As Sindh CM speaks of labour rights, police crack down on farmers
Protesting sugar cane farmers charged with batons, sprayed with teargas near Bilawal House
Many protesters fell unconscious after the police fired teargas. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD AZEEM/EXPRESS
KARACHI/HYDERABAD:
Farmers from across Sindh took to the streets on Monday after not receiving their desired sugar cane crop price. Their march to Bilawal House was interrupted by policemen, who charged the crowd with batons and then used water cannons and tear gas to disperse them.
A number of demonstrators fell unconscious due to the police action, while many were injured.
The protest came as a reaction to the sugar cane price of Rs182 per 40 kilogramme fixed by the Sindh government.
Following the announcement for protest, farmers had gathered around Boat Basin to march towards Bilawal House. Traffic on the road leading from Boat Basin to Bilawal House was blocked, as all routes leading to the house of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson were barricaded by the police.
‘Sindh govt must ensure prompt sugarcane crushing’
The demonstrators, who included a number of women and children, chanted slogans against the provincial government and sugar mill owners. They demanded that the government ensures that the official prices set for the sugar cane crop be adhered to and the reopening of shut down sugar mills across the province.
The protest continued for half-an-hour, after which Cane Commissioner Agha Zuhair arrived to negotiate with the farmers. He proposed that a two-member team representing the protesters should join him to discuss the issue with other government officials, but his idea was shot down by the farmers, who then began their march towards Bilawal House.
Policemen stationed along the route began to fire teargas shells and douse the protesters with water from a water cannon. The firing resulted in many people passing out. Law enforcers took 50 protesters into custody and shifted them to various nearby police stations.
The few protesters that were able to make it to Bilawal Chowrangi and its adjacent lanes were also taken into custody.
According to the Clifton SP, 49 people who tried to enter the ‘red zone’ were taken into custody. However, Sindh Agriculture Research Council (SARC) President advocate Ali Palh and Javed Junejo, who organised the protest, said that around 90 of their companions were taken into custody. “Our protest was peaceful and justified,” said Ali. “We wanted to protest at Bilawal House for our rights,” he said.
The protesting farmers accused the Sindh government of colluding with sugar mill owners. “The government of Sindh cannot feel the plight of the poor farmers,” said the protesters, warning that demonstrations would continue if their sugar cane crop price was not accepted.
Dr Shakil Palh, Ali’s brother, told The Express Tribune that his brother is among 80 persons who have been arrested. "The police have locked them up at the Clifton police station while 30 other people are missing, including a seven-year-old child and a woman."
According to Dr Shakil, the police resorted to baton charge and teargas shelling as the protesters reached Boat Basin on the way to Bilawal House. Besides Ali, growers’ representatives such as Wali Muhammad Thebo, Rizwan Lashari and Ali Nawaz Chohan were also arrested.
Sugarcane farmers withdraw protest call
"We wanted to hold a peaceful protest and to convey our demands and complaints to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. But, the police used force and denied us from exercising our democratic right," he claimed. He said if his brother and the other detained people were not released, the protesters will march towards Chief Minister House from the press club.
Sindh Chamber of Agriculture leader Nabi Bux Sathio condemned the police action and arrest of the farmers. "A democratic government [would] never opt to baton charge or tear gas peaceful protesters. They always give patient hearing to their legal and due demands."
Ali also represents the Sindh Human Rights Defenders organisation. His arrest drew condemnation from civil society activists. "The corrupt rulers in Sindh are responsible for economic murder of the farmers," alleged Grand Democratic Alliance General Secretary Ayaz Palijo who condemned the police action. He demanded that the police officers and other people who ordered them to beat up the peaceful protesters should be booked in an FIR.
The SARC called the protest over the prevailing sugar cane price controversy. The farmers have been demanding a Rs185 per 40kg rate for their crop. However, the government recently notified a Rs182 price. But, the farmers complain that in violation of the notification the sugar mills are paying them between Rs130 and Rs140. They hold PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari for the alleged exploitation of the farmers by the mills.
According to the Sindh Sugar Factories Control Act, 1950, the Sindh government is obligated to notify the start of the cane crushing in October every year. The government has also been made responsible to fix the buying rate of sugar cane in consultation with farmers and mills, according to the Act.
However, for the last several years, the farmers have been persistently complaining of two to three month delays in notifying the crushing season and fixing low price for the crop to favour mill owners. On their parts, the mills maintain that the growers' demanded rate is not feasible.
