---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Arati Chokshi <[email protected]> Date: Sat, Jan 19, 2013 at 9:04 PM Subject: PRESS RELEASE ON EWS DEMOLITIONS AND EVICTIONS To: puclblr <[email protected]>, freebinayaksen < [email protected]>, janaravedike < [email protected]>, concerniisc <[email protected]>
*PRESS RELEASE* *Demolition of EWS quarters and the Eviction of Residents* * * *Saturday, January 19, 2013, Bangalore* The BBMP today began demolition of homes and evicting residents from the EWS quarters at Ejipura. During the process of demolition and eviction protestors were lathi charged, physically dragged by the police and arrested - all of them women. They have been remanded to judicial custody till next Tuesday. These women have been separated from their families and homes, and cannot protect their shelters and belongings from the demolition bulldozers. The BBMP official, B T Ramesh who was at the spot could not produce any official documents that showed that he and his crew had the authority to demolish structures and evict residents. Nor did he produce any copy of the notification supposedly shared with the residents a month back. Notices which the BBMP claimed were pasted on the houses, were not visible on any of the houses. All the residents that we spoke to had not been notified and were unaware of this demolition drive. In a meeting with the BBMP Commissioner today, Mr. Siddaiah agreed to stop demolitions of the occupied homes and to give a time period of 3 months for evacuation. In fact, Mr. Siddaiah called BT Ramesh in presence of activists and EWS residents. However, the demolition continued unabated; Mr. Ramesh insisted on a written order from Commissioners office, who conveniently disappeared by then. As of this afternoon, the police had given a 6 pm notice to the residents to clear their belongings. As of now, it is reported that as many as 500 homes have been razed to the ground by the BBMP bulldozers today. Many families are out on the streets, since they do not have the finances or support to re-locate. Children whose mothers were arrested are in streets - searching them. Women cry helpless, not knowing where to take their young and old. We, the members of civil society, representing different organisations (PUCL, PDF, and Concern) condemn the deplorable and inhuman way the demolitions, police violence and evictions have been implemented. We call for an immediate and complete halt to the eviction of residents and the demolition of occupied homes in the EWS quarters. We further demand that all charges against the residents and activists be dropped. Right to shelter is one of the principle rights enshrined in Article 21 of our constitution. A state, under no circumstance, has a right to go against either the letter or the spirit of this right without providing alternative arrangements for all those it renders homeless. Further the police protection of demolitions does not legitimise its use of brute force and physical violence against the weakest in our society - who are but protesting, losing their all. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Issued by:* People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), People's Democratic Forum (PDF) & Concern - Bangalore -- *In the time of deceit, telling the truth is a Revolutionary Act - George Orwell* -- *In the time of deceit, telling the truth is a Revolutionary Act - George Orwell* ******** YAM (Young Activist Meeting) is getting together of young and not so young people engaged in the thought, action and dreams of changing the world or making a difference. You can say it is a gathering of activists, to share their lived experiences in activism and outside activism. At YAM we do not come together armed with pre-determined agenda and expectations for plan of action. We have met till date@ Mangaon, Maharashtra in 2006, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 2008 and then Lonavala, 2011. ******** The list is to talk, discuss, share, laugh on issues 'personal', 'political' or beyond these two categories with respect and love. It is not a PUBLIC LIST, if you wish to subscribe send an empty mail mentioning name, location, profession and other relevant details to [email protected] ******** If you feel traffic is too much then you can choose the digest option and by any chance you want to leave our community then write to [email protected] ******** It is very important that you do not forward conversations from YAM to any other lists. You may forward individual messages to your friends and others you can trust, but with the rider that they should exercise similar caution. Please recommend only those members to be part of YAM who will ensure this list remains protected from unnecessary publicity. ******** List maintained (not moderated) by [email protected] Do send your suggestions and feedback... -- 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]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/humanrights-movement?hl=en.
