*NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS
**Haji HABIB building, Nai Gaon Cross lane, Dadar, Mumbai 400014 ph:
022-24150529 *
*________________________________________________________________________ *
*14th March 2007*
* *
· *West Bengal Government with CPM Cadres Begin War against the
People of Nandigram: *· *Over 100 killed, Including Children and
Women and 200 wounded: People fight Back. *
**
It is shocking and shaking news from the people of Nandigram that the state
of West Bengal has waged a war against them with an intention of occupying
their farm land, fish ponds, homes and hearths. As per the latest
information, thousands of Police on entering the area, this morning, started
firing, and at least 100 people are killed while hundreds are wounded lying
on the street. About 45 people died in the hospital and over 50 + were
killed in the villages. There is no count of the dead; the police threw
their dead bodies clad in jute bags in the river. Police are forcibly taking
away the dead bodies. Women are at the forefront and have faced the attack
the most. Children and men along with women are on the streets coming out of
homes and villages to stop the brutal State and Party forces who are trying
to take the territory under siege for SEZ with MNCs. We are also informed
that media persons were stopped from witnessing the brutal atrocities while
two media persons from TARA News are said to be missing.
This is obviously a planed action since even last month when 4 meetings
attended by over 20000 people was held, there was news that the CPM would
launch its attack soon after the school exams were over.
In spite of the rhetorical statements by the Chief Minister of WB that
he would consult and convince the people, the State government claiming to
be leftist by ideology, has resorted to brutal and barbaric way of using
police force and party cadres to attack the unarmed, non violent farmers,
fish workers, labourers and artisans in the district of East Midnapore for
grabbing their land. The people from generations old communities who have a
golden history of freedom movement and martyrdom are being not only forced
but killed by the "free Indian state" which is shameful for the Indian
democracy and its people.
Wo The women and men who continued to keep watch day and night were
most worried expecting the armed attack and asked whether their non violent
approach would work. Since yesterday, there was a fear and a threat of an
action using thousands of Police and CPM Cadres, armed and prepared to
forcibly occupy their land and the territory. The public statement to this
effect was made by none else but Shri P.R.Roy Secretary, Home Affairs and
Raj Kanojia IG- Law and Order, state of West Bengal. The opposition in WB,
during assembly session, had demanded a dialogue to start immediately and
not to resort to State violence.
The news is that the firing and violence is still on and the people also
have not given up. The intellectuals in west Bengal have come out in support
of the struggling farmers and others and there is a need that the same
happens in all the states. Imposition of industrialization, with or without
SEZ, as also real estate development is to kill farm land and farming as a
way of life. But Nandigram and Singur show that the corporotised stae does
not mind even mind killing people to make way for the Multi National
Corporations.
This brutal attack must be immediately condemned and CPM must be compelled
to stop murdering farmers immediately. Such state fascism and corporate war
against people can't and must not be tolerated.
What happens in Nandigram and West Bengal is to decide the fate of lakhs of
farmers, fish workers, labourers, artisans who voted for left front but now
are in unprecedented battle for survival.
· We demand that the Union of India and UPA through the PM, Sonia
Gandhi and others must immediately intervene and use various restraining
measures in their hands to compel the CPM government to stop the murderous
attack.
· Legal action must be taken against all responsible for the
killings including the CM, West Bengal
· We expect that the National Human Rights Commission will send a
team for urgent enquiry and take action. We assert that SEZ Act should be
repealed and projects with conflict between the state and
the people should be put on immediate hold across the country. An enactment
on Development Planning, based on the draft submitted to the National
Advisory Council under the Chairmanship of Smt. Sonia Gandhi should be taken
for consultation with people's movements and approved.
· WE appeal to the eminent and concerned citizens and people's
organizations to condemn and protest against the inhuman imposition of
projects in the name of development and stand by the struggling people of
Nandigram and elsewhere.
*Medha Patkar- 9869446684, *
**
*Rajendra Ravi- 9868200316, *
**
*Mukta Srivastava, *
**
*Sukhendu Bhattacharya, *
**
*Pranav Bannerje, *
**
*Murad Hussain
*
National and State conveners, NAPM
--
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I may disagree of what you say, but I will defend to
the death your right to say it."
-Voltaire
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SAVAD RAHMAN
Correspondent,MADHYAMAM daily,
601,INS Buildings,
Rafi Marg,New Delhi -110001
india
cell:(91)-9910938123
23737626,23321014
FAX: 2373 7626
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