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July 2009
We, an international coalition of over 54 Human Rights, Community,
Student, Development and Peace & Justice organizations strongly
support the right of displaced Adivasis (indigenous peoples) to return
safely to their homes and lives in the state of Chhattisgarh, and are
alarmed by the recent surge in violence in Bijapur and Dantewada
districts of Chhattisgarh which is threatening to cause a major setback
to the ongoing rehabilitation.
Since the promulgation of the
Salwa Judum (a militia armed by the state of Chhattisgarh) in 2005,
violence from both the Salwa Judum and Maoist Rebels has escalated, and
hundreds of thousands of Adivasis have fled their homes in Dantewada
and Bijapur districts out of fear for their lives. Over the last 12
months, we were encouraged to see that with the support of civil
society groups such as Action AID, Vanvasi Chetna Ashram (VCA) and
Agriculture and Social Development Society (ASDS), some families have
gradually begun to return to their villages and are resuming
agriculture and other forms of livelihood. However, recent threats,
arson and murder in the vicinity of the rehabilitated villages has
spurred further displacement, and deterred those who were planning to
return to their homes. We sympathize sincerely with the families of the
victims of such violence.
Given
the widespread displacement of Adivasis from their land as a result of
this violence, we as informed citizens, pledge to support efforts that
aim to rebuild confidence amongst Adivasis, and help them return to
their lands and resume their lives with a sense of dignity.
We appeal to the government of Chhattisgarh to facilitate the
process of rehabilitation of displaced communities as per the
Directives of the Supreme Court, as well as the recommendations of the
National Human Rights Commission, by doing the following:
- Make immediate arrangements for food, water, seeds, and implements
to enable ploughing so that the villagers may sow in this critical
period of the farming season
- Provide rations and employment through NREGA (National Rural
Empolyment Guarantee Act) which will make food and daily wages
available to the villagers until their crops come to harvest Provide
compensation with which to rebuild and sustain their livelihoods
- We appeal to the government of Chhattisgarh to take firm steps to
end the vicious cycle of violence in the region through
de-militarization, clearing security forces off schools and hospitals,
and withdrawal of the Salwa Judum.
We also appeal to all parties - the Maoist Rebels, the Government
and the Salwa Judum - to refrain from any activity that adversely
affects the return and stay of the rehabilitated Adivasis in the
villages of Chhattisgarh.
List of Endorsing Organizations
Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia, MIT
Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, San Francisco
Amnesty International, USA
ANSWER
Asian Law Alliance
Association for India’s Development
Association of South Asian Political Activists, Berkeley
Birmingham Anti-SEZ Campaign, UK
Boston Coalition for Justice in Bhopal
Boston Mobilization
Cambridge Free Binayak Sen Group
Campaign against Forced Displacement, UK
Campaign to Stop Funding Hate
CMC Vellore Alumni Association-U.K. Branch
DEEP - Defenders of the Environment and Ecology of Panjab, UK
Dharma Megha, East Lansing, Michigan
Friends of South Asia
Gadar Heritage Foundation, Fremont
Hillingdon Asian Women's Communication Service, UK
India Foundation, East Lansing, Michigan
ICJB- International Coalition for Justice in Bhopal
Indian Muslim Council, USA
Indian Progressive Study Group-L.A.
India Relief and Education Fund, Fremont
Indian Workers Association (GB)
International Accountability Project
International League of People's Struggles, UK
International Service Society, Okemos, Michigan
International South Asia Forum: INSAF, NYC
Massachusetts Global Action
Matahari: Eye of the Day
National Lawyers' Guild
Our Developing World
Peace and Human Rights Trust: UK
Peninsula Peace & Justice Center
Peoples Health Movement, USA
SAMAR
San Jose Peace & Justice Center
Sanhati
SANSAD (South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy) Canada
SAPAC: South Asian Progressive Action Collective, Chicago
SACC- Scotland Against Criminalising Communities
Seva International, Okemos, Michigan
Sikh American Heritage Organization
South Asian Alliance, UK
South Asia Solidarity Group, UK
South Asia Solidarity Initiative
SAPA, Harvard (formerly SASS)
Students for Bhopal
The 1857 Committee, U.K.
Vaishnava Center for Enlightenment, Okemos, Michigan
Vedanta Society of East Lansing, Michigan
Western States Legal Foundation
WILPF-San Jose
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