--- dnrad1 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 16:48:53 +0530
> From: dnrad1 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Fw: The Fourth Year of Killer Earth Quake
> in Gujarat-- Past and
> Present -1
> To: mukto-mona <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> The Fourth Year of Killer Earth Quake in Gujarat-
> Past and Present -1
>
>
>
> Friends,
>
>
>
> It is the 4th. year of the Killer earth quake of
> Gujarat. The Govt. of Gujarat is going to float the
> success story of the rehabilitation in the
> earthquake areas of Kutchh in it's campaign for
> vibrant Gujarat.Again.the Govt. of Gujarat's
> overjubiliation was nakedly exhibited just after the
> Tsunami struck the South Indian Coast in last 26th.
> December. Ironically it is going to be the one
> month of Tsunami and fourth year of Killer Earth
> Quake of Gujarat.It was the 1st year of the earth
> quake Gujarat when the residence of Sarvoday Nagar
> of Bhachau of Kutchh district were asked for
> forcefully evicted by the military police. There was
> stiff resistance in spite of brutal police
> atrocities on the women , children, men and the
> activists.Finally the battle was won. Now, the
> residence of Sarvoday Nagar are settled in their
> original place. It was the beginning of the struggle
> against eviction in the name of the Town Planning
> and the first Victory. But four criminal cases are
> pending in different courts on the activists,and
> the residence of the Sarvoday Nagar.
>
> The fact finding report published in the PUCL
> bulletin in 2002 March is reproduced here
>
> From-
>
> Dwarika Nath Rath
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> PUCL Bulletin, March 2002
>
> Gujarat PUCL Report On Bhachau Atrocities
> Police and administration's atrocities on quake
> victims and social activists in Bhachau on january
> 25, 2002
>
> - -- Kirit Bhatt, People's Union for Civil
> Liberties, Gujarat Unit,
> 7 February 2002
>
>
> Following reports that police and state
> administration in Bhachau town in Kutchh have let
> loose a reign of terror on uprooted poor people
> affected by killer quake, demolished their nearly
> re-improvised huts, lathi-charged them ruthlessly
> and arrested the seven social activists on 25th
> January, 2002. People's Union for Civil Liberties
> (PUCL) Gujarat sent a fact-finding team to find out
> what happened.
> Kirit Bhatt and Bina Srinivasan of Vadodara visited
> Bhachau on January 27th & 28th 2002.
>
> Police atrocities were perpetrated on quake
> survivors and social activists of SUCI (Socialist
> Unity Centre of India) and Lok Adhikar Manch (LAM)
> in Kutchh.
> SUCI, LAM and eminent NGO's camping in Kutchh since
> quake tragedy rocked the district. SUCI is operating
> from Bhachau and LAM is based in Bhachau, Rapar and
> Anjar. They have been active in rehabilitation in
> these areas and are actively raising issues
> concerning government apathy towards the suffering
> Kutchhis to be rehabilitated, inviting utter
> displeasure of the authority.
>
> PUCL team tried to find out reasons for police
> excesses; who were the victims of this and if there
> was violation of democratic, fundamental and civil
> rights of the victims and background of its
> provocation.
>
> Team contacted concerned people for a first hand
> account in Bhachau and Rajensar. They met activists
> of SUCI - namely Tapan Dasgupta, Bharti Parmar and
> Ranita Nagar; activists of LAM Mayuddin Sheikh and
> Purshottam Parmar. Police officers on the authority
> side, SDPO Kirit Brahmbhatt, PSI K.V. Jhala, etc.
>
> The residents of Dungarpura settlement (now renamed
> Sarvodaya Nagar) of Bhachau had been the target of
> the alleged demolition by the Mamlatdar and the
> police.
> Name of activists who were arrested: Lok Adhikar
> Manch activists - 1. Mr. Prasad M. Chacko, 2. Mr.
> Mayuddin Sheikh, 3. Mr. Purshottam Parmar, 4. Mr.
> Gautam Desai. SUCI activists -- 5. Ms. Ranita Nagar,
> 6. Ms. Bharti Parmar, 7. Mr. Tapan Dasgupta.
> The charges clamped on the activists of Lok Adhikar
> Manch and SUCI include Sections 341, 342, 332,
> 506/2, 143, 149 of the Indian Penal Code.
>
> Given below are the testimonies of the people we
> spoke to.
