[Reader-list] Urgent action needed - anti-POSCO activists are under attack in Orissa

[Anivar Aravind]

Dear All,

As reported yesterday, 40 platoons of police were deployed near
Balitutha in Jagatsinghpur in Orissa where people are resisting
against POSCO project and are sitting on a protest demo since 26
January 2010. The police force is now marching towards the protest
site and the DM of the area is leading the march now (15 May 2010 -
9am IST). Some of us have called the SP Debadutta Singh who is at the
site now and he says that they will charge the people. When asked why
there is a force approaching people, his non-chalant answer was "these
people are not allowing the government to enter the area. We will use
force today to facilitate the entry of the government officials to the
area. I am here and will use the force."

There are around 700 local people sitting in the dharna at present and
their lives alongwith others in the area are in danger. This brutal
treatment by the state must be stopped and we all have to do whatever
we can to get the force leave the area immediately. Please use all
your contacts to help the anti-POSCO activists who have all along
shown tremendous strength in fighitng against the steel giant POSCO
and the state brutalities. This is an appeal to all human rights
organisation across the globe to respond to this situation urgently.

Please call the following people:

1- Superintendent of Police (Debadutta Singh) at 09437094678
2- Naveen Pattnaik, Chief Minister of Orissa
Tel. No.(O) 0674- 2531100,2535100 (FAX)
Tel. No.(R) 0674- 2590299, 2591099,2590844,2591100,2590833
Email : cmo at ori.nic.in

3- Prime Minister of India - Shri Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of
India, + 91 11 2301 6857
manmohan at sansad.nic.in

Your urgent action is needed. Let us not let another Kalinganagar,
Kashipur or Narayanpatna happen again.


In solidarity,

Sanjay Basu Mullick and Mamata Dash
on behalf NFFPFW

--
"Protect Livelihoods - Protect Resources"
National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW)
B-137 Dayanand Colony, 1st Floor
Lajpat Nagar IV
New Delhi - 110024
Ph: 011-26486931
E mail: nffpfwindia at gmail.com