Call for Solidarity - Narmada Valley
Niruj - 10.08.2006 23:22
The Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save Narmada Movement) in India asks for intrnational solidarity and action to support them in the ongoing Satyagraha. With the government and courts refusing to halt the construction of the Narmada dam, without bothering about the 40000 families whose houses are being submerged by the rising water and who have not been rehabilitated at all, the affected and NBA has launched a Satyagraha, a peaceful sit-in in the submergence areas.
Recent press releases -  http://www.narmada.org
Personal account of ongoing Satyagraha (in Dutch) - http://ovl.indymedia.org/news/2006/08/12042.php
Pictures of Satyagraha - http://strw.leidenuniv.nl/~mohan/narmada
Earlier solidarity action in Den Haag - https://ssl.direkte-aktie.net/cms/groenfront.php?itemid=416
Further info, contacts -  r_nirujmohan@yahoo.fr
The appeal by the Narmada Bachao Andolan follows :
35 000 families in India to be threatened by submergence! Today on august 5th the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) will start a Sathyagraha which will be inaugurated with a massive rally of thousands of women, men and youth in Badwani (Madhya Pradesh). A Satyagraha with the determination to challenge the State which is forcibly occupying people’s life support, destitutionalising not just farmers but labourers, fishworkers, boatsmen to small traders. Narmada Satyagraha is a cry to halt unjust displacement and forcible eviction, which has become the most brutal truth during the last decade. With this Satyagraha we would like to invite all those victimised and sensitive citizens to join our struggle in this beautiful valley. This is as well A CALL FOR SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT ACTIONS ALLOVER THE WORLD. Unite the struggle against threats to natural resources and people’s life in the name of development! Save the Narmada! Save human kind, democracy and freedom!
The Narmada valley beckons you again -
NO MORE DESTRUCTION
Satyagraha in the valley from 5th August -
Rajghat (Dist.Badwani, Nimaad, Madhya Pradesh)
Bhitada (Dist.Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh)
Chimalkhedi (Dist Nandurbar, Maharashtra)
Dear Friends,
Despite the betrayal by almost all the arms of the State, the farmers,
Adivasis, labourers, workers in the Narmada valley, are still
determined to face the challenge posed by the Government.
Even after the historic 20 day fast by Medha Patkar, Bhagwatibehen and
Jamsinghbhai in March-April, 2006, the Central government of India had
agreed to allow the increase in the height of the dam, despite the
violation of every letter and spirit of law, Tribunal order and
judgements of the Supreme Court. It thus decided to sacrifice the
lives, lands and rights of over 35,000 families for the sake of illegal
increase in the height of the dam upto 122 meters.
The Shunglu committee appointed by the PM, to 'complete the
rehabilitation' of over 35,000 families in the Narmada valley, before
monsoon of 2006, could however come up with a weak, distorted and
totally unprofessional report on the status of the displacement and
resettlement in the valley - that too only in the Madhya Pradesh
state. Its terms of reference were basically flawed, its modus
operendi was biased and halfhazard and it had surveyed only some
villages and some families, arrogantly brushing aside the reality of
the resettlement the villagers themselves were pointing out. It has
taken as a starting point the Action Taken Report (ATR) by the
Madhya Pradesh government - against which the NBA had gone to the
court, and which had violated the basic stipulations of the Tribunal
order and Supreme Court rulings!! The ATR had violated the basic
principle of resettlement of land for land and was filled up by
giving ex-parte cash compensation to thousands of families.
Instead of questioning this serious breach of law and rights of
people, the PM's committee took this as the basis of its survey - This
is the way the Prime Minister's office works in India. How can the
rights of the people be secure in such a situation when the protectors
are themselves killers?
But, even the Supreme Court has connived in this crime against the
law, against the Constitution of India and against every percept of
Human rights. The Indian Supreme Court, for last many years, has
become a suppressing mechanism of the rights of workers, Dalits,
workers, Adivasis while facilitating the interests of the corporate
powers like Ambanis. In Narmada case also, the Supreme Court has
turned against its own rulings that the height of the dam cannot be
increased till all the oustees below that height are resettled with
land
for land.
Now, the Court allowed the illegal construction of the dam beyond
110.64 meters unfettered, by playing delaying tactics. The Court has
not only betrayed the people but also the Constitution.
However, now the people have decided to protect the democracy,
Constitution and people's rights and their sovereignty - the raisin
d'etre of Indian sate, born out of the values of our freedom struggle.
The people in the Narmada valley would waiting for the submergence in
three places; they are awaiting what the Central government or Supreme
Court can do. Beyond all that, they are determined not to leave their
land, villages and beautiful, bountiful Narmada Valley.
There fore,
We are starting the indefinite Satyagraha at three places : Rajghat (
on Aug 5, near
Badwani), Bhitada (in Alirajpur tehsil, tribal village in M.P. on 6
August) and at Chimalkhedi (Maharasthra, on Aug 7).
On 5th the Satyagraha will start with a massive rally in Badwani.
Come to the Narmada valley. You would see the valley, its beauty and
horrible nature of impending submergence and the people's
determination...
You have been with the people in the Narmada valley - and this time
too you will be with us !
In Solidarity,
Medha Patkar
and colleagues
Contact : Narmada Bachao Andolan, M.Gandhi Marg, Badwani (Madhya
Pradesh)
Phone & Fax No. : 07290-222464
9425479254 (Ashish/Umesh).
Badwani is at approx. 4hrs.journey by road from Dhulia (Maharashtra),
Indore, Khandawa (Madhya Pradesh), Baroda (Gujrath).
Other contact Nos. : Mumbai : Pervin Jehangir : 022-22185832,
9820636335
Pune : Sanjay Sangwai : 020-25450870,
9890025479
Dhulia : Shyam Patil : 02562-246419,
9423496020
Indore : Sarvoday Press Service : (0731)
2401083
 E-Mail: r_nirujmohan@yahoo.fr
|
