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DAM-L action request concerning police repression of Narmada activists



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Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 16:47:59 -0700 (PDT)
Message-Id: <200010172347.e9HNlxr25575@DaVinci.NetVista.net>
subject: ACTION: Stop Police Repression Against NBA Activists!
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URGENT! STOP POLICE REPRESSION AGAINST NBA ACTIVISTS!

Dear Friends,

For the last 2 months, activists and supporters of the Narmada Bachao 
Andolan (NBA - Save the Narmada Movement) have faced increased police 
repression in Gujarat for their opposition to the Sardar Sarovar Dam in 
India. The Gujarat state government is using illegal and repressive methods 
to prevent the movement of NBA activists and since last week has deployed 
over 500 police in the Narmada district alone. During the last few days, 
two villagers were forcibly arrested and beaten. The NBA has documented the 
arrest of people traveling to recent rallies, the detention and threatening 
of supporters trying to reach the dam site, and the harassment of tribal women.

The arrests are the latest in a series of measures used to suppress dissent 
over the controversial Sardar Sarovar Project. Last year, massive police 
blockades were set up in Gujarat to prevent villagers from attending the 
"Rally for the Valley." In 1998, the Gujarat government pressured the 
central government to ban a planned meeting of the World Commission on 
Dams. Under this atmosphere of official repression, the NBA office was 
ransacked on Dec 8, 1999.

The Sardar Sarovar Project would displace nearly half a million people if 
completed. For over a decade, the NBA has led the fight to stop dams on the 
Narmada. The NBA succeeded in forcing the World Bank and Japanese 
government to withdraw from the project in the early 90s. The Indian 
Supreme Court is expected to issue its final ruling on the case in the next 
few months.

We urge you to write protest letters to the Indian government condemning 
the human rights violations. Your support is critical to stop the 
repression of people fighting for just development. Below is a call for 
action from the NBA.

In solidarity,

Susanne Wong
International Rivers Network
--------------------------------------
FROM THE NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN, 10/16/00

Unwarranted Repression of a Peaceful People's Movement
Police savagery in Gujarat against people associated with NBA and activists.

Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), which during its 15 years of struggle against 
the destructive Sardar Sarovar (Narmada) Project (SSP), has been a victim 
of State highhandedness several times, in all three (Madhya Pradesh, 
Maharashtra and Gujarat) states. This includes the killing of youth in 
police firing, rapes, lathi charge several times, prohibiting entry to 
villages, illegal arrests and detention, false charges etc. The Gujarat 
Government is once again using illegal means to deter the peaceful people's 
movement.

Following is a brief description on the unwarranted incidents of State 
Repression and Police Atrocities faced by the people and activists of NBA 
from August 2000 onwards. We Appeal to our supporters from all walks of 
life and their organizations as well as to peace-loving organizations from 
all over to issue statements and write protest letters.

It is obvious from these incidences that the Government of Gujarat is up 
against the peaceful people's movement. It is the State that is violating 
the constitutional right granted to all citizens under article 19, 21 and 
others. People's right to get organized and fight against absolute 
injustice is trampled upon. Such a violation of human rights need to be 
seriously condoned and fought against.

In this critical stage of the struggle, therefore, your prompt and strong 
response would be the most valuable support.

October 15th:
- Khansigh, tribal resident of Saibas village in the Narmada District was 
taken by police officials and subjected to brutal physical assault. His 
livestock was forcibly taken by a District Forest employee who wanted to 
use the animal himself.  The animal was recovered by villagers, Forest and 
Police officials filed a case against Khansingh, and asked him to surrender 
himself and the animal to the police station.

October 13th:
- Kishore Minj, a peaceful activist from Madhya Pradesh tribal area who has 
been volunteering for NBA for one year and resides in Kevadia region, was 
forcibly arrested from Kothi village at 8 p.m. and taken to Kevadia Police 
station where he was beaten with fists and a cane in front of many police 
constables and officials by Mr.Rajkumar, the District Superintendent of 
Police, DSP.

- Narmada District police have been checking all buses and placing 
blockades on all roads to the sanctuary area and affected villages to 
prevent the entry of Medha Patkar and the conducting of meetings by local 
activists.

9-10th of October:
- 5 students from Bangalore National Law University were detained and not 
allowed to visit the area, even after obtaining a legal pass from the Nigam 
office. They were harassed with questions and when they showed their pass 
to visit the dam site, the police refused to accept it. All the students 
were detained till evening.