> 1. Meeting with women of Dungarpura settlement in
> Bhachau, which was the target of demolition on 25th
> January. This settlement comprises 200 Dalit
> households. The communities affected by the police
> action are mainly Kolis, Harijans, Khawas, and
> Dalits. They are most marginalized communities in
> Kutchh: "We came from Morbi about 20 years back when
> the Macchu dam burst. This place was unhabitable. We
> worked on it and made it livable. Now, the
> government tells us that they want the land and they
> want to oust us from here. We had gone out for a
> rally, leaving the children behind. In our absence
> they came and began demolishing our houses. All our
> houses wee destroyed in the earthquake and we had
> set up makeshift houses. We rushed back to the
> settlement. The police surrounded us immediately.
> They told us that their superiors had ordered the
> demolition and that they had orders to shoot if the
> people resisted. Activists of SUCI were with us, and
> the police surrounded them. We asked the Mamlatdar
> to give us written assurance but while the
> discussions were going on, the police suddenly began
> the lathi-charge. The administration has not allowed
> any NGOs to give us any relief or do any
> rehabilitation work here. We have been living in
> tents for one year. There has been discrimination in
> relief distribution. We don't want to leave this
> place; we have made this place habitable. We have
> proof of residence like ration cards, voter's
> identity, and electricity bills. But the police did
> not listen. They even beat up a one-year-old child.
> The police broke open locks of Ramilaben Khawas's
> residence that morning. They were not at home. The
> police entered and broke locks, let the cattle
> loose, destroyed our roof. The police say that they
> want to construct a hospital here. This is a
> violation of our right to live. Ten women were
> severely injured in the lathi charge."
>
> We met the following women of Dungarpura settlement
> who sustained injuries on their hips, wombs, waist
> legs, thighs and head.
>
> Mamuben Suva, Age: 60 years; Panchiben Bhurabhai
> Koli, Age: 40 years; Induben Kheman, Age 50 years;
> Jamuben Valjibhai, Age: not clear; Manjuben, Age: 1
> year; Dhamiben Babubhai, Age: not clear; Shantiben
> Babubhai, Age: not clear; Ratanben Bhagwanbhai, Age:
> 45 years; Binaben Arvindbhai, Age: not clear;
> Parvatiben, Age: not clear.
>
> 2. Ranita Nagar of SUCI, arrested on 25th January
> 2002:
> "On 21st January we had given a memorandum to the
> Collector on various aspects of rehabilitation. A
> delegation had gone to meet him. He said he would
> look into the matter. On the 25th January, the
> police swooped down on the Dungarpura area of
> Bhachau where 200 Dalit households live. According
> to the authorities they had encroached on this land
> and were living here illegally. On 25th morning
> people were mostly out as they had gone for
> mobilizing other residents for the SUCI bundh call
> of 26th January 2002. The bundh was in protest
> against shoddy rehabilitation. Police swooped down
> on the Dungarpura area and began demolishing
> settlements; they began to cut the electricity
> supply, throwing utensils and let the cattle loose.
> On hearing abut this people of the area rushed back
> to their settlements and began to protest. They
> asked the police to give them a proper notice. The
> Mamlatdar said, come and meet me. The people got
> together on the road, which is right next to their
> settlement and gathered together spontaneously.
>
> They squatted there and demanded a proper written
> assurance from the Mamlatdar, who proceeded to give
> a written assurance on a scrap of paper without any
> stamp or signature. The people rejected this note
> and said that they wanted a valid written document
> with his stamp and signature. This went on for a
> couple of hours. Soon after this the police began a
> lathi-charge without any warning to disperse the
> crowd. 100 male constables were present there with
> the SDPO Brahmbhatt. They began to single out the
> activists and beat them up mercilessly with rifle
> butts and lathis. Then the activists were rounded up
> and arrested. We asked to speak to our lawyer; we
> were not allowed to do so. The SDPO told me: 'you
> are a woman, stay within your limits, or I know how
> to deal with women.' Male activists were dragged by
> the hair and beaten up at the police station. Gautam
> Desai, an NRI who was video shooting the incident
> was also beaten up. His camera was confiscated and
> the tape removed from the camera. He was also beaten
> up badly by about 5-6 constables. When we asked for
> a medical check-up, they refused to let us go for
> it. We were arrested at 2 pm, and were allowed to go
> for a medical check-up only at 6 pm. At 6.45 pm,
> because we had contacted people in Ahmedabad and
> Baroda, they decided to release us on bail. We were
> taken to the Magistrate in Bhachau. The male
> activists were taken to Anjar. When the local
> residents came to give 'jamin' for bailing us out,
> they tried to dissuade and threaten them against it.
