---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anivar Aravind <anivar.aravind@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 31, 2010 at 8:57 AM
Subject: [OrissaConcerns] Press Release of Fact Finding Team: POLICE TORTURE ON ANTI-POSCO PEOPLE
To: connect <connect@lists.orissaconcerns.net>
Press Release of Fact Finding Team: POLICE TORTURE ON ANTI-POSCO PEOPLE
http://orissaconcerns.net/2010/05/fft-pressrelease/
Please find the Press Release of a Fact Finding Team led by Justice
H.Suresh that visited to Dhinkia Charidesh to know the situation
after May 15 Police action against anti-POSCO agitators at Balitutha.
The Team visited Balitutha, Dhinkia, Patana and other villages on 25th
and on 24th they had discussed with leaders of various political
parties, senior journalists, activists and others. On 26th(11 AM) they
addressed a Press Conference at Lohia Academy, Bhubaneswar. The FFT
was organised by the National Citizens Forum.
PRESS RELEASE
26.05.2010
A fact finding team traveled to Jagatsinghpur district of Orissa to
look into the human rights violations in the wake of May 15 police
attack on the activists of POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) and
villagers affected by the proposed POSCO project. The team headed by
retired judge of the Bombay High Court Justice H Suresh comprised
veteran social activist Chitranjan Singh, Professor Kalpana
Kannabiran, veteran public health doctor Dr. Punyabrata Gun, senior
journalist Bolan Gangopadhyay and human rights activist and journalist
Harsh Dobhal. Upon its arrival on 24th morning the team held detailed
discussions with representatives of political parties, leaders of
people's movements, journalists, academics and other concerned
citizens at Bhubaneshwar. On 25th the team traveled to Balituth,
proposed POSCO site of Dhinkia, Gobindapur, Patana and other villages
and interacted with the local residents and victims of May 15 police
firing in an attempt to get first hand information. Following are the
prima facie observations by the fact finding team and a detailed
report would be complied and published soon:
* The police attack on May 15th on peaceful protestors was
totally uncalled for and should have no space in a democratic country
like India. Police first opened tear gas shells, then rubber bullet
firings and finally resorted to a brutal lathicharg when the
determined villagers refused to leave the site. Over 100 persons were
injured in the police action, five of them critically. Violating norms
of criminal procedure, women protestors were manhandled by the male
police. In violation of international norms and standards on the
treatment of the injured even during war times, the Orissa
administration did not provide any medical help to the injured. The
team interacted with a number of injured persons who have been
languishing in their villages without any medical help as they fear
police arrests if they leave the villages and the administration has
not arranged for any medical help for them.
* The team also interacted with a number of residents of
Balituth who were neither protestors nor against POSCO project but
their shops and houses were set on fire by police without any
provocation. We witnessed the burnt down structures of about 15 shops
and 6 houses. We could see that while no protest is going on at that
site, two vanloads of police personnel are still camping there.
* A number of villagers testified that the police set on fire
the protest site and the shops and houses but ironically police has
filed cases against anti-POSCO movement leader Abhay Sahu and others
for arson and looting. Similarly, police has filed false cases against
about 800 people who were protesting against the project in a
democratic and peaceful manner.
* After traveling to these affected villages, the team has
found that the most of the land being proposed for acquisition is rare
and fertile land, rich in biodiversity and eco diversity. All the
affected villagers have depended on this land for their livelihoods
for centuries. Displacing them from there is an attack on their lives
and livelihoods and will have very serious and irreversible impact on
the fragile and unique ecology of the area.
* The proposed land acquision for POSCO is violation of a
number Constitutional rights. The team has observed that the villagers
are determined not to leave their land and wage a protracted struggle
against any displacement.
* The fact finding team demands immediate withdrawal of all
forged cases against villagers and anti-POSCO movement leaders,
release of those arrested, withdrawal of police force from the area,
put an end on terrorizing the local populace, allow free movement to
and from these villages and initiate immediate withdrawal of the
proposed POSCO project from this site. The stiff resistance to POSCO
and popular support to this people's struggle from outside is
reflective of the fact that this is a crucial issue of national
importance and national interest.
