Following the government order on scarpping of the Niyamgiri mining project and indictment of Vedanta for carrying out expansion work of its refinery at Lanjigarh without permission, more than 5000 workers were suddenly retrenched yesterday by L&T, the contractor for carrying out Vedanta's construction work.
On being served the retrenchment notice - verbally - the workers demanded their backlog payments’ and compensation to which the company did not heed. Workers then went on to stage a strike. It is reported that demands and downright denials led to a violent situation, in which there was some damage to the plant properties. Then the police accompanied by vedanta goons attacked the demonstrators and beat them up mercilessly... More than hundred workers are injured with bleeding heads, broken limbs, and internal injuries. Hundreds of workers have been arrested and, as reports coming from Lanjigarh this morning suggests, are being further beaten up in the police station.
Some backgrounder and facts:
1. I had interviewed more than two dozens of workers on camera last February and they had said that not a single worker is given an identity card; even many of them did not possess any entry slip (roll card).
2. The original address of most workers was distorted on record so that in case of any accident or retrenchment or any other such thing, the company could prove that such person did not exist at all, and that they could not be challenged legally.
3. Most workers complained the payment was much less than promised/stipulated besides being very erratic.
4. Workers felt trapped as their backlog payments were huge and could not even leave the job even if they wanted to.
5. Safety measures were almost non-existent and the workers always did their job taking great risks.
6. There had been many deaths inside the plant in accidents, which were not reported outside.
... and so on.
The present situation calls for intervention by the media and legal experts. Since the company cannot go on with the expansion work now after being slammed officially and publicly, there has to be ways for the workers to get their rights... and not such a raw deal as being dumped, then beaten up and arrested.
Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP) strongly condemns forceful, illegal cutting down of Mangroves and physical assault on the four people in Panchwadi yesterday to benefit Sesa Goa mining company.
Yesterday Panchwadi villagers along with the Forest department physically stopped mangroves cutting carried on by few people to benefit Vedanta owned Sesa Goa in their plans to construct ore loading point. In this process four people – Costao Fernandes, Derek D’Costa, Nazareth Goadinho and Classey Costa - were assaulted one of whom - Derek D’Costa - suffered injuries and had to be hospitalized.
GOAMAP is happy that police at Ponda Police station has arrested some the culprits and demand that remaining once in hiding be also traced and booked as per law.
GOAMAP urges Vedanta mining company not to indulge in violence henceforth as it is not going to serve the purpuse of frightening and demoralizing people resisting mining industry.
GOAMAP also condemns scientist Arvind G. Untawale, former director of National Institute of Oceonagraphy, Dona Paula who has prepared report for Goa Governemnt declaring that there are no mangroves in Pachwadi to benefit Sesa Goa mining company. GOAMAP advises Dr. Untawale and other scientists not to indulge in unethical practices to favour mining industry.
GOAMAP further condemns Goa Government for twice issuing land acquisition notice for 34 meter wide mining road through forest in Panchwadi. GOAMAP is convinced that Goa Government is merely facilitator of mining plunder of Goa and hence must be thrown out. GOAMAP also condemns Goa’s opposition leader Manohar Parrikar for advocating mining by-pass to facilitate Goa’s mineral loot.
May there be Peace in North-East part of my India!
May all the violent hostilities come to an end!
May all the commandos join back their families at home!
May Nagaland, Manipur witness serene Peace and Harmony!
Let the rulers of my great India do their bit to ease tensions!
Oh Mother Earth come to nurture and heal mothers in North-East!
Let the cloud of hostility fast dissipate into abyss!
Let joy, friendship and love smile on our brethren in strife region!
Let armed conflicts cease with immediate effects!
Let emergency come to an end!
My People here have all the courage to endure tyrannies plenty!
Oh my dear rulers in Delhi, its enough of bloodshed!
Thirst for blood and violence now must come to end!
This poetry is my bit towards harmony and peace in my troubled country!
Sebastian Rodrigues
This is a detail report below from Rose from the middle of Violence.
