NATIONAL PEOPLE’S TRIBUNAL ON KANDