{"id":597,"date":"2010-12-12T07:25:41","date_gmt":"2010-12-12T06:25:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/socialism.in\/?p=597"},"modified":"2010-12-20T07:29:27","modified_gmt":"2010-12-20T06:29:27","slug":"jagadish-chandra%e2%80%99s-speech-at-an-official-hearing-in-the-eu-parliament-on-the-topic-%e2%80%98the-rise-of-national-conflicts-and-religious-tensions-in-asia-and-africa%e2%80%99","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/socialism.in\/?p=597","title":{"rendered":"Jagadish Chandra\u2019s Speech at an official hearing in the EU Parliament on the topic \u2018The rise of national conflicts and religious tensions in Asia and Africa\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>
Jagadish G Chandra (Center) addressing the EU Parliament <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dear Chair, comrades and friends<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

first of all I would like to thank the Confederal Group of the European United Left for inviting me to this hearing.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I am a Trade Unionist, from India representing the Peoples\u2019 Solidarity Concerns- Bangalore and PPSS (Anti Posco Struggle) in Orissa.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I feel honoured to be part of this hearing where distinguished working class fighters from Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Southafrica are present.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I would like to speak on the three most crucial issues that concerns the majority of people in India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

While the Indian elite and the establishment are busy showcasing the \u201cgrowth and the GDP\u201d figures, there are millions who are reeling under Communalism\/ Religious Fundamentalism, Army occupations, and of course the land grab to satisfy the needs of the neo-liberal agenda of the Indian State<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Communalism\/ Religious fundamentalism<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Communalism was a major social and political problem in INDIA during the colonial period; it gained yet another basis and lease of life with the partitioned independence of 1947, and has acquired a truly explosive dimension in recent years. While Indian establishment only boasts of the GDP and Growth, it is this trend of communal polarisation that is galloping than all other indices in the country of India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lessons from Kandhamal:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Two years ago, one of the worst communal genocide attempts on the Christian community took place in one of the poorest districts of India, Kandhamal of Orissa. This gruesome incident has shaken the conscience of many in this country. Over 100 people including women, disabled, children, Adivasis and Dalits were killed . Three women were gang raped and many were injured. 295 churches were destroyed. Schools, colleges and even medical institutions were not spared. Even now, thousands of people cannot go back to their villages. Many fear struck victims of Kandhamal, are still living in tents even after 2 years of violence.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Kandhamal events signify a vicious political turn that indicates that communalism as a socio-political project has come to stay in the Indian society as an ideology and as a political practice that combines communal terror with mass mobilisation for the capture of power. The epitome of the process was latest carnage in Kandhamal. A serious consequence of this communal pogrom was the undermining of democratic processes and institutions of a modern secular state by the communal forces in the country.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When all the premises of Indian Constitution are destroyed by a group of Sangh Parivar followers, it is a shame that the administration stood as either silent spectators or indirectly supporting the genocide attempt. The fact that the majority of the population of Kandhamal are Adivasis and Daliths has only aggravated the deliberate criminal negligence and connivance of the administration. The large scale displacement of Kandhamal victims in the last two years, hellish life in refugee camps and the breakdown of many family units under the pressure of poverty have affected the psychological status of this district. Many are still living with fear and trauma. Minor and adolescent girls are being trafficked under the guise of security and livelihood. Many children have dropped out of schools.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Widespread ostracization of the Christians in Kandhamal has affected the employment of the adults and education of their children. A meager compensation given by the Government was not even enough to meet the immediate medical needs for many.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The survivors of Kandhamal violence are still under threat and over 15,000 people cannot go to their own villages unless they convert to Hinduism. Those Adivasi and Dalith Christians who were forcefully converted to Hinduism have all gone back to Christianity. Out of 3,300 complaints filed by the victims in the local police stations, only 831 have been registered as FIR\u2019s. Majority of the registered cases have not been investigated. Whatever shoddy investigation that has taken place has only reduced the scope for justice. The bias has facilitated the criminals to get acquitted one by one. Those who are acquitted feel more powerful today in front of the minorities.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

