestinians we ask that everyone please wear black (and a kuffiyeh if you have one.) **

It is important to note that we are not only protesting against Israel's most recent actions against the flotilla but against Israeli Policy at large. The attack on the flotilla is but one of the flagrant violations of international law and one of the many attacks Israel has made on innocent civilians. Therefore, we are protesting Israeli policy at large as it attempts to continue its brutal and illegal blockade on the Palestinians and continues to ignore international law.

At least 19 international activists were killed by Israel, with dozens injured. The death toll may rise. In an act of piracy and a blatant violation of international law, the Israeli government has committed a cold-blooded massacre on the high seas against a group of courageous individuals whose only crime was to extend a hand of solidarity to the besieged and blockaded people in Gaza.

The Gaza aid flotilla is made up of seven ships carrying 700 people and bringing medical, construction and school supplies to besieged Palestinians in Gaza. It was attacked in international waters by 14 Israeli ships. Heavily armed Israeli commandos dropped onto the ships from helicopters and opened fire on the activists.

Gaza has been blockaded by Israel since 2007 with full backing by the Canadian government. The blockade is a brutal form of collective punishment aimed at strangling the Palestinian people.Since coming to office, the Harper Government has continued with enormous support for Israel allowing the continued siege of Gaza, the occupation and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and Israel's non-stop war against all of the Palestinian people.

***Please come out and condemn this outrageous massacre and call for an immediate end of the siege of Gaza. Please wear black and your kuffiyeh if you can***

The following press release was sent out this morning from Gaza based Palestinian Civil Society Organizations and International Activists:

We Gaza based Palestinian Civil Society Organizations and International activists call on the international community and civil society to pressure their governments and Israel to cease the abductions and killings in Israel’s attacks against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla sailing for Gaza, and begin a global response to hold Israel accountable for the murder of foreign civilians at sea and illegal piracy of civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza.
We salute the courage of all those who have organized this aid intervention and demand a safe passage through to Gaza for the 750 people of conscience from 40 different countries including 35 international politicians intent on breaking the Israeli-Egyptian blockade. We offer our sincerest condolences to family and friends who have lost loved ones in the attack.
By sailing directly to Gaza, outside of Israeli waters, with cargo banned illegally by Israel, such as the 10,000 tonnes of badly needed concrete, toys, workbooks, chocolate, pasta and substantial medical supplies, the flotilla is exercising international law and upholding article 33 of the Geneva Convention which clearly states that collective punishment is a crime against humanity.
The hardships of Israel's closure of Gaza have been well documented by all human rights groups operating, most recently by Amnesty International in their Annual Human Rights Report concluding that the siege has "deepened the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Mass unemployment, extreme poverty, food insecurity and food price rises caused by shortages left four out of five Gazans dependent on humanitarian aid. The scope of the blockade and statements made by Israeli officials about its purpose showed that it was being imposed as a form of collective punishment of Gazans, a flagrant violation of international law." The United Nations continuously states that only a fraction of the required aid is entering the Strip due to what it calls ‘the medieval siege’, with John Ging the Director of UNRWA in Gaza specifically expressing the need for the Flotilla to enter Gaza. The European Union’s new foreign affairs minister Catherine Ashton has just reiterated its call for, “an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza.”
The people of Gaza are not dependent people, but self sufficient people doing what they can to retain some dignity in life in the wake of this colossal man-made devastation that deprives so many of a basic start in life or minimal aspirations for the future.
We, from Gaza, call on you to demonstrate and support the courageous men and women who went on the Flotilla, many now murdered on a humanitarian aid mission. We insist on severance of diplomatic ties with Israel, trials for war crimes and the International protection of the civilians of Gaza. We call on you to join the growing international boycott, divestment and sanction campaign of a country proving again to be so violent and yet so unchallenged. Join the growing critical mass around the world with a commitment to the day when Palestinians are entitled to the same rights as any other people, when the siege is lifted, the occupation is over and the 6 million Palestinian refugees are finally granted justice.
In solidarity,
Sphr Ubc

A gathering with delgates from The Federation of Cuban Women‏

2010-04-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

It is matter of pleasure to announce that two delegates from The Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), Yanira Kuper Herrera and Maritzel Gonzalez-Quevedo Alpizer are visiting here in Surrey. We have arranged a gathering in honor of them. The program is as follows.

On Friday, 30th April 2010

At 6.30 PM

113, 7435, 121 A Street, Surrey, BC V3W 0W8

(It is a condominium Building across the Strawberry Hill Library. On enterance door, press 12 to get in or call Dr. Saif Khalid at 778-987-0813 for further assistance)

The Federation of Cuban Women Federación de Mujeres Cubanas (FMC) was established in 1960 under the revolutionary government with Vilma Espin as its president. She was the president of the FMC till her death in 2007. From its inception the FMC has been successful in effecting positive changes in Cuban society.

The FMC was deeply involved in the 1961 Cuban Literacy Campaign and in assimilation of women in the work force, and to push for legislation and social reforms for gender equality. Later, FMC extended its work by supporting the government’s campaigns to educate the public on health and hygiene topics. Another major accomplishment of FMC’s is helping to pass maternity leave laws in 1974. Under these laws, pregnant women are guaranteed three months of paid leave. The FMC has also helped to establish maternity homes, so that virtually all women can deliver their babies under the care of trained attendants, most of whom were FMC volunteers.

The Federation of Cuban Women or the FMC has a pyramidal structure in which there are local, municipal, provincial, and national levels of representation and leadership. Today, it is recognized as both an NGO and a national mechanism for women. It is not government supported or financed.

