An account of a peace visit to Pakistan by Srilata Swaminathan, member of Central Committee and vice president of AICCTU
I was in Pakistan for a truly memorable week between 29 August and 5 September. At the centre of the visit was a ‘South Asia Labour for Peace Conference’ on 1-2 September. Organised by the South Asian Labour Forum which had been formed in Kathmandu in May 1996, the conference had delegates from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, with the Indian and Pakistani participation being the largest. The Indian delegation comprised 24 persons from all the main TU federations including AICCTU, AITUC, CITU, UTUC, UTUC(LS), AIAWU, HMS, INTUC and BMS. The most valuable part of the visit was the opportunity to experience the struggles of the working people of Pakistan and the shared sense of urgency to resist the ominous imperialist shadow that loomed over both our nations.
What brought home this threat strongly was the Pakistani people’s ongoing resistance to the impending new township of Guador. This town is not for Pakistani citizens; it will be reserved exclusively for a US military port-cum base! Slated to be one of the largest military bases of the US outside its own soil, this base aims to establish Uncle Sam’s jackboots firmly in the subcontinent. It will pose a threat, not only to Pakistan, but to the whole of Asia, especially India. Pakistani voices saying No to US bases on their soil, and resistance to the Guador township are growing, and we in India must, urgently speak out on this issue. A related issue in Pakistan is that of the Mirani Dam in Baluchistan which will serve the water needs of the Guador township – this dam will submerge the land and forests of at least 3000 families, while downstream, 10,000 families will lose their livelihood.
In this context, it was a positive step that the Indian delegates at the conference formulated a common charter that spoke clearly against imperialist globalisation, privatisation and its re-colonisation of our country, onslaught on the working classes, and militarisation. A joint declaration known as the Karachi Declaration was adopted which called for peace between our countries, resistance to US military zones and bases in the region, and an end to militarization.
Right from my arrival in Karachi, where I was given an enthusiastic welcome by the Labour Party of Pakistan, I was struck by the groundswell of enthusiasm for Indo-Pak unity and solidarity. In Lahore I had the privilege to visit the LPP office and meet their General Secretary, Comrade Farooq Tariq, their Chairman, Shoaib Bhatti and other leaders. The LPP issued a formal invitation to the General Secretary of our Party to visit Pakistan at the earliest. A brief meeting was also organised with the leaders and activists of their women’s front, Women Workers’ Helpline, where we discussed basic questions and problems of working among and organising women and found our experiences to be very similar.
At both Karachi and Lahore, I was called to address seminars on fundamentalism, secularism, and democracy where progressive and left intellectuals, and workers alike participated with great enthusiasm. I was also able to visit the Bin Kasim Thermal power station outside Karachi, where workers struggled against the threat of privatisation. I could also meet union leaders and workers from water, sewage, railways, rice mills and many other sectors. All felt the insecurity of globalisation, privatisation plus the anti-labour laws like Industrial Relations Ordinance 2002, that threaten their jobs, unions, labour rights and social security. I was told of how most public sector undertakings are under the command of retired generals and other military officers who do not allow the formation of trade unions. It was inspiring to learn of the major struggle being waged by peasantry in Okara District of Lahore for the land rights that were snatched a century ago by colonial rule. Out of a total of 68,000 acres they have been able to distribute 17,000 acres to about 12,000 families and are continuing the struggle in spite of heavy repression. It is significant that the population which is 40% Christian and 60% Muslim is strongly united in their fight for justice.
All over Pakistan the workers of highways, industries, sugar mills, cleaners and sweepers, and journalists have been erupting in protests over loss of jobs, privatisation and workers’ rights as well as the draconian anti-terrorism act whish was being used to muzzle dissent. I was struck by the strong similarity with the situation back home!
In all discussions with trade unions, the left and other groups, the following things became amply clear – that both our peoples, in Pakistan and India, were being exploited by their own ruling classes who were also hand in glove with imperialism in another bid for colonising our countries. That there existed a great deal of difference in the peace preached by Bush, Vajpayee or Musharaf and the peace desired by the people of the two countries. That it was only the toiling people of our two countries who could genuinely forge peace, democracy and prosperity. Above all, I came away overwhelmed with the tremendous warmth and affection of our neighbours and a sense of hope and determination for forging unity in the face of our common enemies – the fanatics and warmongers on both sides of the border and the imperialist offensive.