> The women activists were released about 10 pm and
> the male colleagues at but 1.30 am in the wee hours
> of 26th January 2002. Mr. Dwarikanath Rath of SUCI
> was lifted from office, brought to police station.
> He was snubbed, abused and illegally detained for 4
> hours, documents were seized from our SUCI office
> and our vehicle was also seized." He was forced to
> sign arrest papers of seven activists as witness.
>
> 3. Mayuddin Sheikh and Purshottam Parmar of Lok
> Adhikar Manch: arrested on 25th January 2002:
> "The Lok Adhikar Manch had organized Dharna in
> Bhachau since the 20th January to mark one year of
> the earthquake. 71 villages of Kutchh were
> participating in this Dharna, which was held to
> protest against shoddy rehabilitation undertaken by
> the government. Many widowed women have either not
> received compensation or have received cheques for
> paltry sums like Rs. 500. Some have received only
> Rs. 70 as compensation. How can anybody reconstruct
> houses with this kind of money? There is also a lot
> of discrimination in rehabilitation. So we had this
> Dharna. On the 25th morning we sat as usual in the
> Dharna mandap. We were talking to the people. In the
> meantime, SUCI did a spontaneous Rasta Roko. We also
> went to see what was happening. The atmosphere
> became tense. SUCI activists were demanding written
> assurance from the mamlatdar. Before the lathi
> charge began the police said something on the
> loudspeaker, may be they were warning the people of
> the lathi-charge. Little was audible in the din and
> noise. After that they attacked our mandap, tore it
> apart without any warning and beat up people at the
> Lok Adhikar Manch Dharna. They did not spare even
> those who were on fast in protest against bad
> rehabilitation. We were beaten up and dragged upto
> some distance. They thought we were leaders. The Lok
> Adhikar Manch has no leaders. Prasad Chacko who had
> also gone to the Rasta Roko to see what was
> happening, was also beaten up and arrested. They
> tore papers and threw it all over the place. This is
> a violation of our democratic right to protest. PSI
> G.H. Vasavda said, 'you can go anywhere to protest,
> there is no machinery in the world that can touch
> the police.' The police then took position to fire.
> We were very badly treated. They abused us using
> filthy language and dragged us to the police
> station. Once in the campus also we were beaten up
> badly. Gautam Desai, who is an NRI and was filming
> the events was surrounded by 15 policemen and was
> being thrashed by them. We were treated like
> criminals. The police told us that we were
> outsiders. They were threatening us as though they
> would kill us. We were allowed to go for medical
> check up only at about 6 pm, that too after we
> demanded it. We were arrested at 2.15 pm. The SUCI
> women activists were first given bail. They took us
> to Anjar (Tapan Dasgupta, Gautam Desai, Prasad
> Chacko, Mayuddin Sheikh, Purshottam Parmar and
> Khetabhai) and we were produced before the
> Magistrate after about 12 midnight."
>
> 4. Khetabhai is a tailor who lives in Bhachau and
> owns a shop in Gandhidham. He was an eyewitness to
> the lathi-charge. He lost nine members of his
> family:
> "A bundh call given by SUCI and Bhachau Lok Samiti.
> Mamlatdar, Talati, Police gathered on the road near
> the Vagad Welfare Society. People had set up
> makeshift tents. They began to demolish makeshift
> arrangements. They let the cattle go, people ran
> helter-skelter, they came to complain to the
> Mamlatdar's office. The police stopped the people
> and they began to beat up the people. About 4-5
> people sustained injuries. There was a spontaneous
> Rasta Roko by people. The Mamlatdar came and told
> the people to go. Then the police started the
> lathi-charge. The Mamlatdar was present. The demands
> of the people were that they should be given proper
> alternative arrangements before demolishing their
> houses and shifting them. These people have been
> living here for the last 20 years. No prior notice
> was given to the people. Women were beated up by the
> PI. There were two women constables for a group of
> over 200 women. PI G.H. Vasavda, PSI Bhatia, SDPO
> Kirit Brahmbhatt were also present."
