Οι εργαζόμενοι στις πακιστανικές τηλεπικοινωνίες δίνουν αυτές τις μέρες έναν ηρωικό αγώνα. Παρά τις συλλήψεις εκατοντάδων αγωνιστών εργατών, προχωρούν σε απεργία διαρκείας από μεθαύριο Τετάρτη, 15 Ιούνη. Ζητούν την συμπαράστασή μας, γι΄ αυτό και παραθέτουμε στη συνέχεια ένα πρότυπο επιστολής διαμαρτυρίας, καλώντας συντρόφους, φίλους και συνδικαλιστές να ανταποκριθούν.
To:
Junaid Khan (president PTCL), [email protected]
M.Shahzad Sadan senior vice president ptcl, [email protected]
Awais Leghari, Minister of Telecoms and Information Technology, [email protected], [email protected]
Copies to: [email protected]
Dear Sir,
I was outraged to hear of the arrest over the weekend of 400 telecommunication workers because they were involved in the entirely legitimate campaign of fighting against the privatisation of their industry, Pakistan Telecommunications Company Ltd (PTCL). Even worse than this there are reports that police raiding the houses of trade unionists in the telecommunications sector and arresting relatives in their place. On top of this the National Industrial Relations Commissions has temporarily banned all trade union activity in the telecoms sector including any protest demonstrations. I regard this as a flagrant attack on democratic and human rights which must end immediately.
The claim made by the Musharraf regime that it abides by the norms of the rights of freedom of expression and basic democratic rights is a complete farce if these developments are taken into consideration.
I am also completely opposed to the stationing of military forces in the telecommunications depots and the effective lockout of workers in the industry from grades 1 – 16.
What is even more unbelievable is that the government signed an agreement with the unions on Friday 4 June in which they announced the indefinite postponement of plans for privatisation of PTCL. And yet just a week later this agreement has been broken. How do you explain this?
I will publicise this matter as widely as possible amongst members of my union.
I would like to see the following demands implemented as soon as possible:
· Release all telecommunications workers and trade unionists leaders taken into custody. Stop the crackdown now. No more arrests
· For the immediate withdrawal of all paramilitary and police forces from in and around PTCL premises
· Ηonour the 4 June agreement – No to the privatisation of PTCL
· Full support to PTCL workers fighting privatisation
Yours truly,
