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dam-l Narmada update/LS
Dear All,
As i've mentioned in the past, due to the momentous nature of the struggle
to stop the dams in India's Narmada valley, and the lessons we can all
learn from these people's courageous efforts, I will send the occasional
update on this non-Africa issue.
Best,
lori
>X-Sender: medhap@bom5.vsnl.net.in
>Date: Mon, 13 Sep 1999 23:22:21 +0530
>To: medhap@bom5.vsnl.net.in
>From: Medha Patkar <medhap@bom5.vsnl.net.in>
>Subject: A New Phase of Narmada Andolan
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>
>TOWARDS A JUST AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - NEW PHASE OF THE ANDOLAN BEGINS :
>27, 28 SEPTEMBER 1999 COME TO THE NARMADA VALLEY
>
>Dear Friends,
>
>As you know, the tribal people and peasants on the banks of the Narmada
>river are fighting for the last 14 years - not just against displacement, but
>injustice and
>destructive development too. Not just against Sardar Sarovar but against all
>big dams in the Narmada valley and the devastation resulting from the
>development planning which excludes people and their real concerns. The
>only way to stop all this, we all have seen, is through strong, determined and
>committed
>struggle.
>
>The dangers of submerging thousands today and lakhs tomorrow, due to
>increased height of the dam was seen as a challenge by the Andolan. We
>questioned the process wherein false claims of the government misled
>even the Supreme Court. We did this to increase and maintain the dignity
>of and respect for the judicial system.
>
>People from the adivasi hamlets and villages plunged into the
>satyagraha, through out the monsoon, along with the men, women and
>youths of Nimad. While representatives of various peoples' struggles from
>within the country and outside, who participated in the satyagraha were a
>source of strength; writers,
>journalists, students and common citizens, who came to
>Jalsindhi-Dhomkedi, didn't just express solidarity but participated
>in the satyagraha in every way. Many others from different parts of the
>country strengthened the satyagraha through marches, meetings, fasts,
>demonstrations, dharnas and various other supportive actions. The issue of the
>violation of human rights in the Narmada valley was raised on the international
>forums as well. All of them
>together have taken up the challenge to save not just the Narmada
>valley, but the country and society as well.
>
>Hundreds faced submergence on 10th and 12th Aug. People stood in chest
>deep waters, houses fell, fields submerged- but the people did not move.
>Waters receded. People continued in the satyagraha, determined to face a
>second round of submergence. Echoes of peoples' slogans, songs of
>struggle and dreams of reconstruction of the valley reverberated at
>the satyagraha, spread across the valley.
>
>With the failure of monsoons, the full submergence did not take place -
>Narmada continued to flow silently. While the Satyagraha continued with
>the firm resolve to face the waters, the Narmada is a witness to our
>determination to work towards bringing a fundamental change in our
>society. Another submergence did not come. Will the end of the
>monsoon bring a full stop to this struggle? No, the end of the monsoon
>satyagraha will be the beginning of a new phase of our struggle.
>
>The matter is sub judice. Has the Andolan by debating democratically
>the issues, obstructed the course of justice? Has Arundhati Roy
>deliberately insulted the judiciary ? Is Jal Samarpan just a statement
>or a threat? Our position is clear - we do not intend to insult the
>Court, lower its dignity or obstruct the course of justice, but seek
>justice.
>
>It has been our position that the dam should not go up and if it does
>causing unjust submergence, we will face the waters by Jal Samarpan. We
>will not move from our lands. We have also determined to take the
>struggle to a logical end. We are committed to the efforts of alternative
>development in agriculture, water conservation, health and education in the
>valley. Some work has begun but much needs to be explored, thought about and
>done.
>
>We the life-loving people of the valley are being forced into a death
>trap. We have our dreams - of sustainable development. We have been
>fighting for these dreams for the last 14 years, and will continue to do
>so in the years to come. To help us carry the struggle forward at this
>juncture, we invite you to share your visions, ideas and strength.
>
>DO COME TO JALSINDI AND DHOMKEDI on the 27th and 28th SEPTEMBER. On the
>27th we will jointly evaluate the struggle, discuss its past and the
>future.
