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Mizzima: Strong reaction from peopl
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Strong reaction from people over India Supreme Court Judgment on Narmada
Case
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh of India; October 26, 2000
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)
Series of demonstrations and peace marches in various parts of India
welcomed the judgment of Supreme Court in the matter of Narmada Bachao
Andolan Vs. State Governments of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh
and others, which was pronounced on the 18th of October. Holding fasts,
dharna, march and other innovative actions in India and abroad, the
civil society have protested against the ruling of Supreme Court.
Following a huge protest action in Badwani on the 23rd of October, which
was participated by over 3500 peasants, tribals and laboureres,
Maheshwar dam affected came out on the streets on the 24th, in thousands
to tell the people who concern, that the Narmada Valley cannot accept
this anti-people judgment. The rally has declared that the people
affected by the cascade of dams in the Narmada Valley will rise as one
to save their lands and houses.
On 22nd October, a major demonstration through the heart of the city by
Friends of Narmada in Bangalore led to a gruesome cane beating by the
police and later arrest of over 80 of representatives of various
peoples? organisations, students and other individuals.
Magsaysay Award winner Aruna Roy and Jnanpith award recipient Mahasveta
Devi have led different protest actions at Jaipur (Rajasthan) and
Calcutta. Mahasveta Devi said ?The Supreme Court verdict against the
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) came as a great shock and I feel
especially sorry as this is, perhaps, the first time a movement
awakened the world about the next to extinct flora, fauna and tribals
on such a big scale''. National Alliance of People?s Movements (NAPM)
Bengal Chapter, who took lead in organising the protests sent
memorandums to the President to ?save Narmada Valley which has become
the synonym for saving the humanity?.
Soon after the delivery of verdict, the Narmada Solidarity Forum in
Chennai held placards, distributed pamphlets and interacted with the
public, at the Marina Beach, explaining about the valley and the
verdict. This was followed by a rally in front of the High Court in
Chennai by over 400 volunteers, representing several students', women's
and voluntary organisations. 150 of them were arrested by police. In a
memorandum given to the President and Prime Minister they stated that
?The people of the Narmada valley have raised their voice against this
injustice for years together. Movements all over the country have
extended their solidarity to the people of Narmada. It is most shocking
that the voices of the oppressed have been completely ignored by the
powers that be. We consider this a total denial of democracy and human
rights guaranteed by our Constitution.?
In Malegaon (Maharashtra) several organisations took a protest rally and
a mock funeral procession of the judiciary, which failed to give justice
to people. In a function held at Dhule (Mahrashtra), Jst.Pukhraj Vohra,
MB Shah, educationist and others expressed shock regarding the Supreme
Court verdict.
In South, very next day of the verdict, in Thiruvanathapuram, a march
with eyes covered with black cloth and such actions welcomed it. Later
protest actions, with the involvement of several organisations, were
held in front of the Sessions Court. Former chairman of the National
Book Trust and literary critic Prof. Sukumar Azhikode, and others have
led the action in front of the Kerala High Court in Eranakulam, which
was attended by over 300 representatives of various organisations and
individuals. While emphasizing the need for reconsidering the Supreme
Court order, Prof Azhikode said that the majority decision is not
necessarily the just decision, for, majority is not the measure for the
deciding the justice.
In Delhi, over 150 representatives from 20 organisations gathered today
near the Supreme Court to express their anguish and anger at the Supreme
Court verdict and solidarity with the Andolan. They observed fast for
one day. Present among them were veteran socialists like Shri Surendra
Mohan, Yogendra Yadav, Nirmala Sharma, Vimalbhai participated in the
actions. Several women organizations, dalit organisations, trade unions,
and political party representatives and others took part in the action.
Large number of organisations, institutions and individuals across the
globe expressed their deep anguish and concern over the failure of all
arms of the State to protect the tribals and the environment. An
informal group called, Friends of River Narmada and others, organised a
protest in front of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco (USA) and a
memorandum was submitted to the Consulate General. ?We demand that the
Supreme Court review its judgment and call upon the President of India
to intervene decisively to
protect the rights of the adivasis of the Narmada Valley?, the
memorandum said.
Members of the Environmental Monitoring Group in Cape Town, South Africa
observed a fast in solidarity with the people of the Narmada Valley.
Major demonstrations will be held outside the Indian High Commission in
London on 31st October - the day that construction on the dam is due to
recommence. Programs are also planned in Hamilton, Canada, and
Washington DC, USA. Several organisations and individuals have also
issued statements condemning the majority judgment of the Supreme Court
and expressing their solidarity to the struggle of people in the Narmada
Valley.
