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PEOPLE ’ S MARCH Voice of the Indian Revolution

CONDEMNATIONS
GALORE WORLDWIDE
AGAINST THE INDIAN STATE'S
WAR ON PEOPLE
IN THE NAME OF
OPERATION GREEN HUNT
We should practice
GUERRILLA JOURNALISM
SAINATH
PEOPLES’ MARCH Contents
Voice of the Indian Revolution Vol. 11 No. 2, Mar-Apr 2010 Rs. 20

Chhattisgarh police
19
abduct
Seema Is a Human
21
Right Worker
Statement The tribal ‘Ruchikas’ of
from Turkey 12 22
Dantewada
PUDR Statement 3
Amnesty International Compulsory voting,
23
Voices against war 4 Statement 13 Chhattisgarh style
Salwa Judum ILPS-Canada Peoples Tribunal
24
the Privatization of 8 14 Verdict
State Violence Statement
Bayan/ILPS Telangana Continues
25
The International Press Release 16 to Burn
Campaign Against War 10 Response by Azad,
on the People How the State is 27
Waging War 17 Spokesperson
Statement
from the Philippines 11 In Chhattisgarh, jail 18 Democracy’ at its worst 40

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2 PEOPLE’ S MARCH, Mar-Apr. 2010


Death of jawans in Chhattisgarh - PUDR Statement;
A Response by Sumanta Banerjee
6 April 2010
Peoples Union for Democratic Rights believes that the death of 70 jawans in Dantewada on early hours of April 6th,
2010, is an unfortunate fallout of the government’s willful policy of pursuing ‘Operation Green Hunt’. We consider the
war against the so called “Left Wing Extremists”, as a wrong policy at a time when the country has been reeling under
unprecedented drought, crop failure and price rise. We have been urging the Indian government that war at home against
our own people, under any pretext, should be ruled out as an option, for once and for all, and the issues arising out of
tribal people’s opposition to MoU’s signed by the state governments with mining and other industrial conglomerates and
the consequent land grab, forest displacement, river water privatization needs to be resolved peacefully rather than
imposed on the people against their will. On either side of the divide it is our own people who fall victim to the bullets.
Since war remains the preferred option of the Indian government they have no one else but themselves to blame if
and when combatants die. We wish to remind them that security forces were returning from three day long operations
when the ambush took place. As civil rights organization we neither condemn the killing of security force combatants nor
that of the Maoists combatants, or for that matter any other combatants, when it occurs. We can only lament the folly of
the Indian government which lacks the courage and imagination to pursue a non militaristic approach which is pushing us
towards a bloody and dirty war.
Moushumi Basu and Asish Gupta
(Secretaries PUDR)
***********************************************************************************************************
The other side of transactions in a violent system:
the Maoist way of suppressing the para-military forces
Sumanta Banerjee
It is understandable that human rights/civil liberties organizations should come out with statements deploring the killing
of security forces (e.g. PUDR press statement on the wiping out of 75-odd CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh on April 6)
on the purely humanitarian ground that any loss of life is deplorable. But civil society groups or individuals who view the
issue from a larger perspective need to take a more rigorous and clear-cut stand. If they agree that the fundamental
issues raised by the Maoists are right, even if they do not accept their tactics (in other words, if they are well-disposed
towards the basic Maoist critique of the present exploitative system and sympathize with their efforts to build up alternative
structures of egalitarian governance in their areas of control, without supporting their tactics of indiscriminate killings of
innocent civilians), they have to recognize the stark reality.
The stark reality is that the confrontation between the recalcitrant Indian state (which is adopting an oppressive neo-
liberal model of development) and its opponents (the rural poor and tribal villagers who are facing displacement by that
model) is fast acquiring the dimensions of a civil war. In such a war situation, the liberal-bourgeois pacifists can condemn
both the disputing parties, and wash their hands off, shouting: “plague on both houses.” But can we afford to withdraw
and refuse to take sides in this war?
If we are opposing the Indian state’s neo-liberal model of development and its oppressive policies to impose it on our
people by displacing them from their homes, we should define our position with regard to the various popular protest
movements that are breaking out in different forms – ranging from Gandhian non-violent types like the Narmada Banchao
Movement or the anti-steel plant agitation in Kalinganagar on the one hand, to armed resistance by forest-dwellers and
tribal people organized under Maoist leadership on the other. The mainstream media propaganda builds up a peculiar
dichotomy between these two types of movements – describing the former as part of ‘democratic’ protest, and denouncing
the latter as ‘terrorism’ – as if the Maoist movement is not democratic. It is as if protests and agitations can be termed
democratic only if they are non-violent. But what if thousands of people in a particular area, comprising the majority of
the population, decide to opt for armed resistance, after their non-violent forms of protest are violently suppressed by
the state? This is what is happening in Chhattisgarh. The reasons why the tribal people in Dandakaranya have taken up
arms have been well-documented – not only by human rights activists, but also by no less an important body than the
Contd..... on Page 7
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 3
Voices against war
Stop War Against the People
What the State Wants to Destroy is the Alternate Development Model
An Appeal to Thinkers, Intellectuals, Artistes, and Writers

Dear Friends,
The Indian state has amassed exploiting their forests and mineral and and has invited the foreign imperialist
troops in central India on an metal resources at an unbridled pace companies and Indian big industrial
unprecedented scale, to swoop down but have never done anything to houses and their collaborations, to set
on the people. It is the latest of the wars provide them with basic requirements up new projects on these lands. The
launched by it against the people living like drinking water, education, medical Indian government has signed
in this country. The government says facilities etc. The loot of their resources Memorandums of Understanding to the
that it has to move against these areas has been enormous, to the tune of tune of lakhs of crores of rupees with
as Maoists hold sway over it and it is billions of rupees every year, with all the foreign and Indian industrial houses
not under the control of central or state the money going to the industrialists, for this purpose. The contents of these
authority. bureaucrats, politicians, contractors MoU’s are secret and confidential and
In fact the natives of these jungles and the police. All this was going on people have no access to them! The
have been living there for thousands smoothly, till the tribals awakened to current offensive of the Indian state is
of years and have protected these their rampant exploitation and inhuman to wrest back these areas from the
forests as they ensure life to them and oppression and took to the path of control of these people and hand it
are their only source of livelihood for resistance. This resistance has been over to these Companies. All this is
survival. These tribals are the most characteristic of their traditions and in being done in the name of
poor and wretched in our land. accordance with their nature as an development. But this development in
Popularly called adivasis, they are the independent people. Their struggle is fact is in no way the development of
oldest inhabitants of our country, still to put an end to this onslaught which the material conditions of the life of the
living in an ancient age. For thousands has made their life, hell like. That is why tribals and the people living around
of years they have lived an archaic life. they identified with the ideology of these areas. This is amply
In all these years, no one has been able revolutionary Marxism which promises demonstrated in the earlier projects
to subjugate them. The British Empire a world free of loot, exploitation and like Bailladilla, Balco, Bokaro, Bhilai,
tried to do this in 1910 but their oppression. That is why they found Jaduguda and numerous others.
marauding armies were repulsed and common cause with the revolutionary Quite recently we have seen the
forced to beat a retreat. The resistance Maoist rebels, who want to put a stop people of Nandigram, Singur, Kashipur,
of the tribal people against the British to every kind of exploitation and Kalinga Nagar, Lalgarh, Pollavaram,
forces was led by the great warrior tyranny and build an egalitarian, Tehri and Narmada Project areas
Gundadhur. This is popularly known humane society, free of resisting the setting up of car factories,
as the Bhoomkal Baghawat. Earlier, any kind of discrimination. dams, huge mining pit centers, SEZ’s
they had fought the British under the Of course, as is well known by and other projects which have nothing
leadership of Birsa Munda in the now, they are living on lands which are to do with the development and well-
famous Munda Rebellion in the blessed with the richest minerals, being of the masses of ordinary toiling
nineteenth century. metals and other natural resources like and poor in these areas or in the
Since then, no regime has dared to Iron, Coal, Bauxite, Manganese, country elsewhere. It is meant to enrich
attack and attempt to subjugate them, Corundum, Gold, Diamonds, Uranium the handful of already rich, who lives
whether they were the British or the etc. The Indian state has never a parasitic life, or to fill the coffers of
post-British rulers sitting at Delhi. considered that tribals have a right to foreign imperialist capitalists whose
They have remained a free people all their land and jungles, and have only religion is to loot, plunder and
along, with their own culture, customs constantly tried to usurp them in exploit. The people here have struggled
and a unique way of life. The central various ways. The State wants to and fought against the state for their
and state governments have been further intensify this exploitation now, rights over their lands and against the

4 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010


capitalist sharks on whose bidding the the only thing that can bring them real are led by the Maoists or not. And
government acts. happiness, in this wretched land of ours when the tribal heartland refuses to cow
The government has deployed lakhs called Hindustan. This land, of the down before such an attack, it
of armed forces to destroy the hungry. Of the exploited. Of the peasant deserves admiration. The state intends
resistance of the people, especially at who commits suicide. Of the youth to bring in the might of the Air Force
places where it is strong and facing a bleak future. Of the worker against its own people. This is the result
formidable and hampers the capitalists who is being laid off and kicked out of of the 60 years of misrule and the anti-
from acquiring resource rich lands. the factories. Of the employees of the people policies, they have been
When government says it wants to take organized sector who are losing all the imposing. The people have never given
back the areas controlled by Maoists, rights gained over the years when their them a mandate to carry out these
in fact, it wants to smash the resistance jobs are being contractualised. Of the policies. Over these years they have
of the people and snatch their lands to government employees who have been only opposed these policies through
offer these to the mining giants, booted out with a few crumbs in the petitions, protests, strikes, sit-ins,
industrialists and super rich name of VRS or Golden Handshake. Of struggles, resistance and also through
businessmen. Maoism is nothing but the petty shop keepers and traders, hunger strikes and work to rule
the rebellion of the people against whose enterprises are being gobbled up agitations. And god knows how many
injustice, notwithstanding whether the by the malls and the SEZs. This is the times the so-called people’s democratic
government calls them terrorists or land crying for justice. state has fired on the protesters. How
whatever. Millions of people in these If Maoists are branded by the many times they have killed people.
regions identify themselves with the Prime Minister as the biggest internal How many millions they have cane-
cause of the Maoists and when millions threat to the country, then the rulers charged and how many millions they
become a movement for a just cause, must think about what they have given have put into jails, not to speak of the
they can’t be called terrorists. to the people in the last 62 years of thousands of custodial deaths and mass
independence. Why have things come scale encounter killings. They never
The state admits that there are 223 stopped the repression. All these
districts out of a total of 600 where to such a pass? They have been ruling
and organizing society and have utterly decades, rather than listen to the
Maoists are active. This means that grievances of the people, this state,
there are 223 districts where the people failed in the six long decades that they
have been at the helm. The present state which swears by the non-violence of
espouse this ideology and want an end MK Gandhi, has been resorting to
to exploitation. That lakhs support this of affairs is their doing. Not that of the
Maoists. Their development strategies never-ending violence. Like a mafia.
resistance or are up in arms. That it has
have backfired and that can’t be blamed Yet, the resistance continued and
become a people’s movement. And
on the resisting people and the Maoists. revolts grew.
what of the people in the remaining
districts? Are they not workers, The Maoists have come into the And now it has created the borders
picture only recently, but what has the within, against its own countrymen.
peasants, students, employees, petty
state been doing about the promises it
shopkeepers and toiling masses who The current attack on the poor in
made to the people at the time of
have no stake in this system, want a central India is nothing but an enhanced
independence? Where has the promise
change for the better, and have the same and more deadly version of the same
of a Tryst with Destiny vanished? The
dreams? If the 223 are up against promise sworn by Jawaharlal Nehru state violence that has continued since
injustice and the rest have the same 1947. It is meant to break the fight
from the ramparts of Lal Qila on the
aspirations then the state loses the right midnight of 14-15 August 1947? back of the people there, the fight of
to use the invective of terrorism. People are not to be blamed for that the poorest of the poor, of the tribal
What the Indian state wants to promise not being kept, nor are the peasants, and workers working in the
destroy is not just the Maoists, but the Maoists. mines. It is meant to tell others
aspirations of millions upon millions in So now, Operation Green Hunt is everywhere in the country, not to stand
this country, the dreams of every not being executed just because the up for their rights, not to oppose the
oppressed Indian. government wants to wipe out the policies of the state though they go
It is using the media and all the Maoists in an all out war, in the name against the interests of the people and
propaganda machinery available, to of fighting terrorism. It is their attempt the country.
denigrate and destroy this. To destroy to annihilate the yearning of the people, The centre of resistance is being
the resistance of the down-trodden, their struggles, their resistance, their encircled not just to break it, but also
their movement for change, which is resolve for a better life, whether they to destroy the new things which the
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 5
people have created during the course * Women are also given property village has a Medicine Unit which
of their struggles and which they have rights over land. has been trained to identify diseases
toiled hard to build. The government * They have developed agriculture and distribute medicines to the
has started a vilification campaign from the primitive form of shifting villagers. The health of the tribals
against those who refuse to budge, who every one or two years, to rates only second in priority to the
refuse to kowtow and who refuse to be systematic settled farming. They fight against exploitation and
further misled by the never ending were taught to sow, weed and oppression.
empty promises of development and harvest the crops. They cultivate * The women participate equally in
progress. They know that this both their own private lands as well these developmental activities.
development is not for them. For a as co-operative fields for Special attention is paid to the issue
government which has discarded the community use. The development of patriarchy and that is why they
ideal of a welfare state can’t genuinely of agriculture is being done without come forward equally to defend
embark on a thing which it has using chemical fertilizers and their rights and lands.
abandoned at the behest of imperialist pesticides. * They run schools.
capital, the World Bank and the WTO.
* They have introduced a wide range The schools built by the
The people under attack have built of vegetables like carrot, radish, government are completely non-
their own local government, the Jantana brinjal, bitter gourd, okra, tomato functional and are usually used by
Sarkar, at various levels, taking their etc., which the tribals of remote the police and paramilitary forces
future into their own hands, for a real areas had never seen or tasted. when they raid villages. That is one
tryst with destiny.
* They have planted orchards of reason the people pull down these
Let us have a look in brief, at what bananas, citrus fruits, mangoes, pucca structures which have
the people have built through their guavas etc. become symbols of repression.
Development Committees in the * They have built dams, ponds, and * They have published books and
villages in Dandakarnya, and what the
water channels for breeding fish magazines in the Gondi language.
State wants to destroy. It will give us a and for the purpose of irrigation. All As a result, it is for the first time
glimpse of what the Maoists hold as a
this has been done through that this language has found a place
vision for the progress and development
collective labour and the produce in the written world. Songs, articles
of our country – development which is is distributed free to every and anecdotes written by the Gond
indigenously and self reliantly built,
household. people are published in the
one which is people oriented and is magazines brought out by the
constructed in the course of the people’s * They have dug wells for safe
drinking water. movement. These are the initial
democratic participation, and one
The industrial projects have steps to develop this ancient
which cares for this land and its language which has been neglected,
resources. Such development which destroyed underground water
sources, and streams have been just as the people have been.
will free us from the stranglehold of Though there is no existing script
imperialist capital and its dictates. A polluted to such an extent, that the
in Gondi, they use Devnagri script.
course of action which can only be fish and water life have died as also
executed by the truly patriotic. the vegetation around it. Many fruit * The remunerative prices for Tendu
trees have stopped flowering leaf collection and wages for the
* The biggest reform undertaken is
around these water resources. cutting of bamboo and timber is
that of land. They have distributed fixed by the Maoist movement
lakhs of acres of land among every * They have set up rice mills in a
number of villages. These mills taking into consideration the
peasant household. And no one is interests of the tribals.
allowed to keep more land than one have freed women from the daily
can till. Thus doing away with pounding of paddy for extracting * Trade in the movement area goes
unnecessary hiring of labour in grain. Many of these mills have on without hindrance. The traders
agriculture. Even the Patels who been destroyed by Salwa Judum are not allowed to cheat the tribals
used to oppress people and fleece which was launched by the in haat bazaars. The movement
them through unpaid labour have government, which talks so much announces remunerative prices for
been allowed to retain land they can about development in these areas. the jungle produce and paddy
manage with their family’s labour. which the traders agree to. The
* They have built a health care
No non-tribals are allowed to own presence of guerrillas ensures fair
system which reaches every tribal
land there. peasant in every village. Each trade practices. On the other hand,
6 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
the traders feel happy that there is freely in the jungle whether it is day units in every village.
no danger of theft or robberies in or night. * Almost every village has units of
the movement controlled areas and * Democratic functioning has been People’s Militia which take up the
they can move about there, freely. introduced at the village level responsibility of defense of the
* They have their own justice onwards. The Gram Rajya village.
system. People’s Courts are held Committees (now called Revolutio- * Cultural organizations thrive in
to settle various disputes among nary Peoples Committees) function these jungles as the tribals have
the people, as well as with the at the head of various committees great affinity for cultural activities.
oppressors. like Development Committees These organizations propagate
* Theft, robbery, cheatings, murders which look after agriculture, fish through songs, dances, plays and
for property and personal gains farming, education, village other art forms, on all the issues
have vanished. development, Medicine Units etc. whether local, national or
* Sexual harassment and rape by the * The women and children have their international.
forest department, the contractors own organizations in almost every * The movement has been able to
and the police has become a thing village. The tribal peasants have prevent starvation deaths in its
of the past. Now the women walk their separate organization, with areas. PM
Contd..... from Page 3
Planning Commission Experts Group in its report on extremist-affected areas a few years ago. For years together, their
basic needs had not only been ignored by the state, but whenever they tried to assert their economic demands through
peaceful democratic avenues – like demonstrations asking for higher prices for tendu leave collection, or access to forest
produce – they were ruthlessly suppressed by the police.
What needs to be asserted – and which is deliberately suppressed by the mainstream media – is that even the non-
violent protest movements (accepted as ‘democratic’ by the bourgeois-liberals) are violently opposed by the state
through the use of military force (witness the experience of the Narmada Banchao movement, or of the Gandhian
Himangshu whose ashram in Chhattisgarh was destroyed by the police). If the followers of these non-violent
movements, after their disillusionment with the ‘peaceful’ means of constitutional protest, take up arms tomorrow to
protect their homes and occupations, should we denounce them as ‘terrorists’?

The Home Minister, P. Chidambaram says that the Naxalites have forced a war on the Indian state and its people.
It’s the other way round. The Indian state has forced a war on the Indian poor by imposing on them a corporate
sector-induced model of development – threatening wide sections of rural people ranging from the villages of Orissa,
Jharkhand in the east to Rajasthan and Haryana in the north, who are being ousted from their lands. They are
breaking out in protest demonstrations. The state responds by resorting to violence to suppress them. It has built up
a well-structured a military network consisting of a variety of forces going under the names of CRPF, CISF, Special
Operation Group, Eastern Frontier Rifles, etc. in various states. Exposures by independent reporters (in magazines
like TEHELKA) have revealed how the senior officials and their juniors in these para-military forces have been
consistently killing innocent people in false encounters, raping women, burning villages, not only in Maoist-dominated
villages of Chhattisgarh, but also in Manipur and other parts of the north-east. The CRPF in particular has earned a
notoriety for atrocities in areas wherever they had been deployed. The national media may shed tears for the death
of the 75-odd CRPF soldiers in Chhattisgarh. But then, these soldiers, by being cannon-fodders of the Indian state,
however tragic it might be, suffered the fate that – I’m sorry to say – they deserved. Should the bourgeois-liberals
and human rights activists shed tears for the young dedicated Nazi soldiers (who massacred the Jews), and were
killed in reprisal by the Soviet Red Army? Surely, there should be a limit to the tolerance that bourgeois-liberalism
allows!

