Ground Zero Blogs
Check out the murderous rage on his face! Check out the hand that has bludgeoned many heads! Check out the strained forehead that explain his years committed to bloodshed! |
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Final Two Parts Of The Interview With SP Dantewada, Amresh Mishra on the 4th of Jan regarding the whereabouts of Sodi Sambo. |
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Operation Green Hunt to flush out the Maoist rebels from central India may have begun only last November, but the hapless tribals of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region have been at the receiving end of official hostility for years before that. |
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Ujjwal Kumar Singh, Professor of Political Science, Delhi University and I have just returned (January 1st) from a visit to the police state of Chhattisgarh. |
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Priyanka: I am a journalist and I need to speak to you about Sodi Sambo? Where is she now? Why was she illegal detained last night? |
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News
Interviews
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November 18, 2009
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of Amnesty International USA, I urge you to candidly address human rights concerns in India during your upcoming meeting with the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh and to press him to make substantive improvements. Prime Minister Singh will be the first leader to receive a state visit at the White House after you became the President. While you are honoring him with this state visit, Amnesty International urges you not to forget the plight of women, men and children who are facing numerous human rights abuses in India and to make public statements emphasizing that human rights are central to US-India relations.
Your meeting with Prime Minister Singh in the White House represents an opportunity for you to directly communicate your concerns about human rights in India. While you discuss economic cooperation and civilian nuclear partnership with the Indian Prime Minister, it is vital that you also raise human rights concerns affecting millions of Indian citizens. Amnesty International strongly urges you to include human rights concerns in India in your joint communiqué with the Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh and to address human rights concerns during your joint press conference with Prime Minister Singh.
Even though India is the world's largest democracy, serious and disturbing human rights abuses are ongoing, including rape, extrajudicial executions, deaths in police and military custody, torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, arbitrary arrests, and dowry deaths. The Government of India not only fails to prevent these abuses, but also shelters members of security forces from facing justice. People living in several of the northeastern states of India and in Kashmir, religious minorities, those belonging to the lowest social order called "Dalits", and indigenous communities called "adivasis" face the brunt of these abuses. Other socially and economically marginalized groups including women face discrimination at the hands of the police and criminal justice system. Although laws were passed to address some of these human rights abuses, serious concerns remain about the implementation of such laws.
Some of the specific contexts in which mass abuses were or continue to be committed include:
Mass killing of Sikhs: Over three thousand Sikhs were massacred when the governing Congress Party incited mob violence targeting Sikh civilians in reaction to the 1984 assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. Scores of women were gang raped and some were burnt alive. After two decades, a judicial commission concluded that members of the governing Congress Party were involved. Twenty five years have passed since the massacre, but only a few have been brought to justice for this mass killing.
Mass killing of Muslims: In 2002, over 2,000 Muslims were massacred in Gujarat as a reaction to a train fire that killed 59 Hindus. This train fire was blamed on Muslims. Hindu mobs allegedly incited by state Bharatiya Janata Party members went on a killing spree targeting Muslims. Several hundred Muslim women and girls were gang raped and some were burnt alive. Pregnant women and children were also targeted. After nine years, very few individuals have been brought to justice.
Bhopal tragedy: Several thousand people have died and many more continue to die from a 1984 gas leak at Union Carbide's pesticide plant in Bhopal in 1984. Twenty five years have passed since the leak occurred, but the plant site has not been cleaned up and toxic wastes continue to pollute the environment and ground water. Tens of thousands continue to live with debilitating illnesses. Despite numerous efforts, survivors continue to be denied adequate compensation, medical help, rehabilitation, and justice.
Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958: The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 has remained in effect in "disturbed areas," including Kashmir and large parts of the northeastern states of India for over forty years. This act is a major contributor to mass human rights abuses in these areas of India. This law protects Indian security forces from prosecution by requiring permission to prosecute from India's Central Government--permission which is rarely given. As a result, security forces often take the law into their own hands and commit mass human rights abuses against the civilians. This law has facilitated grave human rights abuses, including "disappearances," rapes, extrajudicial executions, and deaths resulting from torture.
Northeastern States: One of the areas "hidden" from international attention is the region of northeast India. Numerous abuses are taking place in this area, largely facilitated by the above-mentioned Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958. Security forces kill, rape, "disappear" and commit other gross human rights abuses with virtual impunity.
Kashmir: The Indian side of Kashmir is another area where Indian Security forces commit mass human rights abuses with impunity. Once again, the abuses are facilitated by the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 and other similar laws. The civilian population of Kashmir has paid a high price for the conflict. Thousands have disappeared over the years.
Abuses against "Dalits": India's caste system involves a social hierarchy in which individuals are considered to be born into a particular caste in which they remain throughout their lives. Outside these caste categories are the "untouchables," now commonly known as "Dalits", whose occupations -- sweepers, tanners, sanitation workers, etc -- are viewed as "polluting" the community. Nearly 200 million people in India belong to this category. This system has been called India's "hidden apartheid." Abuses against "dalits" are numerous and take many different forms, including: parading of naked Dalit women through the streets, socioeconomic discrimination, killings, arson-burning of Dalit communities, gang rape, bonded labor, denial of land rights, and many more. The police and the criminal justice system also discriminate against Dalits. Though important strides have been made, much remains to be done.
