Dear friends
*This mail is being sent to a group of people for explicit help of giving as much coverage as possible to the cyclic violence being launched by the House of TATAS on our Adivasi peoples. * * * *All info that we are getting is through cell phone messages from the activist there. *Surya has been sending out regular updates and for any more information please contact him at: surya <[email protected]>. Mamta Das has provided the telephone numbers given below in red.* * *We would be very happy if Peter Waterman and J John of CEC Labour File contact the Corus Workers Union and get them to condemn the atrocity of the Tatas: xd JMACC* * * *Please see note by Mamta das below in RED* Dear Friends, *Johar!* I have been forwarding to you reports of the shooting and destruction of villages presently going on in Kalinga Nagar Orissa. For those who would like to have the background to this violence of the Tata Company on our Adivasis you can find the Fact Finding Report at the linke below: http://www.ask.com/bar?q=tata+landmines+adivasis+birsa&page=1&qsrc=2417&dm=all&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.minesandcommunities.org%2Farticle.php%3Fa%3D4574&sg=2z6k5W%2FBc7Cd7zAaeHo5sgioMI2WaOSjgFsG9LrPdBQ%3D&tsp=1270109708651 BIRSA was able to put on utube a video on the use of landmines to kill and maim our people by the Tata Company. The link below will get you to that video. "Tata Land Mines Adivasis". A CD is available on request Rs 100 per copy plus postage. http://www.ask.com/bar?q=tata+landmines+adivasis+utube&page=1&qsrc=121&dm=all&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DzX2CJaTwttk&sg=A%2BXD9O%2B2tvyIlFRhvqTlTyNuHNTis1pooEngzfm5qzs%3D&tsp=1270109936412 Below is a very good Fact Finding Report *Concerned Citizens Committee on Kalinganagar Firing* Bhubaneswar: March 31, 2010- A citizens� committee which visited Baligootha Kalinganagar under the leadership of Justice Chaudhry Pratap Mishra ( Retd Judge of Orissa High Court ) on 30th March, 2010 after indiscriminate firing against peaceful protesters of Vistapan Virodhi Janmanch was reported in the media, has come across shocking incidences of police and mafia brutality. The members of the committee which also included Sri Rabi Das (senior journalist), Shri Chitta Mohanty (writer and political activist), Sri Sudhir Pattnaik( senior journalist), Sri Mahendra Parida ( Trade union and human rights activist) met the victims of bullet injury in Baligootha, Chandia and Baragadia and saw the damages done to the houses, bovine wealth, food grains, food articles, motor bikes and cycles of the villagers. The Sarpanch of Baligootha reported before the committee that his cash and golden chain also have been stolen from his house apart from the damage caused to food grains. Dabur Kalundia another leader also deposed before the team. Rabi Jarika the leader of the agitating tribals who had sustained bullet injury also narrated the whole incidence of the day and the politics behind the common corridor. The committee met men, women and children and about 25 injured persons including 9 women received treatment from the senior doctor who accompanied the committee along with a team of volunteers. Observations of the Committee About 30-40 tribals have sustained bullet injuries in the firing and 25 were treated by the Doctor accompanying the committee. 4 critically injured persons were in the hospital. Some have bullets stuck within their wounds. Though it appears to be rubber bullets but the kind of bloody wounds each one of the persons treated has received does not seem to be the work of rubber bullets. No efforts by the administration to treat the injured. People don�t wish to go out for treatment for fear of torture and arrest. The police firing at the site of the controversial common corridor road near Baligootha was unwarranted and uncalled for and therefore looks to be preplanned. 29 platoons of armed police , 2 platoons of NSG, 70 police officers and 7 magistrates does speak a lot about the firing and also speaks about the atmosphere of police terror prevailing in the area. The witnesses report, familiar faces in the nearby localities close to the ruling party who came in police uniform and attacked all houses in Baligootha. They did not carry guns. They had swords and other deadly weapons in their hand. The place in which 144 was declared could see civilian goons in the presence of police as reported by the people. The houses of leaders of the Manch have been damaged and all important articles including food grains burnt. Agitating and aggrieved tribals spending sleepless nights under tree in the fear of more attacks since the police, goons of the company and certain criminal elements associated with the ruling party are having a field day with good cooperation of the administration and police. The presence of such a huge force itself threatens the peace of the area. The administration does not seem to be sensitive to the cause of the tribal protesters as much it is concerned for the companies in kalinganagar. Reccomendations The Honble Chief Minister should immediately intervene and call immediate halt to the controversial common corridor project Since the