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dam-l ACTION: Speak Out to Denounce Attack on NBA Baroda Office



ACTION ALERT  - Dec. 9, 1999
SPEAK OUT TO DENOUNCE VIOLENT ATTACK ON NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN OFFICE

Dear Friends,

Last night, six people armed with knives and guns broke into the office of
the Narmada Bachao Andolan in Baroda and ransacked the office, destroying
files and assaulting an activist. The intruders threatened that they will
not hesitate to kill if the NBA does not leave the state of Gujarat
immediately. We urge you to speak out against the attacks on the offices of
the NBA and the Gujarat state government's tacit support of these actions.

Please read below for more info and press releases from the NBA on the attacks.

Sincerely,

Shripad Dharmadhikary
Narmada Bachao Andolan

Patrick McCully
International Rivers Network


*************************************
ACTION ALERT

**ARMED THUGS ATTACK NBA OFFICE : OFFICE RANSACKED, DOCUMENTS DESTROYED

Early today morning (9 December 1999), at about 2:20 AM (i.e. the night of
8 December), some 6 miscreants carrying knives and revolver got into the
NBA office in Baroda and burnt a few files, threw some out of the window
and stole Rs. 20,000. This happened when activist Raghu was alone in the
office. Hearing a knock, thinking that it is already morning, he opened the
door and he was pushed to a corner and the intruders and covered him with a
few blankets and razzaiies - mildly assaulting him and asked him not to
move. Then they went in the inside room and ransacked the place. The actual
loss of documents is being assessed. As per message last received from
Baroda, Nandini and Sukumar had reached there. The police too had reached
and were investigating.

It should be noted that the NBA has been receiving several threats in the
last few months. These have been reported to the police but they have
failed to take any action. In the first week of November an anonymous
caller called twice and asked that the Baroda office be immediately
vacated, else it would be "destroyed". A compliant was made to the police
but no action has been taken. Earlier, a well known religious leader Swami
Satchidanand had called on the police to kill NBA activists in "encounters"
. This was done at a public function - the inauguration of the boiler of a
sugar factory in the SSP command. A complaint has been filed with the
police but no action is seen.

It is clearly the lack of any action by Gujarat Government that has
emboldened the thugs to carry out their attack in such a blatant manner.

Indeed, the way those involved in the earlier attack on NBA office (in
1994) were allowed to go scotfree by the Gujarat Government, it is a signal
that the Gujarat Government is sending that it will look the other way and
allow such things to continue. The miscreants have clearly assumed that the
tacit support of the Gujarat Government will back them up and given the
past events, it is not an incorrect conclusion.

It may be recalled that earlier this year, when noted writer Arundhati
Roy's book on the Narmada, "The Greater Common Good" was published, certain
political organisations had burnt copies of it in Gujarat, and then
threatened bookstores not to stock it or face arson. The Gujarat Government
took no action against this public threat.

Yesterday's incident of attack on the office once again highlights the
attempts by certain elements in Gujarat to use terror tactics to suppress
any open discussion and debate on Narmada. These handful of people can get
away with such actions only because of clear if tacit support from the
Gujarat Government and police. They have been further emboldened by the
clear signals given by the Gujarat Government in the last few months as is
seen from the above discussed events.

REQUEST FOR ACTION
--------------------------------------

We request all those who are concerned about the lack of democratic space
in Gujarat to write immediately to the CHIEF MINISTER Gujarat Government
condemning the incident as also the inaction of Gujarat Government in the
previous incidents, taking serious note of its tacit support to such
actions, and demanding prompt, effective, and exemplary action against the
attackers. You should also ask that the Government ensure safety of the NBA
office in Baroda as also of the activists and to take steps to ensure such
incidents are not repeated.

Please Also write to the PRIME MINSTER, condemning the incident and
demanding immediate action, and to ensure safety of the NBA office and
activists.

For more info, you can contact the Narmada Bachao Andolan's Bombay office
at 91-22-557 4895 (Joe / Sanjay).

