Forum Against Corporatization and Militarization (FACAM) held a press conference for releasing a report “Siege of Silger” after its solidarity team visited and participated in the anti-camp movement at Silger.
The report contains analysis and data of a yearlong movement in Silger against building of CRPF camps and subsequent firing on the protesting adivasis by security forces, in which three people were martyred on the spot and a pregnant woman succumbed to the injuries on the very next day, making the movement stronger and broader.
On one year anniversary of the movement, 48,503 adivasis gathered to march against the CRPF camps for almost 7 km. The demand was not only to remove one camp but all the CRPF camps which was and is being built.
In the last five years, 60 camps have been established in Bastar alone. This speed will increase to complete the target of making 400 camps under the policy of Operation Samadhan-Prahar.
वर्कर्स यूनिटी को सपोर्ट करने के लिए सब्स्क्रिप्शन ज़रूर लें- यहां क्लिक करें
Prof Saroj Giri (DU) focused on the new model of protracted mass movement that is unfolding in Bastar and emphasized the militarization that is being done to facilitate the corporate loot of resources.
Surju Tekam, leader of Sarv Adivasi Samaj, while talking about the fake encounters, massacres and corporate land grab, brought forth the grim realities of Bastar.
He stressed the rampant violation of PESA Act and asserted that the adivasis of the country have rights on the forests and the government should respect the autonomy and supremacy of Gram Sabhas in matters concerning adivasi lands and resources. He also focused on the Hindutva attack on adivasi culture.
Journalist Sandeep Rauzi while narrating the first-hand witness account of growing militarization with multiple camps being built, he exposed the media blackout being done by the government in these regions.
He called upon his fellow media persons to visit these heavily militarized zones and expose the hideous relationship between corporatization and militarization.
Rajveer Kaur, an activist associated with FACAM stressed the state’s policy of Operation Samadhan-Prahar behind the building up of these camps and rampant militarization of Bastar.
Drawing attention towards the parallels between the building of camps during Salwa Judum period and currently, under Operation Samadhan-Prahar in various districts of Jharkhand, she questioned the model of development that only displaces the adivasi people and exploits the natural resources in the interest of big Corporates.
She gave a call to the media personnel and the larger civil society to do their bit in bringing forth the realities of these regions.
Himanshu Kumar, a human rights activist who has worked in Bastar for years, spoke about the Gompad Massacre in which 16 adivasis were brutally killed by CRPF.
- बस्तर में आदिवासी इलाकों पर ड्रोन से हवाई हमले, सरकार का इनकार, पत्रकारों ने दिखाए सबूत
- दसियों हजार आदिवासियों के प्रदर्शन की ख़बर मीडिया से गायब क्यों?
While talking about the Supreme Court order imposing a fine of 5 lakh rupees on him for demanding justice, he questioned if the Supreme Court wants to do away with the judicial process.
He also said that the violence by the Maoist cannot be criticized in isolation when it is the state’s violent land grab and atrocities that are sparking such response by the masses. He further said that the struggle for adivasi rights shall continue despite all the crackdowns by the state.
The press conference was moderated by Prof N Sachin (DU) who made an appeal to the media persons to write and highlight the concerns of the adivasis of the country.
At last, Forum Against Corporatization And Militarization (FACAM) called upon all the democratic and progressive forces to stand with the struggling masses of Silger and unite against the growing militarization to stop Operation Samadhan-Prahar.
(वर्कर्स यूनिटी स्वतंत्र निष्पक्ष मीडिया के उसूलों को मानता है। आप इसके फ़ेसबुक, ट्विटर और यूट्यूब को फॉलो कर इसे और मजबूत बना सकते हैं। वर्कर्स यूनिटी के टेलीग्राम चैनल को सब्सक्राइब करने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें।)