Abuses against Adivasis: The indigenous communities called adivasis face immense pressure from dam and mining development projects and settlements. Adivasis face socioeconomic discrimination as well as discrimination by the police and the criminal justice system.
Mr. President, Amnesty International urges you to secure a meaningful commitment from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to improve India's human rights situation. It is essential that human rights be treated as an important issue like trade and civilian nuclear partnership.
At a minimum, we urge you to press Prime Minister Singh to take the following steps:
§ Chhattisgarh: Ensure protection of civilians in ongoing and proposed military actions against Maoists-Naxalites in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and other states. Stop harassing and arresting human rights defenders. Maoists must also end their violence against civilians.
§ Kashmir/Manipur: End impunity and make armed forces personnel accountable for human rights violations. In particular repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur and other parts of the North Eastern States and Kashmir where imposed. Ensure that any replacement act is in line with international human rights standards.
§ Justice: Bring to justice those involved in the mass killings of Sikhs and Muslims.
§ Bhopal: Ensure establishment of the promised empowered Commission on Bhopal for the rehabilitation of Bhopal Gas victims, with adequate resources and capacity. In conjunction with the companies involved (including US based Dow Chemical), the Government of India should ensure effective measures to address the long-term impacts of the Bhopal gas leak, including proper clean-up and remediation of the factory site, medical care, regular supply of adequate safe water for the affected communities, and economic rehabilitation.
And with regard to India’s foreign policy:
Mr. President, we also urge you to discuss India's International role and to urge India to use its close relationships with Burma and Sri Lanka to:
§ Burma: Urge Prime Minister Singh to engage with the Burmese authorities to end serious and systematic human rights violations and to release over 2,100 political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi.
§ Sri Lanka: Urge Prime Minister Singh to follow up on the promise made by the Sri Lanka Government to India that it would release the IDP's within six months. Six months have passed, but still there are tens of thousands of civilians detained in military run internment camps. Secure access to an estimated 12,000 people (including children) suspected of links to the LTTE who have been detained. They have been denied access to ICRC and legal counsel.
Mr. President, we urge you not to miss this opportunity to speak for those whose rights have been violated in India. They need your help.
Sincerely,
Larry Cox
Executive Director
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Failure to Introduce Land Acquisition Act and National Alliance of People's MovementsAugust 8 2009 ![[]](http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=37fb9640d0&view=att&th=122fa39f21fc3cdf&attid=0.0.1&disp=emb&realattid=0.0.1&zw)
NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS
8th August, 2009 Failure to introduce LAA – R&R Bills is victory of people’s movements Time for UPA to bring back and legislate NAC-approved Draft Development Policy
The conflict in the UPA Govt. over the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, 2007 and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2007 is absolutely justifiable and must only lead to a complete review on the two Draft enactments, if UPA is indeed committed to protecting the livelihood security of the aam aadmi and aurat, beyond the 100 days employment guarantee as also to ensure just and fair rehabilitation of the millions of the displaced.
While Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress have had to take the lead in stalling the hasty process of the two bills coming before the Parliament, in place of the much approved Draft sanctioned by the NAC and discussed by people’s movements, due to their mandate from West Bengal against land acquisition for the corporate and for rehabilitation of the already displaced, the other parties and MPs also must know that in their own constituencies (electoral and social), these are the major issues on which people are agitated and are questioning the powers-that-be. These are also the tests of our commitment to the constitution and democracy that should grant the communities’ right to development planning, including allocation and redistribution of natural resources as well as the value-additive processes, such as agro-industries.
It is however, shocking to know from the alert media as to how UPA made all attempts to privately circulate the Bills to MPs out of public agenda. It is also necessary to know that many of UPA’s and NDA’s own MPs have probably not looked into the specific clauses of the Bills and have not given serious thought of their impact on the farmers, agricultural labourers, fish workers, artisans and other natural resource based communities. All those who would do it will understand the attempt to legitimize the corporate grab of resources going much beyond the British regime by incorporating the private interest into the definition of public interest. The Parliament is also probably unaware of certain recommendations of its own Standing Committee (Rural Development) of the 14th Lok Sabha where the Bills were passed without any debate and discussion, as it was probably conspired during the last day of this session, i.e yesterday, as well.
It is also obvious that the rehabilitation offered in the current Bill is not to all whose lands would be acquired, but with many riders (such as there must be minimum 400 families to be displaced by forcible acquisition etc.) and no alternative land or livelihood guaranteed. A weak rehabilitation with offered extra cash compensation is again to lead to further displacement without livelihood security. The Bill also does not talk about the lakhs already displaced by the ongoing projects and yet to be rehabilitated.
The people’s movements across the country appreciate the intervention by the Trinamool Congress and warn the UPA Govt. against any attempt to subvert the rights and resources of the communities, including the Gram Sabhas and facilitating the corporates’ encroachment upon those.
