International Day of Action 2007: South Asia

Bangladesh | India | Pakistan

Bangladesh

Press Conference to Fight Dams on Bangladesh Rivers

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and National River Saving Movement (NRSM) organized a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity where the "Memorandum on Rivers" was made public. An introductory speech was given by Professor Muzaffer Ahmed (President, BAPA). Dr. Mohd. Abdul Matin, Coordinator of NRSM and Joint Secretary of BAPA, presented details of the memorandum to media reporters representing more than 20 national dailies and TV channels. The memorandum, manifested in 11 policy principles and 38 demands and action programs, now serves as a significant strategy paper adopted by the National Convention on Rivers - where 183 activists, academics, researchers and organizers discussed issues surrounding 163 rivers in the country. Simultaneous programs organized that day included meetings and a delegation sent by 26 organizations from around the country to demand that local authorities remove structures on rivers and riverbanks and stop pollution in peripheral districts.

Contact

Dr. Mohd Abdul Matin
Bangladesh Prohíbes Andolon (BAPA)
Bangladesh
Email: memory14@agni.com

Save the Rivers Campaign

Samaj Progoti Sangstha, a social development organization working in and around the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh, in association with Action Aid Bangladesh celebrated under their "Save the Rivers Campaign." This year’s actions included a memorandum submission to the Environment Department and Water Development Board and a collaborative meeting with government officials, university teachers, journalists and social development activists.

Contact

Alamgir Lablu, Executive Director
Samaj Progoti Sangstha (SPS)
House #186, Road #14, Boyra R/A
Khulna - 9000, Bangladesh
Phone: 88 041 761955
Email: sps@bttb.net.bd or sps_bd@yahoo.com

No to Tipaimukh Dam: Yes to Clean River, Quality Water and Better Life

Angikar Bangladesh arranged 10 press conferences that took place on boats sailing on 10 river points in Bangladesh. In each program, journalists were invited on the boats and written press briefings were read during the trip, followed by question and answer sessions. The program was as follows:

10 March, 2007:

    Launching program of press conferences in Dhaka. The issue: "No to Tipaimukh Dam: Yes to Clean River, Quality Water and Better Life."

12 March, 2007:

    River Kopotakkha, Jessore, 11 AM. Coordinator: Azizul Haq Moni
    River Rupsha, Khulna, 11 AM. Coordinator: Saiful Huq Sipu
    River Kirtankhola, Barisal, 11 AM. Coordinator: Anower Zahid
    River Surma, Sunamganj, 11 AM. Coordinator: Moinuddin Jalal
    13 March, 2007:
    River Meghna, Chandpur, 11 AM. Coordinator: Zakir Hossain
    River Brahmaputra, Mymensingh, 11 AM. Coordinator: Pradip Chakraborty and Habibuzzaman
    River Jhenai, Sherpur, 11 AM. Coordinator: Laxmi dee
    River Mogra, Netrokona, 11 AM. Coordinator: Kuntal Biswas
    River Surma, Sylhet, 11 AM. Coordinator: Moinuddin Jalal

Additional Press Conference for the Bhairab River

With the success of Angikar Bangladesh’s boat press conferences earlier in the month, the group -- along with Rivers for Life, local community-based organizations, among others -- held an additional press conference in Noapara, Jessore to raise awareness of issues surround the Bhairab River. The event was intended to be held on the Bhairab River, mirroring the other boat press conferences, but administrative refusal due to a temporary emergency rule in the country forced the event to seek other venues. It was alternatively held in the ballroom of Progoti Samaj Kallyan Sangstha, under the leadership of Prinicpal Abdul Motaleb Sarderat. Dr. Kaji Rabiul Haq, president of Rivers for Life, participated as the chief speaker. Kh. Azizul Huq Moni, member-secretary of Rivers for Life, and Executive Director Ulashi Srijony Shangstha read out the press statement prepared by Angikar Bangladesh and Rivers for Life. Other prominent community leaders and speakers spoke. The event was held under the theme "Save the Bhairah: Clean Its Water, Ensure Quality of Life along the Habitats beside the Bhairab," in conjuntion with Angikar Bangladesh’s "No to Tipaimukh Dam" campaign. The conference also agreed to organize an Open Air Peoples Parliament to be held at Noapara in the near future.

