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dam-l PR: Medha, Bawa, 6 Others Start Fast Against Injustice
NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda- 390007, India.
(Phone.0265-382232. Fax Attn. 330430, email -nba@lwbdq.lwbbs.net)
Press Note: 05/07/99
Major Announcement of Struggle on 12th July : Nationwide Protests Planned
MEDHA, BAWA, SITARAMBHAI & FIVE START FAST AGAINST INJUSTICE
As a mark of Intensifying the non-violent struggle in the Narmada
valley nine representatives started fast on the fifteenth day of the
Satyagraha on Sunday, July 4. In a large public meeting at Domkhedi on
Sunday ( July 4) Medha Patkar, Pankya Vasave ( Vill. Surung,
Maharashtra.), , Bawa Mahariya ( Jalsindhi, M.P.), Govindbhai (
Pichhodi, M.P.), Sitaram Patidar ( Kadmal, M.P.)Tarabai Patidar ( Chhota
Badada, M.P.), Ms. Komal ( Piplaj, M.P.), Ranjit Vasave ( Nimgavhan,
Mah.) alongwith the supporters' representative Philip Mathew ( Kerala)
announced their fast. Medha Patkar will be observing Moun ( silence)
during the period of the fast. On July 11, there will be a meeting of
the representatives of the Narmada valley villages and on July 12,
thousands of people in different parts of the country would undertake a
token fast in solidarity with the Narmada Bachao Andolan and the issues
it has raised. On the same day, there will be an important announcement
of the next step in the Satyagraha.
The fast was started as mark of protest and against the betrayal,
falsehood and injustice by the government and also as an appeal to the
people all over the nation. This is also a warning for the government
that the struggle will be intensified further. Thre announcement was
preceded by a rally of about 1500 people who took oath on the banks of
Narmada to fight against the intimidation and submergence.
Number of organisations were represented on Sunday's important meeting
of the Satyagraha. Hundreds of representatives from tribal villages in
Maharashtra and M.P., Nimad areas and Gujarat resettlement sites, colony
affected people participated in the meeting. The people's organisations
like Dankuni Mines Virodhi Sangharsha Samiti,( Anti-Mines struggle),
Hawkers Union, Shramik Parishad, Anti-Resorts Committeeand other
organisations associated with National Alliance of people's Movements (
all from Bengal), Pennurimai Iyakkam ( Tamilnadu), Students' Christian
Movement (Kerala), Rashtriya Yuva Sangathan, Smile (Delhi), Samnvay
(Ahmedabad) alongwith the supporters from Nashik, Bangalore, Mumbai,
Baroda were present at this time.
In an appeal to the nation on that day, the nine activists made it clear
that " The Satyagraha launched on June 20, will be a decisive battle.
The battle is on behalf of the exploited and downtrodden people who have
been sacrificed in the name of development for the benefit of the few
and that too for a few years. The people will be confronting the
submergence imposed upon them through the interim order of the Supreme
Court, while still expecting justice from it.... We do not see it as yet
another pressure tactic but an assertion by the people. It is a dream of
the new, free society on the basis of the value system that has been
evolved through the years of struggle..The fast is to challenge the
socio-political system throguh which such destructive development is
imposed ion the nation and the people while the ' moun' ( silence) is
for self retrospection and for inner strength", they asserted.
The work on the Sardar Sarovar Project was suspended for about four
years. However, the concerned governments have misguided the court
about the rehabilitation with false affidavits and and wrong
information. The court had allowed increase in the height from 81.5
meters to 85 meters with 3 meters of humps. This would result in the
submergence of additional 2500 tribal families from about 50-60 villages
in Gujarat, Maharashtra and M.P.. The govwernment's claim in the
affidavits that all the affected people have been resettled is nothing
but patent falsehood. It has been now established beyond doubt that
there is no land for the resettlement of ALL the oustees from the three
states according to the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal(NWDT) or Supreme
Court's directives. Moreover, almost all the basic issues raised by the
people's movement regarding the 'public purpose', cost-benefit and
social-political aspects of the dam . The government is trying to
suppress all these issues and flush out the people with the threat of
the submergence. In such a situuation, the people have no option but to
protect their life, resources and rights.
Joe Athialy Nandini Oza