>
>Many of you will remember that ten years ago thousands had gathered at
>Harsud. People from several dams on the Narmada and other river valleys,
>friends from struggles and organisations from Kerala to Delhi, Assam
>to Rajasthan had gathered together in Harsud on 28th Sept. 1989. We all had
>together said - "We want development not destruction" (Vikas Chahiye, Vinas
>Nahi) . It was not just a slogan but a goal and it still is. We will take stock
>of the decade long
>struggle against the Sardar Sarovar and discuss the past and the future
>of the struggle with all of you. We look forward to have a dialogue with
>you. We will meet for this in the lap of Narmada - on the morning
>of 27th September. Friends of the Andolan - old and the new - will
>gather to decide the future course of Andolan. We will discuss and
>debate on shaping the future of the valley through struggle and
>reconstruction. Do come, to be with us.
>
>In solidarity,
>
>Nandini Oza Shashank Kela Kevalsingh Vasave Noorji Padvi
>Prabhubhai Tadvi Bava Mahariya Sugan Barant Kamlakar Borole
>Rukmini Patidar Silvy Jagannath Patidar Ashish Mandloi
>Medha Patkar Vishram Sanjay Sangvai Rehmat, Karuna
>
>
>You should reach Baroda office by 27th early morning. For reaching the
>satyagraha, you will have to go to Kadipani, four hours from Baroda
>by bus. There are direct buses, or you can also go to Kawant and change.
>Our vehicle will meet you in Kadipani and take you to the place from
>where our boat will take you to the satyagraha. Please inform Baroda
>office about how many people and when they will reach.
>
>The last bus to reach in time for the meeting on 27th is at 9 am from
>Baroda, but we will prefer if you take the earlier one at 6.45 am. Reach
>to Baroda accordingly.
>
>
><html>
><font size=3>TOWARDS A JUST AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - NEW PHASE OF
>THE ANDOLAN BEGINS : 27, 28 SEPTEMBER 1999 COME TO THE NARMADA
>VALLEY<br>
><br>
>Dear Friends,<br>
><br>
>As you know, the tribal people and peasants on the banks of the
>Narmada<br>
>river are fighting for the last 14 years - not just against
>displacement, but injustice and<br>
>destructive development too. Not just against Sardar Sarovar but against
>all<br>
>big dams in the Narmada valley and the devastation resulting from
>the<br>
>development planning which excludes people and their real concerns.
>The<br>
>only way to stop all this, we all have seen, is through strong,
>determined and committed<br>
>struggle.<br>
><br>
>The dangers of submerging thousands today and lakhs tomorrow, due
>to<br>
>increased height of the dam was seen as a challenge by the Andolan.
>We<br>
>questioned the process wherein false claims of the government
>misled<br>
>even the Supreme Court. We did this to increase and maintain the
>dignity<br>
>of and respect for the judicial system.<br>
><br>
>People from the adivasi hamlets and villages plunged into the<br>
>satyagraha, through out the monsoon, along with the men, women and<br>
>youths of Nimad. While representatives of various peoples'
>struggles from within the country and outside, who participated in
>the satyagraha were a source of strength; writers,<br>
>journalists, students and common citizens, who came to<br>
>Jalsindhi-Dhomkedi, didn't just express solidarity but participated<br>
>in the satyagraha in every way. Many others from different parts of
>the<br>
>country strengthened the satyagraha through marches, meetings,
>fasts,<br>
>demonstrations, dharnas and various other supportive actions. The issue
>of the violation of human rights in the Narmada valley was raised on the
>international forums as well. All of them<br>
>together have taken up the challenge to save not just the Narmada<br>
>valley, but the country and society as well.<br>
><br>
>Hundreds faced submergence on 10th and 12th Aug. People stood in
>chest<br>
>deep waters, houses fell, fields submerged- but the people did not
>move.<br>
>Waters receded. People continued in the satyagraha, determined to face
>a<br>
>second round of submergence. Echoes of peoples' slogans, songs of<br>
>struggle and dreams of reconstruction of the valley reverberated
>at<br>
>the satyagraha, spread across the valley.<br>
><br>
>With the failure of monsoons, the full submergence did not take place
>-<br>
>Narmada continued to flow silently. While the Satyagraha continued
>with<br>
>the firm resolve to face the waters, the Narmada is a witness to
>our<br>
>determination to work towards bringing a fundamental change in our<br>
>society. Another submergence did not come. Will the end of the<br>
>monsoon bring a full stop to this struggle? No, the end of the
>monsoon<br>
>satyagraha will be the beginning of a new phase of our struggle.<br>
><br>
>The matter is sub judice. Has the Andolan by debating
>democratically<br>
>the issues, obstructed the course of justice? Has Arundhati Roy<br>
>deliberately insulted the judiciary ? Is Jal Samarpan just a
>statement<br>
>or a threat? Our position is clear - we do not intend to insult the<br>
>Court, lower its dignity or obstruct the course of justice, but
>seek<br>
>justice.<br>
><br>
>It has been our position that the dam should not go up and if it
>does<br>
>causing unjust submergence, we will face the waters by Jal Samarpan.