The Friday event in Surrey is a free event, however donations for The Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) will be welcomed.

Light refreshments will be served.

In Solidarity,
Members and Executive of Fraser Valley Peace Council
...

Endorse India-Pakistan Peace Caravan

2010-04-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

An India Pakistan Peace Caravan 'Aman Ke BaRhtay Qadm' is now seeking organizational endorsements.
The proposed dates of caravan are last week of July- first half of August, 2010.
View Draft Announcement

Also, please subscribe to indopakistanpeacecaravan@yahoogroups.com as we don't want to be sending mails to large number of ids.

the 2nd meeting for organizing the 'Aman Kay Bhartay Qadam' peace rally was held last Friday. The agenda of the meeting was to get endorsements of the peace rally from the organizations as well as to get a list of people who would be interested in going to India for the peace rally.

To take the process forward, it is suggested that the main coordinating organization from Pakistan be 'Institute for Peace & Secular Studies' (IPSS). Other endorcing organizations thus far include South Asia Partnership (SAP), Labour Party, CMKP, Peace Keepers, Democratic Commission for Human Development (DCHD), Punjabi Khoj Ghar, Giyan Foundation, Seimorgh.

- You are all requested to send me an email regarding the endorsement of the peace rally by your organization
- Additionally please finalize your organization's representatives who want to go to India to participate in the peace rally. Their details (passport info) needs to be provided to IPSS in the next meeting

The next meeting will be held at Nehrghar - 5 Zaman Park on Saturday April 24 at 5pm.
The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
1. Provide details of members who would be joining the peace rally in India
2. Setup a Committee to contact the various segments of society (Artists, Actors, Singers, Sports, Writers, Trade Unions & Bhatta Mazdoor, Traders, Women, Lawyers, Doctors, Youth, Political Parties, Farmers, Minorities, Media, Politicians etc.) before calling a bigger meeting
3. Setup the Coordinating Committee structure
4. Setup Budget Committee to assess budgetary requirements
5. Setup Route Committee to finalize the route from Karachi to Wagah

View Draft Announcement

More information:
Diep at saeedadiep@yahoo.com

Institute for peace and Secular studies

91-G johar Town Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Ph 042-5219862/ 042-5219863

mobile 0321-844-5072,0300-844-5072

www.peaceandsecularstudies.org

...

Candle Light Vigil in Remembrance of Innocent Victims of Jallianwala Bagh‏

2010-04-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

The 13th April, 1919 is considered and remembered as one of the most depressing and brutal event in the history of Indo-Pak subcontinent when the massacre of Jallianwala Bagh took place in a culturally rich, holy city of Amritsar, Indian Punjab. That brutal massacre involved the killing of hundreds of unarmed, defenseless men, women and children by the command of a senior British military officer, Brigadier-General Reginald E.H. Dyer.

The troops commanded by him, immediately upon entering the Bagh opened fire without the slightest warning to the crowd to disperse, and targeted crowded areas. The firing started at 17:15 and lasted for about ten to fifteen minutes. The Bagh, or garden, was bounded on all sides by brick walls and buildings and had only five narrow entrances, most of which were kept permanently locked. Since there was only one exit except for the one already manned by the troops, people desperately tried to climb the walls of the park. Some also jumped into a well inside the compound to escape the bullets.

It was determined that 1,650 rounds had plowed into the crowd of about 10,000 people. Later, it was officially announced by the Indian British Government that the killing of 379 Indians including 337 men and women, 41 young boys and a six-week-old baby; and, the wounding of 1,200 people had taken place. Although the actual figure may have been much higher.

The wounded could not be moved from where they had fallen as a curfew had been declared. It was a Sunday, and many neighboring village peasants with others thousands of people had arrived there from different corners of the country and had gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to raise voice against the injustice that was being poured on to the people of Indian Punjab by the British Government, and to celebrate the most significant cultural, sacred and secular festival of Vaisakhi.

Like many places where great injustice has taken place, Jallianwala Bagh became a place of pilgrimage, reflection, and a symbol of what the victims stood for (or against). On 13 April 1961, the 42nd anniversary of the massacre, it was inaugurated as a memorial with a 30 foot four-sided pylon called the 'Flame of Liberty'. Upon each face is inscribed 'In memory of the martyrs, 13 April 1919' in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and English.

In remembrance of that bloody Sunday and in memory of the great sacrifice of all those innocent victims, Fraser Valley Peace Council in collaboration with Taraksheel society of Canada is hosting a Candlelight Vigil in Surrey.

Sunday, 18th April 2010
6.30 PM
Holand Park, 135 A Strret, Surrey
Across the street, King George skytrain station

Share views
Light a candle in favor of peace
Raise voices and join hands against any injustice to any people in the world

In solidarity,
Shahzad Nazir Khan
On behalf of:
Fraser Valley Peace Council
Taraksheel Society of Canada

For more info plz call 604-613-0735

Stand against White Pride March by Neo-Nazis‏: March 21/2010

2010-03-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

Historically, most Canadians have considered themselves to be more or less free of racial prejudice. Although we have the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms but this majority Canadian conception has been challenged many times in history and in recent years. Words like racism, hatred and discrimination are no strange words for people belonging to visible minorities who are now living here for more than 100 years.

For the first time in over 10 years, neo-nazis are attempting to hold a 'white pride' march in the streets of Vancouver. This march will take place on Sunday, March 21st, which is also the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Anti-Racist and Civil Liberties groups are seeking for detailed information but so far it appears that the 'White Pride' event will start from/near New Westminster Sky Train station at 11.00 AM on 21st March. Different organizations and individuals have planned a Multicultural Pride march in direct opposition, at the same time and location.