To come back to the latest incident of the Maoist attack on the CRPF camp in Chhattisgarh…. if we accept it as a
part of a civil war, such killings are inevitable (just as the CRPF killings of Maoists) in a violent system that has been
institutionalized by the Indian state. The difference between the CRPF violence (involving ‘false encounters’, raping
of tribal women, burning their homes, etc.) on the one hand, and the Maoist violence on the other (which means
attacks on oppressive landlords and the police and para-military forces like the CRPF which come to the aid of the
landlords) - has to be distinguished by civil society groups. PM
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 7
Salwa Judum
the Privatization of State Violence
Salwa Judum was a terror campaign Green Hunt, a military campaign with The list continues:
launched by the government, where the nearly one lakh personnel. Under Supporters:
police recruited tribal youth at Rs.1500 various pretexts, the Indian Air Force
1. Gursharan Singh, Dramatist-
per month as Special Police Officers is weighing its wings to swoop down Activist, Punjab 2. Prof. Bawa Singh,
(SPOs). The SPOs were given arms and on the forests, in spite of promises to
Guru Sar Sudhar College, Sudhar,
let loose on the villagers in the the contrary by the Prime Minister. Ludhiana 3. Jaswant Kailvi, Ghazalgo,
movement areas. They burned, killed, We have been told that Maoists are Writer, Ferozepur 4. Baru Satwarg,
raped and forced people to flee their the biggest internal threat to the country. Novelist-Activist, Rampuraphul,
homes, with the help of paramilitary Who are these Maoists? They are just Bathinda 5. Dr. Baldev Singh, Deptt.
forces and specially trained Naga the people themselves who have taken of Economics, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur
Battalions standing guard. to the path of resistance, to struggle Khalsa College, Delhi 6. Jaspal Singh
Salwa Judum restricted and against the various Indian governments, Sidhu, Veteran Journalist (Presently
destroyed trade in these areas by closing who one after the other, do not allow Media Consultant with Punjabi
down the haat bazaars and trying to them a life of dignity or one of peace. University, Patiala) 7. Samual John,
demolish their economy to force the The state is attacking its own people Director Peoples’ Theatre, Lehra Gaga,
tribals into submission. From 2005-07, threatening to wipe them out, if they Sangrur 8. Jatinder Mauhar, Film
this went on for two years They don’t vacate the lands they have lived Director, Mohali 9. Megh Raj Mitter
destroyed standing and harvested crops, on for centuries. And we know about (Shiromani Lekhak), Barnala, Punjab
burned or poisoned the grain and other the term collateral damage – the killing 10. Dr. Mohan Tyagi, Poet, B.N. Khalsa
jungle produce kept by the tribals for of the civilian population in a war. Senior Sec. School, Patiala 11. Master
exchange in the haat bazaars to procure Salwa Judum killed the people without Des Raj Chili, Look Kale Munch Chili,
other essentials of life. Even all this a declared war, now they intend to kill Lehrer Gaga, Sangria 12. Jadish Para,
could not force the tribals to submit. on a much huger scale. They want to Writer, Lehrer Gaga, Sangria 13.
Rather than surrender, they lived on break the back of resistance by killing Narinder Nath Sharma, Advocate,
bamboo seeds. people. They want to hand over the Patiala 14. Dr. Tejwant Mann, Literary
The bloody campaign of Salwa resource rich lands of the tribals to the Critic, Sangrur 15. Prof, Harbhajan
Judum killed hundreds of tribals, greedy foreign capitalist lords. They Singh, Writer, USA 16. Yadwinder
burned hundreds of villages, raped want to destroy the alternate Kurfew, TV Journalist, Delhi 17.
hundreds of women, forcing about development what the people have Harbans Heon, Writer, Banga,
50,000 tribals to live in enclosures created with their enormous toil and Nawanshahr 18. Ajmer Sidhu, Writer,
called relief camps, set up by the police, persistent struggles. Nawanshahr 19. Gurmit Juj, Poet,
which the tribals ultimately fled. This Let us think. Let us awake. Let us Singer, Krantikari Sabhayachar Kendar,
campaign forced about 30,000 people spread the word. Let us awaken the Punjab 20. Balbir Chohla, Activist-
to flee their villages for other provinces. people everywhere else. Let us raise Journalist, Taran Taran 21. Prof.
Lakhs of people were forced to leave our voice against injustice. Let us tell Bhupinder Singh (retd), Sociology,
their homes and to roam in the interiors the government that it must stop this Punjabi University, Patiala 22. Satnam,
of the jungles. In fact the government war against its own people and Writer-Freelance Journalist, Patiala 23.
tried to destroy their whole economy instead listen to them, respect their Buta Singh, Publisher, Baba Bujha
and sources of livelihood even aspirations and attend to their Singh Prakashan, Banga, Nawanshahr
threatening to poison open water demands. 24. Jasdeep, Software Engineer, Delhi
sources in the forests. This is an unjust war which the 25. Harpreet Rathore, TV Journalist,
But the resistance continued. It government has declared on its own Delhi 26. Veer Singh, Research Scholar,
could not be broken. And Now people. JNU 27. Narbhinder, Activist-Writer,
Sirsa 28. Karam Barsat, Columnist,
Bitter with its failure to make the It must stop.
people yield to them, the government Sangrur 29. Sukirat, Journalist-Writer,
Here are the names who have so Jalandhar 30. Makhan Singh Namol,
has now embarked upon Operation far consented to the paper and signed Advocate, Sangrur 31. Davinderpal, TV
8 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
Journalist, Delhi 32. Partap Virk, TV Activist, Barnala 48. Charanjeet Singh Kala Manch, Mandi MulanPur, (Ldh)
Journalist, Delhi 33. Dr. Bhim Inder Teja, Freelance Journalist, Amritsar 49. 65. Prof. Ajmer Singh Aulakh.
Singh, Lecturer, Punjabi University, Attarjit, Short Story Writer, Bathinda Dramatist, Mansa 66. Dr. Maninder
Patiala 34. Jasvir Deep, Journalist and 50. Rajeev Lohatbaddi, Advocate, Kang, Writer, Jalandhar 67. Charanjit
Social Activist, Nawanshahr 35. Patiala 51. Harvinder Deewana, Chetna Bhullar, Journalist, Bathinda 68. Dr.
Paramjit Dehal, Poet & Literary Kala Kender, Barnala 52. Balwinder Anand Teltumbde, Human Rights
Activist, Nawanshehar 36. Prof. Kotbhara, Writer-Journalist, Bathinda Activist and wirter, Mumbai 69. Dr.
Jagmohan Singh, Democratic Rights 53. B.R.P. Bhaskar, Journalist, Puneet, Patiala 70. Taskeen, Critic,
Activist, Ludhiana 37. Dr. Gurjant Thiruvananthapuram 54. S.S. Azaad, Kapurthala 71. Chanda Asani, social
Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala. 38. Writer, Mansa 55. Sadhu Binning, researcher and activist, Mumbai 72.
Iqbal Kaur Udaasi, Progressive Singer- Writer, Vancouver, BC, Canada 56. Sanjay Joshi, convener, THE GROUP,
Activist, Barnala 39. Balvir Parwana, Hiren Gandhi, Ahmedabad 57. Vijay film group of Jan Sanskriti Manch 73.
Editor Sunday Magazine, Nawa Bombeli, Feature writer, Hoshiarpur Alok Kaushik, Photographer, Delhi 74.
Zamana, Jalandhar 40. Jugraj Dhaula, 58. Paramjeet Singh Khatra, Advocate, Nisha Biswas, Kolkata 75. Ravinder
Poet-Singer, Barnala 41. Dr. Ajit Pal, Nawan Shehar 59. Daljeet Singh, Goel, Associate Professor, Delhi
Writer-Activist, Bathinda 42. Rajinder Advocate, Nawan Shehar 60. Baldev University 76. Saroop Dhruv, Poet,
Rahi, Writer, Barnala 43. Bhupinder Singh, Advocate, District Courts Patiala Ahmedabad 77. Shamsul Islam &
Waraich, State President, Democratic 61. Paramjit Kahma, Doaba Sahit Ate Neelima Sharma (Nishant Natya
Teachers’ Front, Punjab 44. Didar Sabhiachar Sabha, Jejon (Hoshiarpur) Manch), Delhi 78. Manu Kant,
Shetra, Poet, Nawanshahr 45. Baldev 62. Dr. Ramesh Bali, Nawanshehar, Journalist, Online Media, Chandigarh
Balli, Poet, Nawanshahr 46. Jagsir Activist 63. Puneet Sehgal, programme 79. Dr. Pyare Mohan Sharma, Retd.
Jeeda, Lyricist-Singer, Giderbaha, executive, DoorDarshan, Jalandhar 64. Professor, Medical College, Patiala 80.
Bathinda 47. Hakem Singh Noor, Poet- Harkesh Chaudhry & Other Artists, Lok N K Jeet, Advocate, Bathinda PM
Contd..... from Page 17 VANJAM BUDRAI, Resident of asked the police for details about why
people fired at each person. One of Gattapadu village, gave her eye- the men had been taken away, |the
the women screamed and looked witness acoount: police told us that they had been
away. She was hit brutally by the They picked up three of them - detained by the Judum and that the
Judum for looking away. Chodi Masa, Padam Deva and 15- police had nothing to do with this. How
can the police wash their hands off the
They left the bodies in the field and year-old Dudhi Poja - and brought issue when our men were taken to the
them back to the village. The Judum
took the women away with them. After police station?
then forced the three men to round up
a long time, when we could no longer all the goats and chicken they could After several hours, we stepped out
hear the Judum, we walked back to find in the village and then dragged all to get something to eat. When we
our village. I was shocked at what I of them out of the village. The men returned, the people from Palachalam
saw in the village. An old woman who were forced to cook a meal and then told us that all the six men had been
couldn’t see properly had been hacked watch as the Judum men feasted. Once slipped out of the station to an
lunch was done, they marched the undisclosed location. Much later, we
to death inside her house. Her head
three men out of the village. From our heard that the Judum had shot the men.
had been split open. Her stomach had hiding spot, we could see everything Two days later, we heard that the police
been cut open and her intestines that was happening in the village. The had announced that the three men
scattered. There was so much blood minute the Judum left the village, 10- captured from our village were Naxals.
everywhere. Two other men were also 12 people from the village followed And that they had shot them dead in a
killed just outside their houses — their them. We were worried about the three shoot-out.
arms had been chopped off and they men they had taken away with them. Even if the police and the Judum
had been shot. We heard later that the The Judum took them to the nearest argue that Masa and Deva were adults
police station, nearly 8 hours away. and could have been Naxal
five women who were taken from our
Once we reached the police station we sympathizers, how can they label Poja,
village were made to walk 10 realized that the Judum had taken three a 15-year-old boy grazing his cattle, a
kilometres. They were raped and men from Palachalam as well - we met naxal? I doubt Poja had ever seen a
beaten by the Judum before being the women from Palachalam outside gun before he was arrested and shot
allowed to go. the station. At the station, when we dead. PM
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 9
The International Campaign Against War on the People of India
Dear friends, Yet, international public opinion is rally the support and solidarity of the
The International Campaign Against kept grossly in the dark about these progressive forces abroad, ICAWPI
War on the People of India (ICAWPI) issues while the mainstream media calls on everyone to join
is now ready to be launched to work continue to follow and repeat the Indian demonstrations and protest actions in
as a coordinating centre seeking State’s claims that “India is the largest front of Indian embassies and
international support for the resistance democracy in the world” and that the consulates on February 5, 2010 where
of the people of India against the all Maoists, as the biggest security threat ever possible. A list of organized events
out military offensive of the Indian state to this “democracy” must wiped out will be published on the website as
against its own citizens. at all costs. Thus they justify their they become available. Further
ICAWPI is an international silence and bless the Indian State in actions, events and meetings are being
extension of widespread opposition perpetrating these crimes in the name planned and will be announced soon
and initiatives against this genocidal war of a “war on terror”. after.
to forcefully crush the heroic resistance The ICAWPI aims to reach out to The website will also publish a list
of the tribal peoples in the heartlands all democratic and freedom loving of clubs, associations and meeting
of India and hand over these lands rich people across the world concerned places in Europe and elsewhere, for
in minerals and raw materials to about the plight of the people in India contact and discussion about the issue
international corporations such as to unite and take initiative to break this and to find ways of raising local
Vedanta. silence internationally and to rally much awareness and take common joint
This overt war serving to facilitate needed support and solidarity to the action.
the looting of the land by Indian and just struggles of the people of India. Please contact the ICAWPI through
international corporations for fabulous Further information on Operation info@iwapi.org to inform us of your
profits and the destruction of the Green Hunt and the struggles of the proposals to bring the campaign to
livelihood of the countless numbers of people are available through your area.
the poorest of the poor in India is www.icawpi.org - a website designed ICAWPI
branded “Operation Green Hunt”. to carry material related to this issue
While in different regions of the country Feb 03, 2010
and the campaign.
the same operation may be named ** In order to receive regular
We request all democratic and updates on developments and
differently, the Indian state shamelessly progressive formations to take initiative
tries to hide this banditry against the campaign news, please join the public
and coordinate their efforts with mailing list of the campaign by sending
people of India and utterly open ICAWPI. All reports of actions,
servitude to the imperialism as “war a blank email to info-request
meetings and letters of solidarity and
against the Naxalites”— imposing a @lists.icawpi.org with a subject line:
concern will be published at this site.
severe reign of terror and repression subscribe or simply contact
In order to launch this campaign and
on progressive and democratic forces info@icawpi.org PM
and individuals everywhere across the
country. Form IV (See Rule 8)
Countless intellectuals, authors, film Statement about ownership and other particulars about Newspaper er People’s March
makers, academics, and other 1. Place of Publication : Peroor House, Tripunithura NF,
professionals such as lawyers and Ernakulam, Kerala
2. Periodicity : Bi-Monthly
doctors who abhor the Indian state’s
3. Printer’s name : P.Govindan kutty
total lies and open disregard for civil
(Whether citizen of India) : Indian
and human rights have joined mass
4. Publisher’s name : P.Govindan kutty
gatherings and rallies and various 5. Editor’s name : P.Govindan kutty
forums in India in order to raise their 6. Name and address of individuals
own voices and join forces to oppose who own the newspaper and partners : P.Govindan kutty Peroor House,
the State and to defend the just cause of share holders holding more than one Tripunithura NF, Ernakulam, Kerala
of the oppressed tribal people in India. percent of the total capital
In the course of this gathering
movement countless people have been I, P.Govindan kutty, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of
arrested and imprisone d. Untold my knowledge and belief.
suffering and restrictions have been S/d
imposed on the people. 31-03-2010 Publisher

10 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010


Statement on India’s Operation Green Hunt
from the Philippines
We, in the various youth and student violations. Illegal and unjust arrests, (MOA) with various mining
groups in the Philippines express our forceful evacuation, torture, rape, and corporations. We demand that these
condemnation at the intensifying extra-judicial killings are being camps be immediately closed. We
attacks of the Indian government, committed by military, police and demand that the Indian government
starting from the Central government paramilitary without hesitation, in full withdraw heightened military
down to the state governments in public view and with so much impunity. deployment in the countryside and halt
pursuing the so-called Operation Green The Operation Green Hunt is against its Operation Green Hunt, and balked
Hunt, its counter-insurgency operations the adivasis, farmers, and ordinary at pursuing anti-people projects which
purportedly directed primarily against people especially in the remotest and will only trample upon the basic rights
the Communist Party of India (Maoist). poorest villages of India. The only of Indian people.
From the start of the Operation it has crime they have committed is to stand We support the Indian youth and
become clear that the real targets are and prevent the profit-driven mining people in their legitimate resistance
not the Maoists alone but the resistance and corporations in its operations which against the systematic loot of India’s
of the people of India against the will destroy their livelihood and resources which deprive its own people
wanton and profit-driven operations of plunder the environ and India’s natural their life and livelihood, and their
big multinational companies backed by resources. future.
government and its military and police. We condemn the use of the ANAKBAYAN
It has been reported that intensified Operation to flush out the adivasis and (Sons and Daughters of the People)
militarization in the regions of Orissa, farmers from their land and Student Christian Movement
Jharkand, Andra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh government’s building of concentration of the Philippines
and in the heroic Lalgarh had further camps of the displaced in order to League of Filipino Students (LFS)
resulted to wider human rights pursue its Memorandum of Agreements

STATEMENT OF SUPPORT TO THE INDIAN PEOPLE’S STRUGGLE AND


AGAINST OPERATION GREEN HUNT OF THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT
We, peasants from the Kilusang reform, primarily advanced by the Arroyo’s Oplan Bantay Laya resulted
Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Naxalites and Indian peasants who 561 peasant victims of extra-judicial
Peasant Movement of the Philippines) serve as main protectors of their native killings, where 119 were KMP leaders,
strongly support the Indian people’s lands against foreign land grabbing, 129 peasant victims of enforced
struggle against the Operation Green mining and industrial exploitation and disappearances and scores are being
Hunt being implemented by the Indian environmental destruction. We held for crimes they did not commit.
government. recognize the Indian peasants’
sovereign right to land and abhor the We from the Filipino peasant
We strongly condemn the inhuman
imperialist hunger of the United States movement pledge to carry out all we
abuses of Indian military backed by US
and other capitalist countries for profit, can to expose the brutality of the Indian
imperialism, the killings of Indian
as well as the Indian government. government. We will hold protest
people, particularly peasants, the torture
and rape, dislocation of 20 million We can relate to the suffering of the actions at the Indian embassy anytime
peasants and hamletting and other Indian peasants as we, Filipino farmers possible and convey our message of
forms of human rights violations. We are also victims of the Arroyo dissent to the measures of their
hold the Indian government and US government’s counter-insurgency government. We will include in our
military and government for the program Oplan Bantay Laya (Oplan fundamental calls the immediate end to
violence imposed upon the Indian Guard Freedom), that is composed Operation Green Hunt, massive
people. mainly of extra-judicial killings (EJK), militarization and human rights abuses
We support and uphold the Indian enforced disappearances and on Indian peasants and people.
people’s struggle for genuine land accusations of fabricated charges. PM
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 11
END OPERATION GREEN HUNT IN INDIA!
JUSTICE TO VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN INDIA!
STRUGGLE FOR GENUINE LAND REFORM IN INDIA!
DOWN WITH U.S. IMPERIALISM AND PUPPETRY OF THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT!
Norma G. Biñas this adversity, gains more and more parties. The primal supporters of this
Email: norbin2008@gmail.com sympathy worldwide In those areas in call are:
where the peoples’ movement is the Platform Of Democratic Mass
February 5th, 2010 strongest, valuable resources were Organizations-Europe (DEKÖP-A),
Protest action in front of the found, resources that the Indian ATIK (Confederation of Workers
Indian Embassy in Frankfurt government wants to sell to the from Turkey in Europe), info@atik-
Today with the initiative of ATIK multinational cooperations- and even if online.net
(Confederation of Workers from Turkey only partly- has sold some of it, ADHK (Confederation For
in various cities in Europe Den Haag, between the closure of the contracts and Democratic Rights in Europe),
London, Vienna, Bern and Frankfurt the big money are the poor, isolated info@adhk.de
protest actions in front of the India tribes and revolutionaries “Naxalites”, Magazine YASANACAK DÜNYA,
Embassy’ were held. The protest’s were who wage an organized, successful yasanacakdunya@yahoo.com
against the “Operation Green Hunt” uprise against this situation. Or as the
AvEG-Kon (Confederation Of The
which was first initiated in November Indian progressive writer Arundhati
Oppressed Migrants In Europe),
2009 by the Indian state, especially in Roy says “the government doesn’t give
aveg-kon@hotmail.com
very poor areas. Until now, there are the people anything else then violence
reports in the international media and disrespect. And now they want to YEK-KOM (Föderation der
reporting about the violation of the take away from them the last thing that kurdischen Vereine in Deutschland)
most fundamental human rights. In the they have, their land”. yekkom@gmx.de
statement it says: For this reason we oppose the And MLPD Rhein-Main region
“With the military operation “Green operation “Green Hunt” and the (rhs@mlpd.de), BIR-KAR
Hunt”, the Indian government has repression policies of the India Frankfurt (birkar@msn.com)
lunched a broad repressive and brutal government. We demand an immediate These organizations declare their
“annihilation offensive” against the end of the operations, banishing, torture unlimited solidarity with the Naxalite
people. In the poorest regions in India, and release of all political prisoners in Liberation Movement and the Adivasi
with the military operation “Green India. We are in solidarity with the just people and that the protests will
Hunt”, the Indian government has rebellion of the Indian people for social continue until this repression in India
launched a broad repressive and brutal liberation and self determination of the will finally come to an end.
“annihilation offensive” against the indigenous people like the Adivasis.” Long Live International
people. In the poorest regions in India These protests and solidarity actions Solidarity!
the legitimate people upraising with the were supported by different democratic
support of the ethnic minorities against migrant organizations and political PM

Contd..... from Page 42 Government when it has not even given are tracking movement of other
they were trying to snatch their us our basic survival needs like PDS, reporters and fact finding teams visiting
weapons at the roof. NREGS, schools and health? the area. They are conveying this
Government forced us to fight for our information to the local police. The
A very pertinent question was
survival but killed us because we went team felt very strongly that local media
asked to us by a few tribal youths at a to ask them a question? Is that so persons were doing this with malafide
meeting in a village of Kumbhari undemocratic? And what the police did intentions.
Panchayat. They told us that the to us is that what you call Fact Finding Team Members
Government wants tribals to keep democracy?” 1.K SudhakarPatnaik–Senior Journalist
peace and help the Government and The fact finding team also
use democratic means to state their 2.Manoranjan Routray – Journalist
observed that the local media persons
complaints. But the CMAS members have not been reporting the truth behind 3.Sharanya – HumAnE, Koraput
asked us, “Why should we help several facts of the firing incident and PM
12 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Public Statement 2 December 2009
India: Probe killing of two adivasi leaders and release detained activist in Orissa

