The struggle against the ban on the Sindh Teachers' Union continues while repression by the state increases. Today all the teacher's unions observed a "black day" across Sindh with a complete shut-down of all schools and colleges. Student unions also supported this boycott and participated in the struggle against the privatisation of education. In a meeting of the leadership of all the unions it was decided that protests will be held in all the cities of Sindh on 28th August while the shutdown of schools and colleges will continue.
The education minister of Sindh, Hameeda Khoro, on behalf of her government, has taken repressive measures against this strike. More than 50 teachers who were leading the strike are suspended from their jobs while dozens of others are being sent forcibly on leave.
From Hyderabad the following teachers have been suspended:
Surayya Jatoi, Atta ur Rehman, Nazir Junejo, Shah Nawaz Junejo, Rafeeq Jarwar (Chairman of the Employees Alliance), Muhammad Bux, Subhan Shah, Qurban Ali, Muhammad Ali, Yaseen Lakhoo, Sikandar Jatoi and Shahzad Abbasi. From Larkana, Jameel Ahmed, Wareel Shah, Bux Bhutto, Ghulam Akbar, Javed Akhter, Wareel Shah (Noshero), Ahmad Ali Chun and Liaqat Aziz Solangi (president GASTA) have been suspended.
Comrade Hameeda Ghangro, who is active against the privatisation of the Pakistan Steel Mills, visited the teachers who were arrested during the protest and supported them on their struggle against state oppression. She discussed basic problems regarding the policy of privatisation and appealed to all workers to link the struggle against privatisation of education with the privatisation of other public assets like Steel Mills.
Marxist MP and President of PTUDC Manzoor Ahmed has condemned these draconian measures taken by the state to implement the policy of privatisation at any cost. In a TV interview broadcasted by GEO Television on the night of 24th August he severely criticised the ban on the Sindh Teachers' Union.
With every hour passing this movement is gaining momentum and is spreading in new areas. On the other hand, the state is using its entire means to suppress this movement.
The workers of the world should come forward to support this movement and help the teachers of Sindh in particular and workers of Pakistan as a whole to fight this struggle till a decisive victory.