Press Release: Chhattisgarh State Government bulldozes Gandhian’s ashram in Dantewada
The Committee for the Release of Dr Binayak Sen, Mumbai, Mumbai expresses its grave concern at the report of demolition of the premises of Vanvasi Chetna Ashram (VCA) in Dantewara, Chhattisgarh by the local administrative authorities on the morning of 17th May 2009, and the subsequent detention, harassment and brutal bashing up of some of the inmates, visitors and volunteers including students and journalists – both men and women.
The sudden demolition on the plea of encroachment of forest land and regardless of the fact that a court case is already pending, as it is more than evident, was carried out just to intimidate and stifle any and every voice of conscientious dissent raised against the barbaric and utterly illegal ongoing Salwa Judum campaign of the BJP-government of Chhattisgarh.
The Vanvasi Chetna Ashram, had been set up and has been working since for the welfare of the local adivasi way back in 1992. Since 2005, it is raising its voice to demand government accountability and social justice in the light of violence against adivasis and their forced displacement from their villages by the state-sponsored militia Salwa Judum, in Dantewada and Bijapur districts. The VCA is one of the few community organisations engaged in resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced adivasis by organising individual and community support programmes under very adverse conditions.
The Committee is shocked to note that the state administration, instead of recognising and supporting the invaluable service that the VCA is providing to the most marginalised communities in the area, has launched a campaign of vilification and cruel assault against the organisation.
The Committee also notes that this demolition was carried out in the immediate wake of the announcement of parliamentary election results. It evidently signifies that the state administration takes the positive electoral performance of the ruling party in the state as an act of popular endorsement of its brutal policies, castigated even by the Supreme Court of India in Last year April. Quite disregarding the fact that such policies have been delivered a decisive rebuff on the all-India plane.
In the view of the Committee, no matter whatever be the electoral verdict, such brazen acts of state atrocities can never be condoned and have got to be stoutly countered.
This is of a piece with the detention of and refusal of bail to one of the most prominent humanrights activists in the state, Dr. Binayak Sen, on the strength of the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005 for the last two years in the teeth of national and global outrage and protests.
Under the circumstances, the Committee demands of the state government the following:
- Immediate legal action against the officials who ordered and carried out the illegal demolition.
- Full compensation to VCA and the rebuilding of its premises.
[A detailed report is available at http://binayaksen.net ]
May 18 2009
Committee for the Release of Dr Binayak Sen, Mumbai
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