The parties of the banned Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy are calling on supporters worldwide to write to Pakistani ruler Pervaiz Musharraf and to Pakistani embassies to demand the release of imprisoned political leaders.
Musharraf's email address is <ce@pak.gov.pk>. The address of the Pakistani High Commission is 49-51 York Street, Sydney, NSW 2000.
Below, as a model, is a copy of the protest letter sent by Democratic Socialist Party national secretary John Percy:
Gen Musharraf, Chief Executive, Government of Pakistan
Dear Sir,
The Democratic Socialist Party of Australia most strongly protests the arrest by your troops of Pakistani political leaders on March 21, and the arrests of thousands of ordinary people the night before.
In particular we protest the arrest of Labour Party Pakistan general secretary Farooq Tariq, and demand the immediate release of Farooq Tariq and all others imprisoned.
Your actions are a flagrant denial of the basic human and civil rights of the people of Pakistan. They have suffered enough, and need the democratic space to struggle for a decent existence long denied them by colonialism, imperialism, and self-appointed Pakistani dictators and exploiters.
Your actions are bringing the country of Pakistan into further disrepute around the world. Reflect upon whose interests your continued dictatorial rule serves — certainly not the interests of the Pakistani people or the Pakistani nation.
We urge you to take note of the increasing voices of protest within your own country, and the growing awareness around the world of your arrogant disregard of democratic rights.
We attach below a leader article from the respected British newspaper, the Guardian, which concludes that General Musharraf "is no good at politics, no good at diplomacy, no economist and no democrat — and those in Pakistan (and Britain) who supported his 1999 coup should now admit they were wrong."
We add our voice to the voices of the Pakistani people in calling for the release of all those arrested, and for the speedy restoration of democracy in Pakistan.