'Imperialism At Its Worst'

Nov 28th 2006

NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS
First Floor,
Haji Habib Building ,
Naigaon Cross Road ,
Dadar(E),
Mumbai-400014

To
The Leaders of the Left Front
(CPM, CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc)

Namaste,

This is a common letter to the Left Front partner organizations, the parties,through the office bearers, which I am compelled to write in certainunprecedented circumstances. As you know, NAPM and hundreds of organizations,movements in the country feel seriously concerned about the onslaught on thefarming communities, the fish workers, artisans and other rural and adivasipopulations. In the name of development, their livelihood are being destroyed,land and other life supporting resources are taken over, their culture andcommunities killed. Misusing law against the Constitution and bringing in newlegislation or amendment to favor the corporate take over with the State actingas an agent, facilitator, in alliance with the investors of capital—companiesto builders—is the worst that could happen to the indigenous and industriouspopulations in the country. This is inhuman face of marketisation andcommodification based economic policy that both NDA and UPA governments havebeen following shamelessly and arrogantly. SEZ is the latest and the worstexample.

In this context, the left front initially took a position appropriate for asupporter of the secular alliance, the UPA, bringing in the common minimumprogramme and questioning many of their decisions. We welcome thiswhole-heartedly. Recently, however, there is a clear shift in the stancereflected in the happening related to development project planning in WestBengal, which has shocked and saddened us. Something, which we could neverexpect, having experienced Left support and partnership in the past, duringanti-Enron as well as Narmada struggle, which was valuable, is coming to thefore. We have also seen the ideological justification of the decisions to jointhe capitalist forces, the corporates, with compromises, put forward by noneelse but Shri. Binoykumar in the People's Democracy as well as the Left Front'sposition letter on SEZ, addressed to the Prime Minister.

The different positions taken in different states as well as the publicstatements which too vary and at times exhibit contradiction are alsocarefully studied by us and all this has brought us pain and anguish leading toprotests.

The case of Singur is one of immediate concern. As you may be aware ofwe—Justice M. Sengupta (Retd.), Smt. Mahashweta Devi, Shri. DeepankarBhattacharya and myself —were invited for a Public Hearing held on October27th at Bajemelia. We heard tens of Singur (apparently Tata's automobile plant)project-affected women and men supported by hundreds of farmers, laborers;witnessed protest by thousands in the public meeting on the same evening. Thereis no doubt that 50-60% of land is not sold and majority of the landholders, inthousands, excluding the absentee landlords, are against the compulsory landacquisition and transfer of land, livelihood to the Corporate. Using the Britishdays Land Acquisition Act (1894), not consulting the committees, destroyingmultiple crop land (which we witnessed), repression that has led to death of oneyouth and wounding of children and women…much has been questioned by tens ofpeoples' organizations and many a politician.

The economics, employment generation, transparent deal with Tatas torehabilitation-policy and practice, too has been looked into and there is acritique of development on each of these. Our report based on the Public Hearingand submissions will soon be ready and available.

However, what is shocking for all of us is the report from the field that:

a) Tens of barracks being put up near village Sanpada and other places in theSingur area a few thousand of policemen to be brought in.

b) There is a plan for forcible occupation of land… whether acquisitionedon paper or otherwise.

c) CPI (M) party cadres, as proposed and asserted by Mr. Binoykumar &others, have marched through the villages, facing some confrontation, who evengave slogans- Buddhadev, lal Salaam & even Tata, Lal Salaam.

All this is not only causing commotion as well as intimidation but is alsocreating an atmosphere of fear and violence, both.

We request all the Left front Partners who ally with us — in the struggleagainst SEZ in Maharashtra (through Ajit Abhyankar, CPM and Shri GovindraoPansare, CPI) land struggle against forcible displacement (through Brinda Karat,AB Barndhan, Abony Roy and others)—to desist from such strategies and not tobring in or withdraw all police force from Singur and don't push the Project,politically or practically without their consent.

Lately, we have also heard of 10,000 MW nuclear Power Plant in Haripur, Cotaito affect thousands of fish workers due to forcible eviction if not withenvironmental impact on fisheries, land and water. People's protests are at peakand the need is to take immediate cognizance and respected, please.

May I therefore on behalf of NAPM request the Left Front partners throughyou, the leaders, with all humility, to:

a)

1) review your position on industrialization at the cost of agriculture and agriculturists, projects at the severe cost to fishworkers, rural and adivasi communities,

2) oppose SEZ Act and plans.

b) decide not to use either police force or cadre force that always wouldcause intimidation and even violence anywhere.

c) join us in bringing into being a National Policy and Enactment(policydraft already prepared, presented and approved by Sonia Gandhi led advisoryCouncil) on Development Planning, Minimum Displacement and Just Rehabilitation.

d) hold a serious dialogue with the representatives of people's organizationsat the West Bengal state level and at the national level.

I sincerely hope, you will take the issues raised in brief and the protest asalso an appeal intended to be conveyed through this letter, for furtherconsideration in your official policy making meetings to follow soon, towards apossibility of a fight against imperialism, at its worst.

With personal regards,
Medha Patkar