>
> 5. Meeting with Police Inspector K.V. Jhala:
> "One private company from Mumbai wants to construct
> a civil hospital here. I don't know exactly which
> company. The size of the settlement behind the
> Customs office has increased tremendously since the
> quake. So the Mamlatdar had gone there with police
> bandobast. The SUCI people are instigating people by
> asking them to make demands to the government for
> compensation. When the Mamlatdar had gone there, the
> SUCI activists threatened him and said that they
> would take his life. They obstructed the government
> officials and the police from doing their duty. The
> Mamlatdar says that the people of the settlement had
> been given notices, but we don't know about that. So
> that morning 200 people gathered and did a Rasta
> Roko, they put stones on the road to block traffic.
> We tried to explain to the people but they did not
> understand. So the Mamlatdar ordered a lathi-charge.
> We gave them a warning on the loudspeaker but they
> resorted to stone throwing in which 8 policemen were
> injured. There were 2 women constables. What can we
> do? We have only 2 women constables. If children
> were injured in the chaos, what can the police do?
> The people then ran away. We did not beat up the
> activists after they had been arrested. They were
> taken to the magistrate and the medical officer too.
> They got bail on 25th evening itself."
>
> According to the FIR filed by the police those
> injured in the stone throwing were:
> 1.S.D. Jadeja, Civil Inspector, M.B. Ozat,
> Mamlatdar, Jhala, Chief Officer, G.P. Jadeja, PSI,
> Hirjibhai, Constable, Rajendra Singh, Constable,
> Bhupatbhai, Constable, Premjibhai, Constable,
> Navabhai, Constable, Devendra Singh, Constable.
> Later Kundanlal Dholakia, Mridulbhai Dholakia, Adv.
> Ratnakar Dholakia, Kamakshi Gandhi visited wounded
> slums dwellers to offer sympathy and solidarity.
> They were shocked by the inhuman violence by the
> authority.
>
> Jayantibhai Thakkar of Bhachao said he had offered
> his old Fiat Car to help SUCI volunteers. The Police
> went to the car and practically tore the tyres of
> his cars to pieces with sharp weapons. (Car No. GBZ
> 8911). It was parked 300 ft away from the scene of
> Dharna. Mr. Thakkar was away at that time.
>
> Bharatiben Parmar of SUCI was physically manhandled
> by male police who pulled her hairs, beat her up and
> abused her after her arrest even in the police
> custody. She said, "We were all stunned by such
> police action. They threatened us to leave Bhachao
> because" 'you are instigating the people to go to
> authority for compensation'. "Even as our Dharna
> went on other activists like Prasad Chako,
> Purushottam Parmar and Mohuddin Shekh of Lok Adhikar
> Manch who were holding protest Dharna against
> non-action by Rehabilitation authority came to
> inquire. They were also arrested and beaten even in
> Police custody. Our car, Microphone, Chair etc. were
> confiscated. Police hit old men, women and even
> one-year-old female child. There was only one female
> police Kailasben to be seen. Squatting Rasta Roko
> was followed by Bhachao Lok Samiti and SUCI. One
> women beaten on her thigh is a cousin sister of
> State Minister Fakirbhai Waghela. Tapan Dasgupta was
> hit on head, back chest and thigh etc. We saw Prasad
> Chako of Lok Adhikar Manch being beaten inside
> custody. 'Aa Saalako Maro-Hit this scoundrel' - they
> shouted."
>
> Goutam Desai - one NRI who came to Bhachao that day
> to document the post - quake scene, was arrested
> beaten and his camera was snatched away. "Amne Garam
> Karo - Amne Garmi Joie Heat them up - they need it".
>
>
> Harijan Deva Wala of Dungarpura - Sarvodaya Nagar
> Slums said, "I sell vegetables, my hut was razed
> down, my wife and one year old daughter was beaten
> by police. 'This is not your place, get away from
> here. A hospital is to come up here, the mamlatdar
> warned us'. We wanted to start fast Satyagraha, we
> were not allowed and were beaten up, not allowed to
> go for even treatment. They came to demolish when we
> were busy in the rally. While on Dharna the police
> threatened to arrest us if we raised protest. We are
> still under fear and uncertainty of demolition. We
> are here since Morbi Dam Disaster. But they accuse
> we have come after quake".
