July 13, 2012 Libcom.org
The Punjabi state government renege on promises made to striking Doctors
and then launch a brutal wave of reprisals in order to break the strike.
Hundreds of young Doctors are currently in the third week of a strike in
Pakistan. The current strike is latest in a long line of strike action
that has taken place over the last year.
The Doctors are striking for improved pay, reduced workloads, and career
progression issues.
Contrary to what is portrayed in the media, they are still undertaking
‘emergency’ work.
The striking Doctors had been in negotiations with the Punjabi state
government. However, the state government have now reneged on their
promise to look at the Doctors concerns.
In an effort to break the strike, they have drafted in Doctors from the
armed forces, who are now undertaking all the strikers work.
In other strike breaking tactics, the state government has instructed the
police to get the Doctors back to work. In the last week, several hostels
where the strikers live have been raided and ransacked, many Doctors have
been attacked and arrested, and several have reported that their phones
have been tapped.
It is reported in the Lancet that:
Quote:
“The government is using police to force us to come to hospital
without responding to our demands, many of my colleagues are in jail,
three of them are in [the] Intensive Care Unit, one is even on the
ventilator.” Photographs seen by The Lancet taken by several sources
showed plaster casts on the limbs of some of the strikers and clear
cut abrasion marks on the backs of others. Female doctors on strike
were also seen being beaten by male police officers in these images."
Many of the strike organisers are now being kept in inhuman conditions in
Jail, being prevented from sleeping, and are being transferred to new
jails on a near daily basis, in an attempt to break their resolve.
The government are also spreading lies and propaganda about the strikes
via the state media.
Solidarity with the striking Doctors!
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