---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Kashipur Update 16/12/2004
From: "Independent Media" <>
Date: Thu, December 16, 2004 12:42 pm
To: "Independent Media" <>
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Kashipur Update 16/12/2004
___________________________________________________________________________
Over 7000 people congregate to remember the Martyrs on the Martyr's day
(16/12/2004) at Baghrijhola, Kashipur, despite intimidation and coercion
by armed police and company goons

All left and Progressive parties Delegation including MLAs prevented by
Company Goons and Police to reach and address Martyr's Days
function at Baghrijhola, Kashipr

Dr. Jean Martinez-Alier and team from London (led by Ms. Noam and four
others) harassed and stopped from participating in the Martyr's day rally
in Baghrijhola, Kashipur

Dharana in front of the Orissa Legislative Assembly, Bhubaneswar in
solidarity with Kashipur

Professor Bhagabat Prasad Rath, noted Gandhian, threatened by the police
for sheltering Dr. Martinez-Alier
________________________________________________________________________

I. Over seven thousand people gathered at Baghrijhola on Martyr's day
to remember Abhilash, Damodar and Raghunath who were shot dead by the
police in Maikanch on the same date four years back and resolved to "drive
Utkal Alumina out of Kashipur, no matter what the price they may have to
pay". People from all over Kashipur valley came even
though police had established checkpoints in all the villages and were
intimidating people not to go for the meeting. We have only received this
much information through telephone and are waiting for further
information. It is not possible to get fax from Kashipur area as all the
telephone/fax kiosks are under police surveillance.
II. As reported earlier, the all left and progressive party delegation
was attacked by the goons led by Girish Patro of Kashipur (a paid
worker of UAIL for the last three years), Damburu Naik (local goon and
contractor working with UAIL) and Zilla Parishad member of BJD Binod Naik
(he has been indicted by the JusticeP K Mishra Commission for filing the
false FIR on 15/12/2000, on basis of which the police
reportedly went to Maikanch village on 16/12/2000 and resorted to
firing). The Police led by the SP Sanjay Kumar encouraged the goons and
stood by as the delegation's vehicles were stoned and damaged. All this
happened right in front of the police station. Then the
delegation was detained inside the police station, while the company goons
were standing outside and shouting slogans against the
delegation. Finally the delegation was forced by the police to return to
Rayagada. (the fax message detailing the delegation's experience is given
as annexure)
III. Reporters who had gone to cover the Martyr's day program were also
attacked in Tikiri by the same goons in the presence of police. The police
than guided the goons to pick up reporters perceived as being pro-people
and manhandle them. Those roughed up included
Sudarshan Padhi of Prajatantra, Smruti Ranjan of Matrubhumi, Sarat
Mangaraj of Dharitri and Arjun Nayak of Pratidin. The camera of
Sudarshan Padhi was also snatched away and they were all sent by the
police to Rayagada. Then the police allowed what they called "pro- Company
reporters" to proceed to cover the Bagrijhola Martyr's day program. These
reporters included Mr. Amulya Sahoo of ETV, Mr. Ranjan Rath associated
with NDTV, Mr. Rakesh Padhi of Samaj, Mr. Subrat
Choudhary of Sambad.
IV. Dr. Jean Martinez-Alier and a solidarity team form London was also
stopped at Tikiri and their vehicle was also stoned. They were also
manhandled by the company goons in full view of the police and their
passports were snatched away by the goons under instructions by
Police. The entire delegation under the leadership of Narayan Reddy, MLA,
refused to leave the place without the passport being returned to the
foreigners. Interestingly, the police then returned the passports, clearly
showing the nexus between the police and the goons.
Independent Media talked to Dr. Martinez-Alier over phone who was
shocked at the way police and Company has behaved. He said that he had
gone to express his solidarity with the Kashipur movement on behalf of
Alcan't and he never expected that he will receive such a treatment by the
police.
V. Professor Bhagabat Prasad Rath, noted Gandhian and the main
contact person for the Kashipur Solidarity in Rayagada, was threatened by
the OIC of Rayagada Police station that he will be arrested since he has
given shelter to foreigners (apparently to Professor Martinez-Alier). He
shared this with Independent Media. It may be recalled the
Professor Rath, an venerable old scholar of 75 years, was planning to go
on indefinite hungerstrike in protest against the police atrocities on
Kashipur tribals and was persuaded to withdraw with difficulty by the
leaders of all left and progressive parties.
VI. A Dharana by left and Progressive parties and organizations was
organized in front of the Orissa Legislative Assembly. Dharana was
addressed by the State leaders of CPI, CPI-M, SUCI, CPI-ML, CPI-ML (Red
Flag), CPI-ML (New democracy). CPI-ML (Liberation), Samajwadi Jana
Parishad, Loka Shakti Abhijan, Loka Pakhya and Utkal Sarvodaya Mandal. The
State President of Samajwadi party also attended the
Dharana along with his collegeaues. The sitting MLA of CPM, Shri
Laxman Munda also addressed the Dharana and declared upon hearing the news
of detention of the delegation at Tikiri police Station that a statewide
campaign will be carried out to expose the brutality of the State and the
administration in Kashipur.
VII. List of participants in the all party delegation to Kashipur: •
Narayan Reddy, MLA, CPI
• Shambhunath Nayak, MLA, SUCI
• Gananath Patra, CPI(ML) State Secretary
• Shivram, CPI-ML (Red Flag) State Secretary
• Abhiram Behera, CPI-M, State Committee member
• Bijay Mohanty, State Committee member, CPI
• Budha Gomango, President, Loka Sangram Manch and State leader of
CPI-ML (New Democracy)
• Tirupati Gomango, CPI-ML(Liberation), State Committee Member •
Jyoti Ranjan Mahapatra, President,AISF
• Gangadhar Mishra, Sarvodaya
• Prashant Paikrai, AIYF
• Rajendra Sarangi, Convenor, Loka Pakhya
And fifteen collegeaues

