intercultural resources

Mar 15, 2007

Join Protest against Nandigram at Jantar Mantar

A protest march against killing of innocent Nandigram villagers will be held today (March 15, 2007) at 12:30 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Below is the call for protest issued by ACTION 2007.

West Bengal Government and CPM Cadres unleash war against the People of Nandigram

In one of the most brutal attack by the state against people in the name of development 5,000 West Bengal Police personnel and hundreds of CPM carders attacked the people of Nandigram who were protecting their farm land, fish ponds, homes and hearths. In spite of the rhetorical statements by the Chief Minister of WB that he would consult and convince the people, the State government claiming to be leftist by ideology, has resorted to brutal way of using police force and party cadres to attack the unarmed, non violent farmers, fish workers, labourers and artisans in the district of East Midnapore for grabbing their land for setting up a Special Economic Zone.

As per the latest information, thousands of Police on entering the area, this morning, started firing, and 20 at least are found killed while hundreds are wounded lying on the street. Police are forcibly taking away the dead bodies. Women are at the forefront and have faced the attack the most. Children and men along with women are on the streets coming out of homes and villages to stop the brutal State and Party forces who are trying to take the territory under siege for SEZ with MNCs. We are also informed that media persons were stopped from witnessing the brutal atrocities while two media persons from TARA News are said to be missing.

Today’s attack is a planed action since even last month when 4 meetings attended by over 20000 people was held; there was an apprehension that the CPM would launch its attack soon after the school exams were over on 6 March. Since yesterday, there was a fear and a threat of an action by thousands of Police and CPM Cadres, armed and prepared to forcibly occupy the land. The public statement to this effect was made by none else but Shri P.R.Roy Secretary, Home Affairs and Raj Kanojia IG- Law and Order, state of West Bengal. The opposition in WB, during assembly session, had demanded a dialogue to start immediately and not to resort to State violence.

The news is that the firing and police and CPM violence is still on and the people also have not given up. In West Bengal, people from all walks of life have come out in support of the struggling farmers and others and there is need that the same happens in all the states. Nandigram and Singur show that the corporotised party-state does not mind even killing people to help Multi National Corporations more profit.

This brutal attack must be immediately condemned and CPM must be compelled to stop murdering farmers immediately. Such state fascism and corporate war against people can’t and must not be tolerated.

· We demand that the Union of India and UPA through the PM, Sonia Gandhi and others must immediately intervene and use various restraining measures in their hands to compel the CPM government to stop the murderous attack.
· Legal action must be taken against all responsible for the killings including the CM, West Bengal
· We demand that the National Human Rights Commission will send a team for urgent enquiry and take action.

We assert that SEZ Act should be repealed and projects with conflict between the state and the people should be put on immediate hold across the country. An enactment on Development Planning, based on the draft submitted to the National Advisory Council under the Chairmanship of Smt. Sonia Gandhi should be taken for consultation with people’s movements and approved.

· WE appeal to the concerned citizens and people’s organizations to condemn and protest against the inhuman imposition of projects in the name of development.

Please come and raise protest against Killing of People for anti people development in Nandigram
Every concerned citizen-may it be activist or student or academician-must come out to protect people and challenge still arrogant CPM, justifying the killings. Let us warn CPM, their supporters and the State. Enough is enough.

For more details and press statment contact:
Medha Patkar – 09869446684
Vijayan MJ 98681 65471