Support Multicultural Pride March
Sunday March 21
11am
Outside New Westminster Skytrain Station

This is going to be a FUN, SAFE, POSITIVE protest event.

Please join facebook group, Down with Neo-Nazis Vancouver, unceded coast salish territories at Multicultural Pride March against Neo-Nazis

People of all ages, genders, cultures, creeds, sexual orientations are welcome to join hands against this intolerable act. By our presence we'll prove that we Canadians believe in love, peace and harmony; stand with its multicultural and multi ethnic look; and, do not support Neo-Nazis in Vancouver.

For more information, contact:
Fraser Valley Peace Council

8 March celebration across Pakistan

2010-03-06T19:56:00.000-08:00

Labour Party Pakistan and its sympathizing organizations are organizing various activities on the occasion of International Women Day on 8 March 2010.

Women Workers Help Line (WWHL), National Trade Union Federation, Anjaman Mozareen Punjab and Labour Education Foundation have announced the following activities:

Hyderabad
Bangle Women Workers Rally
7th March, 3pm, from Comrade Hyder Bux Jatoi chowk to Hyderabad Press Club
Organized by Labour Education Foundation and Home Base Bangle Women Workers Union

Karachi
8 March, Seminar 'Women workers: Globalization and movement building'
3pm at Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) House near Garden
Organized by Labour Education Foundation, Home Based Women Workers Federation,

Islamabad
8th March, 2pm, Rally by Home based and Domestic Women Workers
National Press Club to Super Market, Islamabad
Organized by Labour Education Foundation

Mardan
8th March, Seminar: 'Home Based Women Workers and Rise of Fundamentalism in Pakhtunkhuwa' 10 am at office Labour Education Foundation, Old Identity Card office near Railway Lines New Adda, Mardan
Organized by Labour Education Foundation

Lahore
13th March, 11am, 'Dialogue with Women Workers on Feminism'
Organized by LEF at office Labour Education Foundation, 25A Davis Road, Lahore

Baluchistan: Jhal Maqsi
8th March, Seminar on 'Women issues in Baluchistan' 9am at Tehsil Hall Ghandara, Jhal Magsi
Women Rally from Main Adda to Ghandara Press Club
Organized by Labour Party Pakistan, Baluchistan Chapter in association with Young Development Society Jhal Maqsi

Sheikhupura
8th March, 11am, Meeting of women working in Carpet industry at Mandhi Dhaba Singh, District Sheikhopura
Organized by Itehad Labour Union Carpet Industries

Okara
8th March, Meeting of peasant women and 8th March at all different Military Farms including:
Military Farms Okara
Military Farms Renalakhurd
Kulyana Military Estate
Army Welfare Trust Pakpattan and Depalpur
Organized by Anjaman Mozareen Punjab
Contact Mehr Abdul Sattar 03006961545

Lahore Main Rally
8th March, Speeches & Cultural Program: 12:00pm at Nasir Bagh, Lahore
Rally: 1.30pm from Nasir Bagh to Assembly Hall, The Mall Lahore
Organised by Women Workers Help Line (WWHL)

Mardan
8th March, Seminar: 12:00pm Press Club, Mardan
Organized by Women Workers Help Line (WWHL)

Sibbi
8th March, Seminar: 12:00pm, Sibbi
Organized by WWHL

Toba Tek Singh
9th March, Seminar: 02:00pm, Goband Pora, Toba Tek Singh
Organized by WWHL

Gujranwala
14 March, Seminar: 2pm, Rasool Nagar, Kasur
Organized by WWHL

Kasur
15 March, Seminar: 11:00am, Rasool Nagar, Kasur
Organized by WWHL

Faisalabad
18 March, Seminar: 12:00pm, Faisalabad
Organized by WWHL

Contact for WWHL functions
Bushra Khaliq 03219402316
Email: wwhlpk@yahoo.com

Contact for LEF functions
Kalid Malik 0321 9402322
Email: lef@lef.org.pk

Contact for Sindh LEF functions
Zara Akbar 03003770755

Women March from Hyderabad to Karachi

2010-03-06T19:31:00.000-08:00

For Peace, Justice, Equality!

Network for Women's Rights is Marching from Hyderabad to Karachi on 8th March to 9th March, with our sisters who are against violence and ill treatment from the society.

8th March at 10am
A colourful programme will be held at Sindh Museum Hyderabad, Social Democratice Women Organization, Chori Workers, Hamdam Development Organization and Bonded Labour Organization. South Asian Partnership and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education Research.

March will start at 12.30pm to Tando Mohammed Khan
At 2pm the March will attend the 8th March programme organized by Nari Welfare Organization.
Some women will join the March.

Women will march 4pm to Mir Pore Bethero
Welcome by SPO organization and women from this area
Will attend a folk musical programme

At 6pm March will proceed to Sajawal
At Sajawal, women will meet each other and sing geet and songs
Discuss issue and stay the night there
The host organization will be Women Industrial and Social Organization

On 9th March, After breakfast women will march to Mirpor Sakro
At 11am, SPO area organization will welcome the marching women to attend the women programme and participate in it till 1pm.

At 1pm the March will start toward Karachi
For Regent Plaza where Aurat Foundation and other organization will wait
For the Rally to Press Club

All the way women will hold Banners listing their demands
Beat drums and other musical instruments
Some women will perform dance

For more information contact:
saleha_athar@yahoo.com

StopWar Demo‏, Feb 15, VAG 6pm!

