POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti Denounces Land Acquisition Ordinance
By POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti
15 January, 2015
Countercurrents.org
We strongly condemn the Narendra Modi government’s decision for bringing a Presidential ordinance three days after the Indian Parliament ended its formal session with a clear and clandestine intention of turning the progressive Land Acquisition Act 2013 ineffective which had been designed to protect farmers’ interest from invading aggressive corporation. The mandatory "consent" clause and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) will not be applicable if the land is acquired for five purposes including national security, defense, rural infrastructure including electrification, industrial corridors and building social infrastructure including PPP where ownership of land continues to be vested with the government. This is clearly to appease the interest of corporate forces at the cost of life and livelihoods of millions of farmers who are in a state of possible destitution.
We also condemn Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met South Korean President Park Geun-hye at East Asia Summit, held at Naypyitaw, Myanmar on November 13, 2014 and has offered full support for the establishment of the POSCO and make efforts with the Odisha state government to resolve any outstanding issues. It is not a surprise to see the double standard of BJP as many of its leader has opposed handing over Khandadhar mines to POSCO during election campaigning and extending tactic support to the mining project after coming to power at center.
The indiscriminate Police arrest in our area is continuing. On 23 December, 2014, Mr. Rabi Mandal , from Dhinkia viilage was arrested while he was returning from the nearest market. Till now 4 people are in the jail. Mr.Hagura Mandal ,from Dhinkia village was arrested on Oct.10.2014. Sukadev Parida and Pakua Parida from Mahala village was arrested on Nov.7.2014. Mr. Kumar Malik from Mahala was arrested. The number of filing false cases on our people is increasing. Bhaskar Dalei (Age- 70) is an anti-POSCO supporter belongs to Gobindapur was murdered on1st Dec.2014.
On 29 December, 2014, Thousands of adivasis congregated under the banner of ‘Khandadhar Surakhya Sangram Samiti' and submitted a memorandum addressed to the PM to the sub collector, Bonai of Sundergarh district. The tribals vowed to save Khandadhar from the onslaught of the mining giants. Activists like Prafulla Samantara, Suresh Munda, Lingaraj, Jharana Nayak, Bilua Nayak addressed the gathering at Bonai. The tribals urged upon the central government not to accept the recommendation of the state to allot iron ore mines in Khandadhar hills to POSCO and declare the hill as national natural heritage.
On 29th and 30th Nov. 2014, a “National Convention of People's Struggles in defense of democracy to protect land, water, forest and livelihood” was held at Dhinkia village (proposed POSCO area) at Jagatsinghpur District of Odisha. More than 500 delegates of about hundred People's Movements and Struggle groups of all over the country expressed their solidarity to our struggle. They charged that the union and state government is working in tandem to facilitate the project despite the people’s resistance. It was declared that under no circumstances we will allow POSCO to loot our precious natural resources like land, water, forest and snatch away the livelihood sources of 25,000 people to satisfy POSCO’s greed.
Find below the joint public statement of Global conference at Boston against POSCO.
Hoping for support and solidarity
Prashant Paikray
Spokesperson,
POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti
E-Mail - [email protected]
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