STOP REPRESSION OF TRIBAL RIGHT ORGANISATION

To: Honourable Prime Minister of India, Honourable President and Honourable Chief Minister of MP,

The Shramik Adivasi Sanghathana (SAS) AND Samajwadi Jan Parishad (SJP)has worked amongst tribal people for the past 13 years in 10 Blocks of Betul, Harda and Khandwa districts in Madhya Pradesh. They have repeatedly highlighted cases of illegal diversion of Forest land for mining, industry and timber trade in gross violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 through willful with the state machinery and political bosses. Even as Forest land is serving commercial interest of the powerful, the organization has painstakingly documented and highlighted the eviction of forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes from their occupied land and denial of access to forest produce. They have also taken the matter to High Court and the Court had ordered the closure of all illegal mining.. Activist and members associated with the Shramik Adivasi Sanghathana are facing severe repression at the hands of the administration of Betul and Harda district. In a cowardly and undemocratic move, two of its senior activists Shamim and Anurag were served externment notices by the Harda District Magistrateunder section 5 (b) of the State Security Act 1990 on 29th June 2007. They have been to вshow causeв why should not be externed from Harda, Khandwa, Hoshangabad, Dewas, Sihore and Betul districts for a period of one year. This is just not the culmination of a series of attempts to falsely implicate them and other members of the organization in criminal cases but two cases of kidnaping attempt to murder and dacoity has been registered agianst them.. Several tribals are arrested daily on some pretext or the other and put behind bars under non-bailable Sections of the various acts leading to long periods of incarceration in Jail.
The reputed Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai brought out a report on this systemic and pervasive violation of democratic rights in May 07 which was sent to to the CM, MP in June. The report says вIt is of particular concern that the a spate of cases were initiated against them (Shamim & Anurag) and SAS activists following Public Interest Litigation action initiated in the High Court by SAS on illegal mining as well as one demanding action against erring officials in a number of casesв. Shamim on behalf of SAS has filed public interest litigation against illegal mining and due to the PIL, the High Court has asked for closure of all the illegal mines. The report says вThere is little doubt that the intimidation of SAS members and supporters and the threats to the life of Shamim Modi are serious issues that must demand immediate attention. It has recommended that -police cease to continually and misleadingly characterize SAS as a law and order problem; an independent and impartial review of all cases instituted against SAS activists/members and supporters; All necessary steps must be taken to ensure effective protection to Shamim Modi in the light of repeated death threats, which have intensified following recent SAS initiatives to secure the release of some bonded labourers in the area and so on.
In light of this , we appeal that
1- MP government withdraw Externment proceedings Initiated against Shamim and Anurag.
2- Repression of activists and members of SAS should be stopped forthwith
3- Recommendations made by TISS in its report submitted to CM, MP should be complied with.
4- Erring government officer responsible for the repression shoul be punished.
Sincerely,