2010-02-15T07:24:00.000-08:00

February 15th, 2010
DO YOU BELIEVE IN TORTURE, WAR AND OCCUPATION?
THEFT OF INDIGENOUS LAND?
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT DOES!

Come out and be part of an anti-war and anti-militarization moving spectacle. This event is a festive and creative demand for the Canadian government to respect and uphold human-rights, international law, the right to self-determination and civil rights. This event will also feature Gold Medal Award ceremonies for human rights violations, war mongering, and police brutality.

Meeting Point: Vancouver Art Gallery, Georgia side
When: Monday February 15th, 2010
Gathering at 6:00pm and leaving at 6:30pm

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games reveal the same consistent, predictable and historical pattern of militarization and anti-democratic acts as they have everywhere that they are hosted. StopWar is especially concerned with the militarization of Vancouver and Whistler during the Games, with its accompanying restrictions on the democracy and safety of our community. Enormous resources, including one billion dollars of spending, considerable military personnel and equipment, and countless thousands of police and private security personnel are being deployed. The Games are accompanied by the largest domestic military and security operation in Canadian military history. Featured among the identified “threats” to the Games are domestic protest.

The Olympic Truce movement has similarly revealed the hypocritical and rhetorical commitment of the Canadian government to peace that is contradicted by action. Despite Canada being in its 9th year of waging war on the people of Afghanistan, the Canadian Olympic Truce is calling on the world community “to cease hostilities during the Games and promote the ideals of peace through sport”, however, Canada has no plans to cease causing death and destruction in Afghan society. In an ironic twist of history, we remember that the 1980 Olympic Games hosted by the Soviet Union were boycotted by over 60 countries, including Canada, in protest of the Soviet occupation and war in Afghanistan that had begun a year earlier in 1979.

Bring your costumes, signs, banners and musical instruments!

Join us in calling attention to the Canadian government's disregard of human rights, international law, the right to self-determination and civil rights. We call on the Canadian government to end the occupation, war crimes, and human rights violations from Afghanistan to BC, to sign the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and to abide by International law. To bring aid not militarization to Haiti. To bring equity not militarization within Canadian communities.

Sponsored by: Stopwar.ca
For more information contact: Stopwar@resist.ca
_________________________

Global Petition to Amnesty International: Restoring the Integrity of Human Rights

2010-02-14T08:45:00.000-08:00

Sign the Petition

As organisations and individuals who stand for and support the universality of human rights, we have noted with concern the suspension of Gita Sahgal, Head of the Gender Unit at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London, for questioning Amnesty International’s partnership with individuals whose politics towards the Taliban are ambiguous.

We come from communities that recognize and appreciate the work of Amnesty International in defending human rights and women’s rights around the world. Many of us work closely with Amnesty International in their campaigns at various levels.

We believe that Gita Sahgal has raised a fundamental point of principle which is “about the importance of the human rights movement maintaining an objective distance from groups and ideas that are committed to systematic discrimination”.

This issue of principle is critical at the present moment, with the United States led “War on Terror” leading to the suspension of human rights and increased surveillance over individuals and the body politic. Ironically, the language of human rights and human rights defenders is being taken over by the US/NATO alliance in its efforts to legitimise a re-born imperialism. Equally disturbingly, this language is also being hijacked by organizations that espouse extremist and violent forms of identity-based politics. The space for a position that challenges both these is shrinking, and human rights are becoming hostage to broader authoritarian political agendas, whether from states or communities.

In this context, it is crucial for human rights defenders and organisations to clearly define principles and core values that are non-negotiable. Our commitment to countering, among others, Islamophobia, racism, misogyny and xenophobia should at no time blur our recognition of the authoritarian, often fascist, social and political agendas of some of the groups that suffer human rights abuse at the hands of the big powers.

The broader issue of principle which we raise here, is one which concerns all of us as human rights defenders from different parts of the world. Many of us who work to defend human rights in the context of conflict and terrorism know the importance of maintaining a clear and visible distance from potential partners and allies when there is any doubt about their commitment to human rights. Given the circumstances in which questions regarding the partnership with Cageprisoners appear to have been raised, we feel that Amnesty International should have refrained from providing them with a platform. It should have been possible for Amnesty International to campaign against the fundamental human rights abuses that have occurred at Guantanamo and elsewhere without making alliances that compromise Amnesty International’s core values, just as other human rights organisations have done.

Sign the Petition

History has repeatedly shown us that anti-democratic organisations can and do manipulate information and their own self-representation for narrow political advantage. In any situation of ambiguity, we feel that the benefit of doubt should have been given to the expert staff members of Amnesty International. We feel that in this instance there has been a lack of respect for the opinions expressed by Gita Sahgal, who is a senior member of staff, and a critical failure of internal democratic functioning at Amnesty’s International Secretariat.

What is needed is democratic debate, internally as well as in the public sphere, on the human rights principles that should guide Amnesty International and all of us in determining our alliances. We have to ensure that the partnerships we form are true to the core human rights values of equality and universality. Our accountability in this area, internally as well as externally, to all our diverse constituencies, cannot be put at risk. We need a rigorous examination of potential partners. Given the complex situations we work in, what is needed is open debate, not a censoring and closure of discussion on these important issues. Shifting the debate and turning this into a discussion about ‘Othering’ and ‘demonisation of Guantanamo prisoners’ is merely obscuring the real issues at stake. It puts at risk the work that Amnesty International is attempting to do in Afghanistan and other areas. Unfortunately, it also fails to answer the very serious questions that have been posed to which we are also seeking answers.

