An Open Letter to Com. Prakash Karat,
General Secretary, CPI (M)
Dear Com. Prakash Karat,
This is to invite your most urgent attention and immediate follow-up to avoid the exploding situation in Chengara in Kerala.
As you are aware of, Chengara, a village in Kerala, now well-known all over India, is the venue of the unique and unparalleled land struggle by the landless people of Kerala. More than 7,000 families from different districts of Kerala have occupied the Harrison Malayalam rubber estate in Chengara and started living in small tents made of plastic sheets and rubber-wood pieces with no amenities for drinking water, sanitation, health care etc. The surrounding natural water canal is the life line. A vast majority of occupants belongs to SC/ST and other Dalit communities. They came here leaving the most unbearable life conditions of crowded dalit colonies, huts in government land attached to rivers, canals, railway line etc., demanding land not only for shelter, but to earn a living. Their struggle interwoven with hunger, thirst, diseases, malnutrition, lack of medical care, extreme poverty etc. has completed one year. The determination and willpower defeating the sense of insecurity and uncertainty alone keep the struggle alive and buoyant.
The state government had talks with the leaders of the Sadhujana Vimochana Samyuktha Vedi (SVSV) that spearheads the agitation, yielding no positive outcome or decisive initiatives.
As this struggle continues, completing one year, threats by trade unions under the leadership of CITU have been planned and executed against these hapless people. The trade unions have blocked the entry to the estate, virtually denying their access to procure water, food, materials and other essentials from nearby places. This blockade is inhuman and in violation of human rights respected and scrupulously practiced in any democratic society. Physical assault and attack on women, including rape have been reported.
To worsen the situation, the trade unions with CITU in the forefront have declared that on 3 September 2009 they would forcefully enter the estate occupied by the strugglers and evict them by muscle power.
We are sure that such advancement by trade unions would bring bloodshed, violence and suicide. Already the strugglers are reportedly ready with kerosene cans for self-immolation, in case of forceful eviction.
We urge you to intervene personally to avoid bloodbath, killings and suicides in Chengara. You may kindly advise party cadres and state leaders to call off their forceful entry into the inhabited estate on 3 September and help initiate meaningful negotiation to solve the crisis.
Of course the more important thing is to work towards a settlement of the struggle of the landless dalits and adivasis for land to make a living. A lasting solution to the dire need of the extremely poor and deprived sections of the society, in this case, the dalits and adivasis, has to be brought about.
Once again we appeal for your quick action, understanding the gravity of the developments.
Sincerely,
Bishop Abraham Mar Paulose, Bishop Geevarghese Mar Koorilose, Simon John, K. Ambujakshan, Rev. M.J. Joseph, Sunny M. Kapikkad, Rev. Y.T. Vinayaraj, M.D. Thomas, K.K. Koch, C.R. Neelakantan, Sreeraman Koyyon, Prof. Philip N. Thomas
General Secretary, CPI (M)
Dear Com. Prakash Karat,
This is to invite your most urgent attention and immediate follow-up to avoid the exploding situation in Chengara in Kerala.
As you are aware of, Chengara, a village in Kerala, now well-known all over India, is the venue of the unique and unparalleled land struggle by the landless people of Kerala. More than 7,000 families from different districts of Kerala have occupied the Harrison Malayalam rubber estate in Chengara and started living in small tents made of plastic sheets and rubber-wood pieces with no amenities for drinking water, sanitation, health care etc. The surrounding natural water canal is the life line. A vast majority of occupants belongs to SC/ST and other Dalit communities. They came here leaving the most unbearable life conditions of crowded dalit colonies, huts in government land attached to rivers, canals, railway line etc., demanding land not only for shelter, but to earn a living. Their struggle interwoven with hunger, thirst, diseases, malnutrition, lack of medical care, extreme poverty etc. has completed one year. The determination and willpower defeating the sense of insecurity and uncertainty alone keep the struggle alive and buoyant.
The state government had talks with the leaders of the Sadhujana Vimochana Samyuktha Vedi (SVSV) that spearheads the agitation, yielding no positive outcome or decisive initiatives.
As this struggle continues, completing one year, threats by trade unions under the leadership of CITU have been planned and executed against these hapless people. The trade unions have blocked the entry to the estate, virtually denying their access to procure water, food, materials and other essentials from nearby places. This blockade is inhuman and in violation of human rights respected and scrupulously practiced in any democratic society. Physical assault and attack on women, including rape have been reported.
To worsen the situation, the trade unions with CITU in the forefront have declared that on 3 September 2009 they would forcefully enter the estate occupied by the strugglers and evict them by muscle power.
We are sure that such advancement by trade unions would bring bloodshed, violence and suicide. Already the strugglers are reportedly ready with kerosene cans for self-immolation, in case of forceful eviction.
We urge you to intervene personally to avoid bloodbath, killings and suicides in Chengara. You may kindly advise party cadres and state leaders to call off their forceful entry into the inhabited estate on 3 September and help initiate meaningful negotiation to solve the crisis.
Of course the more important thing is to work towards a settlement of the struggle of the landless dalits and adivasis for land to make a living. A lasting solution to the dire need of the extremely poor and deprived sections of the society, in this case, the dalits and adivasis, has to be brought about.
Once again we appeal for your quick action, understanding the gravity of the developments.
Sincerely,
Bishop Abraham Mar Paulose, Bishop Geevarghese Mar Koorilose, Simon John, K. Ambujakshan, Rev. M.J. Joseph, Sunny M. Kapikkad, Rev. Y.T. Vinayaraj, M.D. Thomas, K.K. Koch, C.R. Neelakantan, Sreeraman Koyyon, Prof. Philip N. Thomas
01.09.2008
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