>We<br>
>will not move from our lands. We have also determined to take the<br>
>struggle to a logical end. We are committed to the efforts of
>alternative development in agriculture, water conservation, health and
>education in the valley. Some work has begun but much needs to be
>explored, thought about and done.<br>
><br>
>We the life-loving people of the valley are being forced into a
>death<br>
>trap. We have our dreams - of sustainable development. We have been<br>
>fighting for these dreams for the last 14 years, and will continue to
>do<br>
>so in the years to come. To help us carry the struggle forward at
>this<br>
>juncture, we invite you to share your visions, ideas and
>strength.<br>
><br>
>DO COME TO JALSINDI AND DHOMKEDI on the 27th and 28th SEPTEMBER. On
>the<br>
>27th we will jointly evaluate the struggle, discuss its past and
>the<br>
>future.<br>
><br>
>Many of you will remember that ten years ago thousands had gathered
>at<br>
>Harsud. People from several dams on the Narmada and other river
>valleys,<br>
>friends from struggles and organisations from Kerala to Delhi,
>Assam<br>
>to Rajasthan had gathered together in Harsud on 28th Sept. 1989. We all
>had<br>
>together said - "We want development not destruction" (Vikas
>Chahiye, Vinas Nahi) . It was not just a slogan but a goal and it still
>is. We will take stock of the decade long<br>
>struggle against the Sardar Sarovar and discuss the past and the
>future<br>
>of the struggle with all of you. We look forward to have a dialogue
>with<br>
>you. We will meet for this in the lap of Narmada - on the
>morning<br>
>of 27th September. Friends of the Andolan - old and the new - will<br>
>gather to decide the future course of Andolan. We will discuss
>and<br>
>debate on shaping the future of the valley through struggle and<br>
>reconstruction. Do come, to be with us.<br>
><br>
>In solidarity,<br>
><br>
>Nandini Oza Shashank Kela
>Kevalsingh Vasave Noorji Padvi<br>
>Prabhubhai Tadvi Bava Mahariya Sugan
>Barant Kamlakar
>Borole<br>
>Rukmini Patidar
>Silvy
>Jagannath Patidar Ashish Mandloi<br>
>Medha Patkar
>Vishram Sanjay
>Sangvai Rehmat, Karuna<br>
><br>
><br>
>You should reach Baroda office by 27th early morning. For reaching
>the<br>
>satyagraha, you will have to go to Kadipani, four hours from Baroda<br>
>by bus. There are direct buses, or you can also go to Kawant and
>change.<br>
>Our vehicle will meet you in Kadipani and take you to the place
>from<br>
>where our boat will take you to the satyagraha. Please inform
>Baroda<br>
>office about how many people and when they will reach.<br>
><br>
>The last bus to reach in time for the meeting on 27th is at 9 am
>from<br>
>Baroda, but we will prefer if you take the earlier one at 6.45 am.
>Reach<br>
>to Baroda accordingly.<br>
></font><br>
></html>
>
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Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
and Editor, World Rivers Review
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
Tel. (510) 848 1155 Fax (510) 848 1008
http://www.irn.org
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