[Reader-list] CORPORATE HIMSHA VIRODHI SAMANAWAYA SAMITI, ODISHA, Press Note

[asit das]

*CORPORATE HIMSHA VIRODHI SAMANAWAYA SAMITI, ODISHA*

*(Coordination Committee Against Corporate Violence in Odisha )*

*Convenor Prafulla
Samantara
February 22, 2012*

*
*

*Stop Corporatization, Stop Criminalization, Save Democracy*

*Save People, Save Resources, Save Civilization, Save Life *

*                                                            Press Note*

*Ever since the frontiers of the country were nakedly made open to the
global economic and market forces for ruthless exploitation of the rich
natural resources and for the launching of an unethical, unreasonable and
unjust market with growing potential to expand itself to meet the
artificially engineered needs of an expanding middle class, the pillars of
democracy started crumbling down. History of centuries old, which keeps us
reminding every now and then that India is land of unique and ugly social
inequalities and which do overlap with economic boundaries quite often, was
conveniently ignored. The dominance of market over everything else- social,
political and economic was designed without giving any thought to the
possibility that the gaps only will widen and the bridge may not be a
reality in future history. The 1990s not only marked the rise of big
capital and corporate raj, it did also witness the beginning of the death
of democracy which could not be revived again without hardships and
sacrifices. The 10th year of reforms began with bloody tribute to the
corporate raj when three tribals Abhilash, Raghunath and Damodar laid down
their lives in the altar of Utkal Alumina led by the Birlas while defending
their right to life, livelihood and democracy on 16th December, 2000.*

*Corporate take over of rich natural resources and state complicity in the
crimes made its presence felt not only in Kashipur, it started reaching out
to all resource rich places across the state. On January 2, 2006, 14
anti-displacement tribals in Kalinganagra were killed by the police for the
Tatas. A few more died later in the hands of private goons and also because
they were not allowed to take emergency health care as the entire area had
been turned in to an open house prison. No mainstream political party came
to their help. All basic services were stopped to the area. Hundreds of
false cases were framed against the innocent villagers.  The same situation
was made to repeat in anti-POSCO agitation area. POSCO inspired assault was
common place and innocent villagers did not have any escape route expecting
that of courting arrest or to live a prisoner’s life. The story of
repression by Vedanta is known all over the world. Sukru Majhi in Lanjigarh
and Dula Mondal in Govindapur of POSCO agitation area are being remembered
in their respective places as the ecological martyrs. The Bhusans have
become more notorious then any one else. The Mittals, Uttam Galva and RSB
metals are going ahead with their criminal activities in their respective
areas.*

*But the incident that happened in Jindal’s  Angul empire would shock any
conscientious and right thinking citizen of a democracy. The victims of
Jindal’s injustice had gone to the Angul factory of JSPL on Jauray 25, 2012
(  day before the Republic Day) to talk to the authorities for resolving
their outstanding displacement and rehabilitation issues. Suddenly, the
Jindal authority started attacking them. The women who were in the fore
front were sexually assaulted and brutally attacked with sharp weapons.
Even children who were in their mother’s lap could not escape the wrath of
the company. About 200 innocent and peaceful protestors who were victims of
Jindal’s land acquisition project were injured and six of them are still
battling for survival.  The demonstration of the Jindal displacement
villages and violence affected people has entered 25th day today.*

*At the same time, the villagers of Rengapali near Lanjigarh Vedanta
factory have been put in an open house prison by the company. All essential
services to them have been stopped and people have been forced to live in
atmosphere of fear and pollution. When they opposed the illegal expansion
work of the company involving cutting off the only road to their village,
they were brutally beaten up and 47 of them were arrested and put in
judicial custody for three weeks. Now the police at the behest of the
company are spreading terror in the area by threatening the Dongaria tribes
of dire consequences if they dared to come to their scared spot on
Niyamgiri for an annual puja in the last week of February. The Victims of
Vedanta’s injustice and violence are being branded as Maoists -a convenient
mechanism to crush any just movement.*

*Starting from Kashipur to Angul and from Tatas to the Jindals, Bhusans,
Vedanta, Mittals and Birlas, the untold miseries and sufferings of the
democratic citizens of the state is continuing with the Odisha state
joining hands with perpetrators of violence and with democratic authorities
shying away from constitutional responsibilities and obligations.*

*The Corporate Himsha Virodhi Samanawaya Samiti very strongly feels that
the corporate engineered violence either done through the state police or
by private militia must end if there is any respect for democracy and
constitution in the state.* *The incidences of violence have become more
commonplace these days with more and more innocent victims of irresponsible
industrialization facing death and fatal injuries. The Samiti which has
been formed by people belonging to left and progressive political forces
are all working closely with the common men more particularly the tribals,
dalits, farmers, fishermen, daily wage earners, landless peasants and
helpless share croppers. The leaders of the Samiti have met the governor
today and appealed him with a memorandum saying thatt, since the government
of the day is visibly seen to be promoting the interests of the
corporations, the chief minister will not act on its own wisdom to put a
full stop to it. Thus, Rajyapaliji must intervene immediately and ask the
chief minister to do the following:*

* *

*1.      **To prepare a white paper on the plight of the displaced for the
last 12 years. Where are they, how are they and how many cases have been
registered against them, how many are in jails, how many have died and how
many injured, how many have been compensated because of violence against
them need to be clearly spelt out in the white paper and submitted in the
floor of the Assembly.*

*2.      **To also report what action has been taken against criminal
companies and culprit officials?*

*3.      **To form a statutory commission to record and investigate
violence done on the people of an area where any corporate project is
coming up and resistance to them is there in any form active or passive.
The so called supporters of project or Sapakhya badis are in fact corporate
sponsored private goons who the state is knowingly promoting to crush any
just and peaceful opposition.*

*4.      **To clearly give an order for investigation of the ruthless and
brutal violence of Jindal Steel and Power Company in Anugul where the women
protesters have been sexually assaulted and mercilessly beaten up. No
action has been taken against the company of the district police and
administration who were complicity to the crimes. *

*5.      **Along with this we would also like to endorse the demands raised
by Angul Jindal oustees that all the promises made to them by the company
are met with which necessarily includes adequate compensation and
employment for all of them. Lands forcibly taken may be returned with
immediate effect.*

* *

* *



*The  Members of Corporate Himsha Virodhi Samanawaya Samiti who addressed
the meeting included Prafulla Samantara, Radhakant Sethi, Suresh Panigrahi,
Sibaram, Bhalachandra, Rabi Behera, Mahendra Parida, Pramila Behera,
Jayadeb Nayak, Dabur Kalundia, Yogendra Gadanayak, Janaki Rao Sima Sethi
and others*