>
> Kanjibbhai Naran, Mandanbhai Samat, Babu Ribha Koli,
> Navin Bachubhai Rajgor, Jamuben Valjibhai, Kesarben,
> etc., gave details of their beating injuries, in
> back and womb by Rifle butts. PSI Vasawada was very
> ruthless, they said.
> Kuvarben, Meghbhai Koli, Malsibhai Harijan, Babu
> Dibha Koli, Laljibhai Rajput, Momaya Khawas (Driver)
> Lal Bahadur Gorkha, Bhagat Bahadur Gorkha complained
> of beating. They said authority demanded bribe and
> some of them were paid paltry sum of Rs. 500 and Rs.
> 70 for rebuilding their houses. Mamlatdar's men
> allegedly demanded money to clear their files at the
> bank.
>
> Telephonic conversation with SDPO Kirit Brahmbhatt
> Sub divisional police officer Kirit Brahmbhatt was
> ignorant of the difference between Lok Adhikar Manch
> Bhachao Lok Samiti and SUCI. He thought everything
> was done only by SUCI. He said, "Bengalis have come
> here to spoil Gujarat. They instigate the people
> against authority. Local social bodies like trade
> association, rotary, Jaycees, Lions, Rotaract etc
> have demanded the ouster of 'outsiders'. Collector
> and Mamlatdar insisted that they should be removed.
> But I said this is democracy and I cannot prevent
> their stir from a private land. I told collector to
> issue ban (Jahernamu), which he was not ready to do.
> CM was in Bhuj that day and we wanted Bhachao to
> remain peaceful. Plan was to call CM Narendra Modi
> to lay Hospital Foundation. These people have
> settled in Dungurpura slumps after the quake, their
> proofs like water, power, and tax bills is a hoax -
> and forgery.
>
> They were sitting on roads from 10.30 am. I had not
> lathicharged them till 1.30 p.m. I arrested the
> agitating activists only after I announced on mike.
> They came with a preplan to create trouble. They
> were talking on mobile phones and were taking
> pictures of Dharna and police action. Even after
> traffic jam I pleaded with two women activists to
> clear the road but they were adamant. Mamlatdar's
> written assurance did not satisfy them . High Court
> Justice Bhatt was to pass. But the agitators were
> obstinate. The VIP car was diverted. When they did
> not budge even after two hours, I could sense their
> motive and decided to lathicharge them. Condition in
> Kutchh is bad. I do not have enough lathis for
> action. After violence takes place leaders escape
> and poor people only suffer. Therefore I had to
> arrest them. They abused police and threatened to
> kill. I took action only after our men were injured
> in stoning."
>
> Behavioral Science Centre (BSC) Director Prasad
> Chako, who was on Dharna protest said all the like
> minded NGO's had a daylong fast protest at Gandhi
> Ashram in Ahmedabad next day to show solidarity with
> friends working in Kutchh, hit by police. He in a
> statement strongly condemned the behaviour of Kutchh
> Collector HN Chhibbar whose ruthlessness towards the
> activists of SUCI and LA Manch was a clear
> indication of realization that state had failed in
> providing relief to quake victims. People are
> frustrated. Anger of the people in most effective
> bundh of Kutchh on Jan. 26, 2002 was the testimony
> against widespread corruption in administration, and
> its failure in rehabilitation. The study undertaken
> by BSC, ISI, New Delhi, INSAF and Vikas Adhyayan
> Kendra revealed that self-admiring claims at the
> state were hollow. Prasad in his statement further
> stated that SDPO Kirit Brahmbhatt beat up arrested
> activists in Police custody, abused them
> photographed them like criminals, charged them of
> rioting, breach of peace and attempt to murder. This
> was a clear intimidation, violation of human rights
> and democratic right to protest. Autocratic
> Collector Chhibbar must be punished and immediately
> removed from office, he demands on behalf of LA
> Manch Bhachao Lok Samiti. Baluben Karsenbhai Chauhan
> of Bhachao had a fracture on her hip and was in Bhuj
> Hospital. Police was not inclined to let her go for
> treatment. 55 year old Baluben is a poor woman
> living on her earning twenty rupees a day. She said
> with tears in her eyes the way women were beaten and
> insulted. She described today's Kutch where no
> grievance is heard as a deserted crematorium.