administration has betrayed the people once more a dialogue should take place at the highest level with the CM on the demands of the tribals including the one calling for land for land. Even people owning land in the common corridor have not been consulted. Instead of building police stations one after another in a small place with corporate funding the CM should ensure that every village gets developmental inputs particularly education, health, water, social security schemes such as widow pensions all of which have been suspended arbitrarily. Law should not be taken to hands by any citizens and this law applies first to the police administration. All officers civil and police involved in the firing of 30th March and in criminal activities such as injecting a sense of fear among the tribals the day preceding the firing and conflicts must be suspended immediately and be subjected to trial Financial compensation to the tune of Rs 1 lakh for every person injured in the firing be given to the victims, Justice Ch.Pratap Mishra(Retd) B 6 Abhilasha Apts 11 A Purulea Rd. P.O. Ranchi Jharkhand 834001 INDIA Tel/fax: (O) +91 651 2532035 / 2531874 / 2532104 Cell +91(India) 9431185072 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Xavier Dias <[email protected]> Date: 30 March 2010 15:03 Subject: SOS KALINGA To: CNet groups <[email protected]>, [email protected] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Xavier Dias <[email protected]> To: surya <[email protected]>, Birsa Chaibasa < [email protected]>, JOHAR Secretariat <[email protected]>, JMACC Ranchi <[email protected]>, Birsa Mmc <[email protected]> Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:58:29 +0530 Subject: Re: URGENT: DEMOCRACY BUTCHERED IN KALINGA NAGAR AS POLICE FORCEFULLY INVADES VILLAGES Dear Surya We are shocked to hear this and JMACC JOHAR and our other friends from Jharkhand will sit immeditally and send help there. Sincerely Xavier UPDATE: One person, Member Kalundia received bullet wounds in the chest and legs... Police has demolished houses and set them ablaze... Cattle have been indiscriminately shot at... Two days before Orissa Day the Govt celebrates with a bloodbath... On 30 March 2010 13:21, surya <[email protected]> wrote: > On March 28,2010 the Bisthapan Birodhi Jan Manch leaders and villagers > welcomed Jajpur District Collector and had a discussion with him on the > controversial common corridor though they knew it very well the district > administration had other motives. After talks with activists of Bisthapan > Birodhi Jan Manch and more than 300 villagers the Collector assured them > that there would be no construction activity for the Common Corridor Road > till the matter is resolved through dialogue. But the administration has > gone back on its words. They started the work yesterday and made a huge > media publicity of the event to provoke people. In today's newspapers the SP > has said 'protestors will not be spared' and the Collector is saying > "construction of the road will happen at any cost." > > This gave the manch no other alternative but to protest. But today 29 > platoons of armed police with 60 officers and hundreds of BJD and Tata goons > reached the place of dispute. They first denied media any entry to the place > and the started attacking the peacful protesters. Many have been injured > including women and children as indisciminate rubber bullet firing and lathi > charge has taken place. They have entered the villages and unleashed a reign > of terror. The villagers have tremendous patience and are still resisting > peacefully. The area has become a war zone and more than a dozen people > including women and children have been seriously injured. > > This is being carried out under the supervision of IG Special Operations, > Arun Sadangi. Despite Sec 144 being imposed in the area large number of Tata > supporters, BJD cadre have assembled at the site and are giving instructions > to the police. All people who have a conscience must act now as democracy in > Kalinganagra is being butchered in the most vulgar manner and the political > and bureaucratic leadership of the state have completely sold themselves to > the Tatas. There has been absolutely not even a murmur of protest from any > of the mainstream political party leaders which signifies the absolute power > Tata wields over them. Just now reports reach us suggesting that firing has > started in Baligootha village and where about of the leaders are not known. > > > > *Hi Nity,** ** ** **These are the numbers of relevant officials who should be called and demanded immediate withdrawal of police force from the area and protection of tens and thousands of people facing brutal atrocities from the state apparatus. It's a pity that it is the same state which is facilitating this - wonder how much this will help. But let's try if we can build the pressure. ** ** ** **Collector, Jajpur: 06728-222001 (O) 06728-222330 (R) 06728-222087 (F)** ** ** **SP, Jajpur - 06726-240112 (O) 06726-240104 (F) 06726-240100 (R)** ** ** ** ** **Chief Minister, Orissa - 0674-2401100 (O), 0674-2590299 (R) 0674-2590833 (F)** ** ** **Solidarity,** ** * * * * **Mamata** ** ** ** ** * * *