Authorities in the eastern Indian have claimed that the CMAS has links onsible, is prosecuted in procee-
state of Orissa must ensure with the banned Communist Party of dings which meet international
independent, credible and impartial India (Maoist). standards of fairness;
investigation into the killings of two A seven-member fact-finding team * provide reparations to the families
adivasi (indigenous community) of social and political activists of those killed, and to those who
leaders by police and paramilitary subsequently visited Narayanpatna to suffered injuries or other harm as a
personnel in Narayanpatna on 20 inquire into the killings and related result of unnecessary use of force
November 2009, Amnesty International arrests. Their report released at a press by police;
said today. conference in Orissa’s capital * ensure that police officials as far as
The deceased – Singanna and Bhubaneswar on 27 November rejects possible apply non-violent means
Andrew Nachika – were peacefully the police claim of a CMAS-Maoist before resorting to the use of force
protesting outside the Narayanpatna link and accuses the police officials of and firearms which should be used
police station in Koraput district along unnecessary use of force and arbitrary only if other means remain
with 80-100 other members of an arrests. On 29 November, the police ineffective, and then only to the
indigenous people’s movement – Chasi arrested one of the members of the fact- minimum extent required, and that
Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS). The finding team, Tapan Mishra claiming firearms may be used only in self-
protestors demanded that the police that he provided arms training to the defence or the defence of others
stop harassing the adivasi communities banned Maoists. against the imminent threat of death
who have been campaigning for an end Tapan Mishra is a known activist of or serious injury, and only when less
to illegal mining in the area. the Communist Party of India (Maoist- extreme means are insufficient;
Eyewitnesses have informed Amnesty Leninist) (Kanu Sanyal group) – a * ensure that the right to peaceful
International that the police firing began recognized political party. Amnesty assembly is respected and protected
when one of the leaders, Singanna, International understands that Tapan and that police, when fulfilling their
entered the police station premises to Mishra has no links with any armed public order duties, respect human
talk with officials. Another leader, groups and that his arrest may be rights as provided in international
Andrew Nachika, was also shot dead politically motivated. Following this treaties to which India is a state
and at least eight other protestors arrest, other members of the fact- party, and
sustained bullet injuries as police and finding team have expressed fears of
paramilitary forces continued their * Stop harassing, intimidating and
traveling to Narayanpatna. Amnesty bringing politically motivated
unprovoked firing at the unarmed and International is concerned that the arrest
fleeing protestors. charges against protestors and those
of Tapan Mishra appears to be an engaged in defending human rights
The unnecessary use of force on attempt by the State authorities to
adivasi protestors resulted in at least in Orissa.
intimidate and harass those inquiring
two deaths. The State authorities are Background
into the lethal use of force by the police
obligated, under international treaties at Narayanpatna. The CMAS is a social movement
to which India is party, to respect and of Adivasi communities in south-
Amnesty International urges the
protect the right to life at all times. In western Orissa which has been
Government of Orissa to:
an attempt to trace the wounded campaigning, over the last year,
protestors, police raided a number of * immediately order an independent, against illegal mining in their lands and
villages and arrested at least 50 other impartial and thorough habitats by non-Adivasis and
adivasi CMAS supporters. Amnesty investigation into the use of force production and consumption of illegal
International understands that those by the police and ensure that any liquor in the region. Since May last, the
arrested are accused of several offences officer suspected of using force CMAS has intensified its campaign,
including those under Section 121 unnecessarily or excessively, leading to some non-Adivasi families
(waging war against the State) and including those who ordered the fleeing their villages and attacks against
Section 124A (sedition) as the police shooting or were otherwise resp- CMAS supporters. PM
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 13
ILPS-Canada demands an end to Operation Green Hunt
and the massive displacement of people in India
Indian government threatens to eradicate popular resistance by March 2010
In late 2009 the Indian government repression as a “potential terrorist”. mistreatment.” Roy continued: “The
unleashed massive war against its own However, from Nandigram to Government doesn’t give the people
people under the code name Niyamgiri, Lalgarh to Dandakaranya, anything else than violence and
“Operation Green Hunt” involving the Koraput to Kalinganagar, Dadri to disrespect. And now they want to take
deployment of 70,000 military and Narayanpatna, people have refused to away from them the last thing they
paramilitary troops in the so-called be mere victims of state-sponsored have, their land”.
“Red Corridor” that runs through parts politics of liberalism, privatization and The purported aim of the Indian
of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, imperialist globalization (LPG) in the government is to clear this heavily
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, name of “development”. forested area of resistance forces,
Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and West As a result of Operation Green including Maoists and other Naxalite
Bengal states. Hunt and renewed aggressions in organizations. Maoists — also known
It’s the latest in a series of efforts Lalgarh, hundreds of thousands have as Naxalites after Naxalbari district in
by the Indian government, labeled the been displaced, and the number of West Bengal state where they first led
“biggest democracy in the world” by burnt villages, persons displaced, a peasant uprising against landlords in
Canada and other western powers, to injured, arrested or “disappeared” has 1967 — have a strong presence in this
impose “military solutions” on deep- skyrocketed. Many have been placed region. The members of the
seated social, political and economic in so-called “security camps” similar Communist Party of India (CPI -
problems, and to clear the way for to the practice in Sri-Lanka, where the Maoist) the political wing of the
local and trans-national corporations government in Colombo, with the Maoists, are now estimated by
to plunder this region’s resources. backing of Washington and other mainstream Indian media to be 20,000
Most of the riches sit on or under land western powers, bloodily attacked the strong. The focus of Operation Green
occupied by the poorest populations Tamil population in early 2009. Hunt is the Maoist or “Red Corridor”
in India, including the adivasis — the which stretches from West Bengal in
In a letter to Indian Prime Minister
indigenous or tribal peoples. India’s northeast through the states of
Manmohan Singh, dated October 12,
Hundreds of agreements and Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh,
2009, Indian and foreign intellectuals,
Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in
including Booker Prize-winning author
that allow free plunder of people’s the west. It includes many forest areas
Arundhati Roy and American political
resources have already been including the Dandakaranya forest. Its
activist Noam Chomsky, charged that
concluded by mining and other millions of adivasis were pushed into
the government’s offensive was “an
corporations with the central and state forest regions by waves of invaders
attempt to crush democratic and
government and Special Economic and generally excluded from
popular resistance against
Zones for multinational corporations mainstream Hindu society. They have
dispossession and impoverishment”
have been established. The only a long history of rebellion and militant
and a move that seemed to be geared
barrier that now stands between the uprisings against British colonial rule
towards facilitating the entry and
local and trans-national corporations starting in the 19th Century and have
operation of “large corporations and
and their prize is people’s resistance, been a major base for communist
paving the way for unbridled
both unarmed and in some instances, organizing.
exploitation of the natural resources
armed. and people in the affected regions”. The forests where the adivasis are
During this military-economic concentrated have abundant mineral
Arundhati Roy said, “This is a war
offensive, Indian government is actively wealth (iron, coal, bauxite, manganese,
waged by the army and paramilitary
ignoring its own Constitution and laws corundum, gold, diamonds and
forces for the super rich corporations
such as PESA and the Forest Rights uranium). Over the last years foreign
against the super poor of India, who
Act and targeting anyone who dares and Indian corporations, with the
have been driven to rebel and resist
to speak out against this state protection of the Indian state
by years of injustice and
14 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
apparatus, have been exploiting these Progressive Indian political leader marginalized citizens of India.
resources and violently suppressing the Kobad Ghandy was also abducted, We also extend our solidarity and
local people in the process. illegally detained and tortured for three support to the struggle of the tribal
The Communist Party of India days and nights while deprived of people in Lalgarh-Jangalmahal.
(Maoist) has been active in this area medicine and medical treatment for life-
We join the people of India in
since the 1970s, following the threatening health problems. The
demanding:
Naxalbari rebellion. The Maoists have Committee for the Release of Political
Prisoners (CRPP) has been actively - an immediate end to Operation
helped lead the tribals in their struggles
campaigning for the immediate release Green Hunt and the withdrawal
for just demands for land and
of Ghandy and an immediate end to of all military and paramilitary
opposition to police and military
all illegal arrests and detentions and forces;
repression. The Maoists have support
among the Muslim population and the human rights abuses. - an immediate end to the “Lalgarh
Dalits (often referred to as Operation Green Hunt follows on Operation” against the tribal
“untouchables”). They have helped the heels of the vast offensive against people of Lalgarh-Jangal mahal
organize the people to improve the people of Lalgarh-Jangalmahal in and the withdrawal of all military
subsistence agricultural methods, build West Bengal starting June 2009. An and police-paramilitary forces
wells and schools and struggle against All-India Fact Finding Team which was from Lalgarh and nearby areas;
backward feudal practices. organized by progressive forces to - the closing of all “internment”
For years the Indian elite left this look into the atrocities being committed camps;
area in dire poverty and profited from by the West Bengal government was
- the immediate release of all
the cheap labour which migrated all prevented from reaching Lalgarh. The
political prisoners;
over India searching for work. Now, members of the fact-finding team were
arrested, maltreated and detained. An - the Indian government provide
realizing the vast riches that lay in and
international team of Amnesty due compensation to the people
beneath the vast forests of this region,
International was also prevented from displaced and impacted by
the Indian ruling elite, with backing
from the U.S. and other forces, is trying entering Lalgarh. Operation Green Hunt and
to clear the way for a new wave of The International League of Operation Lalgarh, and punish
foreign investment to plunder the Peoples Struggle Canada chapter those military, para-military and
regions’ resources. (ILPS-Canada), and its member police officials responsible for
organizations and allies, support the violence, rape, loot and other
The Indian government claims that
call of the Indian people to demand crimes;
by March 2010 they hope to have
eradicated the Maoists and anyone that their government immediately and - the repeal of the Unlawful
who dares to support them and resists unconditionally withdraw its armed Activities Prevention Act
the government’s armed presence. forces engaged in the military- (UAPA), 2008
According to the Indian state, tens of paramilitary offensive against the - free access to affected areas for
thousands of government “security oppressed adivasi people of fact-finding and solidarity teams
personnel” will combat “against 6,000- Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, and journalists;
7,000 armed Maoist cadres”. The Maharashtra, Bengal, Karnataka and
- that the Central and State
military offensive has been other regions.
governments in India should
accompanied by illegal arrests and Furthermore, we support the Indian
initiate a dialogue with the
detainment of progressive leaders in the people who are demanding that their
people’s movements and accept
area, such as Raja Sarkhel and Prasun government take concrete measures to
their just demands.
Chatterjjee, by the reactionary forces, stop the plunder of the people’s land,
under the CPI (Marxist), an forests, hills and rivers by Indian and Resist imperialist globalization
organization apparently Communist in multinational corporations. This and plunder!
name only, and the Bharatiya Janata requires the scrapping of hundreds of Long live the courageous
Party (BJP). Activists have been MoUs signed by the central and state resistance of the people of India!
heavily tortured to try to force them governments with various corporations ILPS-Canada
to give false testimonies against fellow who plan exploit natural resources at
February 1, 2010
activists. the expense of the poor and PM
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 15
Press Release
Bayan/ILPS Phil. Chapter Urge Indian Govt to Stop its Operation Green Hunt
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and the ILPS “Bayan and the ILPS Phil. Chapter likewise condemn
Phil.Chapter today, Feb. 05, 2010, picketed near the Indian the impunity of the Indian government towards the adivasi
Embassy in Makati City to demand that “the Indian who are resisting their plunderous activities. Already, 3
government immediately and unconditionally withdraw its million of the adivasi have been displaced by Operation
armed forces engaged in the military-paramilitary offensive Green Hunt. The adivasi people are the rightful owners of
called Operation Green Hunt, against the adivasi ( the land and the fruits of their hardship, not the Indian
indigenous ) people of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, government which is pro-foreign investors, “ Baua said.
Maharashtra, Bengal, Karnataka and other regions of this Bayan and the ILPS Phil. Chapter also called on the Indian
populous country.” government for the immediate surfacing of two progressive
Alarmed by the growing resistance movement of the and militant leaders, namely, Mr. Ravi Sharma and Ms.
adivasi in many parts of India, the government has Anuradha, who were forcibly taken from their workplace
unleashed Operation Green Hunt that has seen the burning and home, respectively. “We fear that both leaders might
of houses of adivasi, the targetting and killings of unarmed have suffered tremendously from torture and intimidation.
civilians, the torture-detention-killings of mass leaders of We hope they have not yet been killed considering that Mr.
progressive organizations Last year, Bayan and the ILPS Sharma was arrested last October 10, 2009,” Baua noted.
Phil. Chapter, picketed near the Indian Embassy to protest “Bayan and the ILPS Phil. Chapter likewise condemn the
the militarization and violations of human rights of the Obama Govt for providing not only logistical support such
adivasi in Orissa where a large tract of land would be cleared
as munitions and other war materiel, latest military
for a sprawling factory for the cheap locally-made Indian
technology, but also US$18 billion; providing military advise
car called Tata.
on mapping the deployment of revolutionary forces on the
“Bayan and the ILPS Phil. Chapter demand that the ground, and holding of joint US-India-Israel military
Indian government immediately stop the plunder of vast exercises. Obama who got a Nobel Peace Prize for Peace
tracts of land and forested areas for large scale mining and is a contradiction in terms as far as the genuine peace in
industrial projects in special economic zones. Vast areas India is concerned” Baua said.
within India, both rich agricultural fields and areas rich
with minerals like Jharkand, Orissa, Andra Pradesh, “We therefore demand that the Obama government stop
Maharashtra, and West Bengal, are being exploited by the its war of terror against the adivasi and the people of India.
MNCs in collaboration with India’s top industrialists” Rita The latter will not be cowed by your weapons and political/
Baua, Intl Solidarity Officer of Bayan and Vice-Chairperson military tactics meant to suppress them,” Baua concluded.
of the ILPS Phil. Chapter, said. PM

Grey Hounds gang-rape adivasi women


in Vishakhapatnam
The notorious anti-Naxal Grey Hounds force of Andhra Pradesh, lauded by the central government and several
counter-insurgency experts as a model to be emulated by other states in tackling the Maoists, has once again come
into limelight with their gang-rape of four adivasi women on January 22. These lawless goons hired by the state with
the aim of creating terror among those supporting the revolutionary movement, have become a grave menace to
society at large. There is no end to their atrocities on the innocent, unarmed people in the form of encounter murders,
abductions, rapes and torture of adivasis and other oppressed sections.
The Balliguda atrocity in Vishakhapatnam district brings into one’s mind memories of the Vakapalli atrocity in
2007 when 11 adivasi women were raped by these uniformed goondas. Vakapalli incident had then raised a furore in
the entire state. The Balliguda incident brought forth protests by various organizations and individuals. Three of the
victims were taken to KG Hospital on January 29 for medical examination. The tests could not be undertaken on the
previous day on account of the threats and intimidation by the terrorist police force. The victims agreed to undergo
tests only after some human rights organizations extended support to them. PM
16 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
How the State is Waging War
The following heart-rending stories by headman of Dogpadu village, Later, the Judum loaded the bodies
of state-sponsored terror by Congress- Kalumu Bheema, who witnessed the on a truck and buried them in a mass
BJP’s vigilante Salwa Judum gangs in cold-blooded murder of Vando grave at a town 70 km away.
the villages of Dantewada provide a Mangdu and Madkam Budra by Salwa Schoolchildren watched the Judum dig
glimpse of the brutal war waged by Judum goondas in his village. the grave and throw the bodies in. Why
the Indian state under the direct We went to the Kishtaram police couldn’t the Judum at least give our
supervision of the Union Home station the next day with people from dead a decent burial? Why wouldn’t
Minister P Chidambaram. These Dogpadu and Tetmadagu. The Judum they give us back the bodies? I had
excerpts are taken from the Tehelka had killed 6 people in these two hoped to finish school and go to
magazine dated February 06, 2010 neighbouring villages as well. We asked college in Dantewada. I wanted to
filed by SANJANA who had traveled for the bodies of the people they killed. work in an office. My brother and I
in the remote region for over a week. We were told that a helicopter took would sit and talk for hours about this.
According to the writer, she along the bodies to Dantewada to conduct I had to drop out of school after the
with TEHELKA photographer, the post mortem. Who knows what killings to take care of the family. What
tracked Adivasis whose lives were happened to the bodies? choice do I have?
destroyed by the Salwa Judum in the Everyday I think of the curses that MADIVI MOYEE, Resident of
past four months. This period the Judum heaped on us when they Gachampadu village said:
coincides with the start of Operation entered our village. They are angry that In the morning, someone from a
Green Hunt, an operation that the we refuse to join the Judum. If this is nearby village came and asked us to
Central Government calls a ‘media the way they behave with us, why run for our lives. The Judum was
creation’. would we even think of joining them? headed our way, he said, and that they
In village after village, Adivasis They killed Joga because they found had killed a lot of people in the nearby
recount tales of the Judum attacking him by the pond. They raped Irre villages. We left everything we had,
anyone they could find — “if they because they found her grazing cattle picked up our children — my baby
found a woman, they raped her. If it in the forest. If they had found anyone was four months old — and ran to the
was a man, he was killed.” None of else, they would have killed and raped forests. We could see the village from
the witnesses were willing to walk to them, too. where we were hiding. A lot of people
the police station to file complaints. In 16-year-old Tunki Venkatesh of — it was impossible to count how
their eyes, the Judum and the police Palachelima village whose brother and many — all armed with guns and
are complicit. Seeking justice from one brother-in-law were murdered by sickles entered the village.
against the other would be futile. Salwa Judum, recounted: Within minutes of their arrival, we
Kunja Irmai, a resident of The Judum made the three men walk saw smoke. Our houses were being
Palod village said: for 10 hours to the nearest police burnt. Then, screams rent the air. I
“We are battling drought on one station. My sister gathered 15 other realised then that there were some
hand and sickness on the other. The women from the village and followed people who had been left behind in the
nearest hospital is 30 kilometres away them back to the station. They saw the village. After a long time, I saw the
and the only way to get there is on Judum take the three men into the Judum bring out two men and five
foot. On top of all this, we’ve to face station. For hours, they maintained a women from our village into the field
the Judum. The Judum don’t kill vigil outside. At some point in the night, behind the village. The men’s hands
Naxalites but only poor people like us. the Judum slipped the men out of the were tied behind their backs and I
Couldn’t the government think of any station and took them to a clearing near could see blood on one of their faces.
other way to announce its presence in the village bus stand. They were The Judum lined up the men and
our village? Our only source of drinking forced to strip and change into Naxal women in two rows facing each other
water — three bore-wells — stopped uniforms. The Judum tied them up to - the Judum men were behind the
working two years ago. All we get different trees and shot them dead. women. They shot the men down even
from the government is people who will Enough villagers were around to see as the women looked on. At least two
kill us, without telling us why,” stated them conduct this exercise. Contd..... on Page 9
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 17
In Chhattisgarh, jail is the cost of filing
a public interest litigation plea
Aman Sethi
Police detain three witnesses to killings in Gompad village, ban journalists from site
Police decline comment on veracity of claims made in petition filed
by Sodi Sambho and others
There is concern that the facts surrounding the Gompad killings might never be known

