At any point of time, the police will forcefully enter into their villages: POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS)

On 11th May 2005, the government sent 25 police force platoons, 5 Ambulances and 2 fire engines to near-by areas and forcefully occupied different schools close to the affected villages by the proposed POSCO plant at Jagatsingphur district of Odisha, India. When villagers of Kujang refused to hand over the High School key, the police ignored them and entered forcibly the school campus. In doing this, the police themselves were breaking the law.

It is entirely possible that the government and POSCO company will begin their massive operation to, forcefully, oust people from their habitats and to sabotage the democratic peaceful movement by the people under banner of POSCO Pratirodh Sangam Samiti (PPSS) for the last five years. The ground situation of the villages is under strain and villagers are on high alert to face any government attempts to acquire their land.

As you may know, all the villagers are vehemently resisting the forcible land acquisition process to establish 12 million ton per annum project of integrated steel plant, captive power station and port in Ersama block of Jagatsinghpur. Villagers strongly feel that if this project goes ahead it will not only destroy their paddy lands, fish-ponds, betel-vine and the entire environment, but also take away their sustainable and the most dependable livelihood systems. In

addition to this, tribal people operating under the slogan of Khandhar Suraksha Samiti are protesting against the land acquisition and environmental degradation caused by proposed excavation of mining at Khandadhar hills of Sundhargarh district.

From January 26th 2010 onwards, hundreds of villagers are sitting daily at Balithutha – the entry point into the proposed project affected villages Nuagoan , Govindpur and Gara Kujanga panchayat.

The POSCO authorities and district administration tried to use forest officials for surveying the proposed area, which was resisted by the people. Now it’s learnt that for this refusal, three criminal cases have been registered in the local police station by the administration against the leaders of PPSS including its President, Abhya Sahoo and others. Now villagers are apprehending that at any point of time, the police will forcefully enter into their villager in the name of surveying the forest land.

At this juncture, we appeal to all the concerned citizens, media, human rights organizations, and environmentalists to come forward and show their solidarity and help the people to fight against this injustice. We also earnestly appeal that you kindly write to concerned authorities of the government of Odisha and India to forbid any kind of such repressive measures to us. We are attaching a draft letter addressed to the Orissa Chief Minister for your reference. Kindly do

necessary changes if you feel so and send it to the Chief Minister. The same letter may be sent to the Prime Minister and other concerned authorities. Please widely circulate this mail.

Also, you are requested to join Mass Resistance Week at Balitutha from 15th to 21st May 2010 and add your voice with the people struggling for their rights and justice.

Thanking for your continuous cooperation and support

Prashant Paikary
Spokesperson, POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti.
Mobile no – 09437571547

Related posts:

1. URGENT! Fear of attack on Anti-POSCO movement
2. Press Release of Fact Finding Team: POLICE TORTURE ON ANTI-POSCO PEOPLE
3. AHRC Urgent Appeal