Dear Nilofer, What can one say - except that you are spot on in what you write and thanks for forwarding this excellent piece by Himanshu.
For a start - these are the kinds of things that need to be read and pondered by a larger audience of socalled `people like us'. And ofcourse, sitting with people like Sagari and Madhoo here in Hyderabad - interacting with some amazing tribal leaders whom they work with and have built capacity in over the past two decades - further confirms the analysis that you make, that Himanshu offers, and even casual vistors like Arudhati point out so powerfully. The challenge is to make our arrogant leadership sit up and listen before we are overtaken by a blood bath. Love to you both Lolly On Tue, Apr 27, 2010 at 2:45 PM, Niloufer Bhagwat <[email protected]>wrote: > Dear Colleagues , > > For those who have not read this impassioned address > from Himanshu Kumar who like Dr.Binayak Sen has worked > in the region , I am forwarding the article .It is valid to understand > the ongoing debate to which many have contributed,who have > knowledge of the region and have lived and worked in the region . > > 1. It is this very affected region which saw the brutal murder of an > unusual trade unionist Niyogi( wholly dedicated to unorganized workers > ) > organizing the unorganized in mines among others , to access to minimum > wages and health facilities, all perfectlyconstitutional activity , by > hired agents > of business houses and coal mining mafia by a hired mercenary, as per he > facts > ofthe case presented by theProsecution after Police investigation on > behalf of the > State to the Sessions Court and all the way put to the Supreme Court by > the CBI . > > 2.Yet ,we have to understand that self annihilation by continuous > confrontation with Para military/police officers of the State is not a > wise political strategy,even if state violence on a large scale has been > imposed . There have to be alternative political strategies and linking > up with other movements andcauses to ensure overwhelming political > support for the Indigenouspeople whose lands and resources are supposed > to be protected not only by the Constitution of India , statutes in > different > regions ,but also by the Resolution on the Indigenous territories and > resources > passed by the United Nations , observance of which is mandatory . > > 3.Political isolation , is what has been imposed on the affected regions, > by creation of so called Tribal states to better exploit them , so as > to deprive the people in the so called "Tribal belt", the advantage > of linking up with diverse political movements for renewal of the Indian > economy and political democratic space to prevent the strengthening > of the voices of those who seek development for all ,including in the > tribal > and peasant belt . It is necessary for the political leadership in these > areas to break out from their isolation. > > 4.In the name of carving out tribal states ,the better to indiscriminately > expropriate mineral , land and water resources there is a > predatory approach > of land seizure of community land ,allied with corrupt political cabals > signing > MOUs , insteadof a well conceived plan for overall development which will > have as its > objective the removal of abject poverty with a satisfactory human > development > index and a balanced ecological and industrial plan for the affected > regions, > making use of the local resources in a measured and balanced policy with > support to agriculture ,forestry and industrial development using mineral > resources sparingly so that they are not depleted and do not upset the > ecological balance or poison the region . This objective requires among > other strategies an overwhelming mass movement which tilts the > balance in favour of development for all instead of MOUs only for > a few. > > 5.There is now a discussion all over the world on what > "Malignant development and growth " are all about , > which destroys vast areas ecologically and many are questioning > the hitherto paradigm of development without balance and regulation > ignoring the needs of people who must always be at the core of any > developmentpolicy .For the first time economists, ecologists and > scientists > all over the world are expressing the view that the dominant system with > its concept of growth without limits poses a danger to the planet > earth our common home itself . > > 6.In Punjab even as food grains were rotting in the open , it was > liquor which was stored in the warehouses and godowns evidence > of the priority of the ruling elite all over the country . > > 7.It is necessary and urgent to prevent the ongoing Americanization of > Indian democracy and the financialization of the Indian economy , we have > seen that the US economy is in total collapse with Sovereign Debt Default > facing the US , UK among other G 7 countries . > > 8.This is the time to raise the issue what kind of development , for who , > with what priorities, even while understanding that Industrialisation , > manufacture,and even rational exploitation of mineral wealth benefiting > the regions where these resources are found are not antagonistic to > enriching areas of agricultural prosperity , while simultaneously > preserving > and developing biodiversity , forestry with assistance from tribal > populations > who have a rich store of knowledge about forestry and agriculture which > will > otherwise be lost to human civilization. > > 9. The knowledge which exists in rural India and in the forest belts is > a valuable storehouse though most in urban India do not value it . > > 10.We need power , industrialization and mineral resources but not > in a manner so as to inflict displacement and refugee status for millions > and decimation of once agriculturally rich regions and verdant forest > cover . > It is possible to harmonize industrialization with agriculture , forestry > and > fisheries by creating a stake for local communities in these projects. > > 11. Every Indian needs a stake in India 's growth and development , > a stake which will only come with participation at the local > and other levels of decision making for growth, linked with > economic and social justice and democratic decision making > in economic policy .Turning agriculture and forests into deserts > is not the way to increase industrialization and manufacture . > > 12.We have outstanding experts in our country on agriculture , land > reforms , food security , sustainable development , industrialization, > agro-industry and balanced mineral exploitation so as not to deplete > reservesand harm the ecology ; we need to take their advise to construct > a manifesto with the objective " Prosperity for All" .....beginning > with those who are presently below the poverty line taking the > assistance of those entrepreneurs who themselves are honest > enough to understand , that islands of affluence and indecent > wealth will be swamped by floods of poverty, disease and > degradation . > > 13. A distinction must be maintained between entrepreneurs > who are constitutionalists who will not stoop to violence > and desecration of community land and resources and those > who openly support political violence and seizure of resources . > > 14.This is the 21st Century , time to realize and propagate > that human povertyand degradation are not god made, > but man made and man has the intelligence to rationally > reorder the consumption and distribution of resources . > What are people are immediately seeking are > not planes and private yachts , just livelihood, basic > housing ,reasonable food prices ,public health facilities > and education to the utmost of one's ability .Is this too much > of an aspiration , then what is the Constitution of India , a > manifesto of our Freedom Movement all about ????????? > > 15. On one aspect there can be no compromise and that > is the financial control of the economy must at all times > be in public hands which includes the Bank and financial > institutions and that instruments of production and finance > are subject to regulation in public interest . That just > as there are no Princely houses democracy cannot > co-exist with Corporate domination and control of government . > > 16. While being ready to struggle for justice let us widen > our support base to those who believe that democracy > must extend to economic and social policy and to the justice > system . It cannot be limited to the electoral process > financed by special financial interests .Without political education > and transformation of our inner selves and an intelligence and > compassion to convert even some of our worst enemies , the road > will be even longer and littered with the lives of the innocent. > > As Brecht the famous writer said"Man Can Think " > > Indiscriminate violence by the State and by the victims can > never be the only strategies .Every movement requires > critical mass of support . > > With solidarity and Greetings , > > Niloufer Bhagwat > > > > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "humanrights movement" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > . > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<humanrights-movement%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/humanrights-movement?hl=en. > -- Ramu and Lalita Ramdas `Lara' - Ramu Farm Bhaimala Village P.O.Kamarle, Alibag 402201 Raigad Dist, Maharashtra, INDIA Phone: 0091-2141-248711 Fax: 0091-2141-248733 Cell: [L] 0 9422495315 Cell: [R] 0 9860170969 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "humanrights movement" group. 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