Even as the UPA’s 100 days ‘revolutionary agenda’ - a statement of tall promises is yet to be fully elaborated to and understood by the common people of this country, this process can certainly be further delayed to accommodate a healthy public debate on such a crucial issue of land acquisition, rehabilitation and displacement. Since land acquisition and land use for various sectors including agriculture and industry is crucial to the planning of natural resources, affecting a large majority of our population let the process not be such as to smell of secrecy and conspiracy against the toiling millions, but fully transparent and consultative.
The UPA Govt. should also not avoid but bring into public domain the Draft National Development Policy approved by the National Advisory Council (NCA) chaired by Sonia Gandhi herself in 2006, which was a better attempt towards resolution of conflict within UPA and across the country. The opportune time is here and now and hence our appeal with a warning to the UPA Govt. to take the right and just steps by declaring a white paper on this issue, calling for regional consultations inviting people’s movements and putting the NAC approved draft before the people and the Parliament. Medha Patkar
| Anand Mazgaonkar
| Suniti S R | P Chennaiah
| D Gabriele | Debjit
| | 09423965153 | Gujarat
| Maharashtra
| A. Pradesh | Tamilnadu | W. Bengal | | Dr. Sunilam | Vimal Bhai | Bhupinder Rawat | Rajendra Ravi | Gautam Bandopadhyay | | | Madhya Pradesh | Uttarakhand | Delhi | Delhi | Chattisgarh | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Medha Patkar Anand Mazgaonkar Suniti S R P Chennaiah D Gabriele Debjit
(09423965153) Gujarat Maharshtra A. Pradesh Tamilnadu W. Bengal
Dr. Sunilam Vimal Bhai Bhupinder Rawat Rajendra Ravi Gautam Bandopadhyay
Madhya Pradesh Uttarakhand Delhi Delhi Chattisgarh
Contact : Madhuresh Kumar 9818905316
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Vimal Bhai : 0989181470 |
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Scrap Land Acquisition Act & Rehabilitation & Resettlement BillsEnact NAC approved People's Development PolicyNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS A Wing First Floor, Haji Habi Building, Naigaon Cross Road Dadar (E), Mumbai-400 014 Ph. No-2415 0529 E-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESS RELEASE More than a thousand people representing people’s movements from over 15 states gathered at Jantar Mantar on the 23rd of July 2009, to protest against the Land Acquisition (Amendment) and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bills in their current form. The gathering consisted of peoples from several organizations resisting failed development policies of the last 60 years that have not consulted people and recognized their right to land, forest and water. Eminent persons such as Kuldip Nayyar, Surendra Mohan, Prof. Amit Bhaduri, Sandeep Pandey, Manoranjan Mohanty, K.B. Saxena, Ramaswami Iyer, and others- strongly supported the people’s demand for inclusive development. Kuldip Nayyar stressed that no land will be given in the present scenario of forced land acquisition, without the guarantee of land- based rehabilitation. "The act should principally consider the rights of the people owning the land", said Ashok Chowdhary of the National Forum for Forest Peoples and Forest Workers. Representatives from peoples movements present included Medha Patkar, Gautam Bandhopadhyay (Chattisgarh), Dr. Sunilam (M.P.), Shaktiman Ghosh (National Hawkers Federation, West Bengal), Rajendran (Kakinada, A.P.) and many others. The demonstration began with a lighting of a symbolic torch by Surendra Mohan- veteran socialist leader- accompanied by vociferous chants against the two bills, which fail to address the long standing concerns of the communities displaced by the large development projects throughout the country. Surendra Mohan insisted that “without people’s consultation, no Rehabilitation and Resettlement policy will be entertained.” The Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill was introduced by the UPA government in the last session of their previous tenure; however, while it was passed in the Lok Sabha, it could not go through a vote in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill clearly endorses the view that ‘private’ purpose, implying corporate and private commercial interests, is synonymous with ‘public’ purpose. The Bill in its current form negates the process of consultation that began with the National Advisory Council (NAC) and people’s movements, where a comprehensive Development Policy was drafted, keeping in mind concerns of the people. During the day three delegations of the participants met with the Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabhas, Ms. Meira Kumar, Shri Kantilal Bhuria, Minister of Tribal Affairs and Minister of Rural Development, Shri C.P. Joshi and the presented our position and demands. The Four Major Demands of Peoples Movements are: - Abolish the Land Acquisition Act of British Legacy - Issue a White paper on Land Acquisition, Displacement and Rehabilitation for the last 60 years. - Shelve the two Bills and hold a national consultation on the NAC approved draft along with the displaced people and the people's organizations. - Institute a Joint Parliamentary Standing Committee for the discussion on the two Acts. Medha Patkar Gautam Bandopadhyay Shaktiman Ghosh NAPM Nadi Ghati Morcha National Hawkers Federation Ashok Chowdhury & Pushpa Bhupendra Rawat Suniti S R NFFPFW Jan Sangharsh Vahini Visthapan Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti |
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