---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Anivar Aravind <anivar@movingrepublic.org> Date: Fri, Oct 1, 2010 at 1:48 PM
Subject: [OrissaConcerns] CONDEMN THE ATTEMPTS TO ATTACK PRAFULLA SAMANTARA
To: connect <
connect@lists.orissaconcerns.net>, common-concern <
common-concern@googlegroups.com>
http://orissaconcerns.net/2010/10/condemn-the-attempts-to-attack-prafulla-samantara/ On September 19, 2010, Prafulla Samantara, the well known activist
intellectual from Orissa, was traveling to Katikela, a village in
Jharsuguda in Orissa, where Vedanta is forcing people to leave their
ancestral lands. The local people had invited him to address a
meeting. The local villagers and activists informed him that there
were several goondas of the company moving around in the village,
threatening to attack Prafulla. Therefore, it was decided that the
meeting should be canceled instead of involving in a confrontation.
Prafulla was supposed to address a press conference against the
problems of pollution by the power plants and aluminum plants of
Vedanta in the region on the same day at Jharsuguda. However, since
the local organists informed him that a number of goondas were waiting
on the road to attack him on the way, this programme was also forced
to be dropped. Several threatening calls were also received by the
local activists as well as Prafulla on this issue.
On the next day, Prafulla was scheduled to address a meeting in
Niyamgiri among adivasis, organised by the Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti
in a village near Lanjigarh, where the local people were affected by
the alumina plant of Vedanta. The meeting was to discuss about the
need to protect Niyamgiri permanently from the illegal alumina plant
of Vedanta. However, the goons of the company as well as the police
threatened the villagers not to attend the meeting and many were
forced to go back. Instead of providing security and peace, the police
actively sided with the goondas of the company, trying to disrupt the
meeting. However, the meeting took place, but while returning there
were similar threats by the goondas of Vedanta.
Earlier, on July 25, 2009, Prafulla along with other activists were
hijacked by the goondas of Vedanta on their route to address a rally
of adivasis to save Niyamgiri. Fortunately, they were rescued by the
adivasis.
Prafulla Samantara is one of the most visible activists of Orissa,
playing an active role in supporting various people's movements like
anti-POSCO movement, anti-Vedanta movement and many other struggles.
He is also a petitioner to the Supreme Court's committee to protect
Niyamgiri as well as a petitioner for the Saxena Committee whose
report forced the Ministry of Environment and Forests to suspend the
clearance for Vedanta. We understand that the recent attempts on the
life of Prafulla is based on the committed action and writings of
Prafulla, against the massive ecological destruction and displacement
initiated by Vedanta in Orissa.
The credentials of Prafulla are well known in Orissa. We can imagine
that if such a known personality like Prafulla can be attacked, what
would be the fate of ordinary adivasis, dalits and farmers who are
struggling against various destructive projects. Two incidents of
police firings on the local people have taken place in the recent past
in Orissa. Many false cases have been registered on various activists
who are raising genuine issues related to commons in Orissa. While the
goondas of the multinational companies are threatening the lives of
local villagers and activists, the communal fascists are threatening
the adivasis and dalits in Khandamal. The Police and the
administration are playing an active role in fueling the deep human
rights violation of the civil society in Orissa.
We believe that the human rights of the human rights defenders in this
country are as important as the lives of the marginalised people.
Every attempt to prevent democratic spaces and dialogues have to be
opposed strongly. We therefore condemn the attempts on Prafulla as
well as many other activists and demand that Naveen Patnaik withdraw
immediately from his plans to sell Orissa to multinational
corporations. We appeal to all democratic, secular and peace loving
people to support this cause and raise the issue wherever possible.
Posco Prathirodha Sangram Samity
National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers
Narmada Bachavo Andolan
National Alliance of Peoples Movements
National Adivasi Alliance
Jatadhar Bachavo Andolan
Jal Suraksha Jana Mancha
Vedanta University Pratirodh Sangharsha Samity
Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti
Orissa Concerns
Jharkhand Jungle Bachao Andolan
Kerala Indipendant Fishworkers Federation (KSMTF)
Coastal Action Network
Kerala Tourism Watch
National Council of Churches in India
Karnataka Dalit Mahila Vedike
Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti, Assam
Youth Fight for Jobs, England
United Socialist Party , Srilanka
Tamil Solidarity
New Socialist Alternative
People Solidarity Concern
Campaign to Reclaim Democracy
Paschim Odissa Krishak Samghatan Samanway Samiti
Budakattu Krishikara Sangha, Kodagu
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