[Reader-list] The Tragedy of Nandigram

[Taraprakash]

First CPM's sitting on the lap of Congress and now this massacre, time for 
CPM to change their name to Capitalist Party of Murders. If there is anyone 
supporting CPM on the list, please persuade your leaders to give up the red 
flag and go saffron openly. I have decided to boycott any activity by CPM, 
DTF and SFI (the teachers' and students wings of Capitalist Party of 
Murderers). Anyone who has anything to do with the left cause must distance 
oneself from the right hand of the Congress and BJP. They seem to made a 
pact for land acquisition, you kill in Orisa, you in UP and Hriyana and let 
me kill in Bengal.

shame on them

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shuddhabrata Sengupta" <shuddha at sarai.net>
To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 4:34 AM
Subject: [Reader-list] The Tragedy of Nandigram


> Dear Friends,
>
> The incident of the brutal armed police attack in order to 're-take'
> Nandigram in West Bengal yesterday is yet another milestone in the
> relationship between police and people in that state. According to
> newspaper reports, 14 people have died and more than 75 people have been
> injured in yesterday's violence. The injured include around 12
> policemen. However, estimates of the dead and the injured vary.
>
> A brief and incomplete history of police violence in West Bengal would
> have to include police attacks on agitating Calcutta tram workers in
> 1954, on the general population during the food riots of 1954, on
> striking school teachers in 1954-56, on protesting students on August
> 31, 1959, which resulted in the death of 80 students, on 2nd September
> 1959, when several others were killed (bringing the August-September
> 1959, total of deaths up to 102). Again, in 1966, students agitating on
> issues to do with the rising prices of essential commodities were
> brutally repressed by police action, leading to the death of several
> young people.
>
> In all these conflicts, it was very often militants and activists
> belonging to the Communist Parties, and since 1965, the CPI (M) that
> faced police violence. However, with the election of the first (and then
> the second) United Front ministries (1967-69) (which included the CPI
> and the CPI(M) , the pattern of victims and patrons of violence had to
> undergo a subtle shift. And while the CPI (M) did continue to enjoy a
> degree of respect for having borne the brunt of police violence through
> successive erstwhile Congress administrations, it became equally clear
> that the party was not by any means hesitant to use the repressive
> machinery of the state to further its own ends. This became abundantly
> clear when, in the wake of the Naxalbari uprising, the then home
> minister Jyoti Basu (later to be Chief Minister of West Bengal),
> sanctioned the use of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) to quell
> dissident peasant activists from what had once been his own party in
> North Bengal. Hence, the popular slogan of the late 1960s "Jyoti Babu
> doley, CRP er koley" (Jyoti Babu Swings in the Lap of the CRP)
>
> After the fall of the United Front government and the Congress's return
> to power police terror gripped West Bengal in the wake of the Naxalbari
> movement, and the state terror unleashed in Calcutta and several
> districts of West Bengal by the Siddhartha Shankar Ray led Congress
> ministry left several hundreds dead, and imprisoned. Many people
> disappeared.
>
> Since the CPI (M) dominated Left Front government came to power in 1977,
> clashes within the left front, within the CPI(M) and with an array of
> electoral and extra-parliamentary opponents (on the left and the right)
> as well as confrontations with ordinary people have left many more dead
> in West Bengal. Violence has been routinely used by the CITU, the
> CPI(M)'s trade union to enforce its writ in Industrial areas. When the
> suffocating tactics of consensus have failed, the Left Front government
> has routinely used official as well as unofficial forms of violence.
> This is a part of everyday life in West Bengal, and anyone with any
> links to the state is very well aware of the micro-managerial
> stranglehold that zonal, block and para committees of the CPI (M) have
> on most aspects of life in that state.
>
> The current conflict in Nandigram, which pits well armed police and CPI
> (M) cadre, acting directly in the interests of Capital against villagers
> and their sympathisers (politically organized as well as those who are
> not necessarily part of organized political formations) is just a
> reminder that in the more than three decades that it has enjoyed power
> in West Bengal, the CPI (M) has become the clone of the Congress.
>
> The same imperial arrogance, the same intemperate use of armed police,
> the same combination of urbane Kolkata sophistication and suburban,
> mofussil, para thuggery. The identical lethal combination of sleaze,
> rhetoric, money, muscle and humbug. The CPI (M) of today, is the perfect
> inheritor of the legacy of the Congress Party in West Bengal. Many
> people in families with a link to the history of the Communist Parties
> in West Bengal would no doubt find themselves waking up to the
> disturbing conclusion that the party that they have had an unthinking,
> emotional relationship with, through good days and bad, has  in fact
> become that arrogant, belligerent, hypocritical other that they had
> grown up to despise.
