Dave Pugh, a San Francisco-based teacher working with the Left-wing International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS), who was in India to study various people’s movements, was taken into custody by the Orissa police.
Reproduced below is Pugh’s account of his brush with the law in India, written on Sunday after he returned to the US.
A piece he wrote on Nandigram can be read here.
ILPS has an international coordination committee headed by Professor Jose Maria Sison, who was the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is chief political consultant to the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, which is leading an armed campaign against the government. He has been living in exile in Europe since the 1980s.
Sison’s home page:http://www.josemariasison.org/jumi02//index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Yesterday (August 15) I returned to the US after spending three and a half weeks gathering information about the anti-displacement movement in India. I travelled across five states in central and eastern India to the sites of projected industrial and mining projects and real estate developments. I spoke with hundreds of villagers who are threatened with displacement and with many dedicated activists who are helping to organize the people's resistance.
On the evening of August 12, I was returning to the state capital of Orissa, Bhubaneswar, after spending a day in the area of Kalinganagar. This was the site of a massacre of 15 tribal farmers in January 2006 by Orissa police who were protecting the construction site of a large steel plant owned by the Tatas, one of the biggest industrial houses in India. Since then the farmers and their allies have stopped construction in its tracks, much to the consternation of Tata Steel and the Orissa government.
At approximately 8 pm, the car transporting us was pulled over by local police for a traffic-related reason. My translator Pratima Das, my guide Pradeep, our driver and I were taken to a police station for questioning. For the next eight hours, all of us were interrogated, first by the local police, and then by the chief police official of the state of Orissa. The latter was particularly hostile, accusing me of being an "anti-government agitator." When I insisted that I was a teacher researching the issue of forced displacement in India, he insisted that only "communists" would be interested in speaking with villagers.
After a night of harassment by the Orissa police, I was dropped off at my hotel at 4 am and told to stay there while they "verified" my story with US Homeland Security and Interpol. I was questioned once more in my hotel room the following day. Whether due to the efforts of my local friends, or the police leaking the story to the press, or both, I was interviewed by two TV stations and a local newspaper in my hotel room. A press release issued by Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan (the nationwide Anti-Displacement and People's Development Movement) produced many phone calls and emails to government officials in Orissa and New Delhi. In addition, supporters of the International League of Peoples' Struggle called Indian embassies and consulates in many countries. These calls undoubtedly made it more difficult for the Indian authorities to detain me any longer.
Shortly before I left Bhubaneswar, I heard that Pratima and Pradeep had been arrested and charged with serious political crimes that can keep them behind bars for many years. This is an outrage which has to be vigorously protested. Pratima and Pradeep are guilty only of being anti-displacement activists and introducing a foreign friend to the realities of India's villages and the devastating impact that capitalist "development" will have on tens of millions of people in India in the coming years. As soon as I hear from friends in India, I will send you information on how to support the immediate release of Pratima and Pradeep from jail.
Dave Pugh can be contacted at dpugh@mindspring.com.
Showing posts with label NANDIGRAM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NANDIGRAM. Show all posts
20 August, 2008
22 June, 2008
UN classifies rape a 'war tactic'
The UN Security Council has voted unanimously in favour of a resolution classifying rape as a weapon of war.
The document describes the deliberate use of rape as a tactic in war and a threat to international security.
The UN is also setting up an inquiry to report next June on how widespread the practice is and how to tackle it.
For details, see BBC report.
Rape has been used extensively in internal conflicts, too, since time immeorial.
Those who practised untouchability had no qualms about raping 'untouchable' women.
In our own time, the Hindutva brigades in Gujarat and the Marxist cadres in Nandigram used rape as a weapon of war.
The document describes the deliberate use of rape as a tactic in war and a threat to international security.
The UN is also setting up an inquiry to report next June on how widespread the practice is and how to tackle it.
For details, see BBC report.
Rape has been used extensively in internal conflicts, too, since time immeorial.
Those who practised untouchability had no qualms about raping 'untouchable' women.
In our own time, the Hindutva brigades in Gujarat and the Marxist cadres in Nandigram used rape as a weapon of war.
11 May, 2008
Aparna Sen prevented from entering Nandigram
The West Bengal Government today prevented noted film director Aparna Sen from entering Nandigram, citing security reasons.
"We did not know we would be stopped by the government and it is frightening to see that the state is headed towards dictatorship, which is the fact," Aparna Sen said later.
Report at TIMES NOW site.
21 April, 2008
NAPM reports fresh incidents from Nandigram: Is gang-rape now part of CPI (M) line?
It is a disturbing thought, but the time has come to ask if the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is using the feudal lords’ practice of employing gang-rape as a means of suppressing foes.
Several instances of rape were reported from Nandigram during the past year. In a News Update/Action Alert, the National Alliance of People’s Movement yesterday provided information on some fresh incidents, including gang-rape.
