---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Vijayan MJ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: 22-Dec-2006 20:53
Subject: Kindly circulate widely for more org endorsements
To:
*Joint Call (Kindly endorse and circulate/release) *
* **Observe a National Day of Solidarity for the People of Singur *
*on 28 December 2006***
**
Since May 2006 the Singur Krishi Jami Raksha Committee (SKJRC), a
joint platform of local farmers, sharecroppers and agricultural
workers, has been leading the movement in Singur against the coercive,
undemocratic and non-transparent acquisition of land by force by the
West Bengal Government for the Tata Motors Small Car Project. 997
acres of multi-crop, fertile land is to be handed over to the Tatas
for this project.
The entire process of acquisition of land by the State has involved
the use of force and the absence of consent or dialogue with the
affected people. A large police force was mobilised to effect this
acquisition.
§
*25 September*
*2006*: The police lathi-charged on a peaceful protest of more than
7000 villagers at mid night. More than 70 people including women and
children were injured. One Rajkumar Bhul lost his life. More than 70
people were arrested including 27 women and some minors.
§
*30 November 2006: *
Fencing off of the identified area began with the declaration of
Section 144 of the CrPC. Tear gas and rubber bullets were used to keep
away the owners of the land. Then a few thousand policemen, invaded
the villages, ransacked houses, used abusive languages, and physically
abused and molested women. 60 people were arrested, all on trumped
charges of "attempt to murder".
- *18 December 2006:* Private security guards and the police have
protected the area since 30 November. But on 18 December Tapasi Malik, a 17
year old activist of the SKJRC, was murdered within the fenced area.
Other incidents of violation of human rights are creating an atmosphere
conducive to coercion. We strongly oppose the use of brutal force by the
state machinery to silence the voices of dissent. Use of Section 144 to
cordon off the site of the plant is an expression of complete disregard for
the sentiments of the local population
There is also an unabashed reiteration by the Government of West Bengal that
farmers have given their land willingly despite the fact that the farmers
first put in their petitions on 17 July refusing to give up their land. The
SKJRC, representing the people of the area, till today insists that at least
45-50% of the farmers have not given their land. It has repeatedly presented
documents including affidavits and land papers to the press to validate this
fact. Further those who have given consent (according to the State
'voluntarily') have either done so under duress or constitute the absentee
landlords.
With introduction of irrigation, this area is one of the most fertile lands
in West Bengal. The Government in its effort to justify their action is
today classifying the land use pattern in this area based on land records of
the 1970s. The project also totally ignores the rights of the
*bargadars,* estimated
in the range from 600-1200 (since there is no comprehensive recording of
sharecropper who are unregistered or in some other form of arrangement for
sharecropping) and large number of agricultural workers, most of whom come
here to work from neighbouring districts. From past experience of other
states, the people of Singur are extremely sceptical about the alternative
employment opportunities and the rehabilitation package being offered.
There is also complete exclusion of the people affected from the
decision-making process. The whole project is being executed in total
secrecy. There is no public knowledge of the terms on which Tata Motors is
being given the land, the way in which land will be used. Further, there is
no transparency with respect to cost – benefit analysis, project impact
assessment, environmental impact assessment from a social viewpoint, tax and
other concessions provided for the project and the commitment and
accountability of the Tatas.
The policy of land acquisition being pursued by the Government of West
Bengal is taking its toll on the people of Singur today. But this is
only the beginning. The government, in the next few months, intends to
acquire nearly 60,000 acres of land for various "development"
projects. But the government has failed to announce a democratic
policy framework, where people democratically participate in the
process of development, for acquisition of this land and for providing
comprehensive rights and program for the affected people.
In Singur, we thus have the echo of all that is happening in other parts of
the country- land acquisition in secrecy for an ostensibly public purpose,
but with only large corporate houses benefiting; the collusion between the
Government and the corporate sector; and the use of the police force to
quash any kind of resistance. The happenings in Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttar
Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and other states in the name of
SEZs, industrialisation and "development" is sharply focussed and symbolised
in Singur.
We are not opposed to industrialisation nor are we opposed to creation
of industrial zones for increasing the manufacturing capacity of the
economy. We believe just and equitable industrialisation leads to
economic development. We also believe that a clearly defined and
transparent legal framework and procedure should be institutionalised
before large-scale industrialisation projects are undertaken. Such a
policy should focus on means of livelihood rather than on assets and
assume a participatory relationship between those to be affected and
the state.
Further, the state should find alternatives to acquisition of prime
agricultural land for industrialisation. Wastelands and old industrial
sites with closed units can be restructured and given for creation of
new industrial areas. The opening up of the territories of the state
to corporates to decide the location and sitting of a plant without
the participation and consent of the people of the area and community
initiatives is undemocratic and not acceptable. The state machinery
needs to take responsibility for any such action and demarcate areas
where the land-use will change only on the basis of clearly defined
and transparent policies.
*We call upon the Government of West Bengal to *
- *Stop coercive acquisition of land for private purpose *
- *Provide all information about the Tata Motors Project and be
transparent about decision making processes *
- *Remove fencing of the project area and allow all local people
access to their land for livelihood.*
- *Begin dialogue and negotiation with project affected people's
organisation*
- *Stop use of police against peoples movement and enable democratic
dissent*
* *
*And we call upon the Government of India to *
§ *Devise a rehabilitation policy that is participatory and scrap
the century-old Land Acquisition Act. *
* *
It is time to stand in solidarity and for all such struggles to support one
another.
In furtherance of this objective *28 December 2006 will be observed as
a national day of solidarity with the people of Singur*. Please
organise rallies, marches, dharnas, protest demonstrations and other
forms of action on that day to raise questions about the fairness of
this project with the Government of India, the Government of Bengal,
all political parties and members of parliament and the management of
Tata Motors Limited.
*Medha Patkar Ashim Roy*
for National Alliance for Peoples' Movements for New
Trade Union Initiative
--
Vijayan MJ
"We hear that governance now will have a different cadence
Tyranny will now be the protector; cities will be without walls or doors
Innocence will now be a punishable crime
Judges will profess ignorance of criminal deeds…
Executioners will be in charge of funerals, killers will organize mourning…
If this be the realization of India's ancient dreams
Then soon, there will neither be India, nor any of its connoisseurs…"
(By Ali Sardar Jafri)
--
Bobby Kunhu
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