>
> The metamorphosis of the CPI (M) into its own terrible alterity (as
> manifest in Nandigram) is an occasion for all those who remember 1954,
> 1956, 1959 and 1966 to enter into some introspection. What is tragic is
> not just the fact that 14 people have died terrible deaths, but also
> that those ordering the police firing, including Chief Minister
> Buddhadeb Bhattacharya might have actually been once on the other side
> of the barricades.
>
> Three decades after 1977, the CPI (M) in West Bengal is a party without
> a moral backbone, bloated, sad, bankrupt and eager to be in bed with an
> enterprise (the Salim Group) that is itself implicated (historically) in
> bankrolling the masterminds of the genocide of Communists in 1965 in
> Indonesia.
>
> Those of us who continue to consider ourselves claimants to the legacy
> of the International Communist movement (in whichever form) have to add
> another notch on our long list of events and processes that should cause
> introspection.
>
> Kronstadt 1921
> The Show Trials of the 1930s in the USSR
> The Gulag Experience in the USSR
> Berlin 1953
> Hungary 1956
> Mao's repression of Chinese Communists
> Czeckoslovakia 1968
> The Declaration of Martial Law in Poland
> The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
> Pol Pot
> The Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia
> The Continued Romance of Bankrupt Authoritarianism in Cuba and North Korea
> Tienanmen Square 1989
> Nandigram and the Left Front Government in West Bengal
>
> (Everyone can add to this list)
>
> Let us take stock of all this, and then salvage what we can from our
> history for the twenty first century.
>
> In sorrow and solidarity with the people of Nandigram. I am forwarding
> below several fragments of reports (from the Telegraph, the BBC) and
> emails that have come my way this morning, sent by Moinak Biswas in 
> Kolkata.
>
> Shuddha
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 1. Red-hand Buddha
> 14 killed in Nandigram re-entry bid
> Telegraph, Kolkata, March 15, 2007
>
> http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070315/asp/frontpage/story_7519166.asp
>
> March 14: The Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government’s armed attempt to
> reclaim Nandigram ran into waves of resistance fronted by women, leading
> to the deaths of at least 14 people in police firing.
>
> The police succeeded in entering Nandigram, which villagers opposed to
> land acquisition had turned into a no-entry zone for the administration
> for over two months, but left deep bloodstains on the chief minister’s
> industrialisation campaign.
>
> The police action also gave Mamata Banerjee an opportunity to call a
> 12-hour Bengal bandh on Friday, disrupting examination schedules.
>
> The killings drew widespread condemnation, including a grim statement
> from governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi that “the news has filled me with a
> sense of cold horror”. “What is the public purpose served by the use of
> force that we have witnessed today?” he asked.
>
> A huge contingent of police, amassed over the last few days, mounted the
> mission to recapture Nandigram around 10 am today.
>
> Over 1,000 policemen, split into two groups, raced towards Sonachura —
> the theatre of the main battle, around 170 km from Calcutta — from two
> flanks . A 2,000-strong reserve force stood by, waiting to move in once
> the advance party smashed its way though the hurdles.
>
> However, one of the thrust arms came face to face with a wall of 400-500
> women, behind whom stood around 2,000 villagers armed with spears, rods,
> lathis and scythes. Pipe guns, muskets and country-made pistols were
> also in the arsenal.
>
> A convoy of officials and labourers with excavators, road-rollers and
> sandbags trailed the police. One of the objectives of the raid was to
> repair roads dug up by villagers, the ditch becoming a symbol of protest
> against land acquisition. A bomb squad and ambulances made up the rest
> of the caravan.
>
> With the force advancing, a chant rose from the villagers, asking the
> police to “go back”.
>
> The police, led by deputy inspector-general (Midnapore range) N. Ramesh
> Babu, told the villagers over the public address system to move back but
> were greeted by crude bombs and brickbats. Sound of shots was also heard.
>
> Teargas shells were burst and rubber bullets fired but the villagers
> regrouped and surged back, this time without the chain of women
> shielding them.
>
> The police then opened fire, using live ammunition.
>
> “We found the teargas and rubber bullets had little impact on the
> aggressive villagers. They fled but regrouped and started firing at us.
> We had no alternative but to open fire,” an officer said.
>
> Besides the fatalities, at least 75 people were injured — among them a
> dozen policemen.
>
> The number of the dead fluctuated through the day — ranging from six to
> 20 — but there was no official word till the evening.
>
> Chief minister Bhattacharjee reached the Assembly to make a statement,
> without realising that the House had adjourned five minutes ago.
> “Whatever I have to say, I will say it in the Assembly tomorrow,” he
> said later.
>
> The onus fell on home secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray to confirm 11 deaths.
> Late tonight, East Midnapore district magistrate Anup Agarwal put the
> toll at 14 and other officials said the figure could rise.