>
> CONCLUSIONS:
> We had gone to Bhachau to investigate into alleged
> police action against quake-affected survivors. In
> Bhachau we discovered that there were several areas
> of serious concern and this included the
> non-performance of the state with regard to
> rehabilitation against which all of Kutchh are
> protesting.
>
> In conclusion, we wish to state that:
>
> 1. The attempted demolition of the Dungarpura
> settlement was a questionable act as no prior notice
> was served on the people. To inflict a demolition on
> people whose lives have been completely disrupted by
> the earthquake is a serious violation of all
> principles of social justice, fairness, humanity and
> an infringement of the democratic right of the
> people of Dungarpura settlement. The fact that Kolis
> and Dalits constitute the most vulnerable
> communities in Kutchh only compounds the seriousness
> of these human rights violations. We saw no reason
> to disbelieve the women and men of this settlement
> when they said that they had worked night and day to
> make the place habitable twenty years back. Their
> demand that they be given proper alternative
> arrangements, before they are shifted, is
> legitimate.
>
> 2. We also believe that it is inhuman to
> demolish any settlement in quake ravaged Kutchh, and
> therefore we think that there should be a complete
> ban on evictions and demolitions until the state is
> able to provide adequate rehabilitation to each and
> every household in Kutchh. If the state has a valid
> reason to relocate residents of any area
> consultative processes should be initiated. These
> consultations should include women and men living in
> the are and NGOs with a proven record of
> rehabilitation enjoying the support of the local
> people.
>
> 3. To ensure protection against similar
> actions by the administration the people of
> Dungarpura area should be given a legally valid
> assurance that there will be no repetition of such
> arbitrary demolition in future. Those who have
> suffered losses in the demolition should be
> compensated.
>
> 4. On examining the injuries suffered by the
> women of Dungarpura we have enough reason to
> conclude that the lathi-charge by the police was
> basically meant to spread terror amongst the people
> and to prevent them from fighting for their basic
> and fundamental rights i.e., their rights to life
> and livelihood. Further, children could not have
> possibly posed any threat to the administration. The
> explanation that nothing could be done about the
> injuries to the children is not valid. Even if the
> police did issue a warning before the lathi-charge
> we conclude that this action was initiated in
> complete disregard for the democratic rights of the
> people. The fact that only 2 women constables, as
> admitted by the PI, were available on the spot to
> restrain a crowd of 200 women is indeed a gross
> violation of the law, which prohibits male policemen
> from physically handling women. We therefore
> conclude that it is necessary to conduct a thorough
> investigation into the entire incident. We demand
> that an inquiry commission headed by a retired judge
> be appointed to go into this incident and other
> issues concerning rehabilitation. To unleash terror
> and atrocity on uprooted people, instead of
> rehabilitating is a shame no democratic government
> can tolerate.
>
> 5. The Activists allege that they were beaten
> up even under police custody. If this is the case it
> constitutes yet another serious human rights
> violation. The police unfortunately does not have an
> unblemished track record in this context and we
> believe that given the powers that they have, the
> police often oversteps boundaries. The police has to
> follow due procedures and cannot go beyond the law.
> Such behaviour is tantamount to abuse of power. The
> inquiry commission needs to go into these
> allegations of violence in police custody.
>
> 6. The accusation that these activists are
> outsiders and therefore need to be restrained, is
> outright discriminatory and violative of their
> fundamental rights as citizens of India. The
> constitution grants every Indian citizen the right
> to reside and work in any part of the country. The
> 'outsider' argument is very dangerous and can have
> serious repercussions on all such democratic rights.
> According to PI Jhala, the activists are
> 'instigating the people to demand compensation from
> the government.' We believe it is the right of each
> and every quake survivor to demand this
> compensation.
>
> 7. The state has been busy issuing all kinds
> of appeals and advertisements to the people of the
> country and otherwise to donate in cash or kind
> towards relief and rehabilitation efforts in the
> quake affected regions in the name of rebuilding
> Gujarat. It has also welcomed NGOs and the corporate
> sector to take up villages for reconstruction and
> adoption. Indeed in the days immediately after the
> quake, the state was more than willing to let NGOs
> take the lead as the administration was unable to
> get its act together even as late as six months
> after the quake.