For those of us who had been looking forward to the national meet at Imphal on 'State repression and sexual violence against women', particularly from Nagaland, are shocked with the incidents of violence of the last fortnight, at the border town of Mao gate and its surrounding villages, which lies under the Govt. of Manipur.
For days,we tried to intervene as women from the Naga Mothers Association into the crisis that had threatened to erupt into another tragedy of violence at Mao gate.
The border town was sealed off and no Naga from Nagaland was allowed to enter the Mao Gate leading to Manipur, as we heard of hundreds of women participating in peaceful dharnas against imposition of section 144 ,curfew and militarization of the areas. On the 4th May, seven delegates of the NMA waited for two hours at the heavily fortified border, to finally get permission to meet the Inspector General of Police, Manipur in Mao. The appeal from the NMA was for restraint of forces and peace and we were witness to the strength of women's voices as we watched hundreds of women sitting in silent protest on the long road leading from Mao to Tadubi.
The tragedy of the 6th May was traumatic which has led to the senseless killing of two students by the Manipur commandos, hundreds wounded, particularly women ,still recovering in hospitals and more than two thousand men, women and children on record, displaced and seeking shelter in Kohima, Kidima, Khuzama and Dimapur with relatives and by the villages concerned. The team of Naga mothers and public leaders who had rushed to the border of Mao watched helplessly as armed IRB of Manipur Police refused to let us or even the Red Cross go over to help the wounded and dead. After much persuasion they allowed the Red Cross doctors and nurses carrying medicines to enter Mao. The medical team were of great help as the Mao hospital had little medicine an with 3 doctors was not ready for the hundreds of wounded who thronged their hospital. The NMA suplied medicines from Kohima which was transported through some of the Red cross to Mao. Two of us as Red cross volunteers were not allowed to enter Mao gate with the doctors, because the Police commando officer recognized the NMA officials. Two doctors, who had rushed with the Red Cross and had forgotten their ID card s were also not allowed to enter, even though the whole team claimed they were needed.The president of the Nags women union Grace Shatsang was herself wounded in the violence unleashed by the commandos, while leading the rally at Mao.
The displaced women and children have been helped now by the Government of Nagaland in a tourist heritage village called Kisama, where they are being provided food and clothes by different Naga organizations, tribal Hohos, churches. The NMA organised a Candle service with the displaced on Mothers Day and hosted the dinner at Kisama. There are hundred of children, pre school, school going and even college students who are huddled up with their mothers in these shelters provided. When I visited them, as Rotary Club of Kohima, along with Doctor Rotarians in Khuzama village in the initial days, there were one thousand five hundred being hosted b y the small village which is adjacent to Mao on the Nagaland side..The whole community had come forward to help the women, children and the aged who came trekking through the jungles and fields seeking shelter from the guns and violence of the Manipur Police and Manipur Rifles. There were many cases of traumatized pregnant mothers and most of the children were suffering from shock and fever and flu, as our doctors checked patients. There was also a young mother with a one day old newborn who had escaped the violence. Most of the men had stayed behind as they were recklessly rounded up by the commandoes, beaten, kicked, hit with Rifle butts and shot in the legs, abdomen and treated like criminals on the run for protesting against state repression and for freedom of movement. These atrocities are captured on camera by visiting media people who were also caught in the rampage of the armed police commandoes.
Last night, video recordings of these terrifying atrocities in Mao gate carried out by forces that are kept to protect people, were shown for public viewing in all leading TV channels in Nagaland .We watched horrified, as they recklessly fired at the unarmed public, mostly women, who were beaten, kicked, shot and smashed with rifle butts, entering homes and houses bringing out men, even old men with their hands raised, to be assaulted, beaten and kicked on the streets of Mao like animals. Some of the commandos picked up stones and smashed windows of private vehicles parked along the road. Disgraceful acts of armed police caught on camera.