>
> Ward master of the Tamluk hospital, Atal Behari Jana, said 11 bodies,
> including that of a woman, bore bullet injuries. Most injuries were
> either in the stomach or chest.
>
> “The police had to open fire in self-defence. Our force had guns not to
> fight the enemy but to restore peace in Nandigram,” director-general of
> police A.B. Vohra said.
>
> The stated goals — regaining control of Nandigram and ensuring the
> return of CPM families that fled in January — were only partially met
> till late this evening. The police have established their writ in four
> of the six villages and a part of Sonachura but the CPM supporters are
> yet to return.
>
> After calling the bandh, Mamata proceeded towards Nandigram but was
> blocked by CPM supporters. Long-distance private buses were parked
> diagonally on the road.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 2. From Nilanjan Hajra
>
> In addition to the protests listed below against Buddhadeb
> Bhattacharjee-led  CPI(M) government's well planned (for over two
> months) and calculated murder (the police IG was constantly in touch
> with the Chief Minister) of at least 20 farmers in Nandigram, the
> following leading theater personalities (as far as I know, there may be
> some more) of West Bengal have resigned from the West Bengal Natya
> Academy, refusing to have any connection with the killers:
>
> Mr. Bibhas Chakraborty
> Mr. Monoj Mitra
> Mr. Ashoke Mukhopadhyay
> Mr. Kaushik Sen
> Mr. Bratya Basu
>
> Bratya Basu has written a moving piece in Bengali daily Ek Din on farmer
> Haradhan Bag's suicide after losing his land in Singur to the TATA MOTORS.
>
> EK DIN Editor Suman Chattopadhyay in a signed front page Editorial has
> compared the Nandigram murder to Jaliwanala Bagh.  West Bengal's
> Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi in his reaction has said, "the news has
> filled me with cold horror" (reproted in all major channels and dailies).
>
> Lawyers in large numbers, irrespective of party affiliations, have taken
> to the streets across West Bengal in protest.
>
> CPI(M) Politbureau Members Biman Bose, Brinda Karat and Sitaram Yechury
> have justified the police action.
>
> We appeal to all human beings to join the protest in whatever possible
> form. Please also forward these mails to as many as you can especially
> outside
> West Bengal.
>
> In Solidarity,
> Nilanjan Hajra.
> Kolkata.
> - ------------------------------------------------------
> 3. A Petition from Sudipta Moitra, Samar Das, Sumit Chowdhury, Rifat
> Mumtaz and Mansi Asher
>
> Dear All,
>
> A situation of terror has been created by the ruling
> C.P.M Government and party in Nandigram over the past
> few days. The matter reached a head as a huge
> contingent of 4000-5000 comprising the Police Force
> along with Para-Military, Rapid Action Force and
> Combat Commando Force attacked Nandigram in the name
> of "Operation Nandigram". This has come as a
> repressive measure in the face of protest and local
> movement (Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (Committee
> to Prevent Farmland Eviction)) by the people of
> Nandigram against the forceful land acquisition for
> proposed SEZs (Salim Group, Indonesia) in the area.
>
> This is the second instance of violence in the area,
> the first being in early January when 6 people were
> killed. The last instance was provoked in the wake of
> the local adminsitration serving notices for land
> acquistion. After country wide crticism and protests
> againt the state government, the Chief Minister had
> issued a statement that no land would be acquired in
> Nandigram if the people are not willing. Despite this
> statement government has continued to maintain
> pressure in the area through deployment of armed
> forces. This clearly shows on whose side the Fascist
> West Bengal Government is.
>
> Today, on Wednesday morning the armed forces broke
> fire on the people as a result of which 20 people have
> been killed and over 200 injured. The State Government
> and West Bengal police are still not declaring the
> numbers dead and injured. A huge protest movement has
> spread accross West Bengal. In every district
> rallies,demonstrations, road-blockages are being
> organised.In Kolkata a protest in the Rajya-sabha and
> other places is going on. National Hawker Federation
> and
> Hawker Sangram Committee is also strongly condemning
> this barbaric fascist action of West Bengal government
> and organizing rallies all over Kolkata. Reporters
> from all the major media institutions are also being
> forcefully stopped from covering and reporting the
> reality. Two reporters of TARA BANGLA News were
> threatened by CPM party caders and are now missing.
>
> WE APPEAL TO ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY TO
> CONDEMN THIS FASCIST MOVE BY THE GOVERNMENT TO
> PRESSURISE LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO GIVE UP THEIR ONLY
> SOURCES OF LIVELIHOODS. WE SEE THIS NANDIGRAM POLICE
> FIRING AS A MASS KILLING LED BY THE GOVERNMENT WHO
> STANDS ONLY IN SUPPORT OF CAPITALISTS AND ITS OWN
> SELFISH INTERESTS.