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<b><font size=+2>Strong reaction from people over India Supreme Court Judgment
on Narmada Case</font></b>
<p>Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh of India; October 26, 2000
<br>Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)
<p>Series of demonstrations and peace marches in various parts of India
welcomed the judgment of Supreme Court in the matter of Narmada Bachao
Andolan Vs. State Governments of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and
others, which was pronounced on the 18th of October. Holding fasts, dharna,
march and other innovative actions in India and abroad, the civil society
have protested against the ruling of Supreme Court.
<p>Following a huge protest action in Badwani on the 23rd of October, which
was participated by over 3500 peasants, tribals and laboureres, Maheshwar
dam affected came out on the streets on the 24th, in thousands to tell
the people who concern, that the Narmada Valley cannot accept this anti-people
judgment. The rally has declared that the people affected by the cascade
of dams in the Narmada Valley will rise as one to save their lands and
houses.
<p>On 22nd October, a major demonstration through the heart of the city
by Friends of Narmada in Bangalore led to a gruesome cane beating by the
police and later arrest of over 80 of representatives of various peoples?
organisations, students and other individuals.
<p>Magsaysay Award winner Aruna Roy and Jnanpith award recipient Mahasveta
Devi have led different protest actions at Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Calcutta.
Mahasveta Devi said ?The Supreme Court verdict against the Narmada
Bachao Andolan (NBA) came as a great shock and I feel especially
sorry as this is, perhaps, the first time a movement awakened the
world about the next to extinct flora, fauna and tribals on such
a big scale''. National Alliance of People?s Movements (NAPM) Bengal
Chapter, who took lead in organising the protests sent memorandums to the
President to ?save Narmada Valley which has become the synonym for saving
the humanity?.
<p>Soon after the delivery of verdict, the Narmada Solidarity Forum in
Chennai held placards, distributed pamphlets and interacted with the public,
at the Marina Beach, explaining about the valley and the verdict. This
was followed by a rally in front of the High Court in Chennai by over
400 volunteers, representing several students', women's and voluntary organisations.
150 of them were arrested by police. In a memorandum given to the President
and Prime Minister they stated that ?The people of the Narmada valley have
raised their voice against this injustice for years together. Movements
all over the country have extended their solidarity to the people of Narmada.
It is most shocking that the voices of the oppressed have been completely
ignored by the powers that be. We consider this a total denial of democracy
and human rights guaranteed by our Constitution.?
<p>In Malegaon (Maharashtra) several organisations took a protest rally
and a mock funeral procession of the judiciary, which failed to give justice
to people. In a function held at Dhule (Mahrashtra), Jst.Pukhraj
Vohra, MB Shah, educationist and others expressed shock regarding the Supreme
Court verdict.
<p>In South, very next day of the verdict, in Thiruvanathapuram, a march
with eyes covered with black cloth and such actions welcomed it. Later
protest actions, with the involvement of several organisations, were held
in front of the Sessions Court. Former chairman of the National Book Trust
and literary critic Prof. Sukumar Azhikode, and others have led the action
in front of the Kerala High Court in Eranakulam, which was attended by
over 300 representatives of various organisations and individuals. While
emphasizing the need for reconsidering the Supreme Court order, Prof Azhikode
said that the majority decision is not necessarily the just decision, for,
majority is not the measure for the deciding the justice.
<p>In Delhi, over 150 representatives from 20 organisations gathered today
near the Supreme Court to express their anguish and anger at the Supreme
Court verdict and solidarity with the Andolan. They observed fast for one
day. Present among them were veteran socialists like Shri Surendra Mohan,
Yogendra Yadav, Nirmala Sharma, Vimalbhai participated in the actions.
Several women organizations, dalit organisations, trade unions, and political
party representatives and others took part in the action.
<p>Large number of organisations, institutions and individuals across the
globe expressed their deep anguish and concern over the failure of all
arms of the State to protect the tribals and the environment. An informal
group called, Friends of River Narmada and others, organised a protest
in front of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco (USA) and a memorandum
was submitted to the Consulate General. ?We demand that the Supreme Court
review its judgment and call upon the President of India to intervene decisively
to
<br>protect the rights of the adivasis of the Narmada Valley?, the memorandum
said.
<p>Members of the Environmental Monitoring Group in Cape Town, South Africa
observed a fast in solidarity with the people of the Narmada Valley.
<p>Major demonstrations will be held outside the Indian High Commission
in London on 31st October - the day that construction on the dam is due
to recommence. Programs are also planned in Hamilton, Canada, and Washington
DC, USA. Several organisations and individuals have also issued statements
condemning the majority judgment of the Supreme Court and expressing their
solidarity to the struggle of people in the Narmada Valley.
<br>
<p> </html>
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