> Now, when NGOs are making people aware of their
> rights to compensation they are being targeted as
> 'outsiders'. It is regrettable that the state has
> been so myopic in its approach to rehabilitation;
> this in turn has led to and will lead to further
> erosion of democratic rights of the quake survivors
> and of those working for rehabilitation. It is the
> state's responsibility to provide social security to
> those who have been affected by the quake. In
> pointing fingers at NGOs/activists and conspiring to
> remove them from Kutchh, the administration is
> abdicating its own responsibilities in addition to
> committing grave human rights violations.
>
> 8. The main issue in Kutchh today revolves
> around rehabilitation. This we believe is crucial if
> the people of Kutchh have to be equipped to rebuild
> their lives. The anger and disgust of the people of
> Kutchh is evident from the large-scale protests that
> have followed ever since the earthquake. As 26th
> January 2002 marked the first anniversary these
> protests represented the complete lack of faith of
> the common citizen in the government machinery.
> Everywhere we went we were presented with
> allegations of corruption and discrimination in the
> rehabilitation process. A disaster of these
> dimensions, the scale of destruction, the complete
> disruption of the lives of tens of thousands of
> people and the widespread media attention that
> followed in the wake of the earthquake seems to have
> failed to move the government machinery. These are
> very serious allegations and as they have impact on
> the lives of thousands of people, we believe that
> the government should immediately undertake an
> evaluation of the relief and rehabilitation process.
> Following this it is imperative that the government
> clean up its act and move as fast as it can, the
> very future is at stake in Kutchh. Failure on the
> part of the state to act on the complaints of the
> people has and will continue to jeopardize the lives
> and livelihoods of the people of Kutchh. That will
> be the most serious infringement of human rights of
> the people of Kutchh as it violates all principles
> of social justice.
>
> SUMMARY
> It was 10.00 am on January 25, 2002 Friday morning
> in Bhachau's Sarvodaynagar slums on a roadside ridge
> in the town. All the men and women were out on a
> hunt for day's wages, when the children and aged
> persons were trying to warm up to resist the biting
> chilly winds. A team led by the mamlatdar, Talati
> along with other revenue bandwagon arrived on the
> scene accompanied by security guards and men to
> demolish the nearly scantily rebuilt huts. They
> shouted at those inside to 'get out', fling away
> their scanty households and launch demotion
> 'venture'. This place is opposite Vagad Welfare
> Hospital. Some cattle anchored are let loose by
> them. Within minutes two-three of the huts are
> razed. Not only the present ones, even those on job
> are called back from the town and cry of protest
> against the high handedness rose on the peak. They
> called those social workers of SUCI to aid Bharti
> Parmar, Ranita Nagar, Tapan Dasgupta and others who
> were canvassing support from citizens for bundh on
> 26th next day to observe quake anniversary to
> project blatant non-performance of the state
> machinery to rehabilitate those knocked down by the
> killer quake on 26th January last year. Seeing the
> temper of the angry protest, the officials quit the
> site giving threats they would come later as the
> land was donated by a person to Government to set up
> a hospital there. All about 350 to 500 people,
> men-women, children and the aged go to local Revenue
> officials to lodge their protest. Police at a point
> detained them where three roads meet.
>
> They asked to sit on the road. Police goes to call
> revenue officials when traffic Jam takes place
> naturally. This turns out an undeclared Rasta Roko.
> Revenue officer came and on pressure from the crowd
> gives them written assurance on plain paper that no
> decision will be taken without prior negotiation
> with slum dwellers. But the crowd insists on
> letterhead and stamp. SUCI workers Tapan, Bharti and
> Ranita lead their stir. They press for alternative
> settlement and plead that they have sanad,
> water-power bills, ration cards, voters identity
> card etc. They cannot be ousted without prior notice
> and procedure. The local authority in collusion with
> police are averse to SUCI volunteers as they are eye
> sore for the allegedly corrupt administration, who
> are reportedly bent upon making a quick buck out of
> calamity. Agitators are unruffled by administrator's
> nonchalant attitude and keep pressing their demands.
> Impatient police led by Sub Divisional Police
> officer Kirit Brahmbhatt, PI G.H. Vasavda, come down
> heavily on the satyagrahis with unabashed lath
> charge. Among them were PSI G.P. Jhala, Constables
> Virjibhai, Rajendrasingh, Bhupatbhai, Premjibhai,
> Naranbhai, etc. Around 1.00 pm police mercilessly
> launched lath charge on them. Old men, women and
> even children on the lap were not spared. At this
> hour some other social activists who were holding
> parallel protest Dharna in the town against
> non-action of the state for rehabilitation of
> Bhachau residents ravaged and uprooted by the Killer
> earthquake on 26th January 2001, also came on the
> scene to protest against inhuman behaviour of the
> police.
