Khammam – 8 peasants struggling for land killed in police firing
Response of Congress Government of AP:
- Firing ‘unfortunate’;
- Judicial enquiry underway;
- Blames ‘naxalite’ participation in rally and ‘provocation by the protestors’
- Chief Minister need not resign
Nandigram: 14 peasants struggling for land killed in firing by police and CPI(M) cadres
Response of CPI(M) Government of W Bengal:
- Firing ‘unfortunate’;
- Judicial enquiry underway;
- Blames ‘naxalite’ participation in protest and ‘provocation by the protestors’
- Chief Minister need not resign
The massacre of peasants at Nandigram on March 14 had evoked an explosion of outrage among the Left intelligentsia. Many intellectuals broke ranks with the CPI(M) after Nandigram, choosing to side with the valiant struggle of the Nandirgam peasantry. Intellectuals close to the CPI(M), however, had issued a statement that had expressed pain and anguish at the incident while continuing to assert faith in the progressive intentions and democratic credentials of the CPI(M)-led LF Government in West Bengal. Many of these intellectuals , supporters of CPI(M), are teachers at JNU – like Prof. Prabhat Patnaik, Utsa Patnaik, Jayati Ghosh and others.
Of course, this statement, while expressing pain at the loss of life and injuries of the Nandigram victims, had stopped short of expressing solidarity with the Nandigram peasants’ struggle to defend their land. One can’t but help contrasting this with the excellent statement signed by many of the selfsame intellectuals in the wake of the Khammam firing. That statement unstintedly expresses “our total solidarity with the mass upsurge of the poor for land”. Is a mass upsurge of peasantry for land to be recognised as such only when led by one’s own party?
But what is to be appreciated is that these intellectuals loyal to the CPI(M), in their statement on Nandigram, had been confident that the CPI(M)-led Government of West Bengal genuinely regretted the firing and was committed to ensuring justice for the victims.
Their statement declared that ” nobody belonging to the Left would ever justify repressive action against peasants and workers who are the basic classes of the Left“, had termed the “tragedy at Nandigram” to be “an entirely unanticipated, unjustified and unfortunate turn of events “, and had confidently claimed that “the state government has committed itself to recompensing the families of the victims“. In view of the state government’s efforts, these supporters of CPI(M) had then appealed for some closure so as “not to let the wounds of Nandigram become festering sores.”
Has the CPI(M) lived up to this confidence reposed in it by its own loyalists?
Consider the following statements made by senior CPI(M) leaders following the Khammam firing:
“At Khamman, the situation had not warranted police firing…Only some brickbats had been thrown. But, at Nandigram, the police were forced to open fire” – CPI(M) PB Member and former WB Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, Hindu, July 31
“The CPI-M is not at all ashamed of the Nandigram incident and the question of giving compensation to families of those killed in police firing on 14 March or taking action against police officials doesn’t arise… At the best we can offer some pity.” – CPI-M Central Committee member Benoy Konar (Statesman July 31) (emphasis ours)
“(At Nandigram) it was a revolt against the state and an elected government’s authority. In Andhra, we did not wage any armed struggle against the government, but launched a people’s movement asking it to fulfil its electoral promise of land reforms.” – Konar, Telegraph, July 31
Is the Nandigram firing really “unjustified” according to the CPI(M)? Clearly not. The CPI(M), in fact, is belying the confidence of its supporters that “nobody on the Left would ever justify” police firing of workers and peasants. In exactly the same manner as AP Chief Minister YSR and the Congress are justifying the Khammam firing by claiming ‘provocation’ and ‘violence’ by ‘Naxalites’, CPI(M)’s topmost leaders (including the veteran Jyoti Basu) continue to claim that the police firing at Nandigram was required, necessary.
Is the CPI(M)-led Government accepting the responsibility for compensation to those who lost loved ones, livelihoods (being unable to work due to severe and debilitating injuries including widespread loss of eyesight), and homes as a result of the repression? Far from it, CPI(M) leaders are saying that the question of paying compensation or punishing even police officials does not arise. To add insult to injury, they have the temerity to “at best” offer a grudging “pity”.
Comrade Basu and Konar, weren’t the martyrs of Nandigram also CPI(M) cadres, comrades of the Khammam martyrs, until the threat of land grab by the CPI(M) Government? Weren’t the peasants of Nandigram inspired by the legacy of the Left-led Tebhaga movement just as those at Khammam were inspired by the legacy of the Left-led Telengana movement? At Khammam peasants were asking the Government to implement land reforms; at Nandigram, they were demanding that the Government keep its promise of ‘land to the tiller’, and stop handing over poor peasants’ lands to corporate houses.
Isn’t CPI(M)’s crude and callous justification of the Nandigram firing an insult –not just to the martyrs of Nandigram – but also to the martyrs of Khammam, and to the expectations of its own most loyal supporters among the intellectuals?
For a discussion of the deep discomfort of CPI(M) intellectuals over Nandigram, and CPI(M)’s own total refusal to address their concerns, see http://sanhati.com/front-page/304/
Buddhadeb Bhattacharya Cartoon
August 12, 2007
Buddha is anti-peasant
Nandigram Violence A ‘State Sponsored Massacre’
August 12, 2007
Nandigram Violence A
‘State Sponsored Massacre’
By People’s Tribunal On Nandigram
09 August, 2007
Countercurrents.org
In its final report the People’s Tribunal on Nandigram has called the violence of 14 March 2007 a ‘pre-planned, state-sponsored massacre’ carried out ‘to teach a lesson’ to people opposing the SEZ project on their land.
