SANSAD
Friends,
Appended below is a letter of protest SANSAD wrote in response to information received from India re displacement of adivasis.
SANSAD
Shri Ashok Das
Consul General of India in Vancouver
201-325 Howe Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1Z7
April 17, 2010
Re: Protesting atrocities against adivasis and dalits
Sir,
The following letter from Bisthapan Birodhi Janamancha in Jajpur district of Orissa informs us of a most distressing incident of atrocity against adivasis/tribals/aboriginal people in the village of Baligota on the morning of March 30, 2010. We strongly protest this atrocity perpetrated by the mercenaries of the Tatas with the apparent complicity of the state of Orissa and the larger campaign to displace adivasis from their land in the interest of corporations, of which this incident is a part. Such violence against the most oppressed people in India to promote the profits of corporations in the name of “development” is repulsive to all democratic and fair-minded people. Such violence is similar to that of the settler colonists against the aboriginal people of North America, Africa, and Australia. It is similar to the violence against the aboriginal people in South America. today. As such we join all democratic people in India and the world in condemning the genocidal violence against the people of the forest in the interest of a so-called development that destroys lives, ways of life, and the environment.
We urge you to present this protest to the Government of India.
South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy (SANSAD)
BISTHAPAN BIRODHI JANAMANCHA , SUKHINDA (KALINGANAGAR)
P.O. SUKHINDA Dt JAJPUR ORISSA
FROM RABINDRA JARIKA ,SECRETARY
VILLAGE CHANDIA PHONE NO- 09938655827
To all democratic parties, organizations and individuals supporting the struggle of the Adivasis and Dalits against forcible displacement.
Dear friends,
The people of India know about the struggle of the Adivasis in Kalinganagar and the martyrdom of 14 Adivasis in the struggle against forcible land acquisition by the Tatas in 2006. While that struggle is continuing, fresh attacks have started on the villages of Chandia, Baligoth, Chama Kutli, Gobarghati, Garhpur, Belhari and Ambagaria in Kalinganagar. The Tatas want to broaden the Expressway connecting Daitary Mines to Paradip Port. So they want to evict the Adivasis and acquire their land. The people are opposed to this and they have refused to vacate their villages. Now the Tatas have formed an armed group of nearly 500 men They are all armed with guns..At 11 AM on 30th March 2010, this armed gang assisted by Orissa State Police and some BJD (Biju Janata Dal) activists attacked the village Baligota. 22 villagers including six women got gunshot injuries. The marauder gang dishonoured the women, burnt the houses of the movement leaders and smashed three motorcycles and 25 bicycles. They looted all goats and hen from the village. Since the attack was sudden and the people unprepared, so they could not resist..
The movement against forcible land acquisitions by the Tatas is being led by Bisthapan Birodhi Janamancha, Sukhinda. Our movement is a peaceful and democratic movement. We only want that the right over Jal, Jangal and Jameen should remain with the Adivasis. We appeal to all democrats to kindly restrain the Orissa government and stop the murderous assault by the Tata armed forces.
We want to point out that there are enough barren lands in Sukhinda which can be used for construction of roads without evicting the Adivasis. We are under siege and it is very difficult for us to communicate with outside world. Please treat this message as an SOS and do something. JOHAR
Rabindra Jarika 14 April 2010