[Reader-list] Appeal for release of Abhay Sahoo, leader of the anti POSCO movement

[Asit asitreds]

Dear Friends

Mr. Abhay Sahoo, leader of the anti POSCO movement in Orissa has been
arrested. Please write to the Chief Minister for his immediate release.


Shri Naveen Patnaik

Chief Minister of Orissa

Naveen Nivas, Aerodrome Road, P.O. Bhubaneswar

Distt. Khurda, Pin - 751 001

E-mail  cmo at ori.nic.in

Office Phone    0674-2531100, 2535100, 2531500

Office Fax      0674-2400100

Residence Phone 0674-2590299



Principal Secretary to the CM, BK Patnaik: 2536682, 2322164

Email: cmo at ori.nic.in



Shri M.C. Bhandare

Governor of Orissa

Raj Bhavan

Bhubaneshwar

Phone: 0674-2536111, 0674-2536582

To:
Shri Naveen Patnaik
Chief Minister of Orissa
Secretariat
Bhubaneshwar

Sub: Condemning continued repression of protests against POSCO project and
recent arrest of Shri Abhay Sahoo, POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti leader

Dear Sir,

We are writing to condemn the arrest of Shri Abhay Sahoo, leader of the
POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, and the continued repression of the
protests against the proposed POSCO project in Jagatsinghpur District.
On the evening of Sunday, October 12th, Abhay Sahoo was arrested near
Paradip.  It is not yet known what Shri Sahoo is being charged with.
However the police had earlier filed numerous false cases against him,
while taking no action against those responsible for the violent attacks
on the people of the area.  We fear that these false cases will now be
used to unjustly detain Shri Sahoo in order to silence him and to
intimidate those opposed to the project.

The POSCO project is a gigantic corporate crime, an attempt by a
multinational corporation to seize the land and resources of the
affected people and of the nation.  The POSCO project will benefit no
one except POSCO itself.  Moreover, the State government's moves
to hand over the land are illegal and a criminal offence under the
Forest Rights Act, 2006. Despite these facts, for the last three years
the State government has been brutally repressing the people's
protests.
Much of the area is under occupation by the police.

We therefore call upon you to ensure:

* The immediate cancellation of the POSCO project and the withdrawal of
all police from the area;
* The immediate release of Shri Sahoo and all other arrested PPSS
leaders;
* Prosecution of all those responsible for violence against the people
of the area and compensation to the people for the repression that they
have suffered.

Sincerely,