Konta: The mystery surrounding the killing of nine including three women and a 12-year-old girl. “The police
Adivasis in Gompad village in Dantewada district in October also cut off the fingers of a two-year-old infant,” said one
last year is deepening, with the Chhattisgarh police detaining witness speaking on condition of anonymity fearing police
three more witnesses to the incident and restricting all access retribution. “The police stabbed Madavi Venka [a victim]
to the area on the pretext of Operation Green Hunt. and then shot him fatally,” said another witness, “All those
Operation Green Hunt is a catch-all phrase, used by the killed were innocent villagers with no involvement with the
police and media alike, for all major anti-naxal offensives naxals.”
since July 2009. The witnesses were interviewed, via a translator, at a
Total control weekly bazaar at Adralpalli on the Andhra Pradesh side of
As previously reported by The Hindu, the Chhattisgarh the border between the two States. Due to the police cordon
police have assumed total control over the movements of around Gompad village, witness reports could not be verified
Sodi Sambho – one of several witnesses in a Supreme Court independently.
petition that alleges that the 9 civilians were killed by the The villagers also claimed that the police have detained
security forces. Soyam Rama, Soyam Dulla and Kattam Dulla, three
On Friday, armed policemen and Special Police Officers witnesses whose testimonies could prove crucial when the
(SPO) lined the length of the highway from Dantewada case comes up for hearing in the Supreme Court. “All three
town to Konta, the block headquarters closest to Gompad, men have been held at the police station at Konta for the
stopping vehicles and questioning commuters. Traveling with last one week,” said a Gompad villager. The Adivasis were
local journalists Anil Mishra of Nayi Duniya and Yashwant picked up by the police in the first week of January when
Yadav of Navbharat, this correspondent was repeatedly they came to Dantewada town for a public airing of
detained along the route and told that Gompad village was grievances, the villagers said, an assertion DIG Kalluri
out of bounds as a major anti-naxal operation was underway. contests. “We have never detained these three men,” he
Non-journalists were, however, let through. said. “They have never been taken into police custody.”
Concerned that we might enter the village from Andhra However, police sources speaking to The Hindu on
Pradesh, we were detained by SPOs for about 45 minutes background confirmed that the three men were indeed held
on the Chhattisgarh-A.P. border and allowed to proceed “for questioning” at the Konta police station till January 14
only after the intervention of Deputy Inspector-General, but could not confirm their current location. At present, their
Dantewada, S.R.P. Kalluri. whereabouts are unknown.
At present, the police have refused to comment on the
veracity of the claims made in the Supreme Court petition Yet to be addressed
filed by Sodi and others. “The Superintendent of Police of
Dantewada has been told to initiate an enquiry into the Police control over witnesses and restrictions on the
Gompad incident,” said T.J. Longkumer, Inspector-General movement of the press have raised concerns that the facts
Police, Bastar. surrounding the Gompad killings might never be known. In
another PIL petition pending before the Supreme Court for
However, witnesses to the killings insisted in interviews
the past three years, allegations of large-scale killing of
to The Hindu that the police were involved in the early
Adivasis and arson by the Salwa Judum and security forces
morning ‘sanitization operation’ and killed nine villagers
have yet to be addressed.
(seven from Gompad and two from nearby villages), PM
18 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
Chhattisgarh police abduct eye-witnesses to
Gompad massacre carried out by CRPF-CoBRA forces
The sordid cynical drama that is going on in this country? If citizens blast. Whatever be the truth behind the
being enacted right in front of the eyes can’t come to this court where will land-mine blast, the indisputable fact
of a hundred crore people for over four they go? There are no two classes of is that the witnesses were actually
months since the Gompad massacre citizens. You cannot say those who under confinement in the office of
shows the fake nature of our do not subscribe to your philosophy Dantewada SP.
democracy and the immense power have no right to live in this country. Like several such mass murders
wielded by the murderers and criminals Don’t try to overreach this court. If that have become a common feature
in police uniform. On October 1, the necessary, we will monitor this case.” in the police state under saffron terrorist
CRPF and CoBRA forces sent to On February 15, six of the 12 missing Raman Singh, the Gompad massacre
Chhattisgarh by Chidambaram with adivasis were produced before the too would have gone unnoticed by the
the pretext of “recapturing” territory Court while the other six still remain corporate media had it not been
from the control of the Maoists, carried untraced. The reason why the other pursued consistently by some
out a brutal massacre in Gompad six were not produced was because democratic and civil rights
village in Dantewada district killing 9 the police thought they might utter the organizations and individuals despite
unarmed innocent adivasis. Then they truth in the Court in spite of the their being branded as Maoist
attacked three more villages and intimidation and threats by the police. sympathisers.
murdered another three taking the toll The six who were produced were
Union Home Minister
on a single day to 12. Several people tutored by the police to say that they
Chidambaram thinks people are fools
were eye-witnesses to these gory saw the killings in their village of
to believe his words when he asserts
murders by Chidambaram’s men. The Gompad but are unable to identify who
that he can do nothing at all when
story of Sodi Sambho is now quite well the murderers were. Actually the police
human right violations take place in
known. She received treatment in tutored the witnesses to say that they
states since law & order is a state
AIIMS, Delhi after the Court saw the Maoists carrying out the
subject and that the Centre cannot
intervened and asked the Chhattisgarh Gompad massacre. This is what the
intervene. But this master liar rushes
government not to obstruct her. Goebels of Chhattisgarh, Vishwa
up to Raipur and Kolkata to organize
However, she was abducted from the Ranjan, has been lying in public
meetings of the chief ministers of the
hospital by getting her discharged without any sense of shame
Maoist-dominant states to conduct
before anyone could go to meet her. whatsoever. This master liar squarely
joint operations. This fascist even
After several petitions by human places blame on the Maoists for the
compliments Raman Singh for the
rights activists in the SC that the eye- massacre of adivasis committed by the
significant progress he achieved in the
witnesses to the Gompad massacre police and SPOs!
fight against the Maoists with the help
were in illegal police custody, the court It is also amusing to see how the of the central forces. He promises all
at last intervened and issued an order sinister drama is being played by assistance to the saffron terrorist in
on February 8 to the state government officials at the highest level. To impress carrying out more blood-baths as in
to produce the 12 missing witnesses upon the court how difficult it is to Gompad. For all his talk of the rule of
in the court by February 15. The 12 produce the witnesses the Attorney law, this hypocrite does not even raise
witnesses including Sodi Sambho were General Vahanvati openly lied to the the “human rights violations” in
abducted by Chidambaram-Raman Supreme Court that when a police Chhattisgarh. Evading responsibility for
Singh’s khaki goons soon after they party accompanied by around 300 the murders of innocent adivasis by
deposed before the Supreme Court on SPOs went to the villages to fetch the simply yelling that law & order is a
February 5. They were illegally witnesses they were ambushed by the state subject, Chidambaram provides
detained even earlier for almost 45 Maoists at Gorkha village in complete legitimacy and immunity to
days in total. Dantewada district injuring two SPOs. the state governments for their lawless
In this context, the Supreme Court’s He even showed a fax message he had and unconstitutional acts, and gives
remarks on the missing witnesses are received from the state’s DGP, Vishwa them a blank cheque by assuring them
worth citing. Justice Sudarshan Reddy Ranjan, on February 9 informing of the that he would not interfere no matter
told the government counsel: “What is serious situation after the land-mine what they do. Actually, it is not only
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 19
the police forces of the states but also only six were produced before the Raman Singh, would advise the
the central para-military forces that court on February 15. And the Maoists to equip themselves with
have been carrying out the worst solicitor-general Gopal Subramanyam, better arms, train up more fighters and
possible crimes against the adivasis. In who is paid by the state to defend its hit back the armies of aggression and
fact, almost all the recent atrocities lawless policemen, had tried to hush inhuman marauders.
carried out in Dantewada and Bijapur up the criminal acts of the police and What is needed now is more
districts of Chhattisgarh after the divert the issue of the missing witnesses organized, more effective and more
commencement of Operation Green by narrating how dangerous and risky wide-spread revolutionary counter
Hunt, have been the handiwork of the were the lives of policemen working in violence of the masses in defence of
CRPF and CoBRAs sent by Maoist areas. Appearing in the supreme their land, forest, dignity and lives. And
Chidambaram himself. And it is with court on February 15, Subramanyam this revolutionary counter-violence
the help of these forces that the state’s told the court that police officers leave should hit Chidambaram, Raman Singh
police and the Salwa Judum goons too for duty everyday in Naxal-affected and their band of rapacious inhuman
are able to carry out their murderous areas with a “death band” around their exploiters and oppressors where it
campaign and inhuman atrocities heads. To prove his point he produced hurts them most. Led by the Maoist
against the adivasis. Hence there is not tapes with intercepts of conversations revolutionaries, the oppressed people,
an iota of truth in what Chidambaram between Maoists about their hit list of who constitute the overwhelming
has been trying to say in public—that police officers. majority of the Indian population, will
he cannot do anything regarding Chidambaram pretends that nothing surely teach these neo-Nazi gangsters
human right violations in states since has happened even as his central a fitting lesson. PM
law & order is a state subject. forces accompany and extend total Contd..... from Page 22
Moreover, this hypocrite has gone unconditional support to these Salwa
to shift the case from Konta to the
on record for praising the saffron Judum goons and play their own share Dantewada Sessions Court on March
terrorist regime in Chhattisgarh for in the murders and rapes of adivasis 9 as the magistrate lived in Konta in
implementing the Centre’s plan against of this region. This trusted manager for the very neighbourhood of the
the Maoists very well i.e Chidambaram imperialist capital in India and a loyal accused.
has extended his all-out support to agent of the comprador capital lauds
Harassment began soon after. SPOs
Raman Singh in carrying out the murder the significant achievements by his
crossed the state border and searched
of almost one hundred unarmed uniformed thugs in Chhattisgarh and the
for Madvi’s house on April 10, 2009.
innocent adivasis including women and private vigilante gangs. This khadi
And on December 2, Madvi’s father
children, raping adivasi women and terrorist and saffron terrorist Raman
and a boy who shared her husband’s
chopping off the fingers of a two-year- Singh hug and pat each other for their
name were apprehended and taken to
old child. He is also exerting pressure success in destroying the adivasi
Chintur Police Station in Andhra
on other state governments like villages and evacuating the adivasis to
Pradesh. There the father was
Jharkhand and Bihar to follow Raman pave the way for the take-over of the
threatened and the boy was beaten.
Singh’s example and create a reign of mineral-rich belt by their corporate
They were told to bring Madvi to
terror. masters. These thugs relentlessly squeal Konta police station. At this point, she
So in the kidnapping of the 12 eye- like chatter-boxes that Naxalites should had gone into hiding, knowing that her
witnesses of Gompad massacre abjure violence while they themselves next appearance at court was to be
Chidambaram is as much involved as carry out cold-blooded murder of held on December 10, when she had
Raman Singh for both the state and poor unarmed innocent adivasis. And to depose.The deposition didn’t take
central forces had jointly perpetrated these hypocrites and liars par place. On the day of the hearing there
the massacre. Both the state and the excellence abduct eye witnesses like was a rally against the Vanvasi Chetna
Centre are in dire need to protect their Sodi Sambho right under public glare Ashram, who used to support her
mercenary forces at this critical and get away with the crime. The emotionally and financially. As of
juncture in their war against the judiciary assists these thugs and January 6 the Vanvasi Chetna Ashram
Maoists. It is only massive outbursts murderers to carry out blood-bath and has ceased to exist, its workers
of people’s protests as in Kashmir that get away unscathed. Anyone, even if arrested, its employees threatened. No
a trigger-happy policeman would be it be a Gandhian, who sees the one can predict how Madvi’s story will
punished. mayhem, arson and terror created by end, but the omens are not
the gangs sent by Chidambaram and
Even after the Supreme Court order encouraging. PM
20 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
Seema Azad, editor of the left-wing journal DASTAK published from Allahabad, was taken into custody by the police
Saturday, 6th February, soon after she alighted from the train on her return from the Book Fair at Delhi. She, along with
her husband and left-wing activist Vishwa Vijaya Azad, has been detained at the Khuldabad Police Station. Seema Azad
just published a collection of articles criticizing the Indian government for its “Operation Green Hunt” — the ongoing
massive military attack by the government against the tribal inhabitants of central India. The booklet contains articles by
noted authors and media-persons such as Arundhati Roy, Himanshu Kumar, Anil Chamaria, Punya Prasoon Vajpeyi,
Sunita Narayan, and others. Although they were produced before a court in Allahabad, the details of the charges leveled
against Seema Azad and Vishva Vijaya were not specified. Seema is the state secretary of the People’s Union for Civil
Liberties (PUCL) for Uttar Pradesh. The PUCL has released the following letter addressed to the Chairperson of the
National Human Rights Commission in New Delhi.

Seema Is a Human Right Worker, Not a ‘Naxali’


Letter to the National Human Right Commission, New Delhi
by People’s Union for Civil Liberties
To, advocate K. K. Roy of PUCL has issued raised the questions against the
The Chairperson, a report on human right violation. In encounter of Kamlesh Chaudhoury in
National Human Right Commission past one month the police and PAC Chandauly dated 9th November. After
jawans has unleashed the Lathicharge that, in a press conference dated 11th
New Delhi, couple of times in Nanda ka Pura November 2009, DGP Brijlal has
sir, village. Police had torched the local articulated that “the action would be
We want to acknowledge you that office of CPI (ML) New Democracy in taken against the PUCL leader”(see
Seema Azad ,journalist ,human right Nanda village. And their leaders were Dainik Hindustan of November 12,
worker and executive member of detained in the jail for several days in 2009). The Allahabad arrest of Seema
peoples Union for civil liberties fraud cases. The voice against them, Azad is a chain of the same retaliation.
(PUCL), and her husband former doesn’t suit the mood of DIG of Hence, we appeal for the prompt
student leader Vishwavijay and friend Allahabad and police. Police doesn’t action in the matter and also we appeal
Asha, were detained by the police on want that the voice should be raised by that police atrocity and human right
Allahabad Railway Junction without any organization against their working violation should be stopped. We also
any proper reason on Saturday(6th Feb style. The arrest of Seema Azad, her demand that Seema Azad and her friend
2010). Both of them were returning husband Vishwavijay and friend Aasha should be released as soon as possible.
from World Book Fair, New Delhi by is done by the police in the revenge.
- Sincerely
the Reewanchal Express. According to Seema Azad has no any connection
police they all are Naxalites. with the Naxalite and she is working in Vandana Mishra, General Secretary,
PUCL, U.P.
Sir, the organization wants to the field of human right for past several Chitranjan Singh, National
highlight the background of detention. years. She is also editor of a monthly Secretary, PUCL
PUCL has continuously raised the voice magazine ‘Dastak’. She has made K.K. Roy, Advocate, state executive
against the atrocity done by the police- report on serious issues like human member, PUCL
Bahubalies nexus in Kachhari region of right situation in eastern Utter Pradesh, Ravikiran Jain, state executive
Allahabad and Kausambi district on the labour movement, SEZ, situation of member, PUCL
sand mining labours. Due to the Mushar cast and Encephalitis disease. Satendra Singh, Convener, People’s
pressure of politician and Bahubalies, Vishwavijay, husband of Seema Azad, Union for Human Rights(PUHR)
DIG of Allahabad has framed many and his friend Aasha were active student Sandeep Pandey, winner of
fraud cases against the labour leader of Central university of Magsaysay award and state
Allahabad for a long time. They have executive member,PUCL
movement leader. DIG had banned the S. R. Darapuri, former police
‘Lal Salam’ cited it as against the strongly raised the concerned problem
of students under the banner of director, state executive
nationality. PUCL had condemned the member,PUCL
ban saying that it was natural address ‘INQUALABI CHHATRA
Anshu Malviya, Shehri Garib
of Communist party. According to MORCHA’. The persons which are Sangharsh Morcha
PUCL ‘Lal Salam’ is a common address naxalite, according to the police, are Shahnawaz Alam, Organization
of labourer across the world. Raising working in between students and labour Secretary ,PUCL
the cause of fighting labour against the for a long time. Rajeev Yadav, Organization
illegal collection and illegal mining of Sir, in past also UP Police has Secretary,PUCL
sand in Nanda ka Pura village of threatened the leader of PUCL working Vijay Pratap, Freelance journalist
Kausambi, the Minster Seema Azad and for the human right concern. PUCL has and human right worker PM
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 21
From News Papers

The tribal ‘Ruchikas’ of Dantewada


Javed Iqbal, 08 Jan 2010
Operation Green Hunt to flush out next court date, July 17, when the
the Maoist rebels from central India testimonies of the victims were meant beaten.
may have begun only last November, to be heard, the magistrate was They’d be dragged to jail,
but the hapless tribals of Chhattisgarh’s absent, allegedly ‘called away to irrespective of the fact that once a
Bastar region have been at the receiving headquarters’. The magistrate also warrant is issued, the accused cannot
end of official hostility for years before magically disappeared on the next withdraw the case unless the accused
that. It is not clear why they should court date, August 12. are brought to court and the matter can
attract official ire, but they do. The The magistrate, Amrit Karkate proceed. What’s the point of beating
state machinery, of course, denies any nervously rides his bicycle to court them now? Take the case of Madkam
such sentiment. every day from his house in Konta – Madvi (name changed) of
Take the case of four Muria tribal the bastion of the accused. A warrant Bandarpadar, Konta block, who was
women from the village of Samsetti. for the 30 accused was finally issued allegedly gang-raped by SPOs at
The Muria say they don’t know in October to the police stations of Konta police station in April 2008.
anything about rape; their word for it Dornapal, Konta and Bhejji. Yet no According to her testimony, she was
is closer to balatkaar than anything arrests were made. The accused are taken to the police station by the Salwa
else. On July 6, 2006, according to said to be missing yet one of them is Judum, robbed of some Rs 25,000,
witnesses, government-appointed even giving speeches. The SPOs are then kept alone in a room. She was
special police officers and Salwa on duty but for some reason they’re first raped by an SPO in an isolated
Judum members gang-raped three missing, too. room in the police station, then
young women, 19, 22 and 23, during blindfolded and gang-raped over two
What about the victims? Recently,
a raid on Samsetti, which is in days at the station by three more
these women were said to have been
Dantewada district. Another girl was unidentified persons. Eventually, she
beaten by the same accused and
allegedly raped in January of that year. was set free and after further
forced to give their thumbprints on harassment escaped to Andhra
But the state wanted to know nothing blank papers. They were detained for
about it. Pradesh. She had hoped to start over
five days in Dornapal police station, and had even married.
When they went to file a complaint where some of the accused too are
At this point, members of the Salwa
at the police station, the girls say they stationed. Once the girls they released
Judum tracked her down in Andhra
were threatened and chased away. It refused to talk to anyone. Samsetti
Pradesh and the harassment resumed.
was discovered later that there were villagers too apparently told the victims
According to her husband, they had
allegedly 24 cases of rape in the entire to forget about it. Throughout
threatened him saying, ‘We were going
Konta block, but only six women September last year, the sarpanch of to sell this girl and earn some money
would speak up. Four were from Samsetti kept asking villagers to
but now that you married her, we have
Samsetti, one from Arlampalli and withdraw the cases and put their suffered a loss that you shall now have
another from Bandarpadar. The thumbprints on blank papers, otherwise to pay back.’ He said they stole Rs
complaints, however, were not the police and the SPOs would come 3,500, one cow, three goats and two
recorded. to the village again. They did not heed chickens to ‘make up for their loss’.
Finally, on March 27, 2009, the the threats. After further threats, they went back
women first wrote straight to the Harassment of the victims to Chhattisgarh, ensuring that Madvi
superintendent of police and the district apparently continued as the women would sleep in a different room in a
collector. Nothing happened. Then a fled their village for the Gandhian NGO different village every night.
complaint case was jointly filed with Vanvasi Chetna Ashram run by Finally, through the Vanvasi Chetna
the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Himanshu Kumar. The ashram Ashram, a complaint was written to the
Konta, on April 29. approached district collector Reena superintendent of police, Dantewada.
Interestingly, while statements were Babasaheb Kangale on August 11 to There was no reply for months. The
being recorded at the court on June ensure the safety of the women. No matter was taken to the court as a
16, the accused were said to be assurance was forthcoming. They private complaint. There was a request
loitering around the corridors. On the returned to their village. They’d be Contd..... on Page 20
22 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
Compulsory voting, Chhattisgarh style
Aman Sethi
BIJAPUR: In Lingagiri,it didn’t take long to tally the The Hindu 14 Feb
results of the recently concluded panchayat elections. state forces, aided by the Salwa Judum, and the naxals
On January 31 this year, a sum total of four people voted intensified, villagers across Chhattisgarh fled to the relative
in this remote village in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. safety of Andhra Pradesh or to camps set p by the
The poling booth opened on time, the polling officers government.
were present, and then the force arrived. Lingagiri itself emptied out in 2006 after four villagers wre
Pujari Rajamma, 35, was combing her hair in her killed and two raped, allegedly by the security forces and
courtyard. “I was getting ready to walk down to the special police officers, according to testimony gathered by
polling office, when the uniformed men stormed in,” she the National Human Rights Commission.
said,”they checked my fingers for the voting mark.” When During hearings on an ongoing PIL, the Supreme Court in
they didn’t find it, they beat her with sticks. The bruises 2008 ordered the State government to rehabilitate villages
are still visible on Rajamma’s back; she can barely move destroyed in the Salwa Judum campaign. The government
did nothing to implement tis order but in March 20009,
her swollen left arm.
Lingagiri was resettled by villagers and the Van Chetna Ashram,
Pujari Chandeyya, 40, was sharpening a chisel, his an NGO. Todate, about 2000 of Lingagiri’s estimated 500
brother, Pujari Lakshmaiah was lying in bed with a fever, residents have returned the rest are scattered across
when the force found them and assaulted them. “They Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. A successful election would
wanted to see the vote mark.” He said, “I hadn’t voted have provided much needed legitimacy to state institutions in
yet.” Gulla ganesh, 25, was waiting for his friends by a an area where naxals still exercise considerable control.
tamarind tree; Soyam Ramulu was stringing a rope when Toka Ramaaiah, who will take the oath of office on
the force attacked them. In all, five villagers were February 15, is one of those who are yet to return to
assaulted by men in combat fatigues for not voting in the Lingagiri.”He hasn’t set foot in the village since 2006,” said a
elections. villager speaking on condition of anonymity. In Basaguda too,
“The villagers have registered a complaint,” said Bendke Kamala, another émigré sarpanch, won unopposed,
assistant sub-inspector Madan Pately. “As per their both, Tokal and Bendke currently reside in Bijapur – and
description, the CRPF or the CoBRA force could be administrative outpost about five hours by road from the
responsible. An investigation is under way.” Pately, who villages they represent. PM
was present in the booth, said that the four votes were
“probably” cast by those manning the booth. When the IG jumped the Gun
The Indian Express, February 2, 2010