In the present context of ‘constructive engagement’ with the Taliban, as proposed at the recent Conference on Afghanistan in London, it is our obligation to ensure that we do not barter away the human rights of minorities and of women for ‘peace’. There are enough recent examples of such attempts which show that these deals are a chimera and do not result in either peace or security. Whatever the nature of ‘engagement’ with authoritarian groups, and whatever partnerships and alliances we enter into with individuals or organisations involved in such ‘engagement’, the positive conditionalities and checks based on human rights, which are universal and indivisible, must remain central and non-negotiable for human rights organizations and defenders.

Sign the Petition

We call on Amnesty International to clearly and publicly affirm its commitment to the above in all areas of its work; and to demonstrate its obligation to make itself publicly accountable, as it has so often demanded of others.

We extend our solidarity and support to Gita Sahgal, who is well known and widely respected for her principled activism on human rights internationally, for her courageous stand in raising this issue within and outside Amnesty International.

Drafted and initiated by:

* Dr. Amrita Chhachhi, Women, Gender and Development Program, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, member Kartini Asia Network of Women/Gender Studies
* Sara Hossain, Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
* Sunila Abeysekera, INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre, Sri Lanka

Sign the Petition

The 19th Annual Feb 14th Womens Memorial March

2010-02-13T19:35:00.000-08:00

The 19th Annual Feb 14th Womens Memorial March takes place on Sunday, February 14 2010 and begins at 12pm.

At noon, we gather at the Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Street (corner Hastings, Vancouver) where family members speak in remembrance. At 1 pm, the march takes to the streets and proceeds through the Downtown Eastside, with stops to commemorate where women were last seen or found; speeches by community activists at the police station; a healing circle at Oppenheimer Park around 3 pm; and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall.

In January 1991 a woman was murdered on Powell Street in Vancouver. Her name is not spoken today out of respect for the wishes of her family. This woman’s murder in particular was the catalyst that moved women into action. Out of this sense of hopelessness and anger came an annual march on Valentine’s Day to express compassion, community, and caring for all women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Coast Salish Territories.

Nineteen years later, the march continues to honour the lives of missing and murdered women. Increasing deaths of many vulnerable women from the DTES still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. Over 3000 women are known to have gone missing or been murdered in Canada since the 1970s. Last year, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women issued this statement: “Hundreds of cases involving aboriginal women who have gone missing or been murdered in the past two decades have neither been fully investigated nor attracted priority attention.”

Please respect the memorial march and the leadership of those organizing it. This event is organized and led by women in the DTES because women, especially Indigenous women, face physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual violence on a daily basis. This is a memorial not a protest; it is a deeply emotional time for family members and women affected especially in Vancouver’s DTES. We ask that you please do not bring your banners, flags, or leaflets as the Women’s Memorial March carries five banners only to honour the women.

The February 14th Women’s Memorial March is an opportunity to come together to grieve the loss of our beloved sisters, remember the women who are still missing, and to dedicate ourselves to justice. Please join us (all genders welcome) and we thank you for your support of the Women’s Memorial March.

Women's Memorial March

Sign 'Save Lahore Canal' Petition

2009-12-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

Here is the link to the Petition: Save Lahore Canal Petition

To: The Citizens of Lahore

As you may have heard, The Punjab government is planning to widen the road on both sides of the Lahore Canal, from Thokar Niaz Baig to Dharampura, as a so-called solution for the congestion on the canal road due to the rapidly increasing automobile population. The Punjab Chief Minister had announced that the project would begin immediately after Eid-ul-Azha, however, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took suo moto notice and effectively restrained the government from commencing work on the project on 27 November 2009. The government has not fulfilled its legal obligation of carrying out an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) for the project and the lack of transparency of the program is depriving the citizens of Lahore from having a say in this change.

Sign the Petition

It is the consensus of a great number of organizations and groups of concerned citizens that the Rs 3.15 billion project violates basic principles of traffic design and will not only prove ineffective in countering traffic congestion, but also lead to an outstanding number of problems related to the well-being of the public and the environment. Widened roads have historically proven to only end up attracting more traffic, and the government's focus on providing for the car-owning citizen over the abounding majority (which requires public transport, sidewalks, public toilets, phones and drinking water) is entirely against the principles of equity. The project also means the cutting down of several thousand old trees and losing over 50 acres of the green belt, which is sure to lead to a staggering number of environmental problems including rising temperatures and carbon and toxic content, not to mention the loss of ancient species of trees and shrubs that provide shelter to a variety of birds and small animals. The historical, environmental, recreational and aesthetic value of this green space cannot be stressed enough.

Sign the Petition

We demand that our voice be heard to address these critical issues and help preserve the beauty and grandeur of our city.

Sincerely,

Created by Members of Lahore Chitrkar, and written by Shahid Mirza (info@lahorechitrkar.com).

Sign the Petition

Malalai Joya in Vancouver, November 14/09

2009-11-02T21:54:00.000-08:00

Saturday, November 14

7p.m., St. Andrew's - Wesley Church

1022 Nelson St, at the corner of Burrard

Suggested Donation: $5-10

All proceeds will go towards Joya's humanitarian projects in Afghanistan.

Please join us for this special event: the Canadian launch of Malalai Joya's book, A Woman Among Warlords: The Extraordinary Story of an Afghan Who Dared to Speak Out, which Kirkus Reviews calls, "A chilling, vital memoir that reveals hidden truths about Afghanistan and directly addresses the misguided policies of the United States."

Co-written with StopWar activist and writer Derrick O'Keefe, A Woman Among Warlords is an important and timely book. Malalai Joya's personal story is inspiring, and her political message is an uncompromising appeal for an end to NATO's occupation of Afghanistan and the impunity of the warlords in the Karzai regime. Don't miss this rare chance to hear Malalai Joya in person.

