Vigil Held in Harvard Square on World Human Rights Day to Focus on Rights of Indigenous People

Boston, 10 December 2009:  The biting cold on Dec. 10th did not stop volunteers from AID-Boston and members of other local groups to gather at Harvard Square on World  Human Rights Day.

Click here to see some pics. video clips of the vigil...>>>

"I am very cold here, but I have a home where I will be going back. Tonight, I am thinking about the Adivasis from Chhattisgarh who have been driven from their homes and lands due to the ongoing violence," said Kavita Sukerkar sheltering the candle's flame from the frigid wind.                                      

The participants reflected on the gross violations of human rights of Adivasis in Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. "Just like increasing one's person's freedom increases everyone else's freedom, the violation of the human rights of other people decreases our human rights," said Garga Chatterjee a doctoral student in Harvard.

Several people passing by expressed concern over the human rights violation of indigenous communities all over the world. Some stopped and joined in with a candle in their hand strengthening the calls of
"Injustice to one is injustice to all" and
"What do we want? Tribals' rights".
"When do we want it? Now".

In closing, the group sang Gaaon Chhodab Nahi - We will not leave our villages. The song was inspired by a leader of adivasi struggle against Bauxite mining in Kashipur, Orissa, India. The song lyrically explains how the indigenous communities have been uprooted by a paradigm of development that is non-participatory, exploitative and ecologically destructive.