Abandoned in 2006 Last week, Inspector General of Police in charge of anti-


Maoist operations, Sanjiv Manik landed in soup when he
The attack occurred at about 10.30 a.m. after which
called up journalists to announce that the abducted CPM
the villagers decided to boycott the election. Had they
voted, their votes would have made little difference to leader in Sundargarh district has been killed by the Maoists.
the outcome. The winning candidate was a foregone Anandmasi Horo, CPM leader, and two others were
conclusion. Tokal Ramaiah stood unopposed for the post abducted by the Maoists during the two day bandh on
of sarpanch. He filed his papers in Avapalli (about two January 25 and 26. While the two others were released,
hour away by road) and has not visited the village for Horo did not return home prompting the IG to predict that
the last four years. The villagers found out he was he has been killed by the rebels. The IG based his prediction
contesting only after the results of the election were on the ‘breaking news’ of some TV channels which
declared. proclaimed that Horo might have been killed. No sooner
Lingagiri and neighbouring Basagud were abandoned did the CPM politburo condemn the ‘killing, Horo was
in 2006 when the state-sponsored Salwa Judum released by the rebels. His family and party immediately
slammed the IG for his ‘announcement’.
programme was in full sway. As the conflict between PM
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 23
From The Developmental Terrorism of the Indian State
A document prepared by Sanhati Collective
In almost all cases the affected
people try to ventilate their grievances the marginalized people along the three It is also worth remembering that
using peaceful means of protest; they dimensions that we have pointed to, the geographical terrain, where the
take our processions, they sit on the Indian state seems to have decided government’s military offensive is
demonstrations, they submit petitions. to opt for the extremely myopic option planned, is very well-endowed with
The response of the State is remarkably of launching a military offensive. natural resources like minerals, forest
consistent in all these cases: it cracks While the poor have seen their wealth, biodiversity and water
down on the peaceful protestors, incomes and purchasing power tumble resources, and has of late been the
sends in armed goons to attack the down precipitously in real terms, the target of systematic usurpation by
people, slaps false charges against the rich have, by all accounts, prospered several large, both Indian and foreign,
leaders and arrests them and often also beyond their wildest dreams since the corporations. So far, the resistance of
resorts to police firing and violence to onset of the liberalization of the Indian the local indigenous people against
terrorize the people. We only need to economy. There is widespread their displacement and dispossession
remember Singur, Nandigram, evidence from recent research that the has prevented the government-backed
Kalinganagar and countless other levels of income and wealth inequality corporates from exploiting the natural
instances where peaceful and in India have increased steadily and resources for their own profits and
democratic forms of protest were drastically since the mid 1980s. A without regard to ecological and social
crushed by the state with ruthless rough overview of this growing concerns. We fear that the
force. It is, thus, the action of the State inequality is found by juxtaposing two government’s offensive is also an
that blocks off all forms of democratic well known facts: (a) in 2004-05, 77 attempt to crush such democratic and
protest and forces the poor and percent of the population spent less popular resistance against
dispossessed to take up arms to defend than Rs. 20 a day on consumption dispossession and impoverishment; the
their rights, as has been pointed out expenditure; and (b) according to the whole move seems to be geared
by social activists like Arundhati Roy. annual World Wealth Report released towards facilitating the entry and
The Indian government’s proposed by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini in operation of these large corporations
military offensive will repeat that story 2008, the millionaire population in and paving the way for unbridled
all over again. Instead of addressing India grew in 2007 by 22.6 per cent exploitation of the natural resources
the source of the conflict, instead of from the previous year, which is higher and people of these regions.
addressing the genuine grievances of than in any other country in the world. PM

“Stop Operation Green Hunt”


Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Operation Green Hunt was in the dock at a
people’s tribunal in the capital over the weekend and the a level where schools are occupied by security forces.”
verdict of the jury was loud and clear: Guilty. They also warned that if peaceful resistance was
Organised by civil society groups, the “Independent violently crushed, the government “could very well be
People’s Tribunal on Land Acquisition, Resource Grab and sowing the seeds of a violent revolution demanding justice
Operation Green Hunt” heard the testimonies of tribal people, and rule of law that would engulf the entire country.”
activists, academics and experts from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, The jury recommended that all compulsory acquisition
West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. The final of agricultural or forest land be stopped. The forced
recommendations of the jury advised the government to “Stop displacement of tribal people needs to end, and
Operation Green Hunt and start a dialogue with the local rehabilitation started immediately. It called on the
people.” government to declare the details of all MoUs and
Among the jury members were Justice P.B. Sawant, Justice industrial and infrastructural projects proposed in these
H. Suresh, Yash Pal, V. Mohini Giri, P.M. Bhargava, and K.S. areas and stop all environmentally destructive industries.
Subramanian. In their observations, they noted that “state The paramilitary and police forces need to be
violence has been accentuated by Operation Green Hunt in withdrawn, and dissenters must not be victimized, said
which a huge number of paramilitary forces are being used the jury.
mostly on the tribals. The militarization of the state has reached PM
24 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
Telangana Continues to Burn as Neros Sonia, Manmohan and
Chidambaram fiddle
The attitude displayed by Sonia- by stating that wide-ranging the comprador-feudal classes of our
Manmohan-Chidambaram gang consultations are required and a country ever since its formation in 1885
towards the people of Telangana show consensus was necessary for resolving can never dream of fulfilling the
for the umpteenth time how people’s the issue. On February 1, he declared aspirations of Telangana people. Until
democratic aspirations have never been that a committee would be formed to and unless, of course, it is driven to the
a matter of concern for the reactionary look into the issue. Within a few days a wall by a wave of mass resistance
rulers of our country. The ordinary committee headed by former Justice Sri movement.
Indian citizen, in the eyes of these Krishna was constituted with four other The great betrayal by the state and
plunderers, is worth no more than a vote members; terms of reference were fixed central governments has angered the
and assumes importance only once in and time was given until the end of people of the region as never before.
five years. They show to the world the 2010 for submission of report by the The spineless, opportunist leaders of the
poor emaciated Indian voter, deprived committee. It is significant to note that state Congress party had tried to justify
and alienated from all the so-called the people of Telangana have been the constitution of the bogus committee
development that Manmohan & Co opposing the setting up of any more interpreting it as an affirmation of the
boast of, as a testimony for a “vibrant” committees and demanding that the commitment of the Congress to the
democracy. The voter is promised a government immediately declare a formation of Telangana state. But the
paradise on earth by the parliamentary dead-line for the formation of a separate very fact that the leaders of various
leaches if they are elected to power. But state. What has further infuriated the parties of Andhra-Rayalaseema region
the moment an election comes to an people of Telangana is the absence of had hailed the setting up of the Sri
end, the voter is treated as dust and all the term Telangana in the terms of Krishna committee and had appealed
the promises are consigned to the dust- reference. Thus while Telangana is to all parties in the Telangana region to
bin. burning, the Neros in Delhi had only abide by the recommendations of the
Separate Telangana too is one such added fuel to the fire by callously committee showed beyond a shadow of
empty promise dished out by these skipping any reference to the issue of doubt that the setting up of the
traitors going by the name of formation of Telangana. These committee is a conspiracy by the Centre
mainstream democratic parties. hypocrites and opportunists of the in collusion with the feudal-capitalist
Telangana issue had served as a vote- highest order wanted to hunt with the comprador forces f Andhra-
catcher for all the parliamentary parties hound and run with the hare by trying Rayalaseema region. It is clear that the
which had included it in their election to balance mid-way between those who committee would spare no effort to
manifestos. But once the election demanded Telangana and those who sabotage the demand for separate
season is over, these opportunistic, bitterly opposed the demand. In reality, Telangana. At best, it might come up
hypocritical, shameless, self-seeking, they had kow-towed before the money with a solution that is acceptable to the
corrupt, power-hungry, anti-people power of the capitalist class hailing Andhra-Rayalaseema bourgeoisie and
parties have ditched the voters and have from the Andhra-Rayalaseema region. land mafia by excluding the city of
not hesitated a bit in resorting to the It is also significant to note that the Hyderabad from the new state of
use of lathis and bullets to crush a just, Prime Minister as well as the extra- Telangana.
legitimate, democratic mass agitation. constitutional power and the defacto The tactic of the reactionary
Chidambaram, the worst liar to have head of state, Sonia Gandhi, had not Congress leaders and the ever-lying
occupied the post of Home Minister till opened their lips ever since the issue Home Minister Chidambaram is to
date, was not just indulging in flip-flop, began to snowball into a major procrastinate on the issue with the fond
as the media had put it mildly, but had conflagration. Of course, the imperialist hope that “emotions” of the people
taken his art of lying to a new record. stooge Manmohan Singh did warn of would die down in course of time.
He promised to the people of Telangana the dangers of regionalism on the Thereby their dirty plan of continuing
on December 9, 2010 that the political occasion of the Republic Day thereby the plunder of Telangana in a united
process for the formation of a separate hinting clearly that he was opposed to state of Andhra Pradesh could proceed
state would commence soon. Within a the democratic aspirations of the people unchecked. Most of the Congress
fortnight, cringing before the money- of Telangana. It is clear that the legislators of Telangana region who had
power of the Andhra-Rayalaseema comprador-feudal Congress party that been yelling that they would submit
capitalists, he backtracked on the issue has been serving the imperialists and their resignations if the political process
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 25
for the formation of Telangana state is student rally was a grand success like force against the students by saying
not initiated immediately went back on the Vidyarthi Garjana held in Osmania that Maoists had entered the OU
their promise without a sense of shame. University campus in the month of campus and the situation was going out
They had even justified the setting up January. Speaker after speaker lashed of control. The Vice-Chancellor of the
of the Sri Krishna committee by out at the Centre and the Congress party. University denied that Maoists were in
Chidambaram and began to fool the There was unanimous demand from the the hostels. The Andhra Pradesh High
people once again by saying they would students for the immediate resignation Court directed the government to
wait for six months and then resign of the legislators from Telangana region withdraw the paramilitary forces from
from their posts if nothing comes out of all parties. the Osmania campus. The Supreme
by that time. The TDP MLAs from The last fortnight witnessed Court stayed the High Court order but
Telangana submitted their resignation peaceful as well as militant forms of asked the state government to furnish
letters to the Joint Action Committee struggle by the students, teachers and proof of the entry of Maoists in the
to outwit their Congress counterparts. professors, lawyers, journalists, hostels. Now attempts are on by the
The social fascist CPI(M) showed doctors, workers, and various sections notorious APSIB to plant Maoist
its worst authoritarian and anti-people of people. The police attacked the literature and weapons in the rooms of
stance by bitterly opposing the demand students in Osmania campus using some students to prove they belonged
for separate Telangana. Its greatest fear lathis, teargas and rubber bullets to banned CPI(Maoist). There is a deep
is that once Telangana demand is injuring several students. The protests conspiracy to suppress the student
accepted it may have to give in to the by students spread to other districts agitation in the name of a Maoist take-
legitimate demand for a separate forcing the government to institute an over. The students are prepared for any
Gorkhaland in the “Left Front” ruled enquiry into the incident. On February sacrifice and to forego an academic year
state of West Bengal. It would not 19, students organized a chalo assembly to achieve their goal of a separate
hesitate to unleash the most brutal rally to demonstrate before the Telangana. The examinations have been
blood-bath in Gorkhaland to retain it Assembly which was to commence its already postponed six times this year.
as the colony of the Bengali bourgeoisie budget session that day. The Roshaiah The stalemate continues with the state
and to loot the revenues of the region. government mobilized over 25,000 and central governments adamant in
Every Bengali-chauvinist party and policemen and blocked all roads their stand of not conceding the demand
leader is opposed to the democratic leading to the Assembly. Section 144 for a separate Telangana on the one
demand of the Gorkhas for a separate was imposed throughout the city of hand, and the students and other
Gorkhaland. Hyderabad and the entire traffic within
sections of people prepared to fight and
The political JAC was split a radius of 4km around the Assembly
die for their demand on the other. The
vertically with the betrayal by the was brought to a halt by the
reactionary rulers are amassing their
Congress legislators of Telangana overzealousness and paranoia of the
police who became objects of ridicule special police forces and the central
region and the dilly-dallying by the paramilitary forces to suppress the
Telangana legislators from TDP and by the common man. The OU campus
resembled a battle-field with thousands agitation in rivers of blood. The
other parties. The student JAC had
of students trying to break the situation is indeed ripe for the growth
intensified its agitation as an answer to
the Centre’s regressive move of setting barricades and the police stopping them of revolutionary forces and the
up the committee. Every section of with lathis and teargas. A student emergence of a real alternative political
society from Telangana region came out committed suicide by immolating force in the Telangana region. The
in protest resorting to many novel forms himself frustrated by the betrayals by intransigence of Sonia-Manmohan-
of protest. A student rally called the political parties by the cause of Chidambaram gang at the Centre and
POLIKEKA was held in the city of Telangana. This tragic incident the betrayal by the opportunist,
Warangal on February 7 attended by infuriated the students and the situation hypocritical parties in the state on the
several lakhs of students. The police, turned more volatile. After the chalo other has created a situation for the
as usual, used their strong-arm tactics assembly programme was disrupted by growth of a massive militant anti-state
and tried to disrupt the student meeting the police there were demonstrations movement. As it is, all the
by all means at their disposal. Anyone throughout Telangana with demands for parliamentary parties have lost their
not possessing a student ID card was the resignation of the legislators going relevance in Telengana. And these are
barred from entering the venue of the louder. Some legislators were gheraoed
certain to be swept away from the soil
meeting. And thousands were stopped or attacked.
of Telangana as the mass movement
in spite of having ID cards. Despite The government and the police tried transforms into a mighty tornado.
these heinous attempts by the police the to cook up an excuse for using brute
PM
26 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
Response by Azad, Spokesperson,
Central Committee, CPI (Maoist)
In an exclusive interview to The Magazine some time last November. Party leaders are a confused lot.
Hindu, Azad, spokesperson of the As regards Kishenji’s statements, Some interpret Mr.Chidambaram’s
Communist Party of India (Maoist), they should be seen with a positive statement to mean that Maoists should
answers in writing questions on his attitude, not with cynicism. Though lay down arms. Some say it means
party’s attitude to dialogue with the our central committee has not unilateral renunciation of violence by
Union Government. The following is discussed our specific strategy with Maoists. Yet others say what this could
the edited text of the full interview: regard to talks with the government mean is a cessation of hostilities by
1. In recent weeks one has seen at the current juncture, as a Polit both sides without any conditions
statements by the Government of Bureau member, comrade Kishenji attached.
India and leaders of the Communist had taken initiative and made a
It is indeed very difficult to
Party of India (Maoist) saying they concrete proposal for a ceasefire. understand what Mr. Chidambaram
are in favor of dialogue and talks but Whether comrade Kishenji’s
wants to convey. This seems to be a
each side seems to lack seriousness. statements are the official characteristic trait of Mr.
There has also been an element of pronouncements of our Central Chidambaram whether it be his
drama or more precisely, theatre, with Committee is not the point of debate
pronouncements on Telangana, which
Kishenji and P. Chidambaram here. What is important is the attitude are mildly described by the media as
exchanging state-ments through the of the government to such an offer in
“flip-flop” behaviour and interpreted
media. Our first question is whether the first place. Our central committee by both pro and anti-Telanganites
Kishenji’s statements can be treated has no objection to his proposal for a according to their own convenience;
as authoritative pronouncements of ceasefire. But as far as the issue of talks
or on Operation Green Hunt which
the CPI (Maoist) central leadership is concerned, our Party will pursue the he describes as a “myth invented
in pursuance of a national guidelines given by our Unity
by the media” even as the entire
strategy? Or are these tactical Congress-9th Congress held in early political and police establishment, and
announcements by him keeping only 2007. the entire media, give out graphic
the specifics of the Bengal situation 2. Both the Government and the descriptions of the huge mobilization
in mind. Maoists are also laying down of the security forces, and the
Azad: It is true our Party leadership preconditions. Chidambaram says successes achieved by Operation
has been issuing statements from time the Maoists should “abjure Green Hunt; or on MoUs signed by
to time in response to the government’s violence and say they are prepared various MNCs and Indian Corporate
dubious offer of talks. But to generalize for talks… I would like no ifs, no houses with the governments of
that there is lack of seriousness on both buts and no conditions”. Now ‘to Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa,
sides does not correspond to reality. abjure’ can mean to renounce or West Bengal and others.
To an observer, exchanging forswear violence, or even to avoid The Home Minister himself had
statements through the media does violence, i.e. a ceasefire. What is
displayed his split personality, not
sound a bit theatrical. And it is your understanding of Mr. Chidam- knowing what exactly he wants when
precisely such theatrical and baram’s formulation? What do you he says Maoists should “abjure
sensational things the media relishes think is the implication of what he
violence.” To a layman what this
while more serious things are swept wants the Maoists to accept? proposal obviously implies is that the
aside. Now the stark fact is lack of Azad: It is a very pertinent question state too would automatically put a
seriousness has been the hallmark of as no one knows exactly what Mr. stop to its inhuman atrocities on the
the government, particularly of the Chidambaram wants to convey by his adivasis, Maoist revolutionaries and
Union Home Minister P. oft-repeated, yet incomprehensible, their sympathizers. But not so to our
Chidambaram. It is Mr. Chidambaram abjure-violence statement. Hence I Home Minister!
who has been enacting a drama in the can understand your confusion in When you ask us what our
past four months, particularly ever interpreting Mr. Chidambaram’s understanding of Mr. Chidam-baram’s
since his amusing 72-hour-abjure- “abjure violence” statement. It is not formulation is, our answer is: we are
violence diktat to the CPI (Maoist) in just you alone but the entire media is very clear that the real intent behind
the course of his interview with Tehelka left in a state of confusion. His own his rhetoric is not a ceasefire between
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 27
the government and the Maoists, like scores of inhuman atrocities by his putting the cart before the horse,
that with the NSCN, but an absurd forces are brought to light by making demands that the
demand for a unilateral renunciation magazines like Tehelka, Outlook, a government may be unlikely to
of violence by the Maoists. Anyone host of websites, and, to an extent, accept as a starting point, rather
with a bit of common sense would some papers like yours. What is it than positing the same as one of
understand the unreasonableness of if not sheer hypocrisy on the part the end points of the proposed
the Home Minister’s demand. of the Home Minister to ask Maoists dialogue?
It is not that our so-called to abjure violence while his Azad: I concur with the logic of your
political analysts and others who paramilitary forces indulge in crimes arguments. It is logically a valid
appear on TV channels or write every day, every hour, in gross argument that such demands could
articles in the print media lack this violation of the very Constitution by be resolved in the course of actual
common sense. It is their vested which he swears? talks and not as a precondition for
interests that come in the way of 3.The Maoists also have their talks. But you must also understand
questioning the Home Minister in a preconditions for talks. In his recent the spirit of what comrade Ganapathi
straightforward manner. Can they not interview to Jan Myrdal and Gautam has said in his interview given to
put a simple question why the Navlakha, Ganapathy made the Mr. Jan Myrdal and Gautam
government cannot stop its brutalities following formulation on the issue of Navlakha. Some clarification is
on the people, adhere strictly to the talks: “To put concisely the main required here. I will try to clarify
Indian Constitution by putting an end demands that the party has placed what comrade Ganapathi has said.
to the police culture of fake in front of the government [of India]
encounters, abductions, rapes, Firstly what he meant when he
for any kind of talks are 1. All out said the government should withdraw
tortures, destruction of property, war has to be withdrawn; 2. For
foisting of false cases and such its all-out war is nothing but a
any kind of democratic work, the suspension of its war, or in other
indescribable atrocities on the people ban on the Party and Mass
and the Maoists? Chidambaram is words, mutual ceasefire. Let there be
Organizations have to be lifted; 3. no confusion in this regard. What
cosy in studios and press
Illegal detention and torture of Chidambaram wants is unilateral
conferences before English-speaking
comrades had to be stopped and ceasefire by Maoists while the state
TV anchors and correspondents but
can never answer the questions put by they be immediately released. If continues its brutal campaign of terror.
illiterate adivasis. That is the secret these demands are met, then the On the contrary, what the CPI
behind his skipping the Jan Sunwaayi same leaders who are released from (Maoist) wants is a cessation of
in Dantewada last December. For, jails would lead and represent the hostilities by both sides
drama and real life are entirely Party in the talks.” simultaneously. This is the meaning
different. My question is whether these are of the first point. A ceasefire by both
The implication of what Mr. realistic preconditions. For example, sides cannot be called a precondition.
Chidambaram wants the Maoists to the “all out war” can be suspended It is but an expression of the
accept is crystal-clear. He wants the first before it is “withdrawn,” i.e. a willingness on the part of both sides
Maoists to surrender. Or else [the ceasefire, so why insist on its engaged in war to create a conducive
state’s] para-military juggernaut would withdrawal at the outset? Are you atmosphere for going to the next step
crush the people and the Maoists asking for a ceasefire or something of talks.
under its wheels. It is total surrender, more than that? Secondly, if peaceful legal work
pure and simple. While repeating that has to be done by Maoists as desired
Secondly, you want the ban on
he never wanted the Maoists to lay by several organizations and members
down arms – as if he had generously the Party and its mass organizations
of civil society, then lifting of ban
given a big concession – he comes up lifted and prisoners released.
becomes a pre-requisite. Without
with an even more atrocious proposal: Usually in negotiations of this kind lifting the ban on the party and mass
Maoists should abjure violence while around the world between organizations how can we organize
his lawless forces continue their governments and insurgent groups, legal struggles, meetings etc in our
rampage creating more Gachampallis, the lifting of a ban is one of the name? If we do so, will these not be
Gompads, Singanamadugus, Palach- objects of talks rather than a dubbed as illegal as they are led by a
elimas, Dogpadus, Palods, Tetema- precondition and the release of banned Party? According to us, the ban
dugus, Takilodus, Ongaras, and so on. political prisoners an intermediate itself is an authoritarian, undemocratic,
Not a word does he utter even as step. Is the Maoist party not and fascist act. Hence the demand for