- The Gujarat government is following illegal and repressive methods to 
prevent any movement of NBA or its supporters by camping a lot of police 
and home guard in the whole area, including the Sanctuary affected villages 
in Dediapada and Sagbara tahsils. Gujarat government have deployed by 
Tuesday (10.10.2000) afternoon six deputy superintendents of police, eight 
inspectors, 25 sub-inspectors, over 500 constables, and 15 home guards in 
Narmada District alone.

5th September, 2000:
- Two students from Tamilnadu Theological Seminary were detained and 
harassed as they tried to travel from Baroda to Kevadia to visit the dam 
site and talk to affected people. They were stopped at Kevadia and taken to 
police station and questioned for about 2 hours. Later when they proceeded 
towards Mokhadi village along with two visiting activists of NBA, they were 
stopped and taken to Rajpipla before the DSP. He harassed them with dire 
consequences if they came again.

- Police in Kevadia are daily harassing Bhimsingh Tadvi and Prabhubhai 
Tadvi, who were affected by the SSP Colony in the 1960s and are still 
active in the movement.

- Police in Kevadia continue to harass tribal women who are part of the NBA 
in the six villages affected by the Project.

- People from Manibeli are being blocked from entering Kevadia colony, 
their only market place for essential consumer goods and medical service. 
Their licensed boat, the only way of transport, was confiscated on 
25-9-2000 and was released only after 3 days of argument.

28th August, 2000 :
- A rally was held at Rajpipla (Dist. Narmada, Gujarat) where 3500 SSP 
affected tribals from Gujarat participated.  About 100 tribals and 
supporters of NBA, who were on their way to Rajpipla, to take part in the 
rally and a meeting with the District Collector along with the 
Shoolpaneshwar Sanctuary affected people, were arrested near SSP dam site 
and taken to Kevadia Colony police station. They were all detained there 
for at least 4 hours and then released after questioning.

- During the rally, a heavy police force was deployed and people were 
continuously threatened with action by District Superintendent of Police. 
Even after a dialogue was held with the Collector and Forest officials, and 
the program was over, senior and junior police officials followed the 
people and tried to intimidate them.

- The police shut down roads of returning villagers under the false 
pretense that Medha Patkar had run away from Rajpipla.  Access was allowed 
only after much argument.

August 24th:
- Just before the mass rally in Rajpipla, Retd Chief Justice of Delhi High 
Court, Rajendra Sachchar, Adv.Haroobhai Mehta, Former Member of Parliament, 
Adv.Girishbhai Patel, Human Rights Activist, Smt.Vidhya Bal, Editor, 
Marathi Women's Magazine and other eminent persons were arrested in Baroda 
and prevented from participating in the Public Hearing in the Narmada 
Valley.  Jst. Sachchar and Adv.Mehta have filed a case in the Gujarat High 
Court.

Even with the case of Sardar Sarovar in the Supreme Court, work at the dam 
continues and the Project Affected People from 3 states, having first faced 
injustice due to the gigantic dam and then repression at the hands of the 
state police force (especially in Maharashtra and Gujarat), must continue 
to fight the battle at every front.

If the Government of Gujarat dares to crush the basic human rights so 
blatantly now, when the Apex Court is looking into the whole case of Sardar 
Sarovar Dam, what would be the situation after the judgment, when there 
will not be any control over them?

In this critical stage of the struggle, therefore, your prompt and strong 
response would be the most valuable support.

In solidarity,

M.K.Sukumar and Joe Athialy
Narmada Bachao Andolan

-------------------
SEND PROTEST LETTERS TO:
-------------------
Dr. K. R. Narayanan
President of India
Rashtrapati Bhavan
New Delhi
India
Fax: +91-11-3019545/+91 11 3014570/+91 11 3017290
Email:  pressecy@alpha.nic.in

Mr. A.B. Vajpayee
Prime Minister of India
South Block, New Delhi 110 004
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 301 6857 or +91 11 301 9817

Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
(Fax: ++91-11-3366537 or 3340016)

Mr Keshubhai Patel
Chief Minister of Gujarat
Nava Sachivalaya
Gandhinagar
Gujarat, 382 010
India
Fax: +91 (2712) 22101

For more info:
Go to www.narmada.org or contact swong@irn.org or baroda@narmada.org.


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