Savage State Terror

A situation of terror has been created by the ruling CPI (M) government andparty in Nandigram over the past few days. The matter reached a head as a hugecontingent of 4000-5000 comprising the Police Force along with Para-Military,Rapid Action Force and Combat Commando Force attacked Nandigram in the name of"Operation Nandigram". This has come as a repressive measure in theface of protest and local movement (Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee —Committee to Prevent Farmland Eviction) by the people of Nandigram against theforceful land acquisition for proposed SEZs (Salim Group, Indonesia) in thearea.

This is the second instance of violence in the area, the first being in earlyJanuary when 6 people were killed. The last instance was provoked in the wake ofthe local administration serving notices for land acquisition. After countrywide criticism and protests against the state government, the Chief Minister hadissued a statement that no land would be acquired in Nandigram if the people arenot willing. Despite this statement government has continued to maintainpressure in the area through deployment of armed forces. This clearly shows onwhose side the Fascist West Bengal government is.

Today, on Wednesday morning the armed forces broke fire on the people as aresult of which 20 people have been killed and over 200 injured. The stategovernment and West Bengal police are still not declaring the numbers dead andinjured. A huge protest movement has spread across West Bengal. In everydistrict, rallies, demonstrations, road-blockages are being organised. NationalHawker Federation and Hawker Sangram Committee is also strongly condemning thisbarbaric fascist action of West Bengal government and organizing rallies allover Kolkata. Reporters from all the major media institutions are also beingforcefully stopped from covering and reporting the reality. Two reporters of TaraBangla News were threatened by CPM party cadres and are now missing.

We appeal to all those who believe in democracy to condemn this fascist move by the government topressure local communities to give up their only sources of livelihoods. We see thisNandigram police firing as a mass killing led by the government who stands only in support of capitalists and its own selfish interests.