Call # 256 Junuary 2003

In 2000 and 2001 the Indian movement Ekta Parishad organized two marches through the states of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar(1). Their main aims were to get local populations to organize in order to assert their rights and obtain the land reform promised years ago(2). That mobilization is being continued until access to land becomes a national priority. Ekta Parishad is organizing a trip through the forested area of Chhattisgarh from 30 January to 1 March. The message is clear: ’no’ to forced removals of tribes and small farmers, and ’no’ to the general eviction order proclaimed by the Federal Ministry of the Environment and Forests, against so-called "illegal" occupants of Indian forests.

Large numbers of Baigas, one of the most primitive Indian tribes, have been living in the forests of the state of Chhattisgarh for generations. These hunter-gatherers are trying against all odds to preserve their age-old lifestyle and culture. The Forestry Office considers these people to be illegal occupants of lands often situated in the heart of natural reserves and national parks. Without any title deeds, and considered a threat to these protected areas, the Baigas have for years been victims of repression, threats and violence designed to force them to leave forested areas.

For the past ten years Ekta Parishad has been mobilized against forced removals and violations of the Baigas’ rights. A vast campaign, the "back to the forest movement" was even organized to encourage those who had left their lands to return and to assert their rights. This campaign was particularly successful. Today the eviction order decreed by the Ministry of the Environment and Forests(3), against any illegal occupant of forested lands, has made their situation even more precarious.

PLANNED EVICTION

The state of Chhattisgarh came into being with the voluntary and organized secession of a part of the territory of Madhya Pradesh, because of its large tribal population and rich natural resources. The aim was to eradicate poverty in the region through proper use of those resources. However, more than a year after the birth of this state the government has set off in an entirely different direction: the more rapid one of industrialization and development of ecotourism, to the detriment of local populations who are forced to migrate to other states.

A multitude of national parks and reserves, emptied of their population and opened to tourism, have been created. Incentives have also been created for industry, yet without any measures to protect and guarantee the survival of the populations directly concerned - essentially tribal peoples and small farmers. The ministry’s eviction order decreed in May 2002, based on the wish to protect forested areas, is applicable throughout India. In terms of this order all tribal peoples have been turned into illegal occupants without any rights. Ekta Parishad considers this law to be a negation of tribal populations’ rights, and to be illegal.

Consultation with the National Commission for Scheduled Casts and Scheduled Tribes(4), required by the Indian Constitution for any political measure affecting these populations, was bypassed. The eviction order also runs counter to the National Forest Policy of 1988 that recognizes customary rights of tribal peoples on their lands. It likewise contravenes the 1980 Forest Act that provides for gradual recognition of the property rights of tribal inhabitants of the forests. Despite these contradictions, certain states (e.g. Assam, Maharashtra) have already started to implement it. In the state of Chhattisgarh hundreds of thousands of people are directly concerned.

GENERAL MOBILIZATION

From 30 January to 1 March, Ekta Parishad activists will travel the roads of this central Indian state to bring together, listen to and mobilize all those for whom access to land must become a national priority. They will express their refusal to see the eviction order applied, and will ask the state authorities to take measures facilitating access by all to natural resources, in a spirit of respect for the environment and local populations’ rights. Their action will be based on Gandhian principles of non-violent civil disobedience.

Throughout this long tour demonstrations will be organized and meetings will be open to all. The political, administrative and judicial authorities will be called on to respond. The activists will seek to meet Baigas as well as other tribes such as the Pandu, Dhanuhar, Kawar and Bhujia who have similarly been the victims of evictions and forced removals.

The tour will include Raigarh where the Jindal industrial complex has caused multiple removals from villages and pollution of land and water in surrounding areas. A stop has been planned in Bastar to protest against the felling of trees and illegal mining by local mafias. Finally, periods of interaction and information exchange will be organized around the presentation of Ekta Parishad’s initiatives in the region, to groups of women and small farmers.

We wish the Ekta Parishad activists well on their travels as they strive for the right to land in India.

(1) Call N° 218 India: 3,000 kilometres for the right to land (February 2000) and Call N° 238 India: solidarity per kilometre (August 2001))

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

(3) Eviction order N°7-16/2002-FC of 3 May 2002

(4) "National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes"

Solidarity in Europe

Many activists from several European countries will participate in this journey through the heart of India.

A representative of Réseau Solidarité and Peuples Solidaires will go to Chhattisgarh for two weeks.

In total 8 French, 3 Swiss, 3 English, 2 German and 2 Canadian nationals will be present in Chhattisgarh.

On the Web

For further information on Ekta Parishad’s activities to promote access to natural resources:

www.ekta-parishad.org

To follow the European activists participating in this event step-by-step, and to read about their impressions:

www.solidarite.asso.fr

To write ...

By letter: You can cut out or copy the letter below. This text is simply a suggestion; you can change it to suit your own style.

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

E-mail: cm@cg.nic.in

The Chief Minister

Government of Chhattisgarh

Purana Collector Bungalow,

Civil Line, Raipur,

Chhattisgarh

India

Dear Sir,

Greetings for the New Year!

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

I have also been informed that many of your state’s industries are pushing for land conversion. In addition, there are several industries in the state that have acquired much land while a large proportion of the population is landless.

As you are a tribal leader in this state with a predominantly indigenous population, you are in a better position to protect tribal communities and their cultural diversity.

I strongly support the land rights Satyagraha Yatra organized in Chhattisgarh by Ekta Parishad and request you:

· to take necessary preventive measures to immediately stop these evictions

· to check land conversions and to set up a monitoring system in which leased land can be returned to the government. The state should also ensure local people’s participation in developing a task force for dealing with land-related irregularities.

Yours sincerely,