Fwd: [initiative-india] Fwd: [NAPMConveners] Fwd:Dharna on 17th July 2010 - Brief report and Press Note

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Subject: [initiative-india] Fwd: [NAPMConveners] Fwd:Dharna on 17th July 2010 - Brief report and Press Note
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From: Madhuresh <napm.madhuresh@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Jul 17, 2010 at 11:59 PM
Subject: [NAPMConveners] Fwd:Dharna on 17th July 2010 - Brief report and Press Note
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FYI

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From: saraswati kavula <skavula09@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Jul 17, 2010 at 11:03 PM
Subject: (napmap) FYI: Dharna on 17th July 2010 - Brief report and Press Note
To: napmap@googlegroups.com


Dear All,

The Dharna was well attended, though it started late. people started to trickle in only at 10.30. By about 11 we had about 20 people and late towards the end of the time around 1pm - we were close to 80-90 people. The highlight of the day was the presence of CHATRI Singing group - Chandu, Venkatesh and others who really got people into the mood of the dharna with their wonderful songs, and one composed by Chandu at the Dharna site, on the Sompeta Issue. Mr. Ashfaaq also rendered his voice singing about the need for a revolution. This was followed by a brief outline of the reason for the Dharna by myself. Mr. Nagaratnam Naidu a farmer himself, expressed that the demands should not just end with cancelling of the project, or punishing the culprits, but most importantly, reclaiming the land from NCC and giving it back to the people. Mrs. Umashankari also a farmer and activist, spoke about the ways in which governments are really pushing rural folk to the brink and especially the farmers through various means. Mr.Jeevan Kumar of HRF, who have been involved in the Sompeta Movement since the beginning, gave a detailed account of the lies, threats, deception and finally brutal ways in which the state machinery, including elected representatives have tried to destroy the lives of the people of Sompeta, finally leading to the firings of 14th July and how the people of Sompeta are fighting valiantly against the powers that be. Mr. Venkatesh of CHATRI spoke about various other examples when the power of the common people has sent big powers packing. Mr.Mazhar Hussain of COVA said that this is a huge fight, thats going on all over India, since the "democratically elected governments" are selling off the resources that belong to people, to indian and foreign private corporations. He gave examples of Jharkhand, chattisgarh and orissa and said, that if this trend is allowed to continue, we will have nothing left for the people - neither water, nor land, nothing. Mr. Ashfaaq of CHATRI also spoke on this occasion, mentioning that the governments wherever they are, are only trying to get rid of the poor from this country. Dr. K . Babu Rao, explained the problems and dangers to health and environment that arise from Thermal Power Plants.The meeting was rounded off once again with some inspiring music by the CHATRI music group. Last but not least, P.Shankar of Dalit Bahujan Front and regional convenor of NAPM AP (telengana region) kept the spirits going through out the meeting, with his energizing slogans. 

Many representatives of Civil society groups joined us in this Dharna - like DBF, CSA, Aman Vedika, Concern Citizens, Caring Citizens Collective, Action Aid, AID,  among others.

We had a good turn out of media who came in early, and even greater turn out of Intelligence folks (state and central). Many of whom agreed in private that the nation is on a sell out to money bags! Even some of those who came to attend other dharnas and passers by got attracted by the songs and stayed in to find out more. 

If I had forgotten to mention some peoples' names or mixed up what some of you had said, kindly excuse, I am beginning suffer from SML (short term memory loss)! i

Regards,

Saraswati

NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLES MOVEMENTS

(AP Chapter)

Address: 204, 6-1-89, GKR Mansion, Church Road, Saifabad, Hyderabad – 500004

Phone: 9866887299 / 9246563738/ 9849718364

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NAPM DEMANDS THE WITHDRAWL OF POLICE FORCES FROM SOMPETA

SCRAPPING OF THE NCC PROJECT WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

DEMANDS FOR PUNISHING THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER OF INNOCENT FISHERFOLK

National Alliance of People's Movements strongly condemns the brutal killing of villagers and continuing, ruthless lathi-charge on the people of Sompeta Mandal of Srikakulm district.