Federal govt responsible for delay in sugarcane crushing alleges CM
Sindh Abadgar Board Vice-President Mehmood Nawaz Shah, who also strongly condemned the onslaught, said they are ready for a similar showdown in Hyderabad on December 23. "We will block the highway [at Hatri Bypass in Hyderabad]. We have resolved to go there for a sit-in to draw attention of the government and the sugar mills," said Nawaz, who added that the board and other organisations representing the farmers are under pressure from their community to adopt the course of protests. Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, SARC and Sindh Abadagar Ittehad will also participate in the December 23 sit-in.
He said the Karachi protest was meant to demand from the government to implement its own notification for payment of Rs182 per 40kg against Rs130 to Rs140 which is being currently paid. He lamented that the sugar mills which have been given an over Rs20 billion subsidy by the federal and provincial governments are not paying adequate rates to the growers.
Commenting on the issue, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that the government was ready to provide a subsidy for the export of sugar. “We want to begin the crushing season but the federal government has not issued any notification regarding the subsidy,” he justified.
Ironically, Murad was speaking to the media after attending the International Labour Conference organised by human resources ministry.
“The government is sincere with the sugar cane producers. We have announced a price of Rs182 for 40kg to relieve the producers,” he claimed in response to a question regarding how exactly the provincial government was ‘supporting’ the farmers. “The provincial government has already issued a notification in this regard,” he assured.
The CM said that a decision to provide a sugar export subsidy of Rs10.70 per kg was made during a Council of Common Interests meeting last year. To further ease the deadlock between sugar producers and mill owners, the provincial cabinet had also approved an additional subsidy of Rs9.30 per kg, giving farmers a profit of Rs20 per kg and ensuring a price of Rs182 for 40kg. “I am sad that the federal government has not issued any notification in this regard,” Murad lamented. “The responsibility of the crisis lies with the federal government,” he said, absolving his government of all blame.
He appealed to the sugar cane farmers to be patient for a peaceful resolution to their issues. “I will approach the federal government again and request it to release the notification soon,” he promised.
Farmers demand ban on inter-provincial sale of cane crop
Condemning the police attack on peaceful farmers who were heading towards Bilawal House, Pakistan Muslim League – Functional (PML-F) Sindh General Secretary Sardar Raheem demanded the immediate release of all the arrested farmers. Talking to Express News, he claimed that at least a dozen of the detained farmers were affiliated with the PML-F. “The PPP, which poses as the champion of democracy, is causing millions of rupees loss to poor farmers and giving a subsidy of billions of rupees to sugar mill owners,” he claimed, adding that the PPP’s crackdown on farmers reminded him of a dictatorship. Rahim announced that a movement will be launched if the government did not free the detained farmers.
Farmers from across Sindh took to the streets on Monday after not receiving their desired sugar cane crop price. Their march to Bilawal House was interrupted by policemen, who charged the crowd with batons and then used water cannons and tear gas to disperse them.
A number of demonstrators fell unconscious due to the police action, while many were injured.
The protest came as a reaction to the sugar cane price of Rs182 per 40 kilogramme fixed by the Sindh government.
Following the announcement for protest, farmers had gathered around Boat Basin to march towards Bilawal House. Traffic on the road leading from Boat Basin to Bilawal House was blocked, as all routes leading to the house of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson were barricaded by the police.
‘Sindh govt must ensure prompt sugarcane crushing’
The demonstrators, who included a number of women and children, chanted slogans against the provincial government and sugar mill owners. They demanded that the government ensures that the official prices set for the sugar cane crop be adhered to and the reopening of shut down sugar mills across the province.
The protest continued for half-an-hour, after which Cane Commissioner Agha Zuhair arrived to negotiate with the farmers. He proposed that a two-member team representing the protesters should join him to discuss the issue with other government officials, but his idea was shot down by the farmers, who then began their march towards Bilawal House.
Policemen stationed along the route began to fire teargas shells and douse the protesters with water from a water cannon. The firing resulted in many people passing out. Law enforcers took 50 protesters into custody and shifted them to various nearby police stations.
The few protesters that were able to make it to Bilawal Chowrangi and its adjacent lanes were also taken into custody.
According to the Clifton SP, 49 people who tried to enter the ‘red zone’ were taken into custody. However, Sindh Agriculture Research Council (SARC) President advocate Ali Palh and Javed Junejo, who organised the protest, said that around 90 of their companions were taken into custody. “Our protest was peaceful and justified,” said Ali. “We wanted to protest at Bilawal House for our rights,” he said.
The protesting farmers accused the Sindh government of colluding with sugar mill owners. “The government of Sindh cannot feel the plight of the poor farmers,” said the protesters, warning that demonstrations would continue if their sugar cane crop price was not accepted.
Dr Shakil Palh, Ali’s brother, told The Express Tribune that his brother is among 80 persons who have been arrested. "The police have locked them up at the Clifton police station while 30 other people are missing, including a seven-year-old child and a woman."