KANDHAMAL What we demand?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Immediate prosecution of the police officials who failed to register FIR\u2019s and allowed criminals to escape justice.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Full compensation for houses destroyed in mass arson.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Compensation \tfor victims of gender violence<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Compensation \tfor loss of livelihood for two years<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Full \tcompensation to all widows\/next of kin of those who died in the \triots<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Resettlement \twith security in home villages full land rights<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Employment \tof men and women victims , Education Facilitation of children, \tespecially girls whose education is broken and those whose \tcertificates are burnt<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Facilitation \tof a large number of survivors whose documents of land and \tproperties are destroyed<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Implementation \tof a basic witness protection scheme and provision of assistance and \tremuneration to victims in order to ensure their testimony inn court \t.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Repeal the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, which fuels prejudicial attitudes towards religious minorities<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    Brutal Military Occupation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Kashmir Valley has been under brutal military occupation since a popular insurgency erupted against the Indian Rule in 1989. The once serene and lovely Kashmir Valley euphorically called as the \u2018paradise on earth\u2019 with its gorgeous mountains and rivers, which inspired generations of poets to eulogize its beauty, has now become a Valley of Blood. At least <\/span><\/span><\/span>40,000 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>people have been killed since insurgency began in 1989, according to conservative official estimates. Unofficial estimates are well over 80,000-half of them are civilians. Thousands of Indian soldiers have been killed and it costs billions of dollars to keep the security forces in Kashmir.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    Even according to official Indian government figure (Press Trust of India Sources) which tend to be conservative in the number of civilians killed by the security forces and mostly exclude thousands of custodial killings, <\/span><\/span><\/span>2477 civilians<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/span>had been killed by Indian security forces between 1990-98; 6673 civilians and 1593 security personnel had been killed by the militants including 982 Hindus and Sikhs. According to J&K Govt\u2019s official release, number of people missing since 1990 runs over 3000, it must be mentioned that the Kashmiri Pandits who have <\/span><\/span><\/span>borne the brunt <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>of this bloody conflict as well have suffered enormously \u2013 from the period of the mid 1980\u2032s, they were forced to quit the Valley in a massive exodus in 1990 and many of them still languish in the refugee camps in Jammu and Delhi.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    AFSPA must go!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Thanks to the talent and expertise of Indian democracy in squandering chances, today the same people who enthusiastically voted and reposed their faith in the electoral process yet again, to find a solution through dialogue have been forced to take to streets. Mothers holding babies in their hands have come out to the arena of struggle for freedom and against oppression, children as young as seven are battling out in the streets with mere stones against the might of the Indian forces. The writing is on the wall, the notorious Indian armed forces and the Central Reserve Police Force must leave the valley, draconian AFSPA must be repealed forthwith.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    What we Demand<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    Freedom and peace is the minimum that the People of Kashmir need now, none of the capitalist powers in the region and their masters in the west would accept the fundamental demand of the Kashmiris for the right of self-determination. Only the united struggle of the working class of India, Pakistan and China on the programme of a voluntary socialist confederation of the sub-continent can bring such a revolutionary change to all the nationalities struggling under capitalism, landordism and authoritarianism.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    POSCO: The Land Grab of Orissa<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h5>\n