>
> They were also beaten up and arrested by the police
> along with volunteers of SUCI. Among those social
> workers that were punched and arrested were Tapan
> Dasgupta, Bharti Parmar, Ranita Nagar of SUCI and
> Mr. Prasad Chako, Gautam Desai, Mayuddin Sheikh and
> Purshottam Parmar of Action Aid and LAM. They were
> ruthlessly beaten and abused in filthiest language.
> They were humiliated even after they were arrested
> on charge of 'Rioting and attempt to murder police'
> beside charge of 'attempt to murder policemen and
> other men of administration.' The police seized the
> video and still cameras, microphone, table, chair
> papers etc. They were released on bail by Bhuj
> magistrate in the wee hours of 26th January, next
> day. The slum women children and aged persons of
> Sarvodaynagar slums complained that they had
> sustained severe body injuries. Women were hit on
> their private parts with Rifle-butts, they alleged.
> SUCI Volunteers from Baroda and Ahmedabad have been
> camping in Bhachau for last one year for quake
> relief. They have built a municipal school and
> raised a Library called Shyamji Krishna
> Verma-Bhagatsingh-Meghani library. They are working
> overtime to help the uprooted people to get the
> relief and restoration by the state. As reports are
> all over the Kutchh, no relief is accorded without
> corruption. The destabilized people have to part
> away with some amount for the officers of the state
> machinery. This has become a universal practice.
> Because of this practice SUCI workers often come in
> conflict with authority at different level including
> District Collectorate. Now the latest move by
> revenue official is to mobilize support against SUCI
> workers. Already some business organizations, Lions,
> Rotary Rotaracts, Jaycs, Leos, etc., have written
> letters to authorities alleging that some
> Non-Gujaratis of SUCI have come to Bhachau, who are
> instigating the poor quake affected people of the
> town against state and interfering with peaceful
> relief work. On getting reports of Police atrocities
> and undemocratic, inhuman behaviour of Police and
> district authorities about 20 NGOs of the state held
> protest Dharna on 26th January 2002 at the entry
> pavement of Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.
>
>
> PUCL Team of Kirit Bhatt and Bina Srinivasan visited
> Bhachau and had first hand account of the happenings
> on 27th January, Sunday.
>
>
> They demand:
>
> ·1 An independent inquiry by a retired judge
> of Supreme Court on the wide spread corruption in
> Kutchh Earthquake relief work. The other affected
> areas should be included.
>
> ·2 People of Bhachau should be included in
> Inquiry. Task force should go to interiors and find
> how only Rs. 520/- or Rs. 190/- were paid by cheque
> to those uprooted by the earthquake.
>
> ·3 Those who have taken bribe must be
> suspended pending inquiry. Helpless people who
> bribed must get safety corner till proved, to
> encourage them to come out openly.
>
> ·4 In many cases 'big' money is parted to
> favour wrong claimants. They must be exposed and
> booked.
>
> ·5 At any cost strains constraints and
> hardship of quake-affected people must be resolved.
>
> ·6 Responsibility for Police excesses must be
> investigated and action should be taken to book
> those responsible for illegal, undemocratic and
> uncivilized behaviour.
>
> ·7 All the slum dwellers should be
> compensated for the injuries. Their demolished huts
> should be immediately restored.
> " The District Collector is heard saying that he is
> trying to book SUCI and other NGO workers under
> PASA. He must be immediately transferred. This
> highhanded ways must be inquired into and action be
> taken.
>
> ·8 Former State Speaker, 90-year-old grand
> old man of Kutchh must be given the vital place in
> inquiry with his active social workers team of
> relief work.
> " All vehicles, articles and other things seized
> from NGOs volunteer must be restored without delay.
>
> ·9 Behaviour in Police custody must be
> investigated.
>
> ·10 No threats of eviction must be allowed by
> anyone to anybody affected in quake-region as
> authority has totally failed to handle relief work.
>
>
> This is evident from the bundh observed in Kutchh on
> 26th January by the quake-ravaged people who are
> still high and dry
>
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