State Repression on NBA Activits

Dear Friends

On 25th July 2007, a huge police force, about 500 special police from district headquarters, descended upon the 'Zameen Hak' Satyagrahis at Taloon; the place where government land is occupied and cultivated by SSP affected families. THEY HAVE DESTROYED THE 'PANDAL', chasing people AND TAKEN AWAY ABOUT 200 SATYAGRAHIS TO THE BADWANI JAIL. Among those detained were Jeevanshala children from Karya Badal and Bhitada, adivasi women and men, fishworkers as well as farmers from Nimad. Medha Patkar, Kamla Yadav and many other activists are taken to the District Jail.

*91 NBA Activists, including senior activists Bava Maharia, Khajan Chupa, Medha Patkar, Ashish Mandloi, Kamla Yadav, Kailash Awasya were jailed for the 3rd day

*We Appeal and request you to support and join the struggle for just rehabilitation.


NBA Activists (26 women & 65 men) including Bava Maharia, Khajan Chupa, Medha Patkar, Ashish Mandloi, Kamla Yadav, Kailesh Awasya continue to be jailed at Indore and Badwani Jail. There has been no communication or response by the State government nor the local administration to the demands of the peaceful protesters of Narmada Bachao Andolan. The just demand of the protesters i.e. land for land rehabilitation, which is mandatory as per the orders of Supreme Court of India is being ignored and violated.

The administration has not also been able to trace 7 children who went missing after the Sathyagraha camp was attacked by the police and protestors were taken away including the women and children present over there. The police and local authorities have been taking contradictory position regarding missing children. While 43 children were released on 26th July, Supt. of Police was earlier taking this position that none of the children were taken away by police! Later he issued statements that it was illegal to have children at the dharna site.

Does he or any of the authorities have the courage to answer whether violation of Supreme Court order regarding land for land rehabilitation is legal? Is, use of violence by police on peaceful protesters legal and human? No, none of them have the courage! On the other hand, our governments are doling out land and undue concessions to corporates in the name of setting up of Special Economic Zones, while taking a position, even in the courts, that no land is available for rehabilitation of project affected.

Being aware of the double standards of our governments, the affected adivasis of Sardar Sarovar Dam had occupied 100 acres of government land at Taloon, Dist. Badwani since 13th July till 25th July 2007. They were helped and supported by the other SS affected farmers, labourers and fisher people in Nimad. These adivasis who cultivated this 100 acres of occupied land have lost their farm land, forests, common property resources to the reservoir and most of them have become landless and without any forest land.

They are entitled to land but are not allotted cultivable land, as no farmers in Madhya Pradesh are allotted.

Amidst all this, the adivasi-farmer-fisher people of Narmada valley have renewed their vow of continuing their struggle for just and sustainable development. We appeal and request the Government of Madhya Pradesh and Government of India to respect the Civil Liberty and Human Rights of people and also the directives of Supreme Court of India and put an immediate stop on this act of repression.