>
> WE APPEAL TO ALL CONCERNED TO
> SEND LETTERS TO THE PRIME MINISTER, PRESIDENT AND
> CHIEF MINISTER OF WEST BENGAL CONDEMNING 'OPERATION
> NANDIGRAM'
> ORGANISE PROTEST MEETINGS AND DEMONSTRATIONS IN OUR
> RESPECTIVE CITIES AND REGIONS
> SPREAD THE NEWS OF THIS HENIOUS ACT OF THE GOVERNMENT
> IN WEST BENGAL
> WRITE TO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR IMMEDIATE
> INTERVENTION
> FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
>
> Sudipta Moitra
> International Federation of Hawkers and Urban Poor
> National Hawker Federation
> Hawker Sangram Committee
> 16/17 College Street, Kolkata-700012, West Bengal,
> India.
> Tele/Fax: 91-22196688
> Mob: 09433972662.
> E-mails: ifhup.secretariat at gmail.com ,
> nationalhawkerfederation at gmail.com ,
> hawkersangramcommittee at gmail.com ,
> sudipta.y2k at gmail.com , saktimghosh at yahoo.com
>
> Samar Das, NAPM - 0943335946
>
> Sumit Chowdhury, NAPM - 09830249430
> sumit_chowdhary at yahoo.com
>
> In Solidarity
> Rifat Mumtaz and Manshi Asher
>
> PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS MAIL WIDELY
>
> ----------------------------------
>
> 4. BBC News Report
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6448749.stm
>
> 'Seven die' in India farm clash
>
> At least seven people have died after police in
> eastern India fired at farmers protesting at
> industrial plans.
>
> Riot police were sent to Nandigram in West Bengal
> after protests against land being used for a planned
> chemical hub.
>
> Police confirm two deaths. Doctors say five others
> died of bullet wounds. Unrest in January claimed six
> lives.
>
> Protests have gone on despite the state government
> pledging to move the plant elsewhere. New economic
> zones are a hugely contentious issue in India.
>
> 'Regain control'
>
> Farmers in Nandigram have fiercely resisted the West
> Bengal government's plan to acquire farms for a hub
> for chemical industries by an Indonesian company.
>
>
> Six people, including a policemen, died during
> protests in the area in January.
>
> Earlier this week, the Communist-led state government
> promised to shift the proposed chemical industry hub
> out of Nandigram if locals continued to oppose it.
>
> But Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya said the
> administration would have to "regain control" over the
> area and plans to send in riot police were announced.
>
> Angry farmers along with political workers, belonging
> to the state's governing Communist party and the
> opposition Trinamul Congress, have dug up roads, burnt
> down wooden bridges and attacked government officials
> and policemen trying to enter Nandigram during the
> past two months.
>
> The BBC's Subir Bhaumik in Calcutta says it is not
> clear why Wednesday's clash happened inspite of
> government assurances to the local farmers about their
> land.
>
> On Wednesday morning, nearly 5,000 policemen set out
> to take control in Nandigram when protesting farmers
> prevented government and the police from entering the
> area.
>
> Police officials say they ran into fierce resistance
> from thousands of farmers, both men and women, at the
> village of Bankaberia.
>
>
>
> 'Lawlessness'
>
> Senior West Bengal official Prasad Ranjan Roy said the
> police fired tear gas shells to break up the protests,
> and then fired and charged through the protesting
> crowd when they came under attack.
>
>
> "Nandigram has descended into lawlessness and no
> government can simply be inactive," he said.
>
> Eyewitnesses say the local hospital is teeming with
> injured persons, many of them with bullet wounds.
>
> The Trinamul Congress has called for a statewide
> strike on Friday to protest against the police firing.
>
>
> Two allies of the Communist party have said the police
> action was "most unfortunate".
>
> The issue of farm land acquisition has generated much
> emotion in West Bengal in the past few months.
>
> The government's move to allot 1,000 acres of land to
> industrial giant, Tata Motors, to build a car factory
> in the Singur area in Hooghly district generated
> widespread protests.
>
> State governments in India are acquiring large tracts
> of land to set up special economic zones (SEZs) to
> push up employment and earnings.
>
> The federal government reckons that SEZs will bring in
> $13.5bn in investment and create 890,000 jobs by 2009
> if the ambitious plan is allowed to proceed.
>
> Critics say this is destined to become the biggest
> land grab in post-colonial India, given the lack of
> transparency and rampant corruption in government.
>
>
>
> Are you a farmer in West Bengal? Do you have relatives
> or friends who are affected by the industrialisation
> there? Use the form below to send us your experiences
> and reaction:
>
>
>
> You can send pictures and video to: yourpics at bbc.co.uk
> or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100.
>
>
> Name
> Your E-mail address
> Town & Country
> Phone number (optional):
> Comments
> ---------------------------------------------
> 4.
>
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