The following is the text of the NAPM communication:
The shocking news from Nandigram, where the battle is still on, is of the gang-rape of Radharani Ari from the village of Gokulnagar and the attack of three other women, all of whom are hospitalized at the Nandigram Public Hospital. The men are said to be missing.
In a fresh attack around midnight and beyond April 18th, known CPI (M) members and Harmad Vahini, the Party's armed force, from Khejuri, who are like goons, attacked the house of Radha Rani and Pratap Ari, threw Pratap Ari in the tank nearby and gang-raped Radha Rani Ari for the second time, in her own house.
Radharani Ari is one of the women at the forefront of the struggle. Coming from a Dalit landless family, supported by Pratap Ari, her husband, Radharani was always protesting against the SEZ chemical hub project and giving away the land, houses, nature, and culture of Nandigram. Her heart and soul are in it and she is one of the most articulate and courageous women and had even toured the places of struggle in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra, with us in Nandigram-Narmada- Gorai Jatha.
Narmada Sheet has also been a very committed and outspoken agitator from Sonachura. Other women attacked include Mona Pramanik, and a few men were also
missing when the news reached us early yesterday morning. Till this time, Radha Rani, Pratap, Ari and Narmada Sheet and some others are in the Nandigram Hospital and a few in Tamluk. At least 20 houses have been attacked since yesterday and 100 members of the families, along with houses, much destroyed and belongings looted, have become homeless, left to be supported by the BUPC Committee. These atrocious incidents occurred in Gokul Nagar, Sonachura and Gadhchakrabedia, under the leadership of Nabakumar Samanta and other CPM active cadres and leaders from Garu Pada, Gokul Nagar, some of whom came from Kejuri.
Reportedly, there were also blasts in some houses, including in the house of one Kokhon Sheet, who was just released, after months-long judicial custody.
Nandigram continues to be one of the worst blots on the face of Indian democracy. These atrocities continue to happen and recur in Nandigram with the active involvement of the local CPI(M) cadres and leaders and tacit approval and blessings of the party leadership at various levels. With most of the victims for earlier incidents of violence, not even having received just compensation for atrocities perpetrated against them, and in fact false cases foisted against the victims of violence, as against the perpetrators, these fresh blows in their already scarred lives is nothing short of a death blow to the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the valiant residents of Nandigram.
Condemning the continuing violence in Nandigram in the strongest possible terms, we immediately demand the following:
1. All the accused must be immediately identified, charged and arrested for gang-rape, grievous hurt, intimidation, assault, illegal confinement and wrongful detention and other relevant penal provisions.
2. The National Human Rights Commission must take immediate cognizance of the violations in Nandigram and recommend stringent penal action against all those involved, including instituting an inquiry into the involvement of the CPI(M) leadership and cadres in the planning/abetment/execution of the crimes committed.
3. The National Commission for Women must immediately constitute a fact-finding delegation that must visit Nandigram and submit its Report to the NHRC and also direct immediate payment of compensation to all the women raped and all others injured.
4. Free legal, medical, psycho-social and other aid and support must be provided to the women and all victims of state and party violence in Nandigram.
5. Compensation to all the affected and attacked, with houses destroyed and rapes/molestation faced, must be paid immediately as per the High Court orders.
Debjeet Shrikant, Medha Patkar
NAPM,
West Bengal.
Annexure
Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee – Nandigram
(B.U.P.C)
Nandigram :: Purba Midnapur :: West Bengal
Ref No ............
Date: 19-04-2008
List of the persons injured by CPI(M) goons
Sl. No. Name Village Age
6.Radharani Ari (raped) Gokulnagar 50
7.Mani Pramanik Gokulnagar 35
8.Chabirani Pamanik Gokulnagar 50
9.Pratap Ari Gokulnagar 55
10.Nandu Mandal Gokulnagar 30
11.Phanindranath Mandal Gokulnagar 73
12.Sudarshan Pramanik Gokulnagar 37
13.Gopal Ari Gokulnagar 22
14.Subhendu Ari Gokulnagar 20
15.Sheik Golam Ahmed Nagekirachar 46
16.Sheik Nazrul Islam 7th Part,Jalpai 45
17.Sheik Mafijul Islam 7th Part,Jalpai 58
18.Hafeja Bibi 7th Part, Jalpai 28
19. Najma Bibi 7th Part, Jalpai 30
20.Sheik Rejaul 7th Part,Jalpai 28
21.Sheik Abdul Rashid 7th Part,Jalpai 45.
Several instances of rape were reported from Nandigram during the past year. In a News Update/Action Alert, the National Alliance of People’s Movement yesterday provided information on some fresh incidents, including gang-rape.
The following is the text of the NAPM communication:
The shocking news from Nandigram, where the battle is still on, is of the gang-rape of Radharani Ari from the village of Gokulnagar and the attack of three other women, all of whom are hospitalized at the Nandigram Public Hospital. The men are said to be missing.
