Uttar Pradesh, the Reign of Terror and Repression Continues
New Delhi, August 18 : NAPM condemns the systematic targeting and repression unleashed by the state of Uttar Pradesh on the Adivasis and other forest dwelling communities in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh associated with the All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP). On 22nd of May, 2018 villagers from Lilasi, largely from tribal communities, were attacked and harassed by policemen, when they went to stake claim to community forest rights. Twelve people were arrested, including ten women; FIR was also filed against 24 people including General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary of AIUFWP over false charges manufactured by the Forest Department and Uttar Pradesh Police. The twelve arrested were released on bail back then, despite them not having committed a crime. The police attacked and forged cases against them over false allegations of felling trees illegally, inciting violence against public servants and criminal conspiracy.
However, on 8th June 2018, AIUFWP activists Sukalo Gond, Kismatiya Gond and Sukhdev Gond were unlawfully arrested on their way back from Lucknow. They had gone to meet the Forest Minister- Mr. Dara Singh Chauhan, Forest Secretary- Mr. Sanjay Singh and other officials to lodge complaints against the police brutalities and the Forest Officials who had falsely accused them. They were forcefully picked up from Chopan railway station and were held for over 24 hours, during which the activists were not allowed to contact anyone for help. They are still being held in jail, even though in the ongoing hearing in the High Court, on a Habeas Corpus appeal, State at one time claimed that they were never arrested. There is no clarity on their arrest and the UP State is only playing delay tactics.
The State and the police forces have acted in an unconstitutional manner and continues to target Adivasi communities, so that they can be driven out of their lands. These series of arrests and harassment against Adivasi women is a retaliation of the State against its people who have been struggling to gain their rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Despite the law, the State refuses to acknowledge their rights and has systematically targeted Adivasi women time and again, assuming them to be soft targets. This is extremely condemnable and the those responsible for the violence and state repression deserve strict action and punishment for manhandling women and minor girls as well as senior citizens.
Several formal complaints have been lodged with multiple State authorities, but the police continue to visit the villages, and threaten and harass them. These tactics are similar to the other Adivasi inhabited regions and is a ploy to stop Adivasi communities from claiming their land rights legally. Land is a contentious issue in most tribal areas, where they are being forcefully acquired by the State for various corporate projects and the lives of thousands of Adivasis are being put in jeopardy. The State has not only taken any responsibility of its citizens but also refuses to protect them.
However, in the most shocking development, an arrest warrant, dt July 23rd, has now been issued against All India Union of Forest Working Peoples’ leader, Com. Ashok Choudhary. He has been booked under section 147, 148, 149, 307, 323, 504, 332, 333, 336, 353, 427, 120-B of Indian Penal Code 1860 and 3/5 of 7 CLA Act 1932 and 5/26 of Indian Forests Act 1927.
These are clearly an intimidation tactics, since the support for the movement poured from Rahul Gandhi, Congress President and Akhilesh Yadav of Samajwadi Party, who showed solidarity with the jailed Adivasi women and their struggle through their messages. The Uttar Pradesh government now seems to have gone into full drive to arrest key leaders of the movement. It is a highly condemnable act and only shows the desperation and fear of the state and the central authorities while engaging with people who are aware of their rights.
We, condemn the unlawful manner in which the Uttar Pradesh government is targeting senior and ground level activists of the AIUFWP. We stand with the tribal communities battling for their rights under the FRA 2006, and stand with the Union’s leaders, and demand that the Uttar Pradesh government immediately withdraw the false cases lodged against the tribals and other activists.
Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)
Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey and Shankar Singh, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), National Campaign for People’s Right to Information, NAPM
Vilayodi Venugopal, CR Neelakandan, Prof. Kusumam Joseph, Sharath Chelloor, John Peruvanthanam, V D Majeendran, Purushan Eloor, Suresh George, NAPM, Kerala
Prafulla Samantara, Lok Shakti Abhiyan; Lingraj Azad, Samajwadi Jan Parishad & Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti, NAPM Odisha
Dr. Sunilam, Adv. Aradhna Bhargava, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti,NAPM, Madhya Pradesh
P.Chennaiah, Andhra Pradesh VyavasayaVruthidarula Union-APVVU, Ramakrishnam Raju, United Forum for RTI and NAPM, Meera Sanghamitra, Rajesh Serupally, NAPM Telangana – Andhra Pradesh
Dr Binayak Sen, Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL); Gautam Bandopadhyay, Nadi Ghati Morcha; KaladasDahariya, RELAA, NAPM Chhattisgarh
Kavita Srivastava, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL); Kailash Meena, NAPM Rajasthan
Sandeep Pandey, Socialist Party;Richa Singh, Sangatin;Arundhati Dhuru, Manesh Gupta, Suresh Rathaur, Mahendra, NAPM, Uttar Pradesh
Gabriele Dietrich, Penn UrimayIyakkam, Madurai;Geetha Ramakrishnan, Unorganised Sector Workers Federation; Arul Doss, NAPM Tamilnadu
Sister Celia, Domestic Workers Union; Maj Gen (Retd) S.G.Vombatkere,NAPM, Karnataka
Anand Mazgaonkar, Swati Desai, Krishnakant, Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, NAPM Gujarat
Vimal Bhai, Matu Jan sangathan; Jabar Singh, NAPM, Uttarakhand
Basant Kumar Hetamsaria and Ashok Verma, NAPM Jharkhand; Dayamani Barla, Aadivasi-MoolnivasiAstivtva Raksha Samiti
Samar Bagchi, Amitava Mitra, NAPM West Bengal
Suniti SR, Suhas Kolhekar, Prasad Bagwe, &Bilal Khan, Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, Mumbai NAPMMaharashtra
Anjali Bharadwaj, National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), NAPM
Faisal Khan, KhudaiKhidmatgar; J S Walia, NAPM Haryana
Guruwant Singh, NAPM Punjab
Kamayani Swami, Ashish Ranjan, Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan; Mahendra Yadav, Kosi Navnirman Manch; Sister Dorothy, Ujjawal Chaubey, NAPM Bihar
Bhupender Singh Rawat, Jan SangharshVahini; Sunita Rani, Domestic Workers Union;Rajendra Ravi, Nanhu Prasad, Madhuresh Kumar, Amit Kumar, Himshi Singh, Uma, NAPM, Delhi