Kashipur Activists Target ALCAN at World Social Forum

MUMBAI January 21st- Along with over a hundred thousand delegates from around the globe, dozens of activists from Kashipur, Orissa, India descended upon Mumbai between the 16th and 21st of January to voice their protest against multinational companies like ALCAN who are trying to dispossess residents of their land through mining. The WSF theme of “another world is possible” was nothing new for representatives of a community for over a decade has fought the mineral development proposed for their land and forced major multinationals including the Tata’s of India and the Norwegian corporation Norsk Hydro to withdraw their interests.
In the spirit of the forum, activists took part in a variety of panels and workshops on a range of issues including resistance to multi-national corporations and aboriginal rights of resources, as nearly 60% of Kashipur are officially tribal and many others Dalit or members of the lowest Hindu caste.
While different events gave Kashipur activists an opportunity to both share their experiences of resistances to any of the four mining projects currently planned for their region and learn from others, one in particular stood out as a direct attack on what is now the world’s largest Aluminum producer, ALCAN.
On January 14th, the Canadian based organizations South Asian Left Democratic Alliance (SALDA) and the Asian Solidarity Network hosted a workshop at the WSF for the Kashipur activists to share their experiences with delegates from Canada where a movement to drive ALCAN out of Kashipur is growing. Dozens of activists from the Kashipur were present to share their stories of resistance to the oppression they have felt at the hands of local police forces and hired goons all representing the interests of the mining interests in the area.
A screening of the short documentary film on the issue entitled U.A.I.L. Go Back provided an introduction to the issue for the delegates from Canada and elsewhere in attendance, but the essence of the event merged when the villagers present recounted their experiences and expressed their determination to continue in their resistance. Naveen Nayak a local leader of the anti-mining movement in Kashipur stated his case very clearly “either we will face death or ALCAN will face death.”
Indeed while the event reflected the mood of resistance that characterized the WSF, the Kashipur activists brought a passion and urgency to their struggle that stood out in what sometimes seemed more like a festive atmosphere. They repeatedly invoked the notion that their community’s survival depended on their struggle and reinforced the brutality of the forces that they were up against.
The events of December 16th 2000, when police opened fire on a village killing three activists, were recounted vividly by Deepa Jhodia. She was in Maikanch that day and herself brutally beaten by police bent on breaking the movement by force. Since then the brutalization has continued along with the resistance.
Indeed on February 1st, only a 2 weeks after the WSF finished, police forcefully evicted a village whose land was required to establish one of the mining project planned for the region. While this bauxite project is being undertaken by an Indian corporation Sterlite (recently listed on the London Stock Exchange), the community has decided to resist all of the projects with a unified front knowing that if one is successful the others will follow shortly.
Utkal Alumina International Limited, the conglomerate of which ALCAN holds 45% had for a long time been the trail blazer amongst the companies trying to establish themselves in Kashipur but was stalled by a government inquiry into the 2000 killings. In November the government released its inquiry and gave the company the green light to move ahead.
At the WSF event the villagers have since only reaffirmed their resistance. They also expressed gratitude for and extended their solidarity to those supporting their struggle against ALCAN within Canada. They requested that all people in Canada who believe in justice join in the struggle as for the villagers it represents a matter of life and death.