 ISLAMABAD September 8, 2006: ActionAid Pakistan along with the affected people of Taunsa Barrage Emergency Rehabilitation and Modernization Project (TBERMP) and Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) projects, civil society activists, students, academia and political workers observed token hunger strike against the unjust policies and practices of the World Bank. The hunger strike was observed to register the protest at a very critical time.
On one hand, the World Bank staff is busy making preparations for its annual meeting to be held on 19-20 September in Singapore. While on other hand, heavy floods due to breaches in World Bank-funded LBOD have wrecked havoc in the life of people in Mirpurkhas district.
The people at this occasion were shouting slogans "get out world bank", "we don't need aid we need our land back", "world bank the killer bank"
People from the affected area and the protestors demanded that:
In the light of the WCD (World Commission on Dams) recommendations, the World Bank should form an independent commission to evaluate the losses of people induced by closure of canals, flooding and diversion of river course, and displacement.
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All the project-induced losses should be included in the cost of the project.
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The local people should be protected from any further flooding by taking appropriate measures with their consultation.
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No police force or the feudal power should be exercised against the people.
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All the left out displaced families should be immediately resettled.
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In the case of future canals closure, the farmers should be timely intimated and provided alternative source (Not Loans) of income.
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ONT face=Arial>Without any further delay, the World Bank should immediately release the inspection report on LBOD.
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The total loan given for the LBOD project should be converted into a grant and that grant money should be spent on the rehabilitation and development of the people and environment wronged by the LBOD Project.
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The ecology of the wetlands should be restored and wetlands should be brought on their original condition.
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Government of Pakistan and all the donors including World Bank and Asian Development Bank should publicly take the responsibility of the problems and announce no further extension of the LBOD drains.
Some of the World Bank's own employees and other political workers including the members of national assembly also came at the protest to show their solidarity with the affectees of the these projects. MNA of PPP from Badin Ms. Fehmida Mirza was one of the politicians who came at the occasion to show solidarity with the affectees. At the end of hunger strike the protestors presented the World Bank a memorandum comprising their demands.
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