Organized by StopWar.ca.

Sponsors: Simon & Schuster Canada, the Canadian Peace Alliance, Voice of Women - Canada, rabble.ca, Iranian Centre for Peace, Freedom and Social Justice.

Malalai Joya, the young woman who the BBC has hailed as the ‘bravest in Afghanistan,’ has published her memoirs, A Woman Among Warlords: The Extraordinary Story of an Afghan Woman Who Dared to Speak Out.

Public forum on Palestine, Surrey‏ BC, Oct 31/09

2009-10-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

In 1942, some leading Zionists met in New York to formulate plans for a Jewish state, and until this most recent inhuman aggression by Israeli forces against innocent Palestinians in Gaza, the history has witnessed nothing but the brutal and severe war crimes by Zinoist forces in the land of Palestine. The dirty game plans of imperialism all over the world and particularly in occupied territories took thousands and thousands of lives of civilians including a vast majority of women and childern.

To review the situation in a better and closer prospective, Fraser Valley Peace Council is holding a public forum on Palestine.

Saturday, October 31st, 2:00pm

At the Newton Library, Surrey

Dr. Sunera Thobani will be the keynote speaker and will share her observations and views after her recent visit to Gaza and West Bank.

Our other Guest speakers will be Hanna Kawas, a renowned radio host of Voice of Palestine and chairperson of Canada Palestine Association.

And Derrick O' Keefe from StopWar Coalition, who is an eminent progressive writer, peace activist and the editor of www.rabble.ca.

Please join us and be a part of the world who is against all forms of imperialism and wants to live their lives in peace and prosperity.

In Solidarity, Shahzad Nazir Khan

604-613-0735

Organized by

Fraser Valley Peace Council

Member, Canadian Peace Congress & World Peace Council

...

Pakistani Military Killing Fleeing Swati Civilians

2009-05-18T20:32:00.000-07:00

Witnesses Say Military Helicopters Targeted Families Crossing Mountain Path

by Jason Ditz, May 18, 2009

As the Pakistani military’s offensive against the Swat Valley continues, around 1.45 million are reported to have successfully fled. For several families today attempting to leave their homes, that trek ended in disaster as the Pakistani military attacked and killed several of them, and wounded an unknown number of others. Women and children were among the slain.

Witnesses who managed to escape the attack and reach a town in Upper Dir say the party of civilian families were crossing a mountain path after leaving their homes in the town of Matta, when they were attacked by the military’s helicopter gunships. Matta was the latest Swati town to be targeted in the ongoing offensive.

Police confirmed the incident, but declined to say how many civilians were slain. Locals put the number at 12 to 14. The Pakistani military has been harshly criticized for its indiscriminate shelling against residential areas of Buner District, but this appears to be the first time they have deliberately targeted civilians. So far, there has been no comment from the military except to update the number of “suspected miscreants” killed in the offensive.

http://news.antiwar.com/2009/05/18/pakistani-military-killing-fleeing-swati-civilians/

Kathak Dance Evening in Surrey/Delta, May 16/09

2009-05-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

Renowned tabla performer/instructor and producer Amarjeet Singh is presenting a rhythmic rememberance in sweet memory of his respected Teacher/Ustad Thakur Kishan Singh (Tabla Guru)

Saturday, May 16th 2009

At North Delta Secondary School

11447 82nd Avenue, Delta BC

Program

6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Tabla Ensemble – Students of Amarjeet Singh

Brickhouse – Original Rhythm and Blues

Break

8:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Kathak Dance – Choreography: Mangla Bhatt

Santoor: Harjinder Pal Singh

Tabla Nawaz: Amarjeet Singh

This is a free event

Guests are requested to be seated by 5:30 pm

Shahzad Nazir Khan

Fraser Valley Peace Council

604-613-0735

Pakistan: PUBLIC FORUM AND DISCUSSION

2009-05-09T23:21:00.000-07:00

BUILDING PEOPLE TO PEOPLE SOLIDARITY CREATING REAL "HOPE" AND "CHANGE" FOR PAKISTAN

SATURDAY, MAY 30th, 2009

2 pm - 5 pm

Newton Library

13795 - 70th Ave, Surrey

Light refreshments provided

Free Event

Join us for a public forum and interactive discussion on what the future holds for Pakistan. ORGANIZED BY:

Fraser Valley Peace Council, Siraat Collective and Pakistan Action Network (www.pakaction.org)

“If they snatch my ink and pen, I should not complain, For I have dipped my fingers in the blood of my heart. I should not complain, Even if they seal my tongue, For every ring of my chain is a tongue ready to speak” (Faiz Ahmed Faiz)

Media headlines and pundits have been inundating us with images of Pakistan as a nation on the brink of disaster. Pakistan is facing many critical issues: the expansion of the U.S. led War on Terror into Pakistan with continued drone attacks, Obama's AF-PAK strategy, the government’s deal in Swat, the rise of religious extremism and a majority of the population living in poverty without access to basic human rights.

Yet there is also another Pakistan, one in which one of the most vibrant struggles for democracy and rule of law has recently resulted in victory, where poets, lawyers, activists, journalists and other Pakistanis are forging movements of resistance against U.S imperialism, religious extremism and injustice.

In this context, what does the future hold for Pakistan? Speakers will discuss the various issues facing Pakistan and provide an analysis and framework for what we can do as concerned members of the public to contribute to building a movement for justice and peace in Pakistan.

