Damaan Bachao Taralla
background
development induced destructions
maps
Chashma Irrigation Project
introduction
concerns
histories of chashma struggles
Chashma Lok Sath
  opening declaration
  Judgement
  stories
  statements
Chashma Inspection
  introduction
  what is inspection?
  Claims and Process
  GRSC
People's Struggles
  Projects
  Issues
News& Updates
  2004
  2003
Resources
  Library
  Images
  Relevant Links
About Us
  who are we
  aims and objectives
  contacts
 
 

FRIENDS OF CHASHMA

 
Who are we?
 

The Friends of Chashma is an international coalition of individuals and organizations. We are a support and solidarity network for the struggles of the local communities in Damaan area, who have been facing the massive destructions caused by the development projects in the area, such as the Chashma Irrigation Project, Gomal Zam Dam Project, and Kachhi Canal Project, and fighting for the rights to life, livelihoods, and the ecology of the area. The Friends of Chashma is entirely volunteer-based. The Friends of Chashma holds:

  • that the Chashma Irrigation Project has been conceived without adequate participation and free, prior and informed consent to from the people who are violated and the victims of this process;
  • that Chashma Irrigation Project was designed without comprehensive option assessment. The project is therefore not viable solutions to many of the problems (drinking water, flood control, irrigation) they set out to solve, and that there needs to be a greater emphasis on the search for alternative solutions from all concerned (Government, NGOs, people).
  • that the construction of Chashma Irrigation Project has disrupted (and will potentially disrupt) the lives of people without just and adequate compensation;
  • that the people of the Damaan are waging a just and legitimate struggle to assert their right to life, livelihood, ecology and participation in their own development;
  • Free, prior and informed consent of local communities, especially the affected people should be taken before approving any development project;
  • that the funders of the development, such as the Asian Development Bank, is as responsible as the government to the problems of Chashma Irrigation Project, and should be held accountable;
  • that the problems of Chashma Irrigation Project is merely an example of a much bigger problem that is manifesting itself across the country, in particular the Gomal Zam Dam Project and the Kacchi Canal Projects, and many others;
  • that the Chashma Struggles consequently throws up much deeper issues about the developmental choices being followed in Pakistan and elsewhere, and that there needs to be a much wider debate of these choices; and
  • that the Chashma Struggles is a symbol of hope for people's movements all over the world that are fighting for just, equitable, and participatory development.
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Aims and Objectives
 
As a coalition committed to the above principles, we are primarily focussed in supporting the struggle of the local communities against the problematic development projects in Damaan area. Our work can be broadly classified as involving:

Expressing solidarity with the movement by:

  • Engaged r esearch on issues raised by the movement
  • Informing the public and making our voice heard through public action and rallies of solidarity
  • Supporting people's judgements

Recording and documenting the struggle:

  • To serve as a repository of information related to development projects in Damaan area, in particular the Chashma Irrigation Project, from the point of view of the victims and violated.
  • To chronicle the history of the resistance movement against the problematic development projects in Damaan area through press release, images, interviews, film, books, reports, and other media.
  • To record resistance art including creative writing, poetry, painting, and songs.
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Contact Info
 
The construction of this website was supported by Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES) and volunteers. This website is currently maintained by Rena Sugita, with assistance from JACSES and volunteers. For website related queries, please contact Rena Sugita (resugitany@hotmail.com).
 
For queries related to the Chashma issue, you can contact one of the following persons in different cities.
City Name (Organization) Phone Email Address
Islamabad, Pakistan Mushtaq Gadi (MAUJ) mushtaq_gadi@hotmail.com Flat No. 2, Street No. 14, F-10/2, Islamabad, Pakistan
Pakistan Pakistan NGO Forum M. Haroon/ Khawar Mumtaz khawarm@lhr.comsats.net.pk
Pakistan SUNGI Development Foundation Naeem Iqbal naeemasu@hotmail.com
Chashma, Pakistan Ahsan Wagha (Damaan Development Organization) +92.51.2299230 damaan@isb.sdnpk.org
Tokyo, Japan TANABE Yuki (JACSES) +81.3.3447.9585 tanabe@jacses.org 2F Kowa Hiro-o Bldg., 5-2-32 Minami Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0047 Japan
Washington, D.C. , USA Mishka Zaman (Bank Information Center) +1.202.624.0622 mzaman@bicusa.org 733 15th Street NW Suite 1126
Washington, D.C. 20005
Manila, Philippines NGO Forum on ADB forum@asiagate
 
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