FAXES/ADDRESSES TO SEND LETTERS TO
----------------------------

*Mr Keshubhai Patel
Chief Minister of Gujarat
Nava Sachivalaya
Gandhinagar
Gujarat, 382 010
India
Fax: +91 (2712) 22101

Mr A.B. Vajpayee
Prime Minister of India
South Block, New Delhi 110 004
INDIA
Fax: +91 (11) 301 6857/301 9817


************************
Narmada Bachao Andolan
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda
Mumbai contacts: Parvin Jehangir  2184779, 2185832, Mahendra Singh, Amrita,
Joe - 5574895

PRESS RELEASE/ 9.12.99

NBA activist attacked: NBA Baroda office cum residence ransacked, documents
torn and burnt, Computer damaged, money stolen. NBA asked to leave Gujarat
or face dire consequences.

Last night at 2 am, 6 unidentified men barged into NBA office in Baroda and
attacked NBA activist Raghu Raghuvanshi and ransacked the office causing
severe damage to documents, computer, documents were set  on fire and they
made away with Rs 20,000/- cash.The six men also threatened that they have
been repeatedly telling the NBA to leave Gujarat and if now their warning
is not taken seriously, they would even kill.

On barging into the office two of the six men, caught NBA activist Raghu
and pinned him down after beating him up. He was made to shut his mouth at
a Gun and Knife point by two of the six persons, while Raghu was being
pinned down and manhandled he received minor knife wound and his shirt
torn. The remaining four completely ransacked and damaged the office. All
this lasted for half an hour and than the unidentified youth left taking
away Rs.20,000. These attackers were continuously threatening and warning
that the NBA must leave Gujarat immediately or else they will even not
hesitate in killing.

It is important to point that NBA has been receiving anonymous threatening
calls since October this year. A written complaint to the Commissioner of
the Police, Baroda was made on 16-10-99 to take immediate action. There was
an inquiry  in response to this complaint on 21-10-99 by PSI of Ellora Park
Police Station. Also a complaint was made in writing to the DSP against a
highly provocative public statement by Swami Sachidanand which was printed
in Gujarat Mitra a local leading News Paper on 17-9-99. Acknowledgements of
this complaint received on 11-10-99. A formal complaint against the
statement of Swami Sachidanand was also made to the PUCL. In spite of these
complaints anonymous threatening calls had continued ultimately resulting
into the attack on 9-12-99 early morning at 2.00 am.

One may recall that a similar attack and ransacking of the NBA baroda
office had taken place in March 1994 by leading Politicians of Gujarat
belonging to both, BJP and the Congress. This attack took place in full
view of press photographers present on the sight and the press had
extensively covered the photographs of attackers while they were attacking
and sabotaging the office.The photographs of MR Nalin Bhatt of BJP (Ex
health and Education Minister, present chairman of GEB), Dr Rajendra
Rathore the Ex Mayor of Baroda, Mr Yogesh Akolkar of Congress were printed
while they were ransacking the office. While they were burning the
documents, even the Police were present. A judicial inquiry was also
initiated. In spite of nationwide protests, documentary evidence and a
Judicial probe, nothing has come of it even after 5 years. Similar attack
also took place in May 1993 on a conference of Water organised in Ahmedabad
in which leading writer of Gujarat Ashwini Bhatt, a senior Gandhian Raju
Purohit and others were beaten up as they were supporters of NBA. This
whole event too was recorded on Vedio and submitted to the Police. Many
such Attacks have taken place on NBA activists during public Meetings at
Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Ghandhidham and Navsari in full view of Public and strong
eye witnesses. On none of this occasions any action was taken by the state
or Police as each time these attacks were politically motivated.

