Environmental Protection Group, Orissa

Draft Placed by Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda

MILITANT MASS RESISTANCE MOVEMENTS ARE THE ONLY OPTION WITH THE PEOPLE TO PROTECT THEIR LANDS AND LIVELIHOODS

Released to Press by Sri Rabi Jarika of Vistapan Virodhi Jan Manch  on 2^nd January 2008 at Kaliganagar

We, the people who have gathered at Veer Bhumi, Kalinganagar on 2^nd January 2008 on the occasion of the All India "Mahasamabesh" resolve to adopt the following declaration.

1.       Salute To Martyrs: We salute the 14 tribals of Kalinganagar who laid down their lives as a consequence of the police firing on 2^nd January 2006 while fighting to protect the lands and livelihoods of thousands of people of Kalinganagar. We also salute all the martyrs of the anti-displacement, anti-SEZ, and anti-land grabbing struggles of Kashipur, Nandigram, Chilika, Gangavaram, Singur and all other struggles across the country. We also express solidarity with all those who have been injured, raped and maimed. While condemning the Government, we express solidarity with those against whom false police cases have been foisted. In this regard it is very clear that the judiciary has shown that it is on the side of the Government and the corporates in this struggle against forcible displacement and is seen to be defending the cause of pro-imperialist policies. And such stand of the judiciary has been used by the government to cow down the struggling people.  

2.       Demands of Kalinganagar Movement Have To be Fulfilled Without Delay: We understand that the Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda which had clamped an economic blockade of the NH-200 from 2^nd January 2006 for a historic 14 months period has lifted it since March 2007. But the Orissa Govt. is yet to fulfill the just demands of the Kalinganagar struggle that includes halting the process of displacement entirely, pay adequately to the families of Kalinganagar martyrs, pay adequate compensation to and carryout required treatment of the injured, punish those responsible for the firing on 2^nd January 2006, give 5 Acres of agriculture land to those who have been displaced earlier, grant the right of development of the mines, land, water, forests and industries in tribal areas to tribals, etc. Contrary to the claim of the Government it has not come forward for any meaningful dialogue with the leaders of the Kalinganagar movement. This exposes the Govt's empty talk of resolving issues in the so-called democratic manner. Further, the Orissa Govt. stands exposed as regards its claim of punishing the guilty after the report of the inquiry commission as the Govt. is itself responsible for closing the inquiry without any signs of restarting the same. We warn the Govt. to fulfill all the demands of Kalinganagar Movement without any further delay.

3.       Pledge Against Displacement, SEZs and Anti-People Industrialisation: We pledge our support and solidarity to all the mass movements across the country against displacement, SEZs and anti-people industrialization, all land movements and all movements against pro-imperialist policies. We express our support and solidarity with the mass movements of Kalinganagar, Anti-Posco, Hirakud, Kashipur, Anti-TATA, Anti-Vedanta, Anti-Mittal, Anti-Bhusan, Anti-Sterlite, Anti-Reliance, Lower Sutkel, Anti-Vedanta Viswavidalaya, Nandigram, Singur, Haripur, Raigad, Goa, Dadri, Ludhiana, Barnala, Kakinada, Polavaram, Gangavaram, Chhatisgarh, and all such mass movements. We demand immediate repeal of the SEZ Act 2005 and all the state Acts on SEZ. We also demand the withdrawal of the SEZ status given to all industries with retrospective effect including that of Zindals in Kalinganagar. We also demand the immediate repeal of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894

4.       Plight of the People In Industrial Zones: We understand that of the people displaced in the Sukinda zone for establishment of various mining industries, by several companies including the TATAs, during the last 60 years, not more than 5% have got some engagement in mining operations. From a peak employment of 40,000 in around 1976 it has fallen down to the level of 6-7,000 today and the majority of these mine workers are in abject poverty. Forced to work as cheap and casual labour lakhs of people displaced in Sukinda zone for mining and other industries are suffering the consequences of displacement. The people of the mining areas of Sukinda are beginning to get united to fight this historical injustice. Ever since the Kalinganagar Movement raised its voice against anti-people industrialization increasingly people are coming forward against heavy pollution by the several industries which have come up in Kalinganagar. The people of adjoining villages have vowed not to allow the ash pond of Zindal steel and in the days ahead people of the adjoining areas will rise against the industries as heavy pollution has made living unbearable and has put their livelihoods into turmoil.  The recent massive uprising of the workers and the local people against management of the Bhusam Steels' Jaharsuguda plant as regards safety of the workers, rehabilitation of the displaced and illegal drawal of water from the Hirakud Dam has exposed claim of development of  the displaced and all round development  of the whole area.