Our Comments: The events in Kashipur illustrate the hollowness of
Indian democracy and its domination by the corporate classes. It also
shows how easily the political class and the bureaucracy can turn upon the
very people they are mandated constitutionally to protect and
nurture. Orissa lies at the intersection of corporate globalization and
the struggle for self-determination as no other State in India, and
Kashipur is in the eye of this hurricane. The people of Kashipur are the
vanguard of the struggle against the mercenary corporates and global
capital to save their livelihoods and environment. They deserve our
support.

The present developments in the State indicate that the Kashipur
movement may have finally provided the crucible for a coming together of
left and progressive forces in the State to oppose the forced
industrialization and loot of the natural resources of the State by
international capital and a comprador ruling class.

Nachiketa
Independent Media
Bhubaneswar

_____________________________________________________________

Fax Message received from Rayagada from the All left and Progressive party
delegation

Leaders Prevented by Company Goons and Police at Tikiri from
Addressing Martyr's Day Function at Kucheipadar on December 16, 2004

1. The leaders of the left and progressive political forces led by
Shri Narayan reddy, MLA & Shri Shambhunath Nayak, MLA faced a lot of
harassment right from their journey from Bhubaneswar to Rayagada.
2. In the morning of the 16/12 when the team left from Rayagada for
Kucheipadar, the police tried to discourage the team and said that anyway
they wouldn't be allowed and the team should not waste petrol. 3. At
Rupkona, the IIC, Rayagada, Kishore Kumar Langayat tried to first stop the
team asking for the papers of the vehicles (for
checking by RTO) and wanted the MLAs to discuss with the
Superintendent of Police over phone from Kumbhikota. About 100
policemen delayed our journey for about one hour. When the team didn't
listen to the police and proceeded the police was seen to be saying why
foreign delegates have come unnecessarily. A foreign team led by Jean
Martinez was following behind us to join the Martyr's Day for expressing
solidarity.
4. At Tikiri, after crossing the Bazaar, at the gate of the police
station suddenly a crown of about 100 pelted stones and tried to block the
way and the police was actively helping these goons (hired by the
Company). When the Police didn't allow us to proceed further and after we
objected, the police took all the vehicles and the 4th vehicle
carrying the foreigners inside the police station and detained us for over
4 hours and ultimately did not allow us to proceed to the
meeting.
5. During our entire period of detention inside the police station we
staged a Dharna to protest against the Police and Company Goonda raj and
addressed the press.
6. Outside, the Company hired goons kept on shouting slogans "Narayan
Reddy Murdabad, Narayan Reddy down-down, Arrest Narayan Reddy, Narayan
reddy go back, we demand UAIL company" and the police was seen to be
joking and working with these goons. The police also tried to bring the so
called people protesting our visit and tried to have
confrontation with the team
7. Although the Slogan shouting went on for four hours, hardly
hundred people gathered. There was absolutely no support in the town and
these people were seen to be taking orders from Police and behaving
accordingly. They snatched away our files and camera, physically
abused us outside the thana, took away the loaded reels of the
cameramen accompanying us, took away the passport of the foreigners, tried
to harass them and broke the windowpanes of the cars of the
liberation team which arrived a little late. The police remained as mere
spectators.
8. We learned from various people that the Martyr's day function was
well attended by over 7000 people with traditional arms.
9. The police was asked us not to go to the meeting and not to send
the MLAs. We insisted that the whole team should be allowed or else we
will return back. Accordingly after 4 hours of detention the police
escorted us upto Rayagada and we reached Rayagada at 4 PM.
10. The entire team condemns this act of the police, administration
and Company and has expressed its strongest condemnation for this
anti-democratic role of the State. This is nothing but
industrialization at gun point.
11. We met several press reporters who met the same fate as us. 12.
We call upon all patriotic, democratic and anti-imperialist to come
together and fight against State sponsored terrorism. We demand immediate
withdrawal of the Police force from Kashipur and restore normalcy. We
demand that the Kashipur struggle people should be given utmost protection
for their rightful struggle. If the MLAs and
Leaders of the political parties are not able to express their
democratic views/opinions, then what is the fate of the people and those
fighting with them.

Fax message sent by:

• Narayan Reddy, MLA, CPI
• Shambhunath Nayak, MLA, SUCI
• Gananath Patra, CPI(ML) State Secretary
• Shivram, CPI-ML (Red Flag) State Secretary
• Abhiram Behera, CPI-M, State Committee member
• Bijay Mohanty, State Committee member, CPI
• Budha Gomango, President, Loka Sangram Manch
• Gangadhar Mishra, Sarvodaya
• Rajendra Sarangi, Convenor, Loka Pakhya
• Ashok Pradhan CPI-ML (Liberation) State Committee Member •
Samarendra Das, Samjwadi Jana Parishad
• Pradeep Senapati, Samajwadi Party
And others