In a fresh attack around midnight and beyond April 18th, known CPI (M) members and Harmad Vahini, the Party's armed force, from Khejuri, who are like goons, attacked the house of Radha Rani and Pratap Ari, threw Pratap Ari in the tank nearby and gang-raped Radha Rani Ari for the second time, in her own house.
Radharani Ari is one of the women at the forefront of the struggle. Coming from a Dalit landless family, supported by Pratap Ari, her husband, Radharani was always protesting against the SEZ chemical hub project and giving away the land, houses, nature, and culture of Nandigram. Her heart and soul are in it and she is one of the most articulate and courageous women and had even toured the places of struggle in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra, with us in Nandigram-Narmada- Gorai Jatha.
Narmada Sheet has also been a very committed and outspoken agitator from Sonachura. Other women attacked include Mona Pramanik, and a few men were also
missing when the news reached us early yesterday morning. Till this time, Radha Rani, Pratap, Ari and Narmada Sheet and some others are in the Nandigram Hospital and a few in Tamluk. At least 20 houses have been attacked since yesterday and 100 members of the families, along with houses, much destroyed and belongings looted, have become homeless, left to be supported by the BUPC Committee. These atrocious incidents occurred in Gokul Nagar, Sonachura and Gadhchakrabedia, under the leadership of Nabakumar Samanta and other CPM active cadres and leaders from Garu Pada, Gokul Nagar, some of whom came from Kejuri.
Reportedly, there were also blasts in some houses, including in the house of one Kokhon Sheet, who was just released, after months-long judicial custody.
Nandigram continues to be one of the worst blots on the face of Indian democracy. These atrocities continue to happen and recur in Nandigram with the active involvement of the local CPI(M) cadres and leaders and tacit approval and blessings of the party leadership at various levels. With most of the victims for earlier incidents of violence, not even having received just compensation for atrocities perpetrated against them, and in fact false cases foisted against the victims of violence, as against the perpetrators, these fresh blows in their already scarred lives is nothing short of a death blow to the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the valiant residents of Nandigram.
Condemning the continuing violence in Nandigram in the strongest possible terms, we immediately demand the following:
1. All the accused must be immediately identified, charged and arrested for gang-rape, grievous hurt, intimidation, assault, illegal confinement and wrongful detention and other relevant penal provisions.
2. The National Human Rights Commission must take immediate cognizance of the violations in Nandigram and recommend stringent penal action against all those involved, including instituting an inquiry into the involvement of the CPI(M) leadership and cadres in the planning/abetment/execution of the crimes committed.
3. The National Commission for Women must immediately constitute a fact-finding delegation that must visit Nandigram and submit its Report to the NHRC and also direct immediate payment of compensation to all the women raped and all others injured.
4. Free legal, medical, psycho-social and other aid and support must be provided to the women and all victims of state and party violence in Nandigram.
5. Compensation to all the affected and attacked, with houses destroyed and rapes/molestation faced, must be paid immediately as per the High Court orders.
Debjeet Shrikant, Medha Patkar
NAPM,
West Bengal.
Annexure
Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee – Nandigram
(B.U.P.C)
Nandigram :: Purba Midnapur :: West Bengal
Ref No ............
Date: 19-04-2008
List of the persons injured by CPI(M) goons
Sl. No. Name Village Age
6.Radharani Ari (raped) Gokulnagar 50
7.Mani Pramanik Gokulnagar 35
8.Chabirani Pamanik Gokulnagar 50
9.Pratap Ari Gokulnagar 55
10.Nandu Mandal Gokulnagar 30
11.Phanindranath Mandal Gokulnagar 73
12.Sudarshan Pramanik Gokulnagar 37
13.Gopal Ari Gokulnagar 22
14.Subhendu Ari Gokulnagar 20
15.Sheik Golam Ahmed Nagekirachar 46
16.Sheik Nazrul Islam 7th Part,Jalpai 45
17.Sheik Mafijul Islam 7th Part,Jalpai 58
18.Hafeja Bibi 7th Part, Jalpai 28
19. Najma Bibi 7th Part, Jalpai 30
20.Sheik Rejaul 7th Part,Jalpai 28
21.Sheik Abdul Rashid 7th Part,Jalpai 45.
20 April, 2008
Kolkata theatre group faces ostracism for protesting against Nandigram outrage
The following is a communication which members of the well known theatre group Swapnasandhani have sent to fellow theatre workers:
We are writing this to you with grave concern.
You might all be aware of the grisly incident that took place in Nandigram (West Bengal) on 14th March 2007. This incident sparked off a major protest throughout West Bengal. In Kolkata, the common citizen finally woke up and realized that it was time they made their voices heard. Quite expectedly, the government greeted these voices with scorn, ridicule and a lot of resentment. The protests, however, have not died down. It is still continuing in various forms – through individuals, non-political civil bodies, etc.