SPEAKERS:

Haider Nizamani, Sunera Thobani, further speakers tbc

Haider Nizamani is a Lecturer in Political Science at UBC. His specialization is in the fields of International Politics, Security Studies and South Asian Politics. Dr Nizamani authored a book "The Roots of Rhetoric: Politics of Nuclear Weapons in India and Pakistan". His other publication is "Limits of Dissent A Comparative Study of Dissident Voices in the nuclear Discourse of India and Pakistan" Contemporary South Asia, 7.3 Autumn 1998. He also contributes to Pakistan's leading English newspapers on national security and political issues.

Sunera Thobani is a professor with the Centre for Research in Women's Studies and Gender Relations at UBC. She is past president of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC), Canada's largest feminist organization. Dr. Thobani's tenure at the NAC was characterized by a commitment to making the politics of anti-racism central to the women's movement. Her research focuses on globalization, citizenship, migration, race, and gender relations. Her current projects include "Gender, Globalization, and International Conflict: Representation of Women in the Print Media" and "Television Representations of Women and the War on Terrorism."

For more information:

email: pakact@gmail.com

phone: 604-613-0735

Protest against the Talibanization of Pakistan

2009-05-09T22:50:00.000-07:00

The 'Rally for Pakistan' was organized by the Pakistani diaspora of the greater Washington-Baltimore metro area at 14th Street/Pennsylvania Avenue (in front of Willard Hotel) Washington, DC 20004, on May 7, 2009 between 4.00 – 6.00 p.m.

The rally was organized to call upon the Government of Pakistan to take immediate and decisive steps to curb the threat of Talibanization and restore security and rule of law in all parts of Pakistan.

The rally sent a message to the people of Pakistan and USA that the Pakistani diaspora is concerned, active and engaged with these threats to the security and very existence of Pakistan by religious extremists. We call upon the Government of Pakistan to revoke the “Peace Deal” with armed militants in Swat, ensure the security of all citizens, and restore the constitutional basis of law and justice.

The rally also called upon the Government of Pakistan and the international community to address the humanitarian crisis caused by the displacement of more than half a million people in the last few months.

Ground Rules

· Supportive of One country, One constitution, One judiciary for Pakistan

· Non-political

· Non-partisan

· Focused on a single issue: Stop Talibanization of Pakistan

Ijaz Syed

US Bans Silvio Rodriguez from Pete Seeger Birthday

2009-05-09T22:30:00.000-07:00

Posted by Toronto Forum On Cuba

By MICHEL HERNANDEZ

The US Department of State, headed by Hillary Clinton, blocked Cuban folksinger Silvio Rodriguez from attending a tribute to US folksinger Pete Seeger on his 90th birthday on Sunday in New York.

The Cuban website Cubadebate reproduced a message Sunday evening from Silvio from Paris in which he denounces having not received a visa by Friday, frustrating his plans to fulfill the invitation from the event’s organizers.

“The blockade continues to be a living policy of the US government,” states the website.

In a message to his sister and manager in Havana, Silvio said: “This Friday, May 1, it is 8:40 p.m. in Paris and I just connected to the website of the US Embassy in France where they publish news about visa requests. Mine appears under the category of being processed, as it has since the request was made. Since today is the day I was to fly to New York and the visa has not appeared, tomorrow I will leave for Havana.”

“I believe that the attitude of the State Department is very contradictory with the desire for rapprochement with Cuba expressed by President Obama. As a Cuban cultural worker I continue to feel as blockaded and discriminated as by other governments. Hopefully this will truly change some day. Thanks for your help,” concluded the Cuban singer and songwriter.

Pete Seeger, who gave an international boost to the popular Cuban song Guantanamera by Joseito Fernandez, with verses by Jose Marti, has been a tireless critic of the US blockade on Cuba. He has visited the island on five occasions.

GRANMA

Silvio Rodriguez’s letter to Pete Seeger

May 3, 2009

Admired and beloved Maestro Pete Seeger:

In these moments the tribute concert that dozens of singers are justly offering you is being celebrated. Passing through my mind are some of the times that I have had the privilege of enjoying your talent, which has seduced multitudes. I remember you in Havana, singing in solidarity along with the Sound Experimentation Group; I remember you in that tour that was dedicated to Victor Jara, through several cities in Italy; and I am also reliving that frosty night in February 1980 in which, responding to your call, we traveled from New York to Poughkeepsie and we listened to your “Snow, Snow,” the masterwork of someone asking questions of a winter landscape.

I tried to come back to be with you today, but, as you well know, I was not allowed to get there by those who do not want the US and Cuba to get together, to sing to each other, to talk to each other, to understand each other. They are the ones who think that the world is divided into the powerful and the weak; the ones who only appreciate those who are rich and strong. They are the ones who do not forgive us for the fact that, even though we are small, we have decided to live standing up on our feet. Reality cries out that these brutes must be getting fewer and fewer in number, but somehow that minority still rules and gives the orders. Some of them saw danger in the idea that we would meet and that a simple act of brotherhood would symbolize two neighbor peoples who can agree in song and in affection.

But not just me, dear Pete: all my worthy and no doubt improvable people admire you, respect you, and celebrate your honorable nine decades defending social justice, peace, and culture. Here no one sees you as a danger, but as an extraordinary friend whom we are not allowed to embrace as freely as we would like. That is why not just I, but all of this Cuba that loves you, blockaded still by the abusers, is at your side now singing your prophetic ‘We Shall Overcome’ and the ‘Guantanamera’ of our Martí.

A kiss for Toshi and a big hug for you from

Silvio Rodriguez Dominguez

NLG.ORG

...