According to Dr Shakil, the police resorted to baton charge and teargas shelling as the protesters reached Boat Basin on the way to Bilawal House. Besides Ali, growers’ representatives such as Wali Muhammad Thebo, Rizwan Lashari and Ali Nawaz Chohan were also arrested.
Sugarcane farmers withdraw protest call
"We wanted to hold a peaceful protest and to convey our demands and complaints to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. But, the police used force and denied us from exercising our democratic right," he claimed. He said if his brother and the other detained people were not released, the protesters will march towards Chief Minister House from the press club.
Sindh Chamber of Agriculture leader Nabi Bux Sathio condemned the police action and arrest of the farmers. "A democratic government [would] never opt to baton charge or tear gas peaceful protesters. They always give patient hearing to their legal and due demands."
Ali also represents the Sindh Human Rights Defenders organisation. His arrest drew condemnation from civil society activists. "The corrupt rulers in Sindh are responsible for economic murder of the farmers," alleged Grand Democratic Alliance General Secretary Ayaz Palijo who condemned the police action. He demanded that the police officers and other people who ordered them to beat up the peaceful protesters should be booked in an FIR.
The SARC called the protest over the prevailing sugar cane price controversy. The farmers have been demanding a Rs185 per 40kg rate for their crop. However, the government recently notified a Rs182 price. But, the farmers complain that in violation of the notification the sugar mills are paying them between Rs130 and Rs140. They hold PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari for the alleged exploitation of the farmers by the mills.
According to the Sindh Sugar Factories Control Act, 1950, the Sindh government is obligated to notify the start of the cane crushing in October every year. The government has also been made responsible to fix the buying rate of sugar cane in consultation with farmers and mills, according to the Act.
However, for the last several years, the farmers have been persistently complaining of two to three month delays in notifying the crushing season and fixing low price for the crop to favour mill owners. On their parts, the mills maintain that the growers' demanded rate is not feasible.
Federal govt responsible for delay in sugarcane crushing alleges CM
Sindh Abadgar Board Vice-President Mehmood Nawaz Shah, who also strongly condemned the onslaught, said they are ready for a similar showdown in Hyderabad on December 23. "We will block the highway [at Hatri Bypass in Hyderabad]. We have resolved to go there for a sit-in to draw attention of the government and the sugar mills," said Nawaz, who added that the board and other organisations representing the farmers are under pressure from their community to adopt the course of protests. Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, SARC and Sindh Abadagar Ittehad will also participate in the December 23 sit-in.
He said the Karachi protest was meant to demand from the government to implement its own notification for payment of Rs182 per 40kg against Rs130 to Rs140 which is being currently paid. He lamented that the sugar mills which have been given an over Rs20 billion subsidy by the federal and provincial governments are not paying adequate rates to the growers.
Commenting on the issue, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that the government was ready to provide a subsidy for the export of sugar. “We want to begin the crushing season but the federal government has not issued any notification regarding the subsidy,” he justified.
Ironically, Murad was speaking to the media after attending the International Labour Conference organised by human resources ministry.
“The government is sincere with the sugar cane producers. We have announced a price of Rs182 for 40kg to relieve the producers,” he claimed in response to a question regarding how exactly the provincial government was ‘supporting’ the farmers. “The provincial government has already issued a notification in this regard,” he assured.
The CM said that a decision to provide a sugar export subsidy of Rs10.70 per kg was made during a Council of Common Interests meeting last year. To further ease the deadlock between sugar producers and mill owners, the provincial cabinet had also approved an additional subsidy of Rs9.30 per kg, giving farmers a profit of Rs20 per kg and ensuring a price of Rs182 for 40kg. “I am sad that the federal government has not issued any notification in this regard,” Murad lamented. “The responsibility of the crisis lies with the federal government,” he said, absolving his government of all blame.
He appealed to the sugar cane farmers to be patient for a peaceful resolution to their issues. “I will approach the federal government again and request it to release the notification soon,” he promised.
Farmers demand ban on inter-provincial sale of cane crop
Condemning the police attack on peaceful farmers who were heading towards Bilawal House, Pakistan Muslim League – Functional (PML-F) Sindh General Secretary Sardar Raheem demanded the immediate release of all the arrested farmers. Talking to Express News, he claimed that at least a dozen of the detained farmers were affiliated with the PML-F. “The PPP, which poses as the champion of democracy, is causing millions of rupees loss to poor farmers and giving a subsidy of billions of rupees to sugar mill owners,” he claimed, adding that the PPP’s crackdown on farmers reminded him of a dictatorship. Rahim announced that a movement will be launched if the government did not free the detained farmers.