KASHIPUR SOLIDARITY GROUP ARREST OF ACTIVIST SAROJ MOHANTY: AN URGENT APPEAL
17 July 2007 Saroj Mohanty, poet and long-time activist with Prakrutik Sampad Surakhya Parishad (PSSP), which has over 15 years been opposing the entry of large bauxite mining companies in Kashipur, has been arrested. Saroj was picked up at a railway station in Rayagada District, on Saturday, 14 July. He is currently in judicial custody in Rayagada district jail. The charges against him are completely fabricated but serious. These charges include section 395 of the IPC (Dacoity), section 397 (Robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grevious hurt), and section 450 (House tresspass with intention to commit offence that is punishable with imprisonment for life). These absurd charges against Saroj stem from attempts in late 2004 by the mining company UAIL and the Orissa government hell-bent on pushing the project for bauxite mining through to undermine the resistance to the project by slapping false cases on the leadership and mass base of PSSP. The intense protests by the people was met by severe repression, harassment and arrests, which continues to this day. As part of the continuing repression carried out at the time, a number of PSSP activists and ordinary people were falsely charged. Among them was Saroj Mohanty. Prior to his intense involvemnt as senior activist with the struggles of the adivasi people of Kashipur region, Saroj Mohanty was active with the anti-liquor movement in Sambalpur district as soon as he completed his MA in Political Science from Sambalpur University . He has been a student leader throughout his college and university years. He is a well known progressive Oriya poet and intellectual and is currently the Editor of the respected journal Anvesha. Anvesha has been a forum for rich debate on questions pertaining to development, industrialization and other important socio-economic issues of our time. The arrest of Saroj Mohanty at this time constitutes a setback to the movement in Kashipur and to movements that are erupting all over the country against the plunder of people's resources, lands and ivelihoods by large industry. It is an increasingly alarming trend that activists and movements struggling for preservation of people's lives and livelihoods are being ruthlessly targetted physically and by the use of law. This is an urgent appeal to you/ your organization to join the many voices demanding his release and that these fabricated cases against Saroj and other activists of PSSP Kashipur be withdrawn. A protest programme demanding his release is being organized on 21 July in Bhubaneshwar in front of RAJ Bhavan, the Governor's Residence from 10 am onwards. We request you to lend your solidarity and raise your voice by participating in the programme; organize protest programmes in your own city on that date; write to the Chief Minister and Governor, Orissa demanding that Saroj be released. The suggested draft of the mail is at the end of this letter. You can change it in your own way too. Do send a copy to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In solidarity, Ranjana Padhi, Nagraj Adve, Madhumita Dutta, D Manjit and Arun Bidani for Kashipur Solidarity Group Subject: Immediate and unconditional release of Saroj Mohanty, poet, activist and editor of Anvesha I/we wish to bring to your urgent notice the arrest of Shri Saroj Mohanty on 14th July 2007, a poet and a long-time activist with Prakrutik Sampad Surakhya Parishad (PSSP), Kashipur, Rayagada District. Subsequent to his arrest, Saroj has been charged with serious offences under section 395 of the IPC (Dacoity), section 397 (Robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), and section 450 (House tresspass with intention to commit offence that is punishable with imprisonment for life). I/we contend that these charges are completely fabricated and are an attempt by the district administration under the pressure from Utkal Alumina Limited (UAIL) to repress and undermine the peaceful resistance of the people of Kashipur to the proposed setting up of bauxite mines and alumina smelter in the area. Since 2004 the district administration has been slapping false cases on the leadership of PSSP, which for the last 15 years alongwith the people of Kashipur have been peacefully demanding the protection of the lives and livelihood of the local people, mostly adivasis and dalits, who will loose their land and livelihood to UAIL project. Saroj Mohanty is a well known social activist, who has been working since college days with people's movements, a progressive Oriya poet and an intellectual and is currently the Editor of a respected journal Anvesha. Anvesha has been a forum for rich debate on questions pertaining to development, industrialization and other important socio-economic issues of our time. Arrest of Saroj Mohanty impinges on the democratic space of the citizens of this country to protest and voice their opinion in free and fair manner. I/We therefore demand that: 1. Saroj Mohanty be immediately and unconditionally released 2. All false cases against Saroj Mohanty and other PSSP activists and local people be unconditionally withdrawn 3. All harassment and repressive tactic by the state administration to undermine the peaceful resistance of the people of kashipur be immediately stopped Sincerely, --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ greenyouth mailinglist is the activist support mailinglist for kerala To post to this group, send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