Two students o n the 6th May were killed, one was Loshuo, a B.A.2nd year student of sociology from St.Josephs college, Jakhama and the other Chakho, a graduate student of St. Josephs College, Bangalore. They had joined the protestors i n the peaceful rally, and were shot from behind by the commandoes. The post mortem report indicates bullet wounds through the heart and shots splitting the spinal column and lungs, when the NMA team visited the hospital at Mao. The Mao people refused to claim the bodies till their demands for withdrawal of armed forces and permission for entry of the Naga leader Muivah to visit his hometown was given by the Manipur Government. However, on the 11th, the Naga mothers (NMA) from Nagaland intervened by appealing to the United Naga Council to allow the NMA to receive the two bodies from police custody and give them an honorable burial. A team of twenty three Naga mothers from Nagaland were given permission to cross the border the next day into Mao, where families of the dead were waiting to receive the bodies from us. The President NMA Mrs.Abeiu Meru and I, as Advisor to the NMA were allowed by the Manipur police to receive and claim the two dead bodies of our children in the name of Naga mothers. The bodies of the two students were highly decomposed, kept in two coffins in the police station. They were taken to the village square by the villagers who remained and their funeral the next day was attended by thousands of Nagas from everywhere, with the Naga Students Federation declaring them as martyrs. Luoshuo had an aged paralyzed mother, whom he used to bathe and fed every day before he rushed to his college some kms inside the Nagaland border at Jakhama St.Joseph's college. His father had passed away and his elder brother driving a taxi was the sole bread winner and paying for his brother's education. Chakho was a brilliant student throughout, from a family of 8 siblings and studying in Bangalore St.Josephs. Two innocent students protesting armed state repression along with hundreds of others and killed.
The Naga Mothers organised a Peace Rally on 8th May, two days after the killings, on the border side of Nagaland with hundreds of women from different tribes, including men. Jaya V,our friend from PUCL Andhra Pradesh, was on her way to the Imphal meet, when it was cancelled and three of them were my guests in Nagaland and was witness to the tragedies. She spoke at the Peace rally in solidarity with the People. The NMA slogan of 'Shed No More Blood' of the nineties, was reiterated again that day with the appeal from women for restoration of peace, rights and justice in the area. Armed Manipur commandos in armored vehicles silently watched us, even in binoculars, as we held the rally on the Nagaland side of the border, on the main highway.
A Co=ordination Committee of Naga civil societies, consisting of the Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers Association, Naga Students Federation, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, United Naga Council, Naga Women Union and All Naga Students Association of Manipur, has been formed and an invitation was extended to the Manipur civil societies- the UCM and the All Manipur United Clubs Organization by us, for a peaceful dialogue in a neutral place like Guwahati on the 14th May , which has been turned down. This invitation was extended as there is a long economic blockade imposed by Nagas from hill areas, including the Naga students’ federation that has banned any vehicle of Manipur from crossing Nagaland, and essential commodities, fuel etc has been stopped and the valley is reeling from problems. The invitation for peace talks was also to avoid any further violence as the killings, violence and displacement has ended with the apex Naga body of all Tribes- the Naga Hoho calling the actions of the Manipur government an attack on the Naga nation itself, which may have very serious repercussions.
Today we stand in this deadlock. Many Govt. offices of Manipur has been burnt down by the people of the Hill areas in protest. Nagas wanting to leave the valley Imphal are reportedly being stopped and searched; some prevented from leaving .The situation is tense in both the states.
The QUEPEM TALUKA MINING AFFECTED PEOPLE’S FRONT on Friday 30 April 2010 staged a day long hunger strike in front of the Quepem police station in protest against the inaction of Quepem police to take action against Eupociano Pereira and Soccor D’Costa for attacking reporter cum advocate John Fernandes while he was in the custody of police at Quepem Police Station on 23 April 2010.
It may be recalled that that on 23rd April when John was at the police station he was attacked by Eupociano Pereira and Soccor D’Costa along with his other accomplice. That about the incident John Fernandes immediately filed a complaint before the police. But instead of arresting/booking the due on the very same movement as attacking infront of the police is a serious offence as both of them at the police allowed them to go.
That on 26th April the front had given a memorandum to the police giving an 48 hours ultimatum to arrest the duo or face the consequence. That after the memorandum the police booked the duo under section 107 of Cr.P.C.
