| Fast in Solidarity with Dantewada Satyagraha |
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In solidarity with the tribal people of Bastar region of Chhattsigarh struggling to survive and facing attack by state forces and the armed unconstitutional vigilante group Salwa Judum, and in solidarity with the displaced tribals who have fled after witnessing arson, murder, rape and other atrocities committed against their families and neighbors, and in solidarity with those who in trying to ensure legal rights for the tribal people have faced harassment, beating and illegal detention, We, volunteers of Association for India's Development and others in
common cause have joined together in a relay fast beginning on December
26, 2009.
We demand that the government of Chattisgarh take immediate steps to: 1. The immediate release of Kopa Kunjam and Sukhnath and the protection of their lives. 2. Bring the police personnel to book who are responsible for the beating up of Kopa Kunjum and Alban Toppo in custody. 3. Ensure the safety and justice for tribals who have lodged complaints, such as the rape victims. 4. Stop displacement of tribals from the region; create a terror free atmosphere to bring back all the people who have fled to the neighbouring states (AP) and to the jungles 5. Immediate implementation of the Supreme Court order dated 17/10/2008 asking for the rehabilitation of the displaced villages.  Prahalad Rangan from AID Troy chapter has been fasting until sun down every day since Dec 24. Volunteers Explain: Why they are fasting Find daily updates from fasters on the ground in Dantewada on Priyanka Borpujari's Blog To add your name to the list of volunteer fasting on each day please contact asti.bhatt AT gmail.com.
How can you help ? Call the Governor, Chief Minister and DGP of Chhattisgarh with the demands above Sri Raman Singh, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh: +91-771-2221001 Sri ESL Narasimham, Governor of Chhattisgarh: +91-771-2331101 Sri Vishwaranjan, DGP of Chhattisgarh +91-9424207222Updates from Dantewada Satyagrah: Himanshuji has broken his fast on the 10th day due to the developing situation with Sodi Sambo.
Videos updates from previous days: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 Update 1 | Day 4 update 2 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 Background:
For the last 5 years, the tribal people in southern Chhattisgarh have witnessed their lands,
livelihoods and basic human rights getting looted by the state
machinery. In addition to the age-old structural violence and the violence of
the state-sponsored armed unconstitutional vigilante group Salwa Judum,
the State has currently embarked on a display of power by deploying
tens of thousands of military forces in Dantewada and Bastar region in
addition to the State police, a number which is disproportionately
large compared to that of the warring Maoist groups that operate in the
region. The state first bulldozed the premises of Vanvasi Chetna Ashram (VCA) on May 17th, systematically threatened its volunteers, arrested volunteer named Kopa Kunjum and Human Rights Law Network lawyer Alban Toppo without being presented any reason. Although Alban has been later released, both of them were beaten up in police custody. Another volunteer Sukhnath had been arrested under false charges under the Chhattisgarh State Public Security Act (CSPSA). Social workers like Dr. Binayak Sen and filmmaker Ajay TG, who have sought accountability from the state have been harassed systematically. Others, like Manish Kunjam, the President of Adivasi Mahasabha, have had security withdrawn by the administration despite receiving death threats. But these are only a few names that make it to the outside world. Hundred of others have been facing similar repression from a state which is bent on grabbing these mineral-rich lands and leasing it to big corporates. Recently, the district administration scuttled the peaceful padyatra in the Gandhian tradition planned by VCA in Dantewada to bring normalcy back to the region and to highlight the atrocities meted out to the adivasi communities. Volunteers were forbidden from joining the march by Salwa Judum activists brandishing arms. In response, activist Himanshu Kumar has decided to go on an indefinite fast starting 26th December. |
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