28 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010


the lifting of the ban is a legitimate people and derives vicarious pleasure their demands through peaceful
demand, and, if fulfilled, will go a in cold-blooded murders, rapes, political means?
long way in promoting open abductions, tortures and every kind of Azad: Your question, or rather, a
democratic forms of struggles and atrocity one could ever imagine. And whole set of questions, requires a
creating a conducive atmosphere for how would this “generous Gandhian detailed answer. I am afraid it will take
a dialogue. act” on our part facilitate the process much space but I will try to be as brief
Thirdly, what comrade Ganapathi of dialogue with the megalomaniacs as possible. Before I proceed, let
had asked for is that the government in the Home Ministry who do not me clarify at the very outset that
should adhere to the Indian spare even non-violent Gandhian the proposal of talks is neither a
Constitution and put an end to the social activists working in Dantewada ploy to buy time or regroup ourselves,
illegal murders in the name of and other places? nor is it a part of the general re-
encounters, tortures and arrests. We 5. What do the Maoists hope to evaluation of the political strategy
must include the term ‘murders’ achieve with talks? Are you only of the party that could lead to its
which is missing in the third point. looking to buy time and regroup coming overground, entering the
There is nothing wrong or yourselves – which is what the electoral fray, and multi-party
unreasonable in asking the government government said the CPI (Maoist) competition as in Nepal. Our CC had
to stick to its own constitution. As did during the aborted dialogue in already dealt in detail with the question
regards the release of political Andhra Pradesh? Or is it part of a of multi-party competition in our Open
prisoners this could be an intermediate more general re:evaluation of the Letter to the UCPN (M) and various
step as far as the nature of the demand political strategy of the party, one articles and interviews by our Party
is concerned. However, to hold talks which may see it emerge as an leaders. So I will not go into it again
it is necessary for the government overground political formation, here.
to release some leaders. Or else, engaged in open, legal activities
Now let me take up each of the
there would be none to talk to since and struggles, and perhaps even
points that you had raised.
the entire Party is illegal. We cannot entering the electoral fray directly
or indirectly at various levels in First, you asked me what we want
bring any of our leaders overground to achieve with talks. My one sentence
for the purpose of talks. the kind of ‘multiparty competition’
that Prachanda says is necessary answer is: we want to achieve
4. Would the Maoists be prepared for the communist movement? When whatever is possible for the
to establish their bona fides on you say you want the government to betterment of people’s lives without
the question of talks by announcing lift its ban on the party, are you also compromising on our political
a unilateral ceasefire or, perhaps undertaking not to indulge in programme of new democratic
the non initiation of combat methods of struggle (eg. armed revolution and strategy of protracted
operations (NICO) after a particular struggle) which led to the people’s war. People have a right to
date so as to facilitate the process of imposition of the ban in the first enjoy whatever is guaranteed under
place? There are other Maoist and the Indian Constitution, however
dialogue?
revolutionary communist parties nominal and limited these provisions
Azad: It is quite strange to see across India that is mobilizing are. And the government is duty-bound
intellectuals like you asking the Maoists workers and peasants through to implement the provisions of the
to declare a unilateral ceasefire when mass politics. They have not been Constitution. We hope the talks would
the heavily armed Indian state is banned. Why does the CPI (Maoist) raise the overall consciousness of the
carrying out its brutal armed offensive not believe those are legitimate forms oppressed people about their
and counter-revolutionary war. How of struggle? In Kashmir, the Hurriyat fundamental rights and rally them to
would unilateral announcement of conference stands for the self fight for their rights. Talks will also
determination of J&K and seeks to expose government’s hypocrisy,
ceasefire or NICO after a particular
mobilize people for this but the duplicity, and its authoritarian and
date establish the bona-fides of our
Indian state, which may use extra-constitutional rule that violates
Party on the question of talks? What violence and repression and whatever is guaranteed by the
purpose would such an act serve? It is excessive force against people who Constitution. So talks would help in
incomprehensible to me why we are peacefully protest, has not banned exposing the government’s callous
asked to “display this generosity” the Hurriyat. Does this not indicate attitude to the people and may help
towards an enemy who has the least that there is some space in the in bringing about reforms, however
concern for the welfare of the system for the Maoists to press limited they may be.
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 29
Another important reason is: talks adivasi population in our country is “led to the imposition of the ban in the
will give some respite to the people already living under conditions of first place.” On the contrary, it is the
who are oppressed and suppressed chronic famine and even the rest of other way round. It is the imposition
under the fascist jack-boots of the the population is now pushed into of the ban that had led the Party and
Indian state and state-sponsored famine condition? And why? Because mass organisations to take up arms
terrorist organizations like the Salwa of the insatiable greed of the corporate in the first place.
Judum, Maa Danteswari Swabhiman sharks that is fuelling Chidambram- People are easily misled to believe
Manch, Sendra, Nagarik Suraksha Raman Singh’s war in Chhattisgarh, that it is the violence of the Maoists
Samiti, Shanti Sena, Harmad Bahini, Chidambaram-Naveen Patnaik’s war that had compelled the government to
and so on. Those who sit in studios in Orissa, Chidambaram-Buddhadeb’s impose the ban. This is a classic
and insulated rooms, and make their war in West Bengal, example of how a white lie can be
expert analyses about how Maoists Chidambaram-Shibu Soren’s war dressed up and presented as the truth
want to buy time or utilize the in Jharkhand, and so on. Whoever by endless repetition. If you have even
respite to regroup themselves, can has the minimum concern for the a cursory glance at the history of the
never understand the ABC of well-being of the masses, no matter revolutionary movement in our
revolution or the ground situation. This what his/her ideology is, would country you will find that the forms
is actually not an argument at all. If naturally think of how to save them of struggle adopted by the Maoist
the Maoists try to utilize the situation, from being decimated. But those who revolutionaries from time to time
so would the police and the have nothing but sheer contempt for basically corresponded to the forms
government. Wouldn’t they? They the poor and helpless people and only of suppression pursued by the rulers.
created an extensive network of police think of how to maximize the profits of A stark example of the
informers during the six-month period a tiny parasitic class, put forth weird transformation of a peaceful mass
of ceasefire in Andhra Pradesh in and cynical arguments deliberately to movement into a violent armed struggle
2004. The intelligence hawks attended confuse the people. They depict the is right in front of our eyes. Lalgarh’s
every open meeting and activity of the Maoists as terrorists, create a fear peaceful mass movement with simple
Maoists, took videos of people, and psychosis in the middle and upper demands for an apology from the
could easily target them after the classes that the Maoists would soon police officials and an end to brutal
clamp-down. Maoists had definitely come to your cities and disturb your police repression had transformed
increased their recruitment but so supposedly secure lives; that they into a revolutionary armed struggle due
did the enemy. It doesn’t need much would seize power by the middle of to the brutal suppression campaign
of a common sense to understand that this century, and what not. By such unleashed by the state and state-
both sides will utilize a situation of hysteria whipped up by the rulers sponsored terrorists like the Harmad
ceasefire to strengthen their respective through the various means at their
Bahini. So was the case of the
sides. Then could this be called an disposal, they justify the brutal war on
movement in Kashmir and various
argument at all? These cynics, or, I the people and make the massive
states of North East. Even in
would rather call them, war-hungry displacement, mayhem, massacres,
Naxalbari in 1967, the first shots
hawks, itch for a brutal suppression rapes and atrocities appear like
were fired on unarmed women and
of the Maoists and the people they collateral damage in the larger noble
directly lead, even if it means objective of achieving peace, progress children by the police. The people
genocide. They do not care if in the and prosperity for all. retaliated in their own manner and
process thousands of police and the party took birth and evolved a
Question of re-evaluation of
paramilitary personnel too perish for correct political line for the Indian
political strategy of CPI (Maoist), revolution. In Srikakulam, Koranna,
they are nothing but cannon-fodder in demand for lifting of ban, and the
the eyes of these gentlemen. and Manganna were the first martyrs
issue of legitimacy of open, legal forms
and these murders transformed the
So let me make it crystal-clear: the of struggle
movement into an armed struggle.
proposal of talks is meant neither to There are a lot of questions
buy time nor to regroup ourselves but Even during the first great armed mass
related to the above and I feel this uprising of Telangana during the late
to give some respite for the people at needs some detailed explanation
large who are living under constant 1940s, the spark was first lit when the
keeping in mind several misconce-
state terror and immense suffering. cruel feudal lords murdered Doddi
ptions doing the rounds. Firstly you
How many of our countrymen know are wrong in assuming that it is the Komaraiah.
that three lakh adivasis were driven forms of struggle (armed struggle) If you take the case of the
away from their homes, that half the pursued by the CPI (Maoist) that had transformation of the movement led
30 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
by the erstwhile CPI (ML)[PW] or Karimnagar district of North To cut a long story short, it is not
MCCI or the present CPI (Maoist), Telangana as disturbed areas in 1978 the forms of struggle and forms of
you will find the same pattern. The was not the armed struggle of the organization adopted by a party that
revolutionaries go to the oppressed, Maoists (which had suffered a had led to imposition of ban but the
make them conscious of their complete setback after the setback in very ban (whether declared or
inherent strength and the reasons Naxalbari, Srikakulam and elsewhere undeclared) on every type of open,
for their misery, make them aware by 1972 itself) but the powerful anti- legal activity including peaceful public
of their fundamental rights, organize feudal militant mass struggle that meetings that had compelled the
and unite them, mobilise them into upset the hitherto established feudal revolutionaries to adopt non-peaceful
peaceful forms of protest and struggle. order in the countryside. And one of and armed forms of struggle and
Then the state enters with its baton in the main forms of struggle at that time under-ground forms of organization.
defence of the class of big landlords, was social boycott of the feudal Our Party appeals to all independent
contractors, industrialists, land mafia lords and their henchmen, which observers and unbiased media
and other powerful forces that control witnessed the unity of over 95 per personnel to look at this phenomenon
the state and economy. Everywhere, cent of the people in most villages. historically and analyse this with an
the peaceful struggles are crushed Social boycott had disturbed the open mind. You will realize that what
brutally, entire areas are declared peace and tranquility of the feudal I have said is hundred per cent
disturbed, fake encounters, barons who functioned like a state correct. We are prepared to enter
abductions, disappearances, rapes, within a state. From then on, into a debate with anyone on the
burning down villages, and untold undeclared ban has been in vogue in course of development of the
atrocities become the order of the parts of North Telangana until 1985 revolutionary movement led by our
day. when it encompassed the entire Party in our country and how, why,
state. CRPF was deployed for the and when, armed form of struggle had
The Indian Constitution is
first time to suppress the peaceful to be adopted by the party.
consigned to the dustbin by the rulers
mass struggles that broke out against
and is not even worth the paper it is liquor. I remember how the Revolutionaries never mince
written on. At that point of time any mainstream media like the Indian words. There is no need to. We
revolutionary party has to quickly Express published stories of policemen believe that ultimately people have to
switch to non-eaceful and armed selling arrack at the police stations and take up armed struggle to seize power.
forms of struggle if it is really serious forcing people to consume liquor in But this does not mean we take up
about transforming the lives of the order to foil the anti-liquor agitation armed struggle at the cost of all
people and the oppressive conditions of the revolutionaries. other forms of struggle and thereby
in the country. The alternative is to invite the state to unleash its brute force
We find the same story in the
surrender the revolutionary aims, on the people. On the contrary, it is
urban areas too. The Singareni
make adjustments with the system and only when all other forms of struggle
colliery workers organised themselves
sail with other parliamentary parties fail to achieve the objective, when
into a trade union called Singareni
albeit with some revolutionary rhetoric these are crushed under the iron heels
Workers’ Federation (SIKASA) in
for a while. This, however, will not of the state that we resort to non-
1981 but it was unofficially banned
work for long as people cannot peaceful and armed forms of struggle.
within three years. An undeclared
distinguish between the bourgeois- It is very important to understand this
ban was imposed on the students
feudal parties and the ML party that and youth organisations, women’s as it has become a common practice
had turned into a new parliamentary organizations, workers’ organiz- for some so-called political analysts
party. When people are fighting a do- ations, cultural organizations and and representatives of the ruling
or-die battle you cannot turn your every form of peaceful, democratic classes to charge the Maoists as
tail but will have to provide them protest was brutally suppressed. responsible for all the violence since
with new appropriate forms of One must see the development of their very ideology talks of armed
struggle and forms of organization. armed struggle in the background of struggle. Hence, they conclude, there
And this is what our Party had done the strangulation of even the limited is no use of talks with the Maoists.
right from the days of Jagtyal Jaitra democratic space available in the These simpletons resort to the
Yatra. present semi-colonial semi-feudal set method of simple reductionism:
What shook the rulers at that up, and the brutal suppression of Maoists believe in violence and
time and compelled them to declare the movement by unleashing the armed struggle to overthrow the
Jagtyala and Sircilla tauks in lethal instruments of the state. state; hence they indulge in endless
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 31
violence; there is no use of talking to banned while those who pursue open, exploiting classes. It would be too
people whose very ideology is rooted legal forms of struggle are allowed to simplistic to conclude that the police
in violence; and hence there is no other function freely. During the could identify and target the leaders
way than to crush the Maoists with all Emergency, as we all know, both by utilizing the talks interregnum.They
the means at the disposal of the state. the revolutionary used it to some extent just as we
Such goes their argument. I will deal Left as well as the reactionary used it to take our politics widely
with this later on. Right parties were banned. Even at the among the people in the State and
I didn’t quite understand what you height of sectarian violence indulged in outside. The setback we had suffered
meant when you said referring to by the Hindu fascist gangs, they are in most parts of AP is not a fall-out of
other open Maoist and revolutionary allowed a field day. They carry arms, talks but due to several inherent
communist parties across India that display them openly, threaten the weaknesses of our Party in AP and our
are mobilizing workers and peasants religious minorities with genocide, failure to adopt appropriate tactics to
through mass politics: “Why does indulge in violence against the confront enemy’s tactics. This is an
the CPI (Maoist) not believe those Muslims and Christians, and yet are entirely different subject and can be
are legitimate forms of struggle?”, you deemed as legitimate organizations dealt at some other time.
ask. Who has said we do not believe since they are part of the ruling What is of relevance here is that
these are legitimate forms of struggle? classes and their integral culture of the talks in AP have given us a rich
We consider all forms of struggle as violence. experience and important lessons. If
legitimate, right from social boycott The acts of destruction in the at all a situation for talks arises once
as we had practiced in Jagtyala, violence that was organized in a again—which we do not foresee in
hunger-strikes as our comrades in planned manner [in Andhra Pradesh] the near future given the inexorable
various prisons are frequently taking by a faction of the Congress in one compulsions on the government from
up besides other places, and various day far surpassed the so-called the corporate sharks for total control
militant demonstrations. Armed violent acts carried out by Maoists in of the mineral-rich region—we can
struggle is also a form of struggle an entire year! Yet our Union Home instruct our leadership in various
and assumes importance depending Ministry issues advertisements against prisons to take the responsibility. Our
on the tactical moves by the enemy. Maoist violence while keeping mum General Secretary had explained this
While all forms of struggle are about the mayhem and arson by his in the course of his interview with
legitimate in our eyes, some so- own Congress party hooligans. Thus Mr. Jan Myrdal and Mr. Gautam
called revolutionaries, veterans of the question of how you look at Navlakha. The mistakes committed
yesteryears, surprisingly exclude violence is coloured with a class bias. in AP during talks with the government
armed struggle from the forms of The violence by the ruling class parties will not be repeated.
struggle and lay one-sided emphasis is considered legitimate while those 7. There is a contradiction between
on peaceful forms of struggle. They by the oppressed masses and their the recent offer for talks made by
can well join the Gandhian organizations are dangerous and a Kishenji and the spate of violence
organisations and fight for some threat to the security of the rulers. and killing by the Maoists which
reforms instead of calling themselves This has been true right from the time has followed that. The Home
as part of the ML stream or as of Charvakas. Ministry has compiled a list of such
Maoists aiming for the revolutionary 6. If the government believes the incidents and circulated it to the
transformation of society. For some of Maoists “misused” the Andhra media (see Annex). No doubt there
them, ML ideology or label is only a talks, your party believes the has been no letup in the government
fashion. They do not wish to bring dialogue there was abused by the offensive during this period and you
about the revolutionary authorities to identify and then could produce your own counter list
transformation of the society and state target your leaders. How, then, do but many of these attacks by the
but only a few cosmetic reforms. you hope to deal with the risks of Maoists do not appear to be
The question of imposing or not once again entering into a dialogue ‘defensive’ but ‘offensive’. Can the
imposing a ban on a certain party or with the Indian state? offer of talks go hand in hand with
organization depends on several Azad: The talks we held with the the intensification of offensive
factors. It would be too simplistic Congress regime in AP provided us Maoist military activities?
to conclude that just because a Party with important lessons. And these Azad: This is not as complicated as it
believes in armed struggle and lessons would guide us in any future is made out to be. The crux of the
indulges in acts of violence it is being talks with the governments of the matter is: no ceasefire has been
32 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
declared either by the Maoists or by The very first “heinous act of consciously, with a clearly worked
the government. The Maoists had violence” cited by the Union Home out strategy of justifying the
made an offer of talks which was Ministry in its annexure circulated to gruesome offensive by our own brand
immediately dismissed by the the media to manufacture consent for of George Bushes and Donald
government as a joke and spurned its dirty war, goes like this: “In West Rumsfelds.
by Chidambaram himself who wants Bengal (February 22, 2010) –attack Tehelka Magazine, Star Ananda
nothing short of total surrender, on a State Police-CRPF Joint patrol and other media sources have
whatever be the language he uses. party in PS Lalgarh, district West graphically exposed this lie.
When the government is not serious Midnapore. In the ensuing gun battle As for your question regarding
about a ceasefire and dialogue, and Lalmoham Tudu, President of the offensive and defensive actions, I wish
is placing a condition that Maoists Police-e-Sangharsh Birodhi Janaganer to clarify to every well-meaning person
should abjure violence without Committee (PSBJC) was killed.” who desires a reduction of violence on
spelling out whether it will reciprocate the part of the Maoists that there is
The above incident was said to
with a simultaneous declaration of nothing like defensive and offensive
have taken place within three hours of
ceasefire, then what is the use of actions once the war has commenced.
the offer of a 72-day ceasefire made
grumbling about acts of violence by However, our revolutionary counter-
Maoists? The acts of violence by both by comrade Kishenji. Chidambaram
himself had gone on record repeating violence is overall defensive in nature
sides will cease from the day a for a considerable period of time. This
ceasefire is declared. several times this fabricated “heinous
act” in a desperate bid to justify his does not mean we will retaliate only
Now I am not going into the when we are fired at and keep silent
rejection of the Maoist offer. Earlier
innumerable atrocities by the police the rest of the time when the police,
too, Chidambaram had deliberately
forces and the paramilitary gangs sent paramilitary and the vigilante gangs
hurled an accusation against the CPI
by [the state]. There has been a unleash terror and engage in all-round
(Maoist) of massacring villagers in
wide coverage in magazines like preparations for carrying out genocide.
Khagaria district.
Tehelka, Outlook and our own Maoist To make this clear, let us suppose the
Information Bulletins. The statements Coming to the so-called attack by men sent by Chidambaram are
and fact-finding committee reports Maoists on the joint patrol party, it is a combing an area. When we come to
by various organizations and hundred per cent lie. There was no know of it, we will carry out an
Gandhians like Himanshu Kumar such attack at all. Ask anyone in offensive, annihilate as many forces
clearly show how savage the state has Narcha village or Kanatapahari. as possible in the given
become. Every villager, and not just the family circumstances, and seize arms and
Equally atrocious is the list members of Sri Tudu, will tell you how ammunition. We will also take
compiled by the Union Home a hundred-odd CRPF men lay in prisoners of war where that is
Ministry regarding the violent acts by waiting at his house on the night of possible. This will be part of our
Maoists to justify its rejection of the 22nd, how they caught the three, overall defensive strategy although it
Maoist offer. The annexure appended and carried out the cold-blooded is a tactical counter-offensive.
to your questionnaire speaks volumes murder. That there had been no firing In the war zone, if you do not
about the duplicity and lies spread by the Maoists was corroborated even take the initiative, the enemy will
by the war-mongering hawks in the by the CRPF men guarding the camp. seize the initiative. Likewise, we may
Home Ministry as part of their psy- Initially, the SP of Paschim have to attack ordnance depots,
war. This is meant to lend an Mednipur asserted that Mr. Tudu died trucks carrying explosives, guards at
element of legitimacy to their when the CRPF men “bravely” installations such as NMDC, RPF
rejection of the ceasefire offer by retaliated an attack by the Maoist personnel, and even outposts and
Maoists and also to their war waged guerrillas on the fortress-like CRPF stations far beyond our areas to
for nipping in the bud the alternative camp in Kantapahari. Later, realizing seize arms, as in Nayagarh, for
organs of people’s power, the the hollowness of his own story and instance. To fight a well-equipped
alternative development models, and fearing that it would evaporate like superior enemy force that has no
for grabbing the resources in the dew drops with the first rays of the dearth of arms supplies and logistical
mineral-rich region for the benefit sun, they changed the version by support, what other option do we have
of the class of tiny parasitic [saying] that Tudu and other two were but to equip ourselves with the arms
corporate elite they represent. I will killed when a Maoist guerrilla squad seized from the enemy?
not go into all the incidents listed attacked the CRPF’s raiding party. Some of these men are killed when
therein. This lie is being propagated they offer resistance. We feel sorry for
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 33
their lives but there is no other way. individuals to ponder over this is engaged in war against us. Non-
Chidambaram may yell that innocent question, pressurize the government combatants are generally avoided. But
CISF jawans were targeted even to adhere to the Geneva Convention, what about the intelligence officials
though they were in no way related punish those who are creating and police informers who collect
to the state’s offensive against Gompads, Gachampallis, information about the movements of
Maoists. But that is how things would Singanamadugus, Palachelimas, Maoists and cause immense damage
be in a war zone. The war would get Tetemadugus, Takilodus, Dogpadus, to the movement? It is true most of
dirtier and dirtier, engulf new areas and Palods, and several other massacres. them do not carry arms openly or
affect hitherto unaffected regions and If it is to be a war, then let it be are unarmed. What to do with them?
sections of society. But this is but the state should clearly state If we just leave them they would
precisely what [the ruling] coterie whether it would abide by its own continue to cause damage to the
want. We will also destroy the Constitution and the International Party and movement. If we punish
informer network built by the enemy, Conventions on the conduct of war. them there is a furore from the media
his supplies, bunkers, communication 8.The Maoists are engaging in and civil society. Caught between the
network and infrastructure. We have armed struggle but have not devil and the deep sea! Our general
to confiscate money from the banks hesitated in use violence against practice is to conduct a trial in a
and other sources for funding the non combatants. The beheading of people’s court wherever that is possible
revolution. There is no use of yelling a policeman, Francis Induvar, and proceed in accordance with the
about the indiscriminate destruction while in Maoist captivity, shocked decision of the people. Where it is
by Maoists. We have to paralyse the country and was a blatant not possible to hold the people’s court
the administration, immobilize the violation of civilized norms and of due to the intensity of repression we
enemy troops, cut off his supplies international humanitarian law, conduct investigation, take the
and perhaps even target the which the Maoists, like the opinion of the people and give
policemen engaged in removing the Government, are obliged to adhere appropriate punishment.
dead bodies of the enemy. There to. If civil society condemns the I agree there is no place for cruelty
was a hue and cry when our guerrillas security forces for killing civilians while giving out punishments. I had
placed mines under the dead bodies. in places like Gompad village in clarified this in one of my earlier
But why such a hue and cry? Chhattisgarh and elsewhere and interviews while referring to the case
Where are the rules in this war? demands that justice be done and of Francis Induvar. But it is made into
Who has defined the rules? If there the guilty punished, it has an equal a big issue by the media when a
were rules, then why are the peace- right to condemn the Maoists thousand beheadings had taken place
chanting pigeons in the Home whenever they commit such crimes. in the past five years by the police-
Ministry completely silent about the There have been some reports that paramilitary and Salwa Judum goons.
beasts in police uniform who had the Maoist leadership has You are saying the beheading of Francis
chopped off the breasts of 70-year- apologized for the killing of Induvar was a blatant violation of
old Dude Muye before killing her, Induvar but what steps have you civilized norms and of international
murdered in cold blood over 120 taken to punish those who were humanitarian law which both sides in
adivasis since August 2009 in involved? What steps have you the war are obliged to adhere to. Do
Dantewada, Bijapur, Kanker and taken to ensure such crimes are not you really think the government is
Narayanpur, and yet roam freely committed by your cadres? If your adhering to the law? And has the
and continue their atrocities without answer is that the state has also media ventured to ask Chidambaram
hindrance? Chidambaram, Pillai, not punished those among its ranks why [the state] hasn’t been following
Raman Singh and their like should who have committed crimes, are the international law or at least the
first define the rules of engagement you then admitting that the political Indian Constitution when dealing with
and then, and only then, they have culture and moral universe the the people in the war zone or citizens
a right to speak of violations of the Maoists represent is the same as that elsewhere? Just ten days ago, two of
rules. I am sure they would never of the state which you decry as our Party leaders—comrades
dare to discipline their own forces illegitimate? Shakhamuri Appa Rao and Kondal
while preaching meaningless sermons Azad: I had already covered part of Reddy—were abducted from
about Maoist “atrocities.” your question in my answer to your Chennai and Pune respectively by
We appeal to all peace-loving, earlier question. Our attempt will the APSIB and the Central
democratic-minded organizations and always be to target the enemy who Intelligence officials and were
34 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
murdered in cold blood. What cruel the name of democracy and the “rule masses is the first priority for the
tortures these comrades were of law.” Maoists have great respect for Maoist revolutionaries. You should
subjected to by the lawless goons of human life. Democratic values and request Mr. Chidambaram to allow
the Indian state no one will ever know. norms are an integral part of socialist you to visit the areas in
I can give a thousand such examples and communist ideology. Yet at the Dandakaranya, Jharkhand, Orissa, or
of killings of our comrades in cold same time we think it is necessary to the villages of Jangalmahal by
blood while in police captivity in the destroy the few poisonous weeds to controlling his paramilitary forces,
past five years. Why is the media silent save the entire crop. the SPOs, the Salwa Judum, Shanti
about these murders but becomes I once again request you and all Sena, Nagarik Suraksha Samiti and
hysteric when one Police Inspector is others to think by imagining Harmad from obstructing you. Then
beheaded? What is the civil society yourselves what would you have done you will see with your own eyes a
doing when such cold-blooded when your mothers, sisters and hitherto hidden story of how the
murders are taking place in police daughters are raped in front of your adivasis are prevented from pursuing
custody? Why single out a rare case eyes, your father, brother and sons their normal activity by the state and
of the beheading of one Induvar and are murdered after being hacked to state-sponsored terrorists.
play it up whenever you need an pieces. And worst of all, when there is You will find how the forces had
excuse to bash the Maoists? no guardian of the “rule of law” to occupied school buildings for six
When our comrades hear of these receive your complaints and the months to a year, thereby preventing
cold-blooded murders committed by complainant himself/herself is the children from pursuing their
the APSIB or other officials of the state, abducted. When we do not understand studies. You will find how the adivasis
it is natural that their blood would boil the feelings of the affected people, it is are prevented from buying their daily
and they will not bat an eye-lid to hack better to imagine ourselves in their necessities from the weekly bazaars
any of the perpetrators of these place. This may help us in getting most of which were forcibly closed
inhuman crimes, say a man from nearer to the truth. through threats and intimidation by
APSIB or Grey Hounds, to pieces if 9. The Supreme Court has asked the so-called security forces. Who is
he fell into their hands. In the war zone, the petitioners who filed a PIL blocking the development of the
the passions run with such intensity against Salwa Judum atrocities to adivasis, who is preventing them from
which one cannot even imagine in other draw up a rehabilitation plan for carrying on their normal activity like
areas or under normal circumstances. those displaced by the violence cultivating the fields, tending the
Could someone who has seen women perpetrated in Chhattisgarh by animals, collecting minor forest
being raped and murdered, children Salwa Judum, the regular security produce, picking tendu leaves,
and old men being murdered after forces and the Maoists. Is the CPI obtaining their daily necessities, and
hacking them to pieces in the killing (Maoist) prepared to give an so on will become as clear as day-light
fields of Dantewada and Bijapur, ever undertaking that it will allow the once you visit these remote villages.
give a thought to your so-called non- rebuilding of schools and the Hence the government, its “security”
existent ( I say non-existent as none of establishment of basic government forces, and vigilante gangs are hell-
the combatants know what these are services (primary health care, bent on preventing independent
nor would follow these conventions as anganwadi, PDS etc.) as part of a observers and fact-finding teams from
the history of fake encounters by the court backed plan for the welfare visiting these areas.
Indian state shows) international of the tribals affected by the conflict? It is worthwhile to keep in mind
laws when the perpetrator of such Will you agree not to attack that it is not the lack of development
crimes happens to fall into their hands? government employees and that has become the problem in the
The pent-up anger of the masses is so officials who enter to provide rural areas, particularly adivasi-
intense that even the Party general services to the tribal masses? inhabited areas. On the contrary, it is
secretary will perhaps fail to control Azad: Asking us to give an its imperialist-dictated anti-people
the fury of the adivasi masses when undertaking that we will allow the development model that is driving
they lay their hands on their tormentors. rebuilding of schools and them to displacement and deprivation,
Maoists are not for crude and raw establishment of basic government death and destitution, and extreme
justice as some are trying to make it services in the areas we control and desperation. There need be hardly any
appear. Maoist guerrillas are not thugs that we will not attack government doubt that the poor adivasis have
and mercenaries like the men who employees and officials is quite bizarre, been a happier lot before the civilized
carry out their brutal heinous acts in to say the least. The welfare of the [corporate] goons set their foot on

PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 35


their soil. The development model Many, however, had surrendered it was the British colonialists that
pursued by [the rulers] displaced them to the people, mended their caused the blood-shed in India and it
and made them aliens in their own land. behaviour, and continue to live in the is the American aggressors that are the
The so-called development that you villages like others. The Supreme Court cause for the unending violence in Iraq.
are referring to is the development that should know that the displacement of By criticizing both the so-called
India had seen under the British the adivasis was done in accordance security forces and the Maoists for not
colonialists. The talk of roads in remote with a pre-mediated plan to evacuate respecting the sanctity of schools,
areas is not for the benefit of the the villages and settle them in Vietnam- these human rights groups imagine
people, who are without food and type strategic hamlets. And this they are playing a neutral and
drinking water, but only for the policy is being continued by the impartial role. But they do not even
speedier movement of the raw BJP government in Chhattisgarh with see the cause and effect chain of
materials from the hinterland to the full assistance from the Congress- events. They do not ask themselves
cities, to help the mining sharks to led government at the Centre. The the simple question: If the police
transport the mineral wealth and forest Supreme Court, if at all it is serious and paramilitary do not occupy
produce. And, of course, for rushing about the displacement of the schools, then where is the need for
in the state’s troops to quell any adivasis, should direct the central and the Maoists to destroy them? Do you
militant people’s struggle against the State governments to immediately halt know the fact that in many villages it
rapacious plunder by the tiny parasitic its brutal armed offensive on adivasi was not the Maoist squads but the
class of blood-sucking leaches. The villages in the first place, which is people themselves who had
entire world knows that a George Bush resulting in the massive exodus of the demolished school buildings since they
invaded Iraq for oil even as the media people estimated at around three lakhs did not wish to see the security forces
in the US barked about Saddam’s since the current brutal war began in create insecurity in their villages? How
non-existent Weapons of Mass the name of Operation Green Hunt. can you ask the Maoists and the
Destruction. Entire India knows that 10. Human rights groups have people to assure you that they will
[the rulers] and the vultures they condemned the security forces and respect the sanctity of schools
represent are itching to lay their hands the Maoists for not respecting the occupied or likely to be occupied by
on the abundant reserves of iron ore, sanctity of schools. If the security their tormentors?
coal, tin, bauxite, dolomite, limestone forces take them over and convert My request to media people like
and other minerals of Chhattisgarh, them into barracks, the Maoists you is: please do not be misled by an
Jharkhand, Orissa and other States have also been guilty of destroying act, by how it happened, but go
where their Operation Green Hunt is school buildings and infrastructure. deeper into why it happened. Only
launched. Even in the absence of a ceasefire then you will reach the truth.
Lastly, banding together Maoists or dialogue, don’t you think both
However, we also agree with
with the state and vigilante gangs, and sides need to come to an your proposition that even in the
equating their revolutionary counter- understanding that schools and
absence of a ceasefire or dialogue,
violence in defence of the rights of the school children should not become
both sides should come to an
people with the counter-revolutionary targets of this war? understanding that schools and school
violence of the state and vigilante Azad: It has now become a children should not become targets of
gangs like the Salwa Judum, is a fashionable thing for some human the war. We take this occasion to
despicable trick played by the rulers rights groups and the media personnel convey to the GOI that it should
and those so-called democratic forces to play the role of referees in a immediately withdraw all its forces
to obfuscate the stark reality of the sports event. By criticizing both sides from school buildings and stop
brutal violence of the state and state- equally they imagine they are being recruiting school children as SPOs
sponsored terrorists. I can say with impartial or neutral in the war. If and as police informers. If they
full confidence that there was no someone says that both Indians and withdraw their forces and assure
displacement, whatsoever, of innocent the British were responsible for the they would not reoccupy school
people due to the revolutionary violence in India during the two buildings, then our Party will desist
counter-violence by the Maoists. It is centuries of British rule would you from targeting schools. And if the
only a handful of anti-people accept it? Or that both Iraqis and the government stops recruitment of
exploiters, tribal heads and landed American occupiers are responsible school children as SPOs and police
gentry who had fled the villages in for the violence in Iraq? Any freedom- informers, then the very basis for
the course of the class struggle. loving person would unequivocally say punishing these people disappears.

