Chhattisgarh State Government bulldozes Vanvasi Chetna Ashram in Dantewada
Himanshu ji from Vanvasi Chetna Ashram(VCA) (which is being continually harassed by the government for standing up against the Salwa Judum) just informed us (at 10:30 am Indian Standard Time, May 17 2009) that the authorities have demolished the VCA premises. He also said they were in the middle of breaking the only handpump in the area. He said, in a very matter of fact manner, that he is back where he was 17 years ago-under a tree, and he and the VCA have to start over from square one. He also said that two students from Indian Institute of Banglaore, Prathamesh and Arvind; renowned photo-journalist Javed Iqbal (who contributed some recent stories to binayaksen.net); journalist-intern Veronica (one of the key VCA volunteers); and another VCA volunteer Lakshmiyya Puja have been taken to a nearby Police Station and detained. Of the six, Prathamesh and Javed Iqbal also badly beaten.
The local administration claimed two years ago that VCA premises are an “encroachment“–and the VCA has been challening the order in the courts. Yet, the VCA received a notice yesterday saying the premises would be bull dozed today. This is a blatantly illegal notice, given that the matter was under a court’s consideration, and also that the VCA was unable to move the court and get a repreive, as yesterday was a holiday. Even though Himanshu ji sent an official reply pointing out these matters, the buildings have been demolished today. The original notice and VCA’s reply are attached.
The following Press Statement was issued by VCA May 16th 2009
PRESS STATEMENT:
Vanvasi Chetna Ashram, Dantewada, in the recent years has raised its voice against the atrocities of the Police force and the Salwa Judum and has defended the rights of the tribals. We have helped them claim their lives with rehabilitation, education, health, water and their rights to their own forests and their own land. Presently, the organisation is trying to get the orders of the Supreme Court implemented. According to which, it is trying help the tribals rehabilitate their villages and reclaim their homes, that they left due to the Salwa Judum-Naxalite conflict. The Supreme Court order also instructed the Government to give compensation to all the villagers whose homes were burnt by the Salwa Judum. Regarding these issues, we have also taken many cases of atrocities - murder, rape, arson against the tribals to the courts for justice. It seems that the Administration is angry with such attempts of the Organisation. Today, a notice was sent by the Tehsildar of Dantewada to the Organisation to vacate the land ‘encroached’ till the 17.05.09 by 7 a.m. Now, the letter states that the notice tenure is from 13.5.09 till 17.5.09 but it was only hand-delivered by the deputy-collector and the Tehsildar, in the morning hours of 16.5.09, when the courts are closed and will be closed for the next one month. This ensures that the organisation may not be able to seek help from the Judiciary. Since this case is going through its legalities in the District Court, this matter is subjudice and Tehsildar can not send such notices to the Organisation.
We, have been living here for the last 17 years, with the consent of the Gram Sabha, which is binding to the government in the Fifth Schedule area, but the government is not respecting the wishes of its own people, or of the Gram Sabha. The Gram Sabha is real democracy.
Such behaviour of the Administration and the Government against an organisation working in the interest of the tribals in a tribal state manifests its inimical character against the tribals. Of course, none of their attempts are going to hinder with our efforts to serve the tribals, and we will still go further.
* * *
Kindly, please contact the Collector of Dantewada, Sori, 09425515822,
and Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh, Mr.Ommen, 09826622633, to
intervene in this regard.
What is VCA PDF Print E-mail
Vanvasi Chetna Ashram (VCA) is an organization that provides legal aid and succour to the victims of Salwa Judum, security forces and Maoist violence. VCA renders inavaluable service by documenting instances of severe human rights violations. Since most victims of violence are too traumatized and too afraid to file complaints against the perpetrators, VCA performs the crucial function of helping the victims file not only First Information Reports (FIRs) which are a necessary first step for delivering justice, but all through the long and arduous judicial process.
What is VCA
from OtherIndia.org
VCA has been working for the welfare of the adivasi (indigenous) people of south Bastar (Chhattisgarh, central India) since 1992. They have worked in areas such as rights awareness and advocacy, conflict mitigation, community health awareness and monitoring, universalization of elementary education, natural resource management and hygiene and sanitation, in remote regions of Chhattisgarh that severely lack access to basic public services. Since 2005,they have also called for government accountability and social justice in light of the violence against adivasis and their forced displacement from their villages by the state-sponsored militia Salwa Judum in Dantewada and Bijapur districts. Their stand against the violence by Salwa Judum and security forces has invited the ire of the state which has used the flimsiest of excuses to revoke VCA’s FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) permit. VCA is one of the few community organizations engaged in resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced adivasis by organizing individual and community support under very adverse conditions
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Binayaksen.net is one of many efforts by well wishers and supporters of Dr Binayak Sen to bring the injustice being done to him by the government of Chhattisgarh to the attention of people around the world. 