We, as conscious theatre workers, did not remain silent either. In fact, the resignation of 14 members (theatre practitioners) from the Paschim Banga Natya Akademi was one of the first visible marks of
protest that followed the horrific incident at Nandigram.
More than a year has passed since. Over this period of time we have been noticing a silent campaign being run by the ruling party and its aide in branding the so-called different voices as reactionary forces with allegations ranging from being pro-opposition to pro-Maoists. Swapnasandhani, like many other groups/individual performers, has not been able to avoid such branding. However, being a theatre group we believe it is our responsibility to react to the surroundings and thus have continued doing both – pursue our theatre as well as continue to protest.
It might be worth mentioning that over the last one year, we have noticed a remarkable decline in the number of invited performances in our calendar. To put it simply – people/organizations have stopped
inviting us to perform for them. We would like to reinstate that we are not the lone sufferers. Many other groups are facing the same.
Lack of invited performances means:
• Lack of revenues coming into the group
• Lack of opportunity to perform outside one's periphery
• Lack of opportunity to perform in the outskirts of Kolkata, where we believe the audience is at times more mature than in Kolkata
So, this is one way of crippling us both financially and aesthetically.
At this point we would like to share with you in a chronological way a very recent experience of ours.
March 3: We were approached by the festival committee of Balipur Melatala High School to perform a play of our choice at the 50th Birth Anniversary Celebration of the school. We proposed to perform the play DAKGHAR (Post Office by Rabindranath Tagore). However, the representatives of the festival committee requested us to think about some other play since our interpretation of DAKGHAR contained comments on the contemporary political scenario. We obliged and proposed to perform the play BONKUBABUR BONDHU (based on a short story by Satyajit Ray). They instantly agreed and fixed up the show to be held on 17th of April 2008.
March 7: The secretary of the festival committee visited our group to formally book the show by giving us a formal invitation letter and an advance of Rs. 3000.
March 10: We received a call from a teacher of the school informing us that the show stands cancelled. On pressing him to divulge the reason, he referred us to talk to the headmaster. So we did, but got no proper answer. Then we spoke with the secretary of the festival committee (who had come to pay us the advance). He categorically stated that it was due to sheer political pressure being put by the local CPI(M) (namely, the standing MLA of the locality, Sri Banshibadan Moitra) network that they were having to cancel the show. He also informed us that our performances could not be held before the Panchayat elections were over. Later we also received a call from another senior government official from the locality who expressed deep regret at being forced to cancel the show. Helpless as they were, they refused to give us anything on paper citing the reason behind cancellation of the show, neither did they respond to our repeated request to take back the advance they had paid us.
The show eventually did not happen.
We feel it is necessary for us to communicate our (us and all other groups facing the same) experience to the theatre fraternity and concerned citizens. During that phase (between the 10th and the 17th of April) we were advised by quite a few people to approach the CPI(M) leadership based in Kolkata to intervene on the matter and ensure successful hosting of the show. Something that two other theatre
groups based in Kolkata had done recently when their shows were called off in North Bengal. However, we felt not to follow in their footsteps for the following reasons:
• Did the leadership not pay enough attention to these matters to ensure they do not happen again?
• Why can we not go and perform our play as part of a school celebration on our own?
• Is seeking favour from the so-called elite leadership of the ruling party so necessary for ensuring a free and safe performance barely a hundred kilometres away from Kolkata?
• By doing so, will we not endorse a dangerous trend?
We do not claim to have all the answers. We are finding them and would like you to join us with your reactions, statements, advice and responses whatever they are.
Regards,
Team Swapnasandhani
About Swapnasandhani: The theatre troupe Swapnasandhani was originally founded by the actress Chitra Sen and is now looked after by her son, the actor-director Koushik Sen. Like most of us seeking an alternative way to express ourselves, Swapnasandhani, too, is looking for alternative theatre. The troupe has travelled extensively around the country and abroad and is undoubtedly the best among the city’s younger group theatres.
(from Artconcerns.com)
We are writing this to you with grave concern.
You might all be aware of the grisly incident that took place in Nandigram (West Bengal) on 14th March 2007. This incident sparked off a major protest throughout West Bengal. In Kolkata, the common citizen finally woke up and realized that it was time they made their voices heard. Quite expectedly, the government greeted these voices with scorn, ridicule and a lot of resentment. The protests, however, have not died down. It is still continuing in various forms – through individuals, non-political civil bodies, etc.
We, as conscious theatre workers, did not remain silent either. In fact, the resignation of 14 members (theatre practitioners) from the Paschim Banga Natya Akademi was one of the first visible marks of
protest that followed the horrific incident at Nandigram.
More than a year has passed since. Over this period of time we have been noticing a silent campaign being run by the ruling party and its aide in branding the so-called different voices as reactionary forces with allegations ranging from being pro-opposition to pro-Maoists. Swapnasandhani, like many other groups/individual performers, has not been able to avoid such branding. However, being a theatre group we believe it is our responsibility to react to the surroundings and thus have continued doing both – pursue our theatre as well as continue to protest.