The hunger strike commenced at 9.00AM and concluded at around 5.30PM. Number of dignitaries which including environmentalists, advocates and politician took part in the day long hunger strike.
As a precaution strong police from Quepem , Curchorem, Sanguem were deputed at the
Quepem police station. The Quepem Police station got an appearance of a fort.
Speaking to reporters after the hunger strike Front Convenor Adv. Fredrick Pereira stated the action taken against the duo is an eye wash. He further stated in future the people of Quepem will not tolerate any type of injustice.
The Quepem Taluka Mining Affected Peoples Front have decided to hold a hunger strike at the Quepem Police on Friday 30th April in protest against the inaction of police and failure to arrest the accused Eupociano Pereira and Soccor D’Costa for attacking reporter John Fernandes when John was in the custody of the police of the Quepem police station.
This was decided at the Front emergency meeting held on 28th April in their office at Quepem.
The FRONT, on 26th April submitted a memorandum to the P.I. Quepem Copy of which were also submitted to the S.P. South and the District Magistrate demanding action against the duo within 48 hours failing which the Front have warned that they will agitate/demonstrate before the Quepem Police Station, to see that Justice prevails and Rule of Law is maintained by the law enforcement authorities. The deadline of which expired on Wednesday morning.
In a press note issued by the Front Convenor Adv. Fredrek Pereria stated that though the offence of attacking at the police is very serious and cannot be taken lightly. However bowing to the pressured of the Front the Quepem Police headed by Sudesh Narvekar booked the duo under section 107 of Cr.P.C.(chapter case) that too without arresting the duo. The Front convener stated “this is eyewash just to pacify us.”
That being aggrieved by the inaction of the Quepem police to act against the duo, the Front members have decided to sit for a day long hunger strike in front of the Quepem police station from 9.00 to 5.00PM demanding arrest of the duo and justice to John Fernandes . They appeal to all mining affected people of Quepem to join the hunger strike.
Goa Federation of Mines Affected People strongly condemns the physical assault on Journalist cum Lawyer John Fernandes in Quepem town yesterday April 23, 2010. Advocate John Fernandes was clicking photographs of mining trucks plying on roads involved in violating High Order on overloading when he and his another colleague Pobre Fernandes was attacked from behind, beaten up and his camera targeted by the goons attached to mining industry. John Fernandes was arrested after the assault under section 151 of CrPc.
This attack signifies rising menace of mining truck transporters taking law into their hands at the drop of their hat in order to suppress people exercising their fundamental rights of freedom of speech and expression.GOAMAP demands that mischief of mining transporters be dealt with iron hand once and for all in Goa and attackers of Advocate John Fernandes be prosecuted.
GOAMAP also condemns arrest of Advocate John Fernandes. It is very shocking that Police involved in criminalizing law abiding citizens like John Fernandes and ignore constant violation of law by overloaded mining trucks plying under their nose.
GOAMAP takes serious note of this trend and demands serious action from Home Ministry as within one month this is a second incident where in a citizen involved in vigilance of mining industry was physically attacked. Earlier on March 29, 2010Rama Velip was physically attacked at Damodar Mangalji mine, Colamb, Sanguem and his camera broken by two people involved in robbery of the ore there, one of them was a policeman attached to a Police Station in North Goa whose brother is involved in illegal ore transport.
Couple of days ago I was in Colamb, Sanguem and over there I met Dument D'souza. She has just finished harvest of this season. After questioning she disclosed that paddy yield this year has drastically suffered due to nearby Hiralal Khodidas mine operated by Fomentos. She disclosed that she normally used to reap 20 bags of paddy. This season she has got only 7 bags. That means 13 bags loss.
Mining, particularly in its mechanized version has caused enormous harm by drying up of water sources. Siltation of paddy fields has also reduced the soil fertility. This is a common sense that rulers of Goa as well as mining companies pretend not to understand. By this stand they have positioned themselves as enemies of Goa, its water sources as wells its people in engaged in paddy cultivation like Dument D'souza. They are like that nude King on horse back who thought that he was wearing best dress in the world till young boy told him the naked truth on his face!