Justice H Suresh Chitranjan Singh Dr Punyabrata Gun
Prof Kalpana Kannabiran Bolan Gangopadhyay Harsh Dobhal
______________________________ _________________
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http://lists.orissaconcerns.net/listinfo.cgi/connect-orissaconcerns.net
http://orissaconcerns.net
From: Anivar Aravind <anivar.aravind@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 31, 2010 at 8:57 AM
Subject: [OrissaConcerns] Press Release of Fact Finding Team: POLICE TORTURE ON ANTI-POSCO PEOPLE
To: connect <connect@lists.orissaconcerns.net>
Press Release of Fact Finding Team: POLICE TORTURE ON ANTI-POSCO PEOPLE
http://orissaconcerns.net/2010/05/fft-pressrelease/
Please find the Press Release of a Fact Finding Team led by Justice
H.Suresh that visited to Dhinkia Charidesh to know the situation
after May 15 Police action against anti-POSCO agitators at Balitutha.
The Team visited Balitutha, Dhinkia, Patana and other villages on 25th
and on 24th they had discussed with leaders of various political
parties, senior journalists, activists and others. On 26th(11 AM) they
addressed a Press Conference at Lohia Academy, Bhubaneswar. The FFT
was organised by the National Citizens Forum.
PRESS RELEASE
26.05.2010
A fact finding team traveled to Jagatsinghpur district of Orissa to
look into the human rights violations in the wake of May 15 police
attack on the activists of POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) and
villagers affected by the proposed POSCO project. The team headed by
retired judge of the Bombay High Court Justice H Suresh comprised
veteran social activist Chitranjan Singh, Professor Kalpana
Kannabiran, veteran public health doctor Dr. Punyabrata Gun, senior
journalist Bolan Gangopadhyay and human rights activist and journalist
Harsh Dobhal. Upon its arrival on 24th morning the team held detailed
discussions with representatives of political parties, leaders of
people's movements, journalists, academics and other concerned
citizens at Bhubaneshwar. On 25th the team traveled to Balituth,
proposed POSCO site of Dhinkia, Gobindapur, Patana and other villages
and interacted with the local residents and victims of May 15 police
firing in an attempt to get first hand information. Following are the
prima facie observations by the fact finding team and a detailed
report would be complied and published soon:
* The police attack on May 15th on peaceful protestors was
totally uncalled for and should have no space in a democratic country
like India. Police first opened tear gas shells, then rubber bullet
firings and finally resorted to a brutal lathicharg when the
determined villagers refused to leave the site. Over 100 persons were
injured in the police action, five of them critically. Violating norms
of criminal procedure, women protestors were manhandled by the male
police. In violation of international norms and standards on the
treatment of the injured even during war times, the Orissa
administration did not provide any medical help to the injured. The
team interacted with a number of injured persons who have been
languishing in their villages without any medical help as they fear
police arrests if they leave the villages and the administration has
not arranged for any medical help for them.
* The team also interacted with a number of residents of
Balituth who were neither protestors nor against POSCO project but
their shops and houses were set on fire by police without any
provocation. We witnessed the burnt down structures of about 15 shops
and 6 houses. We could see that while no protest is going on at that
site, two vanloads of police personnel are still camping there.
* A number of villagers testified that the police set on fire
the protest site and the shops and houses but ironically police has
filed cases against anti-POSCO movement leader Abhay Sahu and others
for arson and looting. Similarly, police has filed false cases against
about 800 people who were protesting against the project in a
democratic and peaceful manner.
* After traveling to these affected villages, the team has
found that the most of the land being proposed for acquisition is rare
and fertile land, rich in biodiversity and eco diversity. All the
affected villagers have depended on this land for their livelihoods
for centuries. Displacing them from there is an attack on their lives
and livelihoods and will have very serious and irreversible impact on
the fragile and unique ecology of the area.
* The proposed land acquision for POSCO is violation of a
number Constitutional rights. The team has observed that the villagers
are determined not to leave their land and wage a protracted struggle
against any displacement.
* The fact finding team demands immediate withdrawal of all
forged cases against villagers and anti-POSCO movement leaders,
release of those arrested, withdrawal of police force from the area,
put an end on terrorizing the local populace, allow free movement to
and from these villages and initiate immediate withdrawal of the
proposed POSCO project from this site. The stiff resistance to POSCO
and popular support to this people's struggle from outside is
reflective of the fact that this is a crucial issue of national
importance and national interest.
Justice H Suresh Chitranjan Singh Dr Punyabrata Gun
Prof Kalpana Kannabiran Bolan Gangopadhyay Harsh Dobhal
______________________________ _________________
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Pl Read:
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