Contact

Muhammad Hilaluddin
Angikar Bangladesh
Email: angikarbd@yahoo.com


India

Say No to Big Dams -- Small Is Beautiful

350 tribal people displaced by three mega dams in Orissa, India gathered on March 14th at the district headquarters in Koraput. Leaders expressed their views on the dams and the displacement and plight of indigenous communities. Questions were raised about "who paid the price" and "who benefited" from the construction of big dams. The displaced tribal people from the neighboring Andra Pradesh also joined in the event. The participants committed to a resolution to protest future dam construction in the region. At the end of the event, participants held a demonstration rally in the town, with slogans and placards.

Contact

Bidyut Mohanty
Society for Promoting Rural Education and Development (SPREAD)
P.O. Box 12, Koraput-764020, Orissa, India
Email: info@spread.org.in
Web: www.spread.org.in

Let the Ahu Run Free: Stop the Tipaimukh Dam

The Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Project (ACTIP) and others organized the Peoples’ Affirmation of the Ahu River (Barak River) on March 14 in the historical Puiluan (Kombirol) on the Ahu River, about 20 km from Nungba Sub-Division HQ, Tamenglong District in Manipur, India.

The international Ahu River runs through Puiluan Village, proposed location of the 1500 MW Tipaimukh Hydroelectric (Multipurpose) Project, and its mega-dam. The mega-dam proposed at Tipaimukh (Ruongluovaisuo to the Hmar people) will suffocate this river and severely affect local communities, including the indigenous Zeliangrong. The day will be marked by a ritual to the Creator of the Ahu River and ancestors and forefathers who have taken care of and given back to present generations from the surrounding 15 villages. The wisdom, knowledge and legends that have flourished around Ahu River will be narrated, sung and recited.

Parallel events were also organized in Imphal, Manipur. Affected communities offered testimonies of destructive dam construction in Manipur. A memorandum asking for a sustainable, people-oriented developmental plan was submitted to the Chief Minister of Manipur, Okram Ibobi and the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Man Mohan Singh. The implications of the proposed Tipaimukh mega-dam upon Zeliangrong community were discussed and a call for action was made to "Let the AHU Run Free" and "Save Ahu Falls".

This action was organized in alliance with Zeliangrong Union, Nungba Area Village Authority Chairmen’s Association (NAVACA), Zeliangrong Students’ Union Manipur Nungba Zone (ZSUM Nungba Zone) and Tipaimukh Dam Affected Villages Committee (TIDAVCOM).

Contact

Kinderson Pamei
Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Project (ACTIP)
Phone: +91 9436201497
Email: pamei.rights@gmail.com
Web: www.ccddne.net


Pakistan

River Art Competition: "Save the Rivers"

Sherhersaaz conducted a River Art competition on March 14th. A drawing competition was held for students, from junior to senior high school levels, to express their ideas and views about how to become environmentally friendly. It took place at HITEC (Heavy Industries Taxila Educational City) in Taxila, Pakistan, from 10:00am to 12:00pm.

Contact

Salma Saleem, Documentation Officer
Sherhersaaz
Email: salma@shehersaaz.org.pk

Save River Soan

Sherhersaaz provided an open discussion forum on March 15th about River Soan, whose fertile land the government has unfortunately decided to modify, including plans to adjoin villages into a landfill site. The forum took place at Village Jabbar Miana, near Adeyala in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from 11:00am to 1:00pm.

Contact

Salma Saleem, Documentation Officer
Sherhersaaz
Email: salma@shehersaaz.org.pk

Seminar on the Sindh Water Shortage

Sindh National Council held a seminar in the Larkana northern district of Sindh Province, Pakistan. The seminar included multimedia presentations, renowned intellectuals, water experts, educators and politicians presenting views on the water shortage in the Sindh over the last two decades. It was an open seminar and took place at noon at Latif Nizamani Labour Hall, Larkana.

Contact

Aijaz Ali Solangi
Sindh National Council
Phone: 0302-3289655
Email: aijazsolangi@gmail.com
Web: www.thesindh.com

Mega Water Projects: Taking Stock to Move Ahead

An all-day conference brought together experts, political leaders and activists in a conversation about mega water development projects and their consequences in Pakistan. The March 14th event at the Hotel Indus, Hyderabad was organized collaboratively by Sindh Democratic Forum, Aid Action Pakistan and SUNGI.

Contact

Zulfiqar Halepoto, Secretary
Sindh Democratic Forum (SDF)
TZ 14, 15, 16, Defence Shopping Center, Thadi Sarak, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan
Phone: + 92 222 7878 801
Fax: + 92 222 783 751
Email: zhalepoto@yahoo.com

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