It is indeed sad commentary on the political state of affairs of Gujarat as
not just the NBA has been attacked and targeted but even official
committees of the Central Government have not been allowed to carry out
their official function of investigating the  displacement and Environment
issues concerning the Sardar Sarovar Project in Gujarat. For example, in
June 1994 Mr Ramdhan, the Commissioner of Schedule caste and Tribe ,
Government of India was manhandled and prevented from executing his duty of
investigating the state of rehabilitation in Gujarat. A committee appointed
by the Ministry of Environment to investigate the impact on environment was
not allowed to set foot in Gujarat in the year 1994. Even the Jayant Patil
Committee, appointed by the ministry of water resources could not undertake
any field visits during their tenure of review of the Sardar Sarovar
Project. The World Commission on Dams too was prevented from coming to
Gujarat and ultimately India  due to the opposition of the  Government of
Gujarat.

This shows a complete breakdown of the State Machinery in protecting the
democratic rights of the people in the State, out right violation of Human
rights by the political parties and the Government and complete
lawlessness.

Meanwhile protest statements are pouring in from all over the country,
demanding action against the culprits and protection of the Narmada Bachao
Andolan, a peaceful-non violent struggle of not just the oustees but a
popular movement in the country today. Those who have condemned the attack
are the organizations like Delhi Forum, Vadodra Kamdar Union, National
alliance of people's movements, etc. Tomorrow protest actions against this
attack will be organised at Delhi, Malegaon, Bombay- on the human rights
day.



Rehmat                            M K Sukamar
Nandini Oza.



For further information please contact Alok or Silvy, 011-6221703 or Joe
Athialy -022-5574895 as our Baroda office phone is out of order.

******************************
PRESS RELEASE
December 9, 1999

Peopleís Movements and other Organisations in Mumbai
Strongly Condemn the attack on Narmada Bachao Andolan

We strongly condemn the barbaric act of a few miscreants, who attacked the
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) office at Baroda last night.

We are clear that the hysterical atmosphere created in the state by the
Government and other politicians have incited these few to take law into
their hands. Instead of having a meaningful dialogue with NBA with facts
and figures, turning to violence is a cowardly act. Forcefully entering the
office with lethal weapons like knives and revolver, injuring an activist
and burning valuable documents is no way to deal with a non-violent
movement like NBA.

We wonder, is this the real Kar Seva which the likes of Sharad Joshi wanted
to perform?  This is the continuation of earlier attack on NBA office on
March 21, 1994, where MLA, Mayor and others of both BJP and Congress burned
valuable files and destroyed materials.

We mince no words to condemn this fascist action, overtly or covertly
scripted and performed by the State and a few politicians, in this eve of
Human Rights Day.

1.     Mihir Desai  Indian Centre for Human Rights and Law
2.      Deepak Mepani  Kutch Development Forum
3.      Deepika - Indian Peopleís Tribunal on Environment and Human Rights
4.      Adv.Collin Gonsalvis  Human Right Law Network
5.      Mahendra Singh  National Alliance of People's Movements
6.      Rajan Singh  Adivasi Rights Law Network
7.      Rajendra Sail  INSAF
8.      Hasina Khan  Awaz-E-Niswan
9.      Ashok Kumar - Save Western Ghats Movement
10.     Bharat Mansatta  Earthcare Books
11.     Kavita  YUVA
12.     Shanawas Pathan  Manav Mukthi Morcha, Maharashtra
13.     Vasudev Juvatkar  Footpathwasi Nagarik Sangathan
14.     Sandeep Yeole  Ferrywalla Vikas Mahasangh
15.     Vineeta Mansatta  Intranet
16.     Ulka Mahajan  Soshit Jan Andolan
17.     Bhavani Sashtri  Students Action Committee
18.     Jagdeesh Khairalia  Samajwadi Jan Parishad
19.     Aravinda / Ravi  AID, India
20.     Kiran  Prerana

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Susanne Wong
Campaigns Assistant
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94703
Tel: 1.510.848.1155 ext 316
Fax: 1.510.848.1008
web: www.irn.org
email: swong@irn.org