[Reader-list] Meet on Chengara

[carmel christy]

SUPPORT CHENGARA LAND STRUGGLE!



Dear all,



The hilly terrains of Chengara in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala is
witnessing a historic land struggle by more than 5000 families
comprising of all sections of landless people majority of them being
Dalits and Adivasis. This includes landless caste Hindus, Christians
and Muslims.

The CPI (M) led Left Democratic Front Government has taken an
anti-people stand and vehemently opposed the ownership of land by the
landless, eventually compelling the people to take possession of the
Harrison estate, the lease period of which was over years ago.  The
peaceful struggle which began on 4th August 2007 has completed more
than a year. CPI (M) cadres and the goons of Harrison Malayalam, a
business giant, have blocked the road to Chengara land struggle area
thereby denying supply of food and medicines to the people. Moreover,
they detain the struggling men and women activists and torture them
for days together. The civil society members were prevented from
entering the area by the goons pretending as workers. This happened in
front of Police and other Government officials indicate the direct
involvement of the State in forcing the people to starve and die.
Indian Vision, a Malayalam TV Channel has reported the abduction and
torture of four women activists. The silence of majority of mainstream
media and the leftist "cultural leaders" has been instrumental in
aggravating the situation. We are afraid that yet another Nandigram
kind of situation prevails in Chengara and it is time for us to form
solidarity at the national level to prevent it.



WE URGE ALL THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED TO COME FORWARD IN SOLIDARITY TO
THE CHENGARA LAND STRUGGLE AND TO PLAN SOLIDARITY STRATEGIES.





DISCUSSION AND

DOCUMENTARY SCREENING ON

CHENGARA LAND STRUGGLE (KERALA)



Date and Time:

13th August 2008

5pm



Venue:

Indian Social Institute, Lodhi Road, New Delhi





INSIGHT FOUNDATION

NEW DELHI


--
Carmel Christy



-- 
Carmel Christy