It might be worth mentioning that over the last one year, we have noticed a remarkable decline in the number of invited performances in our calendar. To put it simply – people/organizations have stopped
inviting us to perform for them. We would like to reinstate that we are not the lone sufferers. Many other groups are facing the same.
Lack of invited performances means:
• Lack of revenues coming into the group
• Lack of opportunity to perform outside one's periphery
• Lack of opportunity to perform in the outskirts of Kolkata, where we believe the audience is at times more mature than in Kolkata
So, this is one way of crippling us both financially and aesthetically.
At this point we would like to share with you in a chronological way a very recent experience of ours.
March 3: We were approached by the festival committee of Balipur Melatala High School to perform a play of our choice at the 50th Birth Anniversary Celebration of the school. We proposed to perform the play DAKGHAR (Post Office by Rabindranath Tagore). However, the representatives of the festival committee requested us to think about some other play since our interpretation of DAKGHAR contained comments on the contemporary political scenario. We obliged and proposed to perform the play BONKUBABUR BONDHU (based on a short story by Satyajit Ray). They instantly agreed and fixed up the show to be held on 17th of April 2008.
March 7: The secretary of the festival committee visited our group to formally book the show by giving us a formal invitation letter and an advance of Rs. 3000.
March 10: We received a call from a teacher of the school informing us that the show stands cancelled. On pressing him to divulge the reason, he referred us to talk to the headmaster. So we did, but got no proper answer. Then we spoke with the secretary of the festival committee (who had come to pay us the advance). He categorically stated that it was due to sheer political pressure being put by the local CPI(M) (namely, the standing MLA of the locality, Sri Banshibadan Moitra) network that they were having to cancel the show. He also informed us that our performances could not be held before the Panchayat elections were over. Later we also received a call from another senior government official from the locality who expressed deep regret at being forced to cancel the show. Helpless as they were, they refused to give us anything on paper citing the reason behind cancellation of the show, neither did they respond to our repeated request to take back the advance they had paid us.
The show eventually did not happen.
We feel it is necessary for us to communicate our (us and all other groups facing the same) experience to the theatre fraternity and concerned citizens. During that phase (between the 10th and the 17th of April) we were advised by quite a few people to approach the CPI(M) leadership based in Kolkata to intervene on the matter and ensure successful hosting of the show. Something that two other theatre
groups based in Kolkata had done recently when their shows were called off in North Bengal. However, we felt not to follow in their footsteps for the following reasons:
• Did the leadership not pay enough attention to these matters to ensure they do not happen again?
• Why can we not go and perform our play as part of a school celebration on our own?
• Is seeking favour from the so-called elite leadership of the ruling party so necessary for ensuring a free and safe performance barely a hundred kilometres away from Kolkata?
• By doing so, will we not endorse a dangerous trend?
We do not claim to have all the answers. We are finding them and would like you to join us with your reactions, statements, advice and responses whatever they are.
Regards,
Team Swapnasandhani
About Swapnasandhani: The theatre troupe Swapnasandhani was originally founded by the actress Chitra Sen and is now looked after by her son, the actor-director Koushik Sen. Like most of us seeking an alternative way to express ourselves, Swapnasandhani, too, is looking for alternative theatre. The troupe has travelled extensively around the country and abroad and is undoubtedly the best among the city’s younger group theatres.
(from Artconcerns.com)
12 March, 2008
Nandigram martyrdom anniversary
The following is an appeal from National Alliance of People's Movements in connection with the observance of the first anniversary of the martyrs of Nandigram
We invite you to join the first Memorial event to pay tribute to the people of Nandigram who gave up their life while protecting their land, livelihoods and sovereignty and democracy of our country.
The struggle of Nadigram has created history. 14th March will go both in terms of ugly and inspiring way in the history of Nandigram struggle. Ugly because the blood-bath at Nandigram has been a gory face of state repression and the disturbing sign of the discontent, distress and threat to democracy created by the neo-liberal and land grab policy of the state. That too, in such an ideological régime, which is suppose to bring about socialism and protect the interest of common people. We all know the killing of innocent men, women and children who were protesting against the land grab in Nandigram on 14 th March 2007.
Inspiring because of the grit, determination and fighting spirit of the common people of Nandigram who became martyrs to protect Nandigram from destruction and displacement. Despite all the fear created, despite the missing persons list increasing in the area, despite facing bullets again and again people of Nadigram are still struggling with even more zeal to save their culture, livelihoods, life and environment apart posing a big challenge to the state terrorism and global corporate threat to the sovereignty.
Farmers, Dalits, Adivasi and women across India have been putting a brave front to oppose such development paradigm which is only leading to displacement, destruction, degradation and threatening vast rural, agricultural and forest communities. Many have given their lives for this cause not only in West Bengal but in other parts of India such as in Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand...