5.       Expose and Isolate NGOs: We all understand from the experience of the Kalinganagar movement that  while the Bitapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda has been leading the people of Kalinganagar in the anti-displacement movement many NGOs and foreign funded organizations are seen to be mobilizing the people of the area with the interest of diverting them from the movement. Many methods are being employed by these organizations including the so-called micro-credit operations for giving the local people a false sense of development. We realize that these are forces of compromise and agents of imperialism; they play a very divisive role in the movements and must be exposed and isolated.

6.       Nandigram Model- A New Strategy of Repression: We understand that during the last one year the Kalinganagar Movement has been further strengthened, all efforts of the TATA company and the Govt. to enter into the area have been foiled, however, the Govt. and the TATAs have undertaken several activities to frighten and allure the people and conspire against the protesters. After the West Bengal Govt. attacked the peasants in Nandigram by using the police force behind the Goonda force the Govt. of Orissa is preparing to use the Nandigram model to silence the Kalinganagar movement. It has been proved on 29^th November 2007 that the Orissa Govt. used the Nandigram model of repression against the anti-Posco agitators when armed Goondas were used by the Local MLA Damodar Rout in close connivance with the District Administration, The Police and the Posco company. We understand that in the similar manner the Sukinda MLA Shri Prafulla Ghadei who is also the State Finance Minister in close connivance of the TATAs and the police is setting up an armed Goonda force aimed at silencing those who are opposed to the TATA project in Kalinganagar. While we realize that the people of Kalinganagar are well prepared to face any eventuality we warn the Govt. of Orissa of country-wide massive peoples' upsurge if such attempts are made.  

7.       Solidarity With Anti-Posco Movement: We strongly condemn the Orissa Govt. and the central Govt. for going ahead in establishing the 12 million tonne per annum steel project SEZ at Dhinkia, Gadakujanga and Nuagaon GPs of Ersama block of Jagatsinghpur district by the South Korean steel major Posco. We express our total support and solidarity with the Anti-Posco movement of the people of Ersama and urge upon the Govt. to cancel the project lock, stock and barrel. If the project is not shelved immediately we resolve to launch a country-wide agitation against both the Orissa Govt. and the central Govt. and take up appropriate agitational activities.

8.       Militant Mass Resistance Movements Are The Only Option: During the last one year the anti-displacement and anti-SEZ movements have gained significant ground across many states of the country. In Orissa the anti-Posco movement is moving forward to give a fitting reply to the largest FDI project in India. The farmers of Hirakud area have been able to raise a massive movement against allocation of water to industries from the Hirakud reservoir instead of supplying adequate water for irrigation and this movement has been able to create massive public opinion in Orissa against anti-people industrialization. The Nandigram movement of West Bengal has shaken up the whole country. In Maharashtra a massive movement has emerged in Raigadh. It is now becoming clear before the people of the country that all the ruling parties of India are engaged in establishment of mega industries and SEZ projects in the interest of imperialist forces and after displacing the people from their lands and livelihoods are forcing them to lead a life of insecurity as cheap labour force. Those ruling parties which are out of power are only staging a well rehearsed drama of voicing their opposition but in reality they are also engaged in serving the interests of the pro-imperialist and capitalist forces. It is to be noted that in spite of the strengthening of the peoples' movements the Govt. is fast moving forward to safeguard the interest of the imperialist forces. It is therefore clear that militant organised mass resistance movements are the only option before the people to protect their lands and livelihoods. While building mass resistance movements the people have to be watchful about the strategy of the ruling forces to divide the people on religious and other identities as has been attempted in Kandhamal district of Orissa recently. 

9.       All India United Movement: Today across the country mass movements against displacement, SEZs and anti-people industrialization has gained strength. In June 26-27, 2007 with the joint initiative of Kalinganagar, Anti-Posco, Kashipur, Rayagadh and Dadri movements an All India Convention was held at Bhubaneswar and a declaration has been adopted which shows the path for united all-India movement against displacement and SEZs. The Kalinganagar movement is committed to play its rightful role in such a united struggle. All of us who are against displacement, SEZs and anti-people industrialisation and those who believe in the slogan adopted here at Kalinganagar on 2^nd January 2007 "Save Agriculture, Save Livelihood, Do Not Give Any Land Fit for Agriculture and Forestry for Industry and Do not give any land for MNCs and SEZs" pledge ourselves to unite to launch an effective all India movement against displacement, SEZs and anti-people industrialization. In this regard on the call of the Bhubaneswar declaration we shall take all steps to unite all the mass movements and political forces which are genuinely against displacement, SEZs and anti-people industrialization, all land movements and all movements against pro-imperialist policies and finalise a plan of country-wide joint action in the shortest possible time.

10. Call To the People: We call upon the people of India, all mass movements and pro-people political forces to foil the plans of the state Govts and the central govt. to silence the mass movements against displacement, SEZs and anti-people industrialization. We call upon the people of India to rise to launch militant mass resistance movements in every location where their land and livelihoods are being snatched away in the name of anti-people industrialization, SEZs or any other project that is against the peoples' interests.