Meanwhile in Yahoo (i.e.Thomson Reuters) land...they claim:

U.S.-Cuba thaw in full swing in arts world

Thursday, May 7 01:44 am

Reuters Esteban Israel

The U.S. and Cuba governments have taken the first, tentative steps towards ending 50 years of hostilities, but the thawing of relations is already in full swing in the arts world.

After being largely absent in recent years, U.S. gallery owners, museum directors, curators and collectors are returning to the island to view and buy the work of Cuban artists.

Hundreds showed up for the just-ended Havana Biennial arts festival that was a regular stop for art buyers before a Bush administration travel crackdown earlier this decade. Their presence reflected both newly relaxed U.S. policy towards Cuba under President Barack Obama and a U.S. hunger for Cuban art.

Obama offered to "recast" Washington's relationship with its Cold War- era enemy last month and granted Cuban Americans the right to freely travel and send remittances to Cuba. The United States was prepared to move further towards normalized relations, he said, if Cuba extended its hand.

All of this has been music to the ears of Cuban artists glad to see the well-heeled gringos back in town.

"Cuba has been sort of the forbidden fruit for some years because it has been so hard to travel here," said Cuban-born Ben Rodriguez- Cubenas, chairman of the Cuban Artist Fund, which promotes Cuban art, and also collector and program director for the New York-based Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

"There has been this pent-up interest. Cuba is in the news. The interest is there," he said.

Art is exempted from the 47-year old U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, but sales dropped off when President George W. Bush toughened restrictions on U.S. travel to the Communist-run island and limited cultural exchanges in 2004.

Buyers from other countries kept prices lofty. U.S. investors now eying paintings, drawings and photographs for appreciation will be welcomed with wide-open arms but will have to open their wallets wide, too, artists said.

1,000 AMERICANS

The strong American presence at the Biennial means U.S. demand for Cuban art is on the rebound, said Pamela Ruiz, an American art curator based in Havana.

"My guess is that there were at least 1,000 Americans walking around and 95 percent of them were here because either they wanted to buy work or because they were curators or (worked for) nonprofit (organisations)," she said.

For the past few years only a handful of collectors were able to come legally by obtaining licenses from the U.S. government. Others violated U.S. law by travelling through a third country -- risking thousands of dollars in penalties.

Under Obama, they said the licensing process has become less arduous and there is less fear of making the Cuba trip illegally because they view prosecution as less likely.

And things would change dramatically if the U.S. Congress passes pending bills that would lift the ban on Cuban travel for all Americans, a move the Obama administration has said it would not oppose.

American interest in Cuban art flourished in the 1990s, when the island's socialist system was shaken by the implosion of the Soviet Union, Cuba's biggest benefactor for three decades, and artists started to reflect the woes of a drifting society in their work.

U.S. collectors swooped in, smelling what they thought was a good buying opportunity, said Cuban artist Carlos Garaicoa.

"Those were pretty strange, crazy times," he said. "People were waiting for the Cuban revolution to end any minute and so they were buying art thinking prices could rocket up."

Interest peaked at the 2000 Biennial, when U.S. buyers were believed to have spent over $1 million (661,592 pounds) buying Cuban works. "Americans came on a shopping spree with their Texan hats and money stuck in their belts," Garaicoa said.

It all ended abruptly when Bush came to power and his administration severed incipient cultural links to the island just 90 miles (145 km) from Florida.

Before the Bush changes, Americans made up about 60 percent of Cuban art buyers, but fell to about 40 percent afterward, according to various estimates.

Garaicoa missed the opening of his own exhibition at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art in 2005 after the U.S. government denied him a visa.

NO BARGAINS

But things are changing. During this year's Biennial, painter Damian Aquiles turned his run-down, century-old Havana home into an improvised gallery where curators from U.S. museums and arts organizations came to view the collages he makes with recycled cans and canvases.

"This is starting to happen. After this Biennial it will all start," says Aquiles, 37, whose work has been shown at exhibits in New York, San Francisco and New Orleans.

"There is a general interest regarding Cuba, its art, its politics. Cuba is fashionable and that curiosity helps us," said the artist, who's married to Ruiz.

Americans visiting the island will find lots of the vibrant, colourful art that Cuban artists favour. But one thing they will not find is bargains. Pre-Bush interest drove prices up to international standards and they have not come down.

Anyone coming to Havana should expect to pay between $750 and $5,000 for photographs, $1,500 to $45,000 for drawings and $2,500 to $30,000 for a painting, collectors said.

If the U.S. Congress lifts all travel restrictions, prices would likely go higher as more Americans visit. But the effect could be blunted by the world financial crisis.

Garaicoa said that, due to money issues, he already has postponed two exhibits lined up for this year, one in Tampa, Florida, and another in Dublin's Irish Museum of Modern Art.

But the crisis will eventually pass and as Americans return to Cuba, Cuban artists should benefit from the new political climate both in commercial terms and increased cultural contacts with the United States, said American curator Ruiz.

"This is a very important point" in time, she said. "Only good will come out of this."

(Reporting by Esteban Israel; editing by Jeff Franks and Philip Barbara)

Comment on Popular Radio Station Shut Down in Toronto

2009-04-14T18:37:00.000-07:00

RE:Posting by "Anonymous"

This meeting was never projected as a formal membership meeting but as a meeting for members and all concerned people as the last line indicates. I acknowledge that terming it a membership meeting is technically wrong according to the by-laws. However to claim the minimum donation for membership is #50 is not correct as this is a matter under dispute.

Catherine Holliday Date: 14 April 2009