Let's join together to commemorate the first Shaheed Anniversary of Nandigram ON THE 14TH MARCH TILL 16 TH March 2008.
The Events:
14th March' 08: In Nandigram
· Inauguration of Shaheed Stambh (Tower of Martyrdom) in two places in Nandigram
· Maintaining 20.min Silence to pay tribute to the revolutionary martyrs
15th March' 08: In Kolkata:
· Dharna and maintaining 20 min silence
in Kolkata by Nandigram Manch which includes many people's movements, organizations and artist and intellectual forums.
16th March'08: In Kolkata:
· Rally in Kolkata
Looking forward to your participation…
Sincerely yours,
Pranab Baneerjee,
Debjit Bhai,
Mukta Srivastava
Murad Bhai,
Shaktiman Ghosh
NAPM-west Bengal, Nandigram Manch NAPM National Convenor
Contact : 09433624241 09433972662
17 January, 2008
Amnesty and Human Rights Watch demand independent probe of Nandigram violence
The West Bengal government should immediately create an independent and impartial inquiry into serious acts of violence in Nandigram since early 2007, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday.
The state government should prosecute those responsible for human rights abuses and examine both the social-political origins of the violence and the failure of state authorities to provide effective protection to the community.
A fact-finding team—comprised of Justice (Retd) S.N. Bhargava, former Chief Justice, High Court of Sikkim; Vrinda Grover, advocate; Meenakshi Ganguly, senior South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch; and Mukul Sharma, director of Amnesty International India —visited Nandigram and Kolkata from 28 to 30 November. The team travelled to affected villages, relief camps, and met with the victims of the violence in Nandigram, as well as government officials and rights activists.
"It was obvious during our visit to Nandigram that state authorities had not acted in an impartial manner," said Meenakshi Ganguly, senior South Asia researcher with Human Rights Watch. "The political nature of this violence, involving the ruling party of West Bengal, means there must be an independent inquiry to prevent impunity for the perpetrators. "
Throughout 2007, tensions over control of land in Nandigram led to a series of violent incidents between supporters of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and farmers belonging to the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC). Protesting villagers blockaded the Nandigram area to oppose a government plan to acquire land for industry. Instead of responding appropriately to violations of the law by protesters, the authorities appeared to treat the protest as a challenge to the CPI-M and used excessive force against the protestors. BUPC members were also responsible for acts of violence. At least 25 people were killed, hundreds injured and thousands displaced from their homes.
In November, CPI-M supporters and armed thugs forcibly ended the blockade. In retribution for the protest, they attacked villagers supporting the BUPC, burned down their homes, threatened further violence if villagers went to the authorities, and humiliated them by compelling them to join CPI-M rallies. The state administration removed police posts before CPI-M supporters advanced into the area, strongly suggesting governmental complicity in the abuses.
Villagers in affected areas reported to the fact-finding team that CPI-M supporters frequently subjected women to violent attacks, including rape and beatings, as well as to threats and harassment. There is no evidence that the police have sought to arrest those named in police complaints. Victims, particularly women who risk social censure by reporting rape, remained vulnerable to threats and further attacks from perpetrators who roam free.
"The tragedy of the reported rapes at Nandigram has been compounded by the failure of the police to seriously investigate these cases, keeping the victims at grave risk," said Ganguly.
Based on the team's findings, Amnesty International has produced a report titled, " Urgent need to address large scale human rights abuses during Nandigram "recapture.' " The report concludes that the inaction of the West Bengal state government, including tacit acceptance of the violent operations of the armed supporters of the CPI-M, resulted in serious human rights abuses, including unlawful killings, abductions, sexual assault of women and forced eviction and displacement of thousands of people in 2007.
It is disturbing that the West Bengal authorities failed to prevent the violence at Nandigram and failed to arrest the perpetrators, " said Mukul Sharma, director of Amnesty International, India, "Weeks after peace had supposedly been restored, we learned that the perpetrators were still roaming free, celebrating their victory by threatening and beating up local residents."
The impunity enjoyed by those perpetrating abuses in Nandigram since the violence began in early 2007 fuelled the widespread abuses committed later in the year. The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, contributed to the violence in November by saying that the protesters had been "paid back in the same coin," a comment which he retracted three weeks later, admitting the events were a "political and administrative failure."
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said access to justice for the victims of the violence went beyond the successful prosecution of those responsible. The West Bengal government has an obligation to protect the rights of all those displaced by ensuring they can safely return to their homes and places of habitual residence and providing restitution for all damage suffered. Women who suffered abuse must receive proper protection and an effective remedy.
"The authorities must show clear political will to end the climate of violence in Nandigram," Sharma said. "For lasting peace, all those responsible for the violence must be prosecuted and the victims must receive redress."
The state government should prosecute those responsible for human rights abuses and examine both the social-political origins of the violence and the failure of state authorities to provide effective protection to the community.