The people of Sompeta` villages, in Srikakulam Disrict of AP State have been agitating against the proposed coal based Thermal Power project of Nagarjuna Construction Company, right from the day of the proposal and there was an overwhelming majority opposing the project at Environmental Public Hearing.

  But the District and the State administrations are bulldozing their way in favour of the project, for the reasons best known to them, in spite of public opposition, representations by the concerned citizens and organizations, provided misleading /  distorted information to MoEF, GOI, which granted Environmental Clearance to the project.

 Six months ago, the elected representative of the district, Mr. Dharmana Prasada Rao, MLA and revenue minister in state cabinet, has threatened the local people not to oppose the project, else they will face "dire consequences". 

 Though they had not received either the Consent for Establishment from the APPCB, NCC has decided to go ahead to start work in the area in the month of April. When the local people opposed this act, citing the fact that the NCC did not yet have the Legal provision to start work; NCC's hired goondas beat up the people and released hounds on to the local villagers. Not a single person from the Government has either taken action, or condemned this act.

 Instead in the second week of July since the 11^th July, the State deployed heavy police force, and the police went around in vehicles and warned the people not to come in the way of NCC which wanted to start work. But the people had got an Injunction order from the High Court, and were picketing peacefully, in their Own Lands when the Police started to Lathi Charge them. In some places, nearly 20 policemen got together to beat up one single unarmed villagers.

 Is this any Legal / Lawful Act on the part of the Police? Are they Law Keepers or Law Breakers? The State and Central Governments must answer this question.  Police not only tress passed in the lands of the local people against the orders of the Court, amounting to Contempt of Court, but have mercilessly opened fire against the Unarmed people - women, men, children of Sompet, killing two people while four more are in critical condition. 

The Home Minister says that Police had to fire as the situation had gotten out of hand. Who has made the situation go out of Hand? The Situation in Sompeta is a complete doing of the State Machinery, especially the MLA Dharmana Prasada Rao. 

 In a democratic country, when people are saying "NO" to a particular project, the government has no business to Force its way on the people. This amounts to a Gross Violation of Human Rights. Police continued to beat up villagers until night of 14^th July. Even those who were going for medical Aid inside Ambulances were pulled out and beaten up. Even pregnant Women were not spared. People who were beaten up are being denied even basic Medical Attention. 

  The police brutal lathi charge and firing, taking innocent lives, on the villagers peacefully agitating for their Right to Life and Livelihood  and for Protection of Environment, is nothing but State sponsored violence against the citizens of this country.

 While the entire state people were crying foul on the happenings of Sompeta, the state Government has sent more Troops to the area.  People of Srikakulam feel the recent quashing of the Environmental Clearance by the National Environmental Appellate Authority is only a temporary affair – and attempt to weaken the resolve of the People.

 The continuous deployment of Police force, arresting of villagers, denial of Medical Aid to the injured people, is an indication that the State is Hell Bent on protecting the Interests of Nagarjuna Construction Company!

 

WE DEMAND –

 

-          Withdraw the entire Police Force immediately.

-          Withdraw all cases filed against the People of Sompeta.

-          Scrap the NCC Project and all other Thermal, Chemical, Nuclear Projects coming up in the Coastal Belt, immediately.

-          The people responsible for the brutal killings of Sompeta – District Collector

-          Nagulapalli Srikanth, SP Sanjay Kumar Jain, Sub Inspectors Naveen Kumar and Ashok Kumar, must be suspended from duty, and booked under Section 302 (murder case) of Indian Penal Code and must be Prosecuted.

-          The MLA and Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, and the Management of NAGARJUNA Construction Company, must be booked IPC Section 302, and must be prosecuted.

-          Arrange medical camps in each village (20 villages) and bear all expenses for the treatment of the injured people.

-          Compensation of Rs.25 lakhs for each family of those killed in the police firing

-          Compensation for every injured person.

 

 

 

For NAPM,

B. Ramakrishnam Raju, Saraswati Kavula, P Shankar

Phone – 9866887299 / 9246563738 / 9849718364

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saraswati kavula
www.transviews.blogspot.com
http://napm-india.org/

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