From: S.Jeevan Kumar <[email protected]<https://mail.google.com/mail/h/11lyb7qm9kde2/?v=b&cs=wh&[email protected]> > Date: May 16, 2010 11:24 AM Subject: Re:Stop Police attacks on Protestors in Orissa To: [email protected]<https://mail.google.com/mail/h/11lyb7qm9kde2/?v=b&cs=wh&[email protected]> , [email protected]<https://mail.google.com/mail/h/11lyb7qm9kde2/?v=b&cs=wh&[email protected]> Cc: [email protected]<https://mail.google.com/mail/h/11lyb7qm9kde2/?v=b&cs=wh&[email protected]> , [email protected]<https://mail.google.com/mail/h/11lyb7qm9kde2/?v=b&cs=wh&[email protected]>
*To,* *The Prime Minister of India,* *NEW DELHI.* *To,* *The Chief Minister of Orissa,* *ORISSA * *STOP POLICE ATTACKS ON PEACEFUL PROTESTORS* *IN ORISSA* ** *15 May 2010* *New Delhi* ** * * HUMA RIGHTS FORUM(A.P) strongly condemn the unprovoked firing and arson carried out by the Orissa state police against a dharna of farmers and fisher folk opposed to the proposed POSCO steel project in Jagatsingpur district. As per latest reports, today over 100 people have been injured and many shops and houses in Balitutha village, the site of the dharna, have been set on fire by the policemen. Around 40 divisions of policemen were involved in the operation, which continues even now as we write this. Hundreds of villagers belonging to the PPSS (POSCO Pratirodh Sangharsh Samiti) have been sitting in a peaceful dharna since 26 January 2010 to express their dissent against the proposed plant. It is also outrageous to note that the atrocities and arson by the police at Balitutha at the moment is being led by the SP of the district while chief minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar is issuing statements like “We are for peaceful industrialization” to the media. Naveen Patnaik is known for his ruthless manner in which he has dealt with democratic resistances in the past 10 years in the state, in which many innocent people have lost their lives to police firing and other forms of violence perpetrated by the state. Prior to today’s police action, there was already an economic blockage imposed by the state administration of the villages earmarked for land acquisition and where resistance is the strongest. There is a strong fear that any police raid on the villagers to oust them from their land will result in the loss of innocent lives in an area where thousands were already killed when the Orissa Super Cyclone hit the area just a decade ago. Nevertheless, the area is endowed with rich natural resources and has a prosperous economy of its own, and the local communities – as they have expressed it over and over again – do not want to trade their resources, economy, and cultural identities for mere corporate greed. We believe that, to crush peaceful dissent in such a brutal manner can only serve to undermine Indian democracy and push large sections of the Indian population to the point of desperation. At no point, in their struggle for over five years, have the anti-POSCO protestors indulged in any violent activities and have instead set an example to the rest of the country on how to carry out a democratic struggle based solely on the mass support of ordinary men and women. We appeal to the Prime Ministr and Chief Minister of ORISSA to stop repressionon the anti-POSCO protestors and demand the immediate withdrawal of police forces from the area.We believe that it is only through peaceful negotiations that a resolution can be found and the common people’s crumbling faith in Indian democracy restored. * * Yours sincerely, (S.JEEVAN KUMAR) (V.S.KRISHNA) State President State Secretary -- *"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act"* *George Orwell * *S.Jeevan Kumar, President Human Rights Forum H.NO.3-12-117/A/2 P.S.Colony,Ramanthapur HYDERABAD-5000 013(INDIA) Ph.040-27039519 ,Mobile:9848986286* * * -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