A fact-finding team—comprised of Justice (Retd) S.N. Bhargava, former Chief Justice, High Court of Sikkim; Vrinda Grover, advocate; Meenakshi Ganguly, senior South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch; and Mukul Sharma, director of Amnesty International India —visited Nandigram and Kolkata from 28 to 30 November. The team travelled to affected villages, relief camps, and met with the victims of the violence in Nandigram, as well as government officials and rights activists.
"It was obvious during our visit to Nandigram that state authorities had not acted in an impartial manner," said Meenakshi Ganguly, senior South Asia researcher with Human Rights Watch. "The political nature of this violence, involving the ruling party of West Bengal, means there must be an independent inquiry to prevent impunity for the perpetrators. "
Throughout 2007, tensions over control of land in Nandigram led to a series of violent incidents between supporters of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and farmers belonging to the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC). Protesting villagers blockaded the Nandigram area to oppose a government plan to acquire land for industry. Instead of responding appropriately to violations of the law by protesters, the authorities appeared to treat the protest as a challenge to the CPI-M and used excessive force against the protestors. BUPC members were also responsible for acts of violence. At least 25 people were killed, hundreds injured and thousands displaced from their homes.
In November, CPI-M supporters and armed thugs forcibly ended the blockade. In retribution for the protest, they attacked villagers supporting the BUPC, burned down their homes, threatened further violence if villagers went to the authorities, and humiliated them by compelling them to join CPI-M rallies. The state administration removed police posts before CPI-M supporters advanced into the area, strongly suggesting governmental complicity in the abuses.
Villagers in affected areas reported to the fact-finding team that CPI-M supporters frequently subjected women to violent attacks, including rape and beatings, as well as to threats and harassment. There is no evidence that the police have sought to arrest those named in police complaints. Victims, particularly women who risk social censure by reporting rape, remained vulnerable to threats and further attacks from perpetrators who roam free.
"The tragedy of the reported rapes at Nandigram has been compounded by the failure of the police to seriously investigate these cases, keeping the victims at grave risk," said Ganguly.
Based on the team's findings, Amnesty International has produced a report titled, " Urgent need to address large scale human rights abuses during Nandigram "recapture.' " The report concludes that the inaction of the West Bengal state government, including tacit acceptance of the violent operations of the armed supporters of the CPI-M, resulted in serious human rights abuses, including unlawful killings, abductions, sexual assault of women and forced eviction and displacement of thousands of people in 2007.
It is disturbing that the West Bengal authorities failed to prevent the violence at Nandigram and failed to arrest the perpetrators, " said Mukul Sharma, director of Amnesty International, India, "Weeks after peace had supposedly been restored, we learned that the perpetrators were still roaming free, celebrating their victory by threatening and beating up local residents."
The impunity enjoyed by those perpetrating abuses in Nandigram since the violence began in early 2007 fuelled the widespread abuses committed later in the year. The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, contributed to the violence in November by saying that the protesters had been "paid back in the same coin," a comment which he retracted three weeks later, admitting the events were a "political and administrative failure."
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said access to justice for the victims of the violence went beyond the successful prosecution of those responsible. The West Bengal government has an obligation to protect the rights of all those displaced by ensuring they can safely return to their homes and places of habitual residence and providing restitution for all damage suffered. Women who suffered abuse must receive proper protection and an effective remedy.
"The authorities must show clear political will to end the climate of violence in Nandigram," Sharma said. "For lasting peace, all those responsible for the violence must be prosecuted and the victims must receive redress."
22 November, 2007
Communal elements shift focus from Nandigram to Taslima Nasrin
TASLIMA NASRIN
KOLKATA witnessed mob violence on Wednesday in the wake of a protest called by a little known group called the All India Minority Forum. Although the group was ostensibly protesting against the CPI (M) atrocities in Nandigram, Islamic fundamentalists shifted the focus to their campaign against Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin.
Nandigram has a large Muslim population. Several Muslim organizations were cooperating with the Bhoomi Uchched Samiti, which spearheaded the agitation against eviction.
Taslima Nasrin, author of several best-sellers, had fled Bangladesh in 1994 after extremist groups in the country targeted her and she lost her job as doctor at the Dhaka Medical College.
The fundamentalists were annoyed with her as she had said religious scriptures were out of time and out of place. She had also called for a uniform civil code that accorded women equality and justice.
An organization by the name of Soldiers of Islam issued a fatwa against her and set a price on her head. Fourteen political parties and religious organizations jointly called a general strike and demanded that she be hanged. There were several street demonstrations in Dhaka, and newspapers which published her writings were attacked.
After spending a few years in exile in Europe, Taslima Nasrin came to India and took up residence in Kolkata. Islamic fundamentalists have been opposing her stay in the country since then. Last August, goons led by three MLAs of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen attacked her at the Press Club in Hyderabad, when she went there to address a press conference.
