Construction of Kalabagh Dam Contravenes

Geneva Convention

Humaira Rahman, Director of the World Sindhi Institute, Canada said that the government of General Musharraf can be taken to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, if they push ahead with any further mega dams on the river Indus that deprive Sindh of its rightful and legitimate share of water as an internationally recognized lower riparian user of the waters of the Sindhu Darya (Indus River)

Article 54 of protocol 1 (1977) of the Geneva Convention (1949) to which Pakistan is signatory, prohibits any measures that could result in the starvation of people. It specifically refers to water resources and irrigation works said Ms Rahman  whilst taking part in a live discussion , by telephone, on PTV World broadcast from London U.K. on 6^th December 2005.

She said that the military-mullah rulers were trying to depopulate the coastal areas of Sindh so that its below surface resources of oil, gas and coal could be exploited without resistance, just as Balochistan gas reserves were being exploited.

Quoting Rasul Bux Palejo of Awami Tehrik she said that the Dam would render Sindh's fertile valleys into desert. She said that it was narrow interest groups in the central government and the military as well as private contractors that were pushing for the dam as they would be the main beneficiaries.

Ms Rahman said that political groups in Sindh as well as Singh civil society within Sindh and abroad ( specifically mentioning SANA, WSC and World Sindhi Institute ) were unanimous on this issue and would resist the mega dams at all forums available nationally and internationally to prevent the Kalabagh Dam or any other structure on the River Indus that  further reduced the flow through Sindh and its environmental  flow into the Arabian sea as this would  destroy the eco system of the delta, and cause starvation and out migration of Sindhis. This amounts to state propagated eco-terrorism, she said.

Kadir Jatoi, Director World Sindhi Institute, London U.K was present in the studio and said that Sindh and Sindhi people are deadly against the KBD because it's construction is a question of life and death for Sindhis. Punjab is already violating the 1991 water accord which was imposed on Sindh during the tenure of chief minister Jam Sadiq Ali, who was a tout of the military. Kala Bagh Dam is meant to cultivate the lands of Punjabi generals and the lands of Gen Musharaf, who owns land along the Thal canal.

 Kadir Jatoi refuted Brig (retd.) Usman's claim that there will be enough water to construct the dam by showing him the figures that even at this stage we are short of more than 16 MAF of water. So it's absolutely insane to invest more than 300 billion rupees in the dam if 3 provinces are against it and the federal unity of Pakistan is to be upheld.

Mr. Asfandyar Wali Khan, president Awami national Party said   with the construction of KBD the whole fertile valley of Peshawar and Naushera Town will be ruined. How on earth can you talk about national consensus when three out of four provinces has twice passed resolutions against the dam... Isn't this already a national consensus?

Mr. Asaf Jilani former editor of Jang London said that it is necessary construct the dam but only if there was national consensus. He accepted the fact that Sindhi concerns and reservation about the dam are real and Sindh could turn into a desert, if deprived of water further.

Brig Usman supported the KBD on the grounds that;

(a) agricultural production needs to be increased

(b) KBD is not for consuming the water, it is only to store water.

(c) Sindhi opposition to the dam is simply political motivated.

(d) Pashtun opposition to the dam is not realistic after the Govt. of Pakistan has made certain changes in the design of the dam.

The minister of power and electricity Mr. Liaqat Jatoi, who had confirmed his participation from Pakistan declined to answer his phone when the moderator Dr Moeed Peerzada called him and so did not take part in the discussion.