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Last Updated: 25 August 2004.

People violated by Chashma Project gathered at Chashma Lok Sath in March 2004. >>> Judgement
The construction of Chashma Irrigation Project in Pakistan has extensively destroyed local livelihoods, ecology, and violated basic human rights. The Chashma area, locally known as Daaman, is facing a number of other destructive development projects, including Gomal Zam Dam Project and Kachhi Canal Project. Through this website, we the friends of the Chashma and people of Damaan hope to present the perspective of grassroots people's movements on the issue. >>>Introduction to the issue.
The Friends of Chashma is an international coalition of organisations and individuals. The coalition is a solidarity network for Chashma struggles and the Damaan Bachao Taralla (Save Damaan Movement). >>>More Info.

 

News Update
 
INSPECTION: Email to the Secretariat of ADB Board Inspection Committee. Gadi. 23 August 2004.
 
"...I have today recieved the documents that you sent through courier. I will be thankful if you, CRP or anyone else responsible could clarify what would be the role of the requesters and local communities in this post-inspection stage. According to my understanding, the BIC and the Board ask the Management to ensure full policy compliance and outline the steps for the implementation of the recommendations of the panel's report...."

 
INSPECTION: ADB's Press Release: "ADB's Board Approves Inspection Committee's Recommendation on Chashma Right Bank Irrigation Project." ADB. 20 August 2004

 
INSPECTION: Letter to ADB Board Members: "Soiled Temple of Justice." Mustaq Gadi, Inspection Requester (Chashma Lok Sath). 16 August 2004.
 

"...After this long and disappointing engagement, we feel that the inspection laws are rather only beneficial to ADB in terms of getting fake legitimacy and credibility, and controlling and diffusing opposition of local communities. The worst aspects of this situation is that the requesters and local communities are exposed to the coercion of the government while they get nothing substantial in terms of the compensation of their losses.

We believe the only way to make the accountability laws credible and trustworthy is the open confession of policy violations that will lead to the genuine cooperation. Otherwise, nobody would want to enter into this soiled temple of Justice..."

 
Specific Comments regarding the ADB Board Inspection Committee's Response to the Chashma Inspection Panel Report
"...Recommendations for the Board in its discussion of the Chashma Inspection Panel report:
  1. ADB should openly confess the violations and non-compliance with all relevant and applicable policies.
  2. Based on the more than 8,000 complaints received by the GRSC, remedial actions should be developed in consultation with local communities. Some of these remedial actions may be similar to GRSC recommendations, while others may arrive at different locally appropriate and acceptable solutions. The development and implementation of these remedial actions should be monitored by an independent entity acceptable to all parties, including to the Requesters. A participatory assessment of project-induced impacts in the riverine belt and proposed remedial actions should be included in the Hill Torrents Management Plan.
  3. The Inspection Panel report recommendations should be implemented and progress should be monitored by the Board.
  4. The Board should clarify and emphasize that Management is required to comply fully with ADB policies and not simply to adhere to "the integrity and spirit" of ADB's internal laws based on Management's own judgment. "

 
PEOPLE'S STRUGGLES: Alert: Suspension of Japanese Yen Loanto Pakistan is to be lifted.
 

Upon meeting with President of Pakistan on 11 August 2004, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed that Japan will resume its Yen Loan service to Pakistan in order to support Pakistan's battle against terrorism. Japan's yen loan has been suspended since the nuclear testing in 1998. Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is responsible for Yen Loans, and also provides import and export credits to Japanese corporations (non-ODA international financing). JBIC is known for investing in large-scale infrastructure project with disastrous social and environmental impacts.

For lists of JBIC's proposed investment projects, please regularly check http://www.jbic-watch.net/ , maintained and updated by a group of Japanese NGOs. JBIC has so far refused to translate the project list into English. For stories related to establishment and problems with JBIC's new Environmental Guidelines, Objection Procedures (Inpsection Mechanism), and their implementation, please click here (see Catfish Tales #1, 14, and 16).

 

 
PEOPLE'S STRUGGLES: "Soiled Hands: The Pakistan Army's Repression of the Punjab Farmers' Movement". Human Rights Watch. July 2004.

 
INSPECTION: Letter to ADB Board Members: A demand to the Board to clarify the violations of policies concerningthe inspection on the Chashma Right Bank Irrigation Project Stage III (CRBIP-III). JACSES. 5 August 2004.
 
"...Therefore, we demand that the Board clarify the violations pointed out by the Panel to ensure the accountability of ADB."

 
INSPECTION: NGO Sign on Letter regarding Release of Final Inspection Report of Chashma Project to Requesters. Bank Information Center and Environmental Defense, USA. Endorsed by 24 NGOS. 24 June 2004. [pdf version]
 

"...Given the Requesters' knowledge of local conditions and appropriate remedies that are likely to be sufficient and successful (unlike those proposed by the GRSC, for example), we urge the ADB Board to:-

1. Immediately release the Final Report of the Chashma Inspection Panel to the Requesters, and
2. Proactively seek the views of the Requesters on remedial measures and arrive at a Mitigation Plan with their full involvement..."


 
GRSC: Email to ADB Management regarding Consultants' Study. 27 May 2004.
 
"...I would like to know whether the work of three consultants on the issues of gender, irrigation management and participatory assessment to support the GRSC have been completed or not. If this study is completed I would like to ask to disclose the report to us..."

 
INSPECTION: A Letter to Inpsection Panel. Mushtaq Gadi (Chashma Lok Sath). 24 May 2004.
 
"...Let us begin with a thank you for your best efforts. The focus on non-compliance as part of the TORs tied you down in what you were able to discuss, but your best efforts had been made. Yet the problems accrue, problems which lie outside the TORs and issues of non-compliance....Omissions in the material of your report however have been stark..."
 

Attachments:


 
INSPECTION: Email to the Secretariat of ADB Board Inspection Committee requesting Soft Copy of Draft Panel Report. 26 April 2004.
 

"...Can you send me the report in soft form because it will be easier for us to consult with each other on the report...."


 
CHASHMA LOK SATH: Judgement. Chashma Lok Sath. 27 March 2004.
 

"I. In the Beginning...
II. Dreams and Crimes...
III. Guilt...

IV. Punishment and/or Surrender..".


 
KACHHI Canal: A report on visit to Kachhi Canal Site. Khalil Javed. 11 May 2004.
 
"I, Khalil Javed, belong to Union Council Dajal Tehisl Jampur District Rajanpur. I am civil society activist and presently based in Islamabad. My native town and adjacent areas are going to be adversely impacted because of the construction of Kachhi Canal. Therefore, I decided to do a very preliminary and investigative field visit to Kachhi Canal site in my town... " >>>Kachhi Canal Project

 
INSPECTION: A Letter to Inspection Panel from Chashma Inspection Requester. 19 April 2004.
 
"...We gathered in Daera Din-Panha (Circle of God's Protection) to hold the Lok Sath. Lok Sath was the moment of our meditation on Truth. We sat in a circle at the bank of Sindhu River and started our meditation. The meditation began with mourning and grief. And thus we sang the 'Story of Dead River' composed by the siraiki poet, Sain Ashu Lal...."

 
 
 
 
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