Apparently the harassed CPI (M) leadership is ready to appease the communal forces. The party’s State secretary Biman Bose said Taslima Nasrin must leave the State to ensure that violence did not recur.
Taslima Nasrin’s current visa expires on February 17 next year.
In a statement, the Mumbai-based group EKTA (Committee for Communal Amity) deplored the fundamentalists’ demand for Taslima Nasreen’s expulsion.
EKTA said, “The linking up of this demand with protests against the state-sponsored bloodbath in Nandigram is highly intriguing, to say the least. We join our voices with all voices of sanity in decrying this act of criminal insanity seriously threatening the social peace and equilibrium in the city.
“We do highly welcome the decision of the State government to deploy the Army to restore peace and also confidence of the common citizens. We do, however, strongly deplore the call given by the CPI(M) State Secretary and the ruling Left Front Chairman, Biman Bose, before TV cameras that Ms. Nasrin should leave the State forthwith in theinterest of peace. We consider such comment highly provocative and downright nauseating.
"The reported offer by the city police to the Bangladeshi writer tomove her out of the State cannot but be linked to the comment made by the LF Chairman. We do strongly protest such move.”
Official website of Taslima Nasrin at http://taslimanasrin.com/
PS: CNN-IBN reports that West Bengal police has moved Taslima Nasrin to Rajasthan.
PPS: Biman Bose withdrew his statement a day later. This was done after the West Bengal police removed Taslima Nasrin to Rajasthan. It is nevertheless welcome as it indicates his – and, hopefully, his party’s – readiness to respect public sentiments.
14 November, 2007
Aparna Sen's report on Nandigram protest
Leading film personality Aparna Sen, who boycotted the film festival to protest against the State-sponsored atrocities in Nandigram, takes on the role of Citizen Journalist and reports to CNN-IBN on protest bandh in Kolkata . http://cj.ibnlive.com/index.html
West Bengal government promoting organized crime
A woman injured in the Nandigram violene. Photo: Courtesy www.sanhati.comThe following is the text of a statement issued by the Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong, on November 13, 2007
NANDIGRAM, a remote village in West Bengal state of India is once again in front page news in the country.
This remote village in West Bengal was in the news 11 months ago when violence erupted in the village. The Communist party led state government used force to silence the protesting farmers who were agitating against the proposed acquisition of their land by the state for establishing a special economic zone. The state government, with the aid of the local police and its party cardres, silenced the protest using brute force. The violence resulted in heavy loss of life and property, which is still not completely accounted for.
On 10 November, 2007, violence erupted again in Nandigram. This time too the violence was spearheaded by the party cadres of the ruling political party of West Bengal state – the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM).
On the first instance and even now, the state government is defending its position of justifying the use of force. The only exception is that this time the local police remained confined to the police station when the party cadres shot at will on protesters. The death toll is yet to be ascertained and the villagers are in the grip of fear.
The state government on both occasions said that the use of force was to bring the region back within the control of the state administration. While debates are underway arguing for and against the state government and its actions, for an ordinary person the incidents reported from Nandigram raises a few questions. Had the state administration consulted the local people before it decided to acquire their land? If yes, whether such an acquisition is justifiable? Had there been any credible procedures and mechanisms in place to compensate those who could lose their land? If the administration had withdrawn from the proposal of acquiring the land what erupted the current tragedy? What prevented the administration from resolving the issues in Nandigram through legitimate means? Why did the state government employ party cadres to ‘repossess’ its control of the area? Was the ‘repossession’ for administrative control or an action looking forward to the oncoming local body elections? Even then what justifies the use of illegal force by party cadres? What happened to those who lost their relatives and property in the earlier incident? What will happen to those who suffered in the recent incident? Will the government and the justice mechanisms in the state be able to prosecute those who are responsible for loss of life and property? Which law in India authorise organised violence to curb protest?
Above all what is that matters to the state government of West Bengal – the people or the party?The government in any country or region has a constitutional obligation to promote and protect the life and property of the people within its jurisdiction. Whatever be the political ideology the government believes in or follows, such ideologies must not supersede the paramount law of the country – the Constitution. While the Constitution of India guarantees certain rights and privileges to the state administration, it equally guarantees the citizen certain rights, which the government by oath and mandate is bound to protect and fulfill.
Nandigram as of today is the sad reminder that the state government of West Bengal has failed in their duty. By justifying violence the state government has breached the inalienable constitutional guarantees of the people and has played fraud upon the people and the Constitution of the country. Such a government is promoting organized crime.
On these counts the CPM led West Bengal government is no different from its counterpart in Gujarat led by Mr. Narendra Modi. No one other than the West Bengal state government and their political think tanks and their supporters will concur with the idea of using organized violence to curb protest. A government which has played fraud upon the Constitution that it has sworn to protect and the people it is duty bound to serve has no legitimacy to continue in authority.
# # # About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
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