Vertragssystem in der Fischerei vor Aufhebung?

Das Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum scheint Grund zum Feiern zu haben: seit seiner Gründung hatte das Forum gegen das vertragssystem in der Fischerei des Landes gekämpft, und war dafür eingetreten, ein Lizenzierungssystem an seine Stelle zu setzen. Jetzt hat die Regierung von Sindh dem zugestimmt. Das wäre für mehrere Hunderttausend Menschen ein echter Fortschritt - auch wenn die Marktwirtschaftsfanatiker des Landes das ganz anders sehen. Die (englische) Stellungnahme des PFF "Abolishment of Contract System from Fisheries" vom 23. April 2007.

Abolishment of Contract System from Fisheries

Dear All

Congratulations on: Abolishment of Contract System from Fisheries At last the Sindh Government is constrained to decided, in principle the abolishment of contract system from sweet water bodies of Sindh. Since its inception PFF has rejected the exploitative contract system. Although it considers the fishermen as custodians of the water grounds and struggled for rights of fishermen under the laws of the lands. The existing laws provide alternatives of the contract system, which is licensing system. PFF supports licensing because it is fishermen-friendly and provides more liberty to fishermen. Under license system fishermen are free to sell their catch in the bazaar at the market rate.

PFF started its mass based movement against contract system on early 2005, when the government announced to auction all fishing grounds including Zero Point and all other lakes of Badin district, which were earlier under control of Rangers. The Federal Government ended the Rangers' control on Badin's fishing grounds after a historic struggle of PFF, but the provincial government suddenly woke up just after that decision. It felt to avail the opportunity to earn commissions through awarding contracts of all the fishing grounds.Keeping in view the situation, the PFF made it clear to the Sindh Government that it is right of fishermen of Badin as well of rest of Sindh to catch fish and if the government wants some revenue, it should issue licenses on payment of a reasonable fee.

In result of massive movement of PFF on April 21, 2007, Mr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim announced the decision during his visit of Zeero point Badin. Addressing to a large gathering of Fisherfolks CM said that Government was thinking the matter since a long time, because of deprivation and considerable movement of Fisherfolks of Sindh. He further said that from today no any influential either he belongs to ruling party will not be allowed to bribe the rights of Fisherfolks.

Several projects including, cold storages, sweet water lakes, ice Factories, water filter plants and a model village, worth of Rs. 110 Million will be developed for socio-economic development of Fisherfolks of Sindh he added.

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum has welcomed the decision and congratulated the fishermen on yet another success. PFF's struggle was based on principles and this struggle would not end on this stage till an official notification and proper implementation on decision.

PFF did not sit silently since then and it continued its struggle against contract system. This struggle is spread over in three phases. PFF leadership was put behind the bars and many of its members were arrested in Badin and Sanghar while protesting against the contract system.

We pay tribute to the fishermen of the entire Sindh, who extended their full support to PFF struggle. We are also grateful to our partner organizations and other civil society organizations including legislators, political parties , entrepreneurs and NGOs for extending their full support during our struggle against contract system. The support and coverage provided by both print and electronic media (particularly Sindhi channels) was very encouraging for us. We are grateful to our media friends for their generous coverage of our activities like rallies; hunger strikes etc during the campaign against contract system. The credit of this achievement not only goes to PFF & Fisherfolks of Sindh but also all of you who has supported us for a long time since initial stages of struggle.

Muhammad Ali Shah
Chairperson
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum