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*Call to drop cases against Adivasis * Special Correspondent http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/20/stories/2007022021330300.htm 20/02/2007 * Fourth anniversary of Muthanga incident observed * KOCHI: The fourth anniversary of the Muthanga episode, which shook the Government and the public conscience and highlighted the woes of over three million Adivasis, reminded the civil society on Monday that the promises given to the community remain largely not kept. Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha leader C.K. Janu told a meeting held to mark the anniversary that the very fact that the memorial ceremony was being held here in Kochi was a reminder that Adivasis had been let down. For, she said, she and about 300 Adivasis in Wayanad were being forced to come to Kochi quite often to attend court proceedings. In the next three weeks, they would have to stand trial in the CBI court and the sessions court on three days. This was because the former UDF Government transferred six criminal cases registered by the police against the Muthanga agitators to the CBI. On the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission to order a `fair and impartial' probe, the Government had asked the CBI to investigate the Muthanga violence. But, while it ignored the NHRC recommendation to investigate the atrocities committed against the Adivasis, the Government notified that the CBI would probe those six cases. Ms. Janu urged the Government to rescind the cases and order an investigation into the atrocities committed against the Adivasis during and after the Muthanga violence. The Muthanga Day opened with the `gaddhika' ritual offered to Jogi, Adivasi `martyr' who died during the police firing on the agitators at Muthanga. M. Geethanandan, who along with Ms. Janu led the Muthanga agitation, said that the handing of the cases against the Adivasis to the CBI, without anybody having asked for it, was part of a political conspiracy. Sukumar Azhikode, who inaugurated the meeting, said that the Adivasi land issue could have been solved in the first 10 years of Independence. It had dragged on for 60 years because of the incompetence of the rulers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for the reclamation of human personality." - Dr BR Ambedkar ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ greenyouth mailinglist is the activist support mailinglist for kerala run by Global Alternate Information Applications (GAIA) To post to this group, send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