It has strongly recommended continuation of the CBI investigation, initiated by the Calcutta High Court on 15th March but wound up in just a week. Among other aspects it wants the CBI to inquire into the specific roles played by members of the local and state administration in the killings of innocent people and atrocities on women.
The Tribunal report, handed over to Mr Gopal Krishna Gandhi, Governor, West Bengal on 8 August, also called for the re-arrest of the ten CPI (M) cadres taken into custody earlier by CBI but let off on bail due to the deliberate laxity of the West Bengal state police in filing charges against them within the statutory period.
In its findings the Tribunal said on 14 March “there were a disturbingly large number of incidents of sexual violence by both police and armed ruling party cadre against women, many of them carried out in the most cruel, degrading and inhuman manner”. In order to provide speedy justice to the victims the Tribunal report has asked the judiciary to consider setting up a special bench, headed by a woman judge, to hear all cases of rape, molestation and violence against women of Nandigram by both police personnel and armed cadre of the CPI (M).
The Tribunal report has further called upon the Calcutta High Court to appoint a “monitoring committee” to ensure that there is no repetition of the violence of 14 March. It pointed out since that day there have been at least 25 incidents of armed “intrusion” by CPI (M) cadre into the Nandigram area for which no one has been arrested.
The report also called upon the West Bengal government to make a public declaration that force would not be used against the local people for the so called restoration of law and order in the Nandigram area.
The nearly 100 page report, based on prima facie evidence as well as over 194 depositions from people and organisations in Nandigram and Kolkata, has also asked the National Human Rights Commission to look into the issue of immediate distribution of ex-gratia payment to all those killed or injured in the violence of 14 March. Further it said the people of Nandigram should also be legally assisted in obtaining compensation and damages for death, injuries or damaged properties from the government.
The report has also addressed the contentious issue of CPI (M) supporters and their families who have fled to Khejuri and suggested the refugees be given full protection to return to their homes and continue their livelihood under supervision of an independent body. It has however made an exception of those among the CPI (M) cadre from Nandigram who have been accused of grave crimes on, before or after 14 March 2007.
The Governor told the delegation of citizens who met him to present the Tribunal report that he will go through its contents and take appropriate action as required.
The Tribunal, organized by the All India Citizens’ Initiative, a network of concerned citizens across India, heard depositions from victims, witnesses, social activists, intellectuals, doctors, human rights groups and other concerned organisations. The hearings were held in both Nandigram and Kolkata from 26-28 May and headed by Justice S.N.Bhargava, former Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court.
Tribunal members, which included Prabhash Joshi (Founder Editor, Jansatta), Lalita Ramdas (Social Activist), John Dayal (Member, National Integration Council) and Jyotirmoy Samajder (Psychiatrist), visited the site of police firing and other places in the Nandigram area relevant to understanding the circumstances and nature of the violence.
Among the other findings of the Tribunal are:
- Maintaining secrecy over the details of the Special Economic Zone project and lack of proper consultation with those likely to be affected by the land acquisition was what created suspicion and resentment among people in Nandigram about the intentions of the government;
- There was deliberate negligence in attending to the victims and providing them immediate medical assistance, treatment and relief following standard universal guidelines;
- In the aftermath of the incidents of 14 March 2007 no compensation or assistance has been provided to the victims by way of rations, cash or medical support;
- The incidents of 14 March, 2007 could have been avoided provided adequate steps were taken by the Administration after the violent events of 7 January 2007 and had the miscreants apprehended and taken to task;
Recommendations made by the Tribunal, based on prima facie evidence as well over 194 depositions made before it, include:
Filing of a Habeas Corpus petition for missing persons especially in the case of Subrato Samanta, who is still missing following the police firing and assault of 14 March 2007;
Prosecution of CPI (M) cadres guilty of impersonating police personnel on 14 March 2007 or using illegal firearms;
Encouragement of civil society groups to provide legal assistance to the people of Nandigram, who have lost confidence in the state administration and police, to file FIRs against the perpetrators of the 14 March massacre;
Thorough investigation and prosecution of officials of public hospitals found guilty of tampering with medical discharge certificates of the victims of 14 March massacre to hide incriminating evidence;
Medical aid and assistance by the state to victims who are still suffering and who were not suitably attended and treated so far;
Disarming of both sides engaged in conflict in Nandigram and surrounding areas through talks, and confidence-building measures under an effective and independent agency/observers appointed by the Calcutta High Court;
Full involvement of all political parties at the local level in the peace efforts in Nandigram and adjoining areas and not merely by the party leaderships at the state level;
Among the more long term measures suggested by the Tribunal are that Human Rights Courts as provided by the Human Rights Act (1993) be set up in West Bengal to provide justice in the cases of human rights violations and that police reforms be undertaken urgently to de-link the police from anti-social elements and interference from ruling party and politicians.
For Interviews and Quotes contact:
Justice S.N.Bhargava, Chair, People’s Tribunal on Nandigram: 09414044461
Prabash Joshi, Member, Jury: 0120-6513822
Lalita Ramdas, Member, Jury: 09422495315
John Dayal, Member, Jury: 09811021072
Jyotirmoy Samajder, Member Jury: 9831002501
For further information contact:
Rabin Chakraborty (Kolkota): Ph- 09433728792 rabin.chakraborty@gmail.com
Satya Sivaraman (New Delhi): Ph- 9818514952 satyasagar@gmail.com
Apoorvanand (New Delhi): Ph- 011-26495976 resistanceever@yahoo.co.in
V.Srinivasan (Chennai) : Ph- 09840081114
srini59@gmail.com
