Press Release
23-05-2010

The National Fishworkers’ Federation strongly condemns the brutal attack of the Orissa police on the struggling farmers and fishworkers in Balithutta, Jagatsinghpur, against the invasion of the South Korean multinational, Pohang Steel Company (POSCO). Over 100 people were injured in the police firing on the peaceful dharna which has been going on for 120 days. Apart from this the police also resorted to tear gas aggression and lathi-charged innocent people struggling for survival. It is also a shame that 15 shops and 6 houses were burnt by the police, evidences being the footages which appeared in the channels.

POSCO has been opposed for five years by the fishing community, adivasis and farmers since the project was envisaged as a threat to their land, forests, water resources and livelihood. The National Fishworkers Federation strongly believes that in this `democratic’ society, there is every right for the local communities to protect their livelihood and natural resources. We are alarmed that around 30,000 fishworkers will be directly affected by just one of the efforts of this infamous multinational – the proposed port to be built at Jatadhari (Eustarine region of Ersamma). Needless to say that this will also cause major environmental problems in the region. We are also shocked to find out that around 3,000 acres of forest lands will be allotted to this company. At a time when the Government of India is trying to pretend internationally to reduce the contribution to global warming, it is shocking that a double standard is allowed to permit a foreign multinational to contribute to Climate Change, threatening the lives of the local communities. Out of the 100 injured in police firing on May 15, 2010, thirty people are fish workers. Around half of the injured are dalits and more than half are women. The National Fishworkers Federation strongly question policy of the Orissa State Government to suppress the poor and marginalised for the benefit of the profits for the rich. It is a shame that even now the state government has not allowed proper medical treatment or food supply due to the economic blockade around Dhinkia through the might of the guns of the police force. We, the coalition of different fishworkers unions and organisations from all over India are firmly determined to oppose such fascist methods used to bring SEZ in the region.

We therefore demand that:

1. The Government should immediately withdraw the police from the region
2. The Government should immediately withdraw the economic blockade
3. Immediate free medical care be given to the injured
4. Compensation to the injured be provided
5. Compensation to those who lost shops and houses should be given immediately
6. Criminal charges should be framed on the Superintendent of Police, the Collector and the Principal Secretary of Orissa State for having direct responsibility in the police firing
7. POSCO should immediate withdraw all project efforts from Orissa
8. All cases including the 800 cases recently framed on the local people and the leaders of the movement be withdrawn immediately and those who are arrested should be immediately released.

The National Fishworkers Forum warns the State Government of Orissa that if these demands are not met with immediately, the fishing communities and their supporters will fight till democracy, justice and peace are delivered to the coastal people.

T.Peter
Secretary, National Fishworkers Forum
Garuda Building, GPO Lane, Statue, Thiruvananthapuram -695001
Phone: 0471-6541985, Mobile: 9447429243

Related posts:

1. NFFPFW condemns the Police Terror at Chandia, Kalinganagar.
2. Police terror again on Anti Posco Villagers. 2 people arrested
3. Press Release of Fact Finding Team: POLICE TORTURE ON ANTI-POSCO PEOPLE