Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Current Condition of 72 Bonded Labor Victims - Starvation and Threats By: Advocate Veerji Kolhi and Zemira Eli Natan

Advocate Veerji Kolhi
Convenor
Human Rights Comission of Pakistan
President
Progressive Hindu Alliance



Contempt of Court will be filed today against the Landlords who have still not complied with the order issued by the High Court of Sindh




"72 liberated peasants, from the landlord are waiting for your assistance in the form of food, water and other necessities of life...



The 72 bounded labourers all are Hindu, by caste Kohli, who were in the wrongful confinement of cruel landlord of Umar Kot namely Zubair Sahito, were liberated by the Order dated 20th June-2014 passed by Honourable High Court of Sindh, Circuit Bench, Hyderabad, the Honourable Court also directed the S.H.O. Police Station Soofi Faqeer, District Umar Kot to do needful action for return of snatched animals of the 72 bounded labourers, but from 20/06/2014 to till  present date 11 days has  passed.  S.H.O. has failed to comply with the Order of learned apex Court. Now the 72 bounded labourers, including women and minor children are passing their lives at the Foot Path of the Press Club, Hyderabad in the scorching sunshine and heat of June and July without any proper food and water. Saylani Welfare Trust was providing them lunch and dinner only for 8 days, but due to the start of the month of Ramzan, they stopped  providing food;  due to which 72 persons are in very critical condition for want of food and water,  If they were shifted from Press Club, Hyderabad to anywhere else,  they would be kidnapped by the cruel Landlord Zubair Sahito. So it is appealed to all human rights organizations and activists, kindly arrange for food, water and other necessities of life for  the 72 liberated peasants..."
 



-----Advocate Veerji Kolhi-----



Since there is no compliance to an order issued by the High Court of Sindh   IUFE is forced to appeal to Human Rights Organizations which will be contacted to address this matter to the highest degree.  Every person is entitled to food , water, clothing and shelter.  It is a violation of basic Human Rights not to provide these basic needs according the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The Right to Food is a basic Human Right. The CESCR interpreted the states' obligation as being of three types: the obligation to respect, protect and to fulfill:

  1. Respect implies that states must never arbitrarily prevent people from having access to food.
  2. Protect means that states should take measures to ensure that enterprises or individuals do not deprive individuals of their access to adequate food.
  3. Fulfil (facilitate and provide) entails that governments must pro-actively engage in activities intended to strengthen people’s access to and utilization of resources and means to ensure their livelihood, including food security. If, for reasons beyond their control such as at times of war or after a natural disaster, groups or individuals are unable to enjoy their right to food, then states have the obligation to provide that right directly.


Zemira Eli Natan
Executive Director
International Unity for Freedom and Equality



In a recent briefing with Advocate Veerji Kolhi  IUFE has been informed that the 72 Victims of Bonded Labor that were recently released by order of the High Court of Sindh under the 1992  Bonded Labor Abolition Act have received a very lazy response from the Welfare Agencies that are responsible to care for their basic needs gave them only enough food to last them 8 days.  It has been over 12 days and they have not received proper food and water by these agencies.  Advocate Veerji Kolhi has enlisted the aid of volunteers to help sustain them until these agencies can comply to the court order.  He has also made diligent efforts to contact other Welfare Agencies in Pakistan.  Saylani Welfare Organization provided food for only 8 days while stopping these provisions in order to celebrate Ramzan.  It was promised by Saylani Welfare Organization that after the celebration of Ramzan that the people would receive their rations.  They have still not complied to the order of the High Court.  They must be given proper nutrition until they can be rehabilitated which usually will take up to one year.  These victims consist of 9 families with a total of 72 Victims.  Most of whom are women and children.  Their condition is poor and their level of stress is extremely high.  These  victims have been threatened with open fire if they attempt to move from their present location .  An  overview of some of the Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reveal the following UN violations that are in place in this case:

Article 3- Right to Life
We all have the right to life and to live in Freedom and Safety.

Article 5- No Torture
Nobody has the right to hurt or torture us.

Article 13- Freedom To Move
We all have the Right to go where we want in our own country and to travel as we wish.

Article 26-  Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of himself and his family, including food.




After 12 days of Waiting for Food and Water Provisions in Front of Hyderabad Press Club

Photo Courtesy of Advocate Veerji Kolhi


A Mother Worries About Her Baby

Photo Courtesy of Advocate Veerji Kolhi


How Will This Mother Feed Her Children?

Photo Courtesy of Advocate Veerji Kolhi
Advocate Veerji Kolhi
Convenor
Human Rights Comission of Pakistan
President
Progressive Hindu Alliance

Zemira Eli Natan
Executive Director
International Unity for Freedom and Equality

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