36 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010


But the more important thing and class nature of the state and its various 12. In Ganapathi’s interview to Jan
the larger issue is: can schools function wings, and how they have to get rid Myrdal and Navlakha he said: “I
even if the buildings are intact when of the anti-people state and establish reiterate that at present no one party
the parents of the school children their own organs of power. People or organization is capable enough
are murdered, raped, abducted, have begun to understand from their to be a rallying center for all
tortured, and are forced to flee? What own lives what comrade Lenin had revolutionary, democratic,
do you have to say of the children of taught in his State and Revolution. This progressive and patriotic forces
the three-lakh people who had fled transformation has contributed to the and people. Hence, at present
the villages due to Operation Green development of leadership at all levels. juncture our Party can play a
Hunt I and II? What use are the school At the central level, I agree there is significant role in rallying all
buildings and the talk of sanctity of some problem, though not very acute, revolutionary, democratic, progre-
schools when the villages themselves after the losses in the past two years. ssive and patriotic forces and
are deserted? A more rational Overall, it is not true to say that there people.” This suggests you see the
proposal would be to ensure that is a wider crisis of leadership due to Maoists as one part of a wider force
the inhabitants of the villages are drop in recruitment from the of progressive, patriotic people. Who
resettled with the assurance that the intelligentsia. You will be surprised to else do you consider part of these
police and paramilitary would not know that contrary to the assessment forces? Which organizations or
continue their atrocities and let them of various analysts and media parties do you regard as progressive
live in peace. This is the most personnel, the appeal of the Maoist and patriotic part of these forces?
important thing and should assume movement has actually grown stronger Does this not include the CPI and
first and foremost priority in the war in the intelligentsia. And it is precisely CPI (M)? Why then have Maoists
theatres all over India, particularly this fact which is rattling [the rulers] in Bengal been involved in
Dandakaranya. and [their] trumpeters in the media. assassinating cadres of other
11. Is the Maoist party and The threats and attacks on intellectuals communist parties like CPI (M)?
leadership under pressure because have been increasing in tenor and Azad: It is not only now, but all
of recent top level arrests like that there are growing attempts at isolating along we have been considering
of Kobad Ghandy? Is there also a the intellectuals who seem to ourselves an indivisible part of the
wider crisis of leadership with fewer sympathise with the Maoists. The broader force of other revolutionary,
activists from the intelligentsia getting more the growth in popularity of the democratic and patriotic sections of
attracted to Maoists? Maoists and their politics, the more people. Firstly, we are one of the
Azad: I did not understand what is the cacophony about the erosion several revolutionary detachments in
pressure you are referring to. Is it of the mass base of Maoists, the international detachment of the
the pressure for a ceasefire and talks? especially among the intellectuals. world proletariat and we see ourselves
If so, then I would say you are You must also look at it from another as a part of the broad world-wide
completely off the mark. One cannot angle, instead of concluding that [a] anti-imperialist front. Our mass
overcome pressure through such lack of intelligentsia has created a crisis organizations are a part of the
tactics. Actually the Party and of leadership. The mass base of the International League of People’s
leadership will grow rapidly in times Maoists has actually grown stronger, Struggles (ILPS) and are in the
of war. Several new leaders are notwithstanding the attempts of the forefront of the struggle against
emerging out of the struggle. War is rulers to destroy it by brute force. The American imperialism.
giving birth to new generals and more you try to crush it the more it Within India, our party took birth
commanders, which we never bounces back. Our leadership is in the midst of the revolutionary
anticipated in normal times. While it drawn basically from the oppressed upsurge of the late 1960s, particularly
took several years to produce a class of adivasis, dalits, agricultural with the glorious Naxalbari uprising,
leader of calibre in relatively peaceful labourers and poor peasants. It is and hence we are an indivisible part of
times, it is taking a fraction of that time precisely because of this circumstance all that is revolutionary in the Indian
in the midst of the war situation. that our movement has become political stream. We are also an heir
Today we find even children invincible. Intellectuals are a good asset to the great Telangana Armed
acquiring high level of consciousness for the party but it is the basic classes Agrarian Uprising (1946-51), the
at an early age. War is transforming that are the life-blood of the Party. Tebhaga uprising of 1946, and all
the world outlook of the illiterate And we have plenty from these the revolutionary struggles led by
people, their understanding about the sections. the Communist Party since its birth
in 1921, notwithstanding the
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 37
betrayals by its central leadership at organizations of dalits and other the revolutionary war in India and
every critical turning point in the oppressed castes, adivasis and the task of the revolutionary Party
revolutionary political history of our women; the non-parliamentary lies in how effectively and ably it
country. organizations that are fighting for can utilize the present situation, rally
Second, and the one more demands like separate Telangana, all those who have become the
pertinent to your query, is the fact that Gorkhaland, Vidarbha, Bundelkhand victims of the anti-people,
the Communist revolutionaries are and so on; the organizations that are imperialist-dictated policies of the
politically (i.e., in terms of its waging struggles against SEZs, comprador-feudal forces ruling our
programme), a part of the wider mining and other so-called country, and forge a broad-based
democratic stream of all anti-feudal development projects leading to united front of all these affected
and anti-imperialist forces in the massive displacement of people; sections of our society and all
country. This is the essence of our organizations fighting against the revolutionary, democratic and patriotic
programme of new democratic Liberalisation-Privatisation- forces in the country. This task
revolution (NDR), which seeks to Globalisation (LPG) policies of the should be achieved by defeating
unite all those opposed to reactionary rulers; those which boldly the brutal all-out countrywide
imperialism, feudalism, comprador confront the growing authoritarianism coordinated war unleashed by the
bureaucratic capitalism into one and unbridled state repression reactionary ruling classes of our
broad front to overthrow these resulting in fake encounters, mass country with the aid and assistance of
enemies and establish a government murders, and violation of all the imperialists, particularly American
comprised of the four-class alliance of fundamental rights of the people; imperialists.
the working class, peasantry, urban and so on, as part of this broad- If we fail in achieving broader
petty-bourgeoisie, and the national based non-parliamentary democratic unity of all these forces, the fall-out
bourgeoisie. Once you grasp this people’s front. would be disastrous for the Indian
political basis of our NDR it will not There are also a large number people at large since the aim of
be difficult to understand why we are of intellectuals and other democratic this cruel armed onslaught is not only
trying to form numerous tactical united individuals who are concerned about to suppress the Maoist movement, but
fronts as part of forming a strategic the well-being of the people and the also to suppress every form of
united front in various States and at the sovereignty of our country at large. democratic dissent and struggle of
all-India level. We consider all these as genuine the people against the authoritarian,
To identify the organizations or patriotic forces that are deeply feudal and autocratic structure of the
parties that can be called progressive concerned about the future of our Indian state and socio-political
(usage of the term ‘democratic’ would country, about the well-being of the system. As put forth by our General
be more appropriate) and patriotic, overwhelming majority of the Indian Secretary, comrade Ganapathi, in the
one has to see not only whether they people rather than that of a tiny same interview given recently: “This
have any anti-imperialist, anti-feudal parasitical class that runs the country war is principally against Maoist
and anti-state or anti-authoritarian through the so-called mainstream movement but not limited to this
aspect included in their political parliamentary parties. movement and aimed enough against
programmes, but also their actual I am obviously leaving out the all revolutionary, democratic,
practice. We consider most of the ML names of the organizations and progressive and patriotic movements
revolutionary forces as part of this front. individuals who, in our opinion could and the movements of oppressed
play a crucial role in the revolutio- communities of our society including
We consider national liberation
nary transformation of our country oppressed nationalities. At this
organizations like the NSCN, ULFA,
into a self-reliant, genuinely demo- juncture, all these forces have to think
PLA of Manipur, and the JKLF in
together how to face this mighty
Kashmir as part of the wider cratic society. Today we are passing
enemy and for this how to unite to
democratic forces fighting the Indian through a phase of Indian
go ahead.” Now coming to your
state. We consider the various non- McCarthyism that brands every form
specific question regarding the CPI
parliamentary trade union of dissent and anyone who questions
and CPI (M). Are they not a part of
organizations, various progressive the authoritarianism of the Indian state
the wider democratic and patriotic
organizations belonging to the as Maoist in order to legitimize its forces? I would say YES and NO. As
religious minorities which are witch-hunting and brutal repression. far as the rank and file cadre of these
persecuted by state-backed Hindu Today immense possibilities have parties is concerned, there is still some
fascist organizations; various unfolded for the rapid advance of amount of sincerity and zeal among a
38 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
section of them to work for the well- part of the class struggle of the interview on the developments in
being of the people. But the people against exploitation and Nepal, which was covered in two
leadership has completely capitulated oppression. We challenge them to an parts. On a lighter vein, I think it will
to the exploiting ruling classes and open debate on any issue. Despite their reach out to our direct Enemy No. 1
pursues a reformist line that would only diplomatic and opportunistic stand that at the present juncture, Mr.
help sustain the status quo albeit with their fight with the Maoists is mainly Chidambaram, too.
a few cosmetic changes. Here too, we political, they are in the forefront in I think the media can play a role
have to differentiate the CPI from the the war waged by the Indian ruling in carrying the views of a banned
CPI (M). We do not place both the classes against the Maoists. Unable to party to the government and the
CPI and the CPI (M) in the same confront us ideologically and politically, people at large, particularly at a
category. The CPI leadership has been their leaders and spokespersons have time when facts regarding our Party
critical of the policies of the CPI (M), unleashed a vicious campaign of are distorted, misinterpreted, and
has consistently opposed counter- outright lies and slander against the obfuscated in a meticulously planned
revolutionary vigilante gangs like Maoists. manner. And when there is no scope
Salwa Judum propped up by the We call upon the cadres of the for a dialogue given the determination
State and central governments, and is CPI (M) and other so-called left of the rulers to carry out their pre-
opposing the Operation Green Hunt parties to come forward to unite with programmed war offensive that was
launched by the Centre. One can other forces to fight against the worked out a year ago, we think it
witness the reactionary anti-people disastrous policies of the central and appropriate to reach out to the people
nature of the policies of the CPI (M), State governments, to unite with at large through the media too.
especially in States where it is in power. others to oppose the brutal war Finally, I thank The Hindu for the
Singur, Nandigram, Lalgarh, and a host waged by the reactionary rulers guided thought-provoking and incisive
of other names have stripped the CPI by the US imperialists against the questions it has placed before our
(M) of its guise of anti-imperialism and Maoist movement and all forms of Party. We look forward to more of
anti-neoliberalism. The CPI (M) is democratic dissent. We are prepared such interaction with the media in
not even a thoroughgoing democratic to unite with all sincere and genuine future. On behalf of our Central
force, let alone being Communist. forces in these parties who take the Committee and our entire Party, I
However, we are prepared to join side of the broad masses of people. welcome any questions related to
forces with even these revisionists if 13. Why has the CPI (Maoist) our ideology, political programme,
they come forth into non-parliamentary decided to reach out through the strategy, tactics, and practice. I hope
struggles on the basic issues of the columns of The Hindu? To use a through regular and active interaction
people, and to the extent they uphold
newspaper to clarify its views vis a between organizations like ours that
democratic values.
vis the Government? are proscribed by the government and
It is wrong to say we are Azad: Among the daily newspapers, the media, an opportunity is provided
assassinating the cadres of the CPI to the people to arrive at a correct
The Hindu has a reputation for giving
(M). We are confronting the armed judgment and seek truth from facts. Or
out serious news and less of sensational
onslaught by the storm-troopers like else, truth is certain to become a
stuff that has become the genre of the
the Harmad Bahini and other armed casualty in this world dominated by
media these days. Our party
[men] maintained by their party leaders corporate sharks that control virtually
leadership has given interviews to
by putting up courageous resistance. this paper earlier too, such as my every source of information that is fed
The struggle against the CPI (M) is to the people. PM
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PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 39
‘Democracy’ at its worst!
(Fact Finding of Narayanpatna Firing on Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha, CMAS)
As this report gets written Singanna things happened in 30 minutes? Sounds at around 2 pm and since the two gates
and Andru’s bodies are being cremated a little preposterous and forces one to of the police station were closed they
at Podapadar village amidst a throng wonder whether it was cold blooded called on the OIC to come out for a
of police platoons waiting to arrest any murder or a freak incident or a well- discussion. The police refused to let
member of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha planned strategic elimination of a them in and began verbally abusing
(CMAS) who exposes herself or leader who held sway over a large tribals who had assembled at the gate.
himself to the police. Already 20 have number of fearless and empowered When the police did not respond
been arrested and there is evident fear tribal cadres of CMAS. to their repeated requests to let a team
of many more hundreds being As the days pass rising police of tribals into the police station for
detained or arrested. The total clamp brutalities destroy brick by brick the discussion on their complaints with the
down on participation of the media, euphoric notions of ‘democracy’ so OIC, CMAS leader Kumudini Behera
activists, leaders and any sympathizer carefully packaged and sold to people and CMAS President Kendruka
of CMAS is not only condemnable but of India by a political class sold out to Singanna broke open the lock of the
totally unjustified. The district has been corporate greed. Every night and small side gate of the police compound
turned into a hunting ground of tribals every dawn brings shivers to the tribals with an axe. As the gate opened 5-6
and there is fear written all over the as they await an assault on their hamlet, main leaders of CMAS including
faces of tribals in this remote block of whether on the hill top or on the plains Singanna and Kumudini went to meet
Koraput district. A small team of three or deep in the jungles, by the OIC Gouranga Charan Sahu. During a
members made a two-day visit to marauding security forces. No one heated exchange between the OIC and
Narayanpatna to ascertain the situation knows from which end and at what Singanna, the OIC began to shout that
and understand the truth behind the time under cover of darkness these he was being attacked by CMAS
firing incident which killed two tribals. cobras and scorpions will attack their leaders and he ordered the IRB guards
Blocked roads, long walks up and village, break open their doors, kick on the roof of the police station to open
down winding hill paths and petrified them out of their homes and beat the fire on the crowd gathered outside.
tribals afraid to open their mouths to blues out of them. The CMAS has The police fired three shots in air and
any unknown persons were the been persistently branded a frontal then began to indiscriminately fire at
memories etched in the team members’ organization of the CPI (Maoist) the crowd standing outside the police
minds. But what left the members despite their vehement rebuttal and compound. The firing was done by the
shocked during their visit on 21st and lack of any evidence to show their IRB as well as CRPF and Cobra at
22 nd November 2009 was that Maoist connections. 2.45 pm. The firing continued for half
democracy had fallen to its worst Facts and observations stated in an hour and 300 bullets were fired at
during those three days after the firing this report are based on information people.
and murder of two tribals. and statements collected during Hearing the sound of firing
There is much to be asked about interviews with Narayanpatna Singanna and others came out of the
the firing but the question foremost on residents who were witness to the police station. Singanna was hit in the
our mind is – who ordered the firing? firing, local media persons and chest while he was walking out of the
Did the police take the permission of a villagers of Kumbhari and police compound. He received ten
magistrate before setting off their guns? Narayanpatna Panchayats. bullets in his chest and fell in front of
And why were tear gas and other non- The Facts of 20 November 2009 the small police gate. Another CMAS
th
fatal measures not used to disperse a About 200 CMAS members member Andru Nachika of Bhaliaput
crowd which police thought might including 100 women came to village received bullet injuries and fell
create a law and order situation? The Narayanpatna Police Station to face down outside the police
time gap between the protest gathering protest against harassment of tribals in compound. Their bodies were left
and the firing is just about 30 minutes? particular women during the previous there by CMAS members who ran
But police say they requested and days’ combing operations by security helter-skelter as the police began firing
warned and then opened fire? All these forces. They reached the police station at them. Around 300 bullets were fired
40 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
at the people. In this firing, while two their lands! with each other about the actual injuries
have died it is being estimated that Combing operations and related to their members. Medical aid to these
around 60 more persons have been harassment of 18th and 29th November persons is not available as the injured
injured and some are in a serious was reported from Odiapentha, are afraid to come to Narayanpatna
condition. Dandabeda, Palaput, Dubaguda and Primary Health Centre (PHC) for
Singanna is survived by his wife Badhraguda villages. medical treatment for fear of being
who is also pregnant, three sons and a arrested. They are taking treatment
Apart from warning them, they did
daughter. Andru is survived by his wife not allow the women and men to from their traditional tribal healers
who is also pregnant and two children. (disaris). Doctors are also reluctant to
continue their harvesting work. Some
go to the villages for treating any
The Reason for CMAS Protest said that they even took away their
harvested paddy and mandia crops. patients for fear of abuse by the police
During a fact finding visit on and security forces. Local Anganwadis
22 nd November 2009, all CMAS The tribals explained to us that this
and ASHA workers are unable to teat
members and villagers interviewed season is the most important time for
the injured as they do not have the
stated that they had gone to the Police them because they are engaged in
harvesting, husking and storing of their necessary medicines, spirit and cotton
Station to lodge their protest against to clean and dress the wounds.
police harassment of tribals and in food grains. Hence such combing
operations and threats to people Far flung villages and constant
particular women who were being
would destroy their harvesting combing by the security forces is also
harassed by the security forces.
operations and affect their food making it difficult for the leaders to
One of the main reasons for CMAS move to different villages to ascertain
members’ protest was that they security.
how many have been injured and what
wanted an answer from the OIC When the tribals related this to their
is their condition. Most leaders are in
regarding violation of an assurance CMAS leaders, the latter decided to
go to the police station to demand an hiding as there is a reported shoot-at-
made to the tribals earlier. The CMAS sight order against them.
members stated that about two months explanation for this warning and also
back they had held a protest rally protest the harassment. The CMAS On 22nd November early morning
leaders sent cadres to different villages there was a combing operation by
regarding harassment of tribals in the
and assembled the members and took security forces and seven persons were
name of combing and deployment of
security forces in their villages. a decision to hold a peaceful march to arrested from their homes between 5
the police station to make their protest to 6 am. Apart from this, forces
Following the rally, the OIC had given
and put their demands before police. forcefully broke into homes and
a written assurance to CMAS leaders
searched for ‘red flags’ (whatever that
that forces would not enter their About 50 tribals whom we
villages and harass the tribals. They interviewed and most of who had might signify as evidence!?). They
abused people, in particular the
would conduct combing operations attended the march to the police
women, kicked and beat young boys
without harassing the locals. But the station, categorically stated that they
CMAS members stated that the police did not carry any firearms and that they with thick bamboo sticks who did not
had violated this assurance and hence carried a few axes and thick bamboo answer questions. They seized axes,
sickles, knives, bows and arrows and
they came to ask the police the reason sticks. None carried any bow and
bamboo sticks from every house they
for this gross violation which was a arrow because they explained to us that
serious breach of trust. on previous occasions their bows and entered and told the tribals that these
arrows had led the media to brand are ‘dangerous weapons of murder’
Of particular importance is and that they would be arrested if they
people’s statement that the security them as Maoists. So they said that they
were found in their homes next time.
forces categorically told them during had consciously not carried any bows
and arrows or local swords. The tribals asked us, “These are our
combing operations on 18 th and agricultural implements and daily
19 th November that they should leave Situation of 22nd November 2009 household needs so how can we not
their villages immediately or else they As of today, it is difficult to keep them at home? How will we get
would have to face dire consequences. ascertain the exact number of persons fuel wood, cut vegetables, harvest
They even told them that the non-tribals injured as CMAS members have paddy and cut branches to feed our
whose lands CMAS had ‘grabbed’ returned to their villages and have not animals? Where should we hide them
(sic!) would come back soon to claim been able to meet or communicate and why should we do that when we
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 41
never use these as weapons of murder for it. He is also partially hearing People are afraid to move out of
as accused by the police?” We had impaired. Apart from this, the people villages due to fear of arrest and are
no answers …. the fact finding team spoke to said that constantly discussing about what will
Four CMAS members from about 60 others have also received happen to them after this. Every village
Narayanpatna and three persons from bullet injuries and are hiding in the we went to we found women and men
Palaput, 1 km away from villages. None of these persons are assembled in their village meeting place
Narayanpatna. The details of persons able to get medical help. discussing the impending dangers.
arrested are: As the fact finding team wanted to They are afraid to stay in the jungles
1. Raju Huika give some medicines to the injured as the forces are patrolling the jungles
Narayanpatna Kandha Sahi patients and went into Narayanpatna as well. They say that if they stay in
2. Dora Nachika town for purchasing these at around 3 the jungles they will be hunted and
pm on 22 nd November they were killed and if they live in their villages
Narayanpatna Kandha Sahi
stopped by DSP Jagannath Rao and then they will be hunted out into the
3. Masi Sirka jungles and then also killed. “So either
Semiliguda IIC Sarat Sahu along with
Narayanpatna Kandha Sahi ways we die”, tell the women.
some armed constabulary. After initial
4. Ramesh Khosla The leaders of CMAs have several
questions on where the team had gone
Narayanpatna Ghasi and why and checking of vehicle, they questions : why did the police not use
Sahi asked the team to leave the town tear gars to disperse the tribals if they
5. Kumudini Dora thought there was going to be a law
immediately or else they would have
Palaput Tala Sahi and order situation ? Why were rubber
to detain the members. This warning
bullets not used? The firing took place
6. Debendra Behera came despite knowing the fact that two within half and hour of the protest rally
Palaput Tala Sahi of the fact finding members were so how did the police state that they
7. Satyanarayan Bangu journalists. gave the people adequate opportunities
Palaput Tala Sahi (his commander Impact of Firing on People to break the rally and disperse?
was seized) All people whom the fact finding The CMAS leaders also asked us,
These seven persons have been team met in the last two days are under “when the police comes attacking us
taken into police custody on tremendous fear that the police would in our villages we do not retaliate and
22 nd November and will have to be kill every tribal they set their sight on kill them? In fact we allow them to
produced before Judicial Magistrate at including all members of CMAS. There search us, our homes and even beat
Laxmipur within 24 hours. If this is not is fear in their eyes as they spoke to us up mercilessly? So why did police
kill us when we came to their home to
done then the police would be violating the fact finding team members. They
seek answers to simple questions?”
its own laws. asked, “What should we do when the They told us, “even if we had snatched
Apart from this, the fact finding team police come to our village?” When they the weapons we could not have fired
also met three persons who have were told not to run upon seeing the because we do not know how to use
received bullet injuries. A boy of 18 forces, they asked, “If we do not run them? So how did we become threats
years received two bullet injuries in his then how can we save ourselves? They to the life of the OIC or the IRB guards
leg and in the same village another will definitely kill us”. The women standing on the rooftop?”
person has a bullet injury wherein the They asked us to reflect on why
stated that they heard forces warning
bullet is still lodged in his hip. Yet would they, the tribals, want to attack
them in low breath that if the CMAS the police in their own compound? And
another person of that village has a
male members did not hand why would 200 tribals come to the
bullet wound which whisked past his
left calf and has left a slit which needs themselves over to the police then they police station to loot arms when the
OIC did not even have a gun on him
immediate stitches. Another older man would rape the all the women to ‘teach
when they confronted him? They
of another village has received a bullet them a lesson’. One old woman asked explained to us that the IRB guards
injury in his left hand. This person was us, “What wrong have we done? We stationed on the roof, who fired at the
marketing dry fish near the police only asked for lands to cultivate and crowd, were beyond the reach of
station when he was hit. He had no live a life of dignity and freedom from tribals and hence it is impossible that
idea about the rally and the reasons hunger?” Contd..... on Page 12
42 PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010
As journalists, we should practice guerrilla journalism
Silence of the media on crucial social Media has degraded, says Sainath
issues disturbing, says Sainath Express News Service
The Hindu KOCHI: Post-Independence, the media in India has gradually
transferred to a vehicle of profit and a revenue-seeking stream
‘Resolution of problems in the media requires serious public with no value from a vehicle of popular aspirations once,
action.’ Magsaysay award winner and journalist P Sainath has said.
The idea that the dominant media is the watchdog of
Kochi: Noted development journalist and Rural Affairs Editor of democracy is a false concept, he said, adding that private treaty
The Hindu, P. Sainath, on Saturday said that the areas of silence was the new norm of the media.
in the media are startling and interesting. “Interesting in a sad
way,” he said. Speaking at a media seminar on ‘People’s right to criticize the
media’, organized by the T K Ramakrishnan Cultural Centre here
Speaking on “Criticism of the media: the right of the people” at a on Saturday, Sainath said Press Commissions had observed that
seminar organized by T.K. Ramakrishnan Cultural Centre in the linkage of media with the multi-nationals had been a major
connection with the release of ‘Vyajasammathiyude Nirmithi’ (The threat. “There was a demand in Parliament to delink media from
manufacture of consent), jointly written by Finance Minister T.M. big business,” he said. Sainath said that ‘private treaty,’ a deal
Thomas Isaac and journalist N.P. Chandrasekharan, Mr. Sainath between a media organization and a private corporate where the
said there had been no discussion in the media on the Union budget media house agrees to project the interests of the corporate in the
admission under the head ‘statement of revenue forgone by the form of journalism for a fixed value of shares from the latter, had
government’ that Rs 5 lakh crore, including Rs.80,000 crore in been a growing trend in Mumbai and New Delhi.
direct corporate taxes, had been written off by the government.
“The private treaty not only promotes the interests of the
“This means that 80 per cent of the tax that you can collect has corporates but also gives them immunity from investigative
been forgone voluntarily,” he said, ruing that “the media may
journalism and from being exposed. The media has become a
take photographs of Mayawati’s currency garlands, but they will
revenue seeking stream with no value,” he said.
not talk of the money that is going to big corporations”.
Sainath said the media monopoly had become an arm of other
The media also turned a blind eye to the ‘largest recorded wave
of human suicide in history’, he said pointing out that the data vested interests.
available with the National Crime Records Bureau showed that “The Fourth Estate is becoming the real estate. There’s very
two lakh farmers had committed suicide due to debt and distress less difference between the two,” he said. Exposing the vested
between 1997 and 2008. “How much are the media concerned interests within the media, Sainath said though two lakh farmers
with this issue?” he asked. committed suicide during the period 1997- 2008, there had been
Credibility challenged no major news articles or discussions in major newspapers or TV
channels regarding the issue.
Challenging the credibility of experts and economists featured
by the dominant media, Mr. Sainath said that no mainstream He said the Union Government had written off corporate tax
economist could predict the advent of the great recession of 2008. worth Rs 5,00,000 crore in the Budget, which amounts to about
Arguing that it was the ‘structural compulsion’ of the capitalist, 80 percent of the tax eligible for collection. Answering a question
mainstream media to lie that economic recovery was complete, from Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, Sainath said the monopoly
Mr. Sainath said ‘private treaty journalism’ (wherein media houses in media should be fought. He said alternatives to the existing
become shareholder in large corporations) being practiced by them system of media were possible.
was the ‘mother and father’ of paid news. If media organizations P Rajeev MP presided over the function.
became part-owners in business, they should be called equity firms The book ‘Vyajasammithiyude Nirmithi’ (Manufacturing of fake
also doing the business of journalism. consent), jointly written by Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and
They lied about the state of the economy as they had much at Kairali TV News Editor N P Chandrasekharan was released on the
stake. The threat about the linkage of the press to business firms occasion.
had been predicted by the past Press Commissions, he said. Thomas Isaac said the attempt was to analyze the media
‘Serving the powerful’ culture in the state in the backdrop of some recent incidents.
While liberation journalism characterized by dissidence set the K E N Kunhahammed spoke. PM
Indian media apart till Independence, the dominant media at
present was the ‘lapdog of the powerful’ instead of being the autonomy within the media and we should exploit those spaces…
‘watchdog of democracy’. “Conventional journalism is about the The choice is whether to be a journalist or a stenographer.”
service of power,” he said, adding that throughout history, great
journalism had only come from dissidence. According to Mr. Sainath, the resolution of problems in the media
requires very serious public action.
“In the last 30 years, what we have witnessed is a conversion of
the once radical and revolutionary media form a vehicle of popular “People should take their role as citizens of a democracy very
struggles, ideas and aspirations into a vehicle of profit—a revenue seriously and fight monopoly because the root of the problem is
stream—for the powerful and richest people in the country, some control of information and communication by a handful of people.
of them also the richest people in the world. But this does not As journalists, we should practice guerrilla journalism,” he said.
mean that you cannot do good journalism. There are zones of PM
PEOPLE’S MARCH March-April 2010 43
THE HITLERS WAGING WAR ON INDIAN PEOPLE

ADIVASIS, DALITS AND ALL OPPRESSED PEOPLE LED BY MAOISTS Vs CIV


CORPORATE SHARKS AND MNCs LED BY KHADI-SAFFRON GANGS IL W
300,000 ARMED TROOPS (ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND CENTRAL FORCES +
I N IN
AR
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND STATE FORCES) PLUS TWENTY THOUSAND DI
SALWA JUDUM GOONS Vs A
TEN THOUSAND ARMED GUERRILLAS + MILLIONS OF STARVING MASSES
TATAS, MITTALS, JINDALS, ESSAR, VEDANTA Vs BUDRUS, DUDI MUYES, SODI SAMBHOS, IRUMAIS
WELL-FED WELL-EQUIPPED MERCENARY FORCES OF THE RICH Vs
ILL-FED, ILL-EQUIPPED ARMY OF THE POOR
BATTLE-GROUND: WEST MIDNAPUR-BANKURA-PURULIA TO NORTH ANDHRA AND NORTH TELANGANA
OVERALL COMMANDER: HERR PDOLF CHIDAMBARAM
DEPUTIES: RAMAN SINGH, NAVEEN PATNAIK, BUDDHADEB, RR PATIL
KILLERS IN THE FIELD: VISHWARANJAN, SRP KALLURI, RK VIJ, AMARESH MISHRA,..
ACCOMPLICES: MEDIA MERCENARIES LIKE ARNAB GOSWAMY, CHANDAN MITRA, SAPANDAS GUPTA….
OBJECTIVE: CLEAR THE MINERAL-RICH REGION OF MAOISTS AND HAND OVER TO IMPERIALISTS AND
COMPRADOR BUSINESS HOUSES
METHOD: KILL ALL! BURN ALL! DESTROY ALL!
DRIVE THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION TO STRATEGIC HAMLETS

FOR ALL UPDATES...... PEASE WATCH....


MANMOHAN SINGH'S FAIRY TALES
(CORPORATE AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY) IN PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA
44

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