Mining industry as well as the rulers of Goa behave as if they are permanently high flying illusion. They fail to understand that by continuing mining just because few companies make huge profits, they are actually doing something nasty - cutting their own legs of sustainability. If they refuse to get hints and get cracking further on mining industry in Goa then it is but certain that the rulers in Goa will have to bite mining dust in not too distant future.
Time for Goa's rulers is running out. It is running out very fast. It is ozzing out of every diesel pump that is set up on the mines in Goa. In fact, to be honest rulers of Goa are very pathetic lot. They are irrational. They have made money at the cost of Mother Earth for the past 60 years and still scheme how to do this further. For deep within they are hallow. They think that their police violence, goon violence, smart diplomacy to divert attention away from mining is going to keep them permanently in Power as ruling elements. Their beliefs are like a balloon bloated with hot air that will go burst with touch of a thorny tiny being. Poor pathetic guys leave in a make believe world and tearing apart beautiful world in the midst of western ghats with chirping birds, wandering panthers, roaring tigers, dancing butterflies, handsome cobras, croaking frogs, variety of fishes and majestic mountains and its people. Someone who can do this level of violence to living being has to be mentally ill. Cause of this illness has to be self-inflicted violence. Someone whose sense of compassion has hit rock bottom and has become addict of violence. All the mining companies and their cronies come into this category.
They have enslaved themselves through machinery and holding people and ecology captive. We need a medicine them them free from machines.
I have posted the comment in response to it as well. It is reproduced below:
This is a brilliant critique that can come from someone as passionate
and committed as Rohini. She has done great service in warning us not
to swallow all that comes from Arundhati with mighty eloquence and
glamour. Too often we tend to take freedom in India for granted. Rohini
almost instinctively compares democracies in Sri Lanka and India and
lets her most deep rooted thoughts to flow out in this essay. I know
from my personal interactions with Rohini in 2005 as well as via my
stay in Sri Lanka in 2008; one needs more than an eloquent mind to
understand. One needs an experience of being caught in the middle of
cross-fire. This essay has that touch of deepest rooting in real world
there out and real world there within. One world is not at war against
the other.
Violence has a peculiar quality. Before it gets administered on the target groups’ i.e IndianState for Maoists and Maoists in tribal
heartlands for the IndianState, it engulfs completely the respective
selves and only then it is able to overflow and inflict other. So I am
deeply sensitive to the deep traumas that IndianState as well as
Maoists is undergoing in this process.
Things do not stop here. It goes a step ahead and violence becomes an addiction. Structures get formed getting used to human sacrifices
as necessarily for once own survival. Violence without any of them
knowing becomes a virus that begins to act out its visions through
Maoists as well as IndianState.
Violence is more fundamental than just a problem of adivasi people. Violence is also the problem of corporate that have been accumulating
great amount of wealth by inflicting violence. At a very base level
violence spreads hatred, sense of revenge, spiral of misery and
accumulative guilt of all those involved in planning and executing
this irrespective of the fact as to whom it is used to defend and
under the garb of any of the isms. Violence is smart virus, it covers
itself and benefits from all the warring sides! Any war has self
defeating logic irrespective of who wins and who looses. Violence is
also very deeply attractive and seductive at the same time. It is a
lethal combination in all the senses that presents itself as solution
to grand problems of contemporary times. But people and parties who
use it irrespective of the fact that whether they ‘win’ or ‘loose’ in
violent exchanges of varying intensities both parties becomes captives
of violence.
India has produced greatest enlightened one in Sidhartha Gautama and I
owe my thoughts and actions to him. It is never difficult to overcome
temptations of violence. Where there is a will there is a way!
Goa is mostly known for being a top tourist destination, but away from the coast mining is the major industry, and it is severely impacting local water. Click here for video.
Forest Tribes Lose Rights
For video on takeover of tribal forest spaces by the Indian Forest Department click the links here.
