Call # 267 - From 22 January to 1 March 2004

Access to land was one of the main issues addressed at the Fourth World Social Forum held in Bombay from 16 to 20 January 2004. Several seminars were devoted to the subject and a special meeting was held, mainly on the initiative of Ekta Parishad. This popular Indian non-violent movement, in the Ghandian tradition, was thus able to meet partners and counterparts. To conclude the gathering, it scheduled a new march in the state of Orissa, similar to those organized in 2000, 2001 and 2003 in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Chhattisgarh (1). The objectives remain the same: allow local populations to organize in order to assert their rights and obtain the implementation of land reforms promised years ago. After some success, the mobilization is being continued to ensure that access to land becomes a national and international priority.

Ekta Parishad has been working for over ten years in five Indian States (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jarkhand and Orissa). It has also developed networks in two other States (Tamilnadu and Kerala) and estimates the number of people concerned by its activities at around ten million. The movement works primarily with small farmers, dalits and tribal communities. On the occasion of the World Social Forun, Ekta Parishad and the National Committee on Land rights organized a peasant festival: "land first". Over 700 small farmers, representatives of native peoples, and landless peasants were able to discuss their experiences, struggles and preoccupations at round tables, conferences and cultural gatherings. Peasants’ rights in relation to national and international policies, and native people’s rights in relation to World Bank projects were discussed, as well as the strategies that peasant organizations need to implement in this respect.

The right to live and work

In India and especially in Orissa, small landowners, landless peasants and dalits do not earn enough to feed their families. By law they have no rights and have such unbearable financial burdens that some end up committing suicide.Ekta Parishad militants therefore have a lot to do in Orissa. They are active primarily in Banpur where tribal populations (40,000 families) in the Barbara forest are harassed by the Central Reserve Police Force and the administration. In Kalahandri locals have been expelled to allow mining companies in. Land and water conservation and improvement of crops are therefore major concerns. Throughout the State, 60-75% of the peasants chased off their land for the construction of hydro-electric or irrigation dams have received no material or financial compensation whatsoever.

General mobilization

After the peasant festival, Ekta Parishad militants will focus their efforts on the State of Orissa. From 30 January to 25 February 2004, accompanied by partners from many countries, they will travel the roads of Orissa to bring together, listen to and mobilize all those for whom access to land has to become a national priority. They will appeal to the State authorities to take measures ensuring access by all to natural resources, with respect for local populations and the environment. Faithful to the Gandhian philosophy, their action will be based on the principle of direct non-violent action.The Ekta Parishad marches usually start every morning with processions consisting of locals. During the day, five or six public meetings are organized in the villages and hamlets through which they travel. These "truth and reconciliation" meetings are usually attended by about 200 people. Wherever possible, local officials and political leaders are invited to hear the peoples’ grievances and demands. Everything is filmed, recorded and transcribed for a final synthesis. During the four-week period, over 60,000 people in Orissa will have been able to meet and to express themselves.In the first three weeks the procession will cross seven provinces in all-roads vehicles. In the last portion, some 200 individuals will walk the final 160 kilometres to Bhubaneshwar. There a meeting will be held at which the expected 5,000 participants will state their claims to the authorities.

The letter campaigns in which we are invited to participate are intended to express solidarity that transcends borders, to avoid violent provocation, and to encourage the local authorities to focus on the demands put to them. We wish the Ekta Parishad militants well on their long journey for land rights in India.

(1) Call 218 Inda: 3,000 kilometres for the right to land (February 2000), Call 238 Inda: solidarity per kilometre (August 2001) and Call 256 Inda: illegal on their own land (January 2003)

(2) These initiatives allowed the creation of local joint commissions for the redistribution of land in Madhya Pradesh.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Solidarity from Europe!

For the past few years, several European organizations (German, British, French, Italian, Swiss) have decided to work together to improve their support for Ekta Parishad and, more generally, for landless Indian peasants. Everyone contributes what they can to support the initiatives taken by our Indian partner.

On the Web

For further information on Ekta Parishad’s efforts to obtain access to natural resources: www.ekta-parishad.org

In the press

On 17 January 2004 the French daily Le Monde published an article "Rajagoapal P.V. voix des sans-terre au nom de Gandhi" on the founder and leader of the Ekta Parishad movement. Letter campaign: you can use the standard letter below or change the wording. Remember to add your name and address and sign the letter before sending it to the address indicated below.

WHAT TO DO ?

By letter: copy or download the standard letter below by clicking here.

Don’t forget to date and sign your letter and to add your name and address.

By e-mail: cmo@ori.nic.in

Reaction time: As soon as you receive this call, or until end-October 2003.

Letter to:

Shri Naveen Patnaik

Chief Minister

Government of Orissa

Naveen Nivas,

Aerodrome Road

Bhubaneshwar

India

(date)

Dear Chief Minister,

I have been informed, through Réseau Solidarité (10 quai de Richemont, 35000 Rennes, France), of the issue of eviction of tribal peoples from their natural habitat in the state of Orissa. There are many cases of documented repression in which forest officials are implicated.

I have also been informed that many industries are pressuring for land conversion.

Several industries have acquired much land in the state where, at the same time, high levels of landlessness are recorded.

I strongly support the land rights movement Satyagraha Yatra organized in Orissa by Ekta Parishad and appeal to you to:

  take the necessary preventive measures to immediately stop these evictions- stop land conversions and set up a monitoring system in which leased land can be returned to the government

  ensure the local people’s participation in developing a task force for solving land rights irregularities.Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours faithfully,

(signature)

(name)