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Brick kiln workers
in Pakistan are oppose to all sort of fanaticism. A meeting at
Lahore organized by the Brick Kiln Workers Federation at Lahore
concluded that there is no way forward on the road of fanaticism.
The meeting was
organized to commemorate the 12th year of the Supreme Court
decision to abolish the Peshgi (advance) system from the brick
kiln areas. On 18th September 1988, Supreme Court of Pakistan
concluded after long court proceedings that the brick kiln workers
could not be kept as slaves even if they have not paid back the
Peshgi amount in time. Workers across the country celebrate the
day as freedom day. There are over 100,000 brick kiln workers in
the industry of brick making.
Over 100 brick kiln representatives from different areas of
Pakistan gathered today at a commemoration meeting at Lahore
Yohanna Abad area. Farooq Tariq, general secretary Labour Party
Pakistan was the chief guest at the occasion. Anwar Arther Bhatti
introduced the meeting explaining the worsening conditions of the
brick kiln workers. He was of the view that despite the decision
of the court, there is no implementation of the orders. He
criticized the bombing of the American cities and said workers can
only loose what ever they have on the path of fanaticism.
Farooq Tariq congratulated the workers for their organization once
again on more solid class basis. He said despite a lull in the
movement of the brick kiln workers that it is freshening to see
the workers representatives on this occasion. He went in detail of
the position of LPP in relation to the 12th September bombing. He
said we could only condemn this brutal action of the terrorists
against the American workers. This has solved nothing but the
lives of many millions in danger at the reaction of the American
Imperialism. He said that individual terrorism might be
successful, as the present one will not solve the basic problems
of the working people. It will put more economic and social burden
on them.
Individual terrorism is no friend of the working people. It lower
downs the consciousness of the workers in favor of some one else.
It brings a message that you wait and some one else will do it for
you. It makes false heroes who on the basis of their actions
demand that no more democracy you listen to the. It dictates terms
to you. It forces you to accept some one else, in stead of you,
fighting for yourself. Farooq Tariq went into details of how we
have to oppose both the American imperialism invasions into
Afghanistan or Pakistan on the pretext of the 12th September event
and also the religious fanaticism. We have all the sympathies with
the families of the victims of 12th September but we have no trust
at all on the Bush administration who are talking of eliminating
terrorism and promote democracy and freedom of people. It is
precisely the American Imperialism, which has promoted the
so-called Mujahidin in Afghanistan. He questioned that who had
armed by tooth and nail to these fanatics? Who gave them millions
of Dolor and arms in the eighties to get rid of communism?
Farooq Tariq told the charged workers that we have no trust of the
present military regime of Pakistan. It was precisely the military
intelligence of Pakistan who has promoted the Talban government.
It gave them arms and
ammunition to control Afghanistan Now it has made a 180 degree U
turn in favor of American against Talban. What has made the
military regime to cooperate with the American Imperialism, he
questioned. What has made the military
regime to change their Afghan policy overnight? It is greed and
fear of the military regime. It has no principals.
Labour Party Pakistan is opposing to the American intervention in
the region. But it can not side with the religious fanatics who
are also responsible for the present dangerous circumstances. Our
opposition to the American Imperialism is in line with our
consistence policy to oppose their capitalist system. But
religious fanatics welcomed Bill Clinton when he came to Pakistan
in March 2000. They did not say a single word against him and told
the nation
Clinton is a guest. It was only LPP, which has opposed the Clinton
visit and demonstrated against the visit.
Farooq Tariq said our tactics is a united action of the workers in
the shape of demonstrations, rallies, strikes and public meeting
to press our demands to change the system. We have nothing in
common with those who have carried out the 12th September attack.
Speaking on the occasion, Baba Feroz Masih, the president of the
federation said our links with LPP is going strong and strong and
we will help LPP to have an ear of the workers on the political
issues. It is our political voice,
he said. He thanked the workers who had made their way from a long
distance to attend this meeting.
A red flag was hosted on the house of Baba Feroz as symbol of the
struggle of the brick kiln workers at the end of the meeting.
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