    The state of Orissa that has seen absolute neglect both under colonialism and after independence, is today one of the most sought after destinations of global capitalism. The so-called \u201cinvestors\u201d that include national and multinational companies, are not here for any humanitarian reasons but only for profit and to loot and plunder the region\u2019s rich natural resources. Which would cause irreparable damage by destroying livelihoods, displace people, wreck the environment, create joblessness and most importantly destroy the time tested sustainable and self sufficient form of agriculture, Pisciculture and allied industrial activities that is unique to this coastal region made possible by the availability of sweet sand (non-saline) and pure water.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    The corrupt ruling classes, whether of the Congress and BJP varieties at the Centre or the Naveen Patnaik\u2019s BJD state government in Orissa, these avowed social democrats who hide behind the mask of \u201cSocialism and Swadeshi\u201d, are hell bent upon putting everything up for sale \u2013 land, natural resources, environment, human lives to the highest bidder.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    But what these vulture capitalists did not expect is the heroic resistance being put up by the people of Orissa, be it the anti-POSCO struggle in Erasama (near Paradip), anti- Vedanta movement in Puri and Lanjigarh, the anti-Tata movement in Kalinganagar and Naraj, the peasants movement of Hirakud, anti-UAIL movement in Kashipur, anti-Bhusan movement, anti-sterlite, anti-Reliance or the anti-dam movement in lower Suktel, people are in revolt not only against Corporate and multinationals but also against the existing system of extreme poverty and misery perpetuated by decades of misrule under capitalism & landlordism.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Rs. 54,000\/- crore project to construct a steel plant, iron ore mining and a port is already being opposed by the fish workers, farmers and adivasis.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    The four and half year long saga of the struggle against the South Korean steel giant POSCO by the people of Erasama is a living testimony of the people\u2019s willingness to fight at any cost to save their precious land & livelihoods of 22,000 families, despite terrible human suffering that people undergo daily. People have braved bombs, guns and lethal weapons, unleashed by the state and POSCO goons. The ongoing police repression on the resisting villagers make British colonialists doves of peace! State and non state brutality has already claimed the life of Tapan Mondal an activist against POSCO and has caused serious and permanent injuries to many activists. The struggle against POSCO is led and conducted by Posco Prathirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) a democratic formation which has permanently barricaded the area so that no government, police or POSCO official can enter the area.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Conclusion<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    The anti-POSCO struggle is a battle for livelihoods and against land displacement, a struggle for water rights, a protest against indiscriminate mining and also a movement to save unique environment of Paradip. The anti-POSCO struggle is a mass democratic movement involving peasants, fish workers, youth and women and is the focal point of struggle against capitalist globalization in the country. A victory against POSCO will have repercussions not only in Orissa but will also herald a new dawn against the aggressively perused capitalist offensive throughout India. It will herald a new brand of radical mass struggle and train a generation of youth to defeat capitalism.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Stop \tthe sale of Orissa. Put People before profit.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Say \tno to indiscriminate, capitalist industrialization no to destruction \tof environment\u2013 for a sustainable, people & environmentally \tfriendly industry democratically planned and controlled by workers, \tPeasants & the poor through the elected committees.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • No \tto displacement from land & livelihood, land to the landless not \tto the landlords & capitalist land grabbers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Democratic \tcontrol & management of all resources and productive forces by \tthe working poor. End capitalism and landlordism and establish \tdemocratic socialism<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      I thank the European United Left \/Nordic Green Left (GUE\/NGL) and Joe Higgins MEP in particular for inviting me to this hearing and giving me this opportunity to highlight the struggles in India. We look forward to the cooperation of the Working class of Europe through there concerted struggles against their own bosses.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

      We must together see the end of capitalism throughout the world and usher in the system of democratic socialism which will bring the true harmony to the people of the world.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

      (Text of Jagadish Chandra\u2019s speech in the official European parliament hearing on 8th<\/sup> Dec, 2010)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Dear Chair, comrades and friends first of all I would like to thank the Confederal Group of the European United Left for inviting me to this hearing. I am a Trade Unionist, from India representing the Peoples\u2019 Solidarity Concerns- Bangalore and PPSS (Anti Posco Struggle) in Orissa. I feel honoured to be part of this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bangalore"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/socialism.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/socialism.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/socialism.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/socialism.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/socialism.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=597"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/socialism.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/597\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":600,"href":"https:\/\/socialism.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/597\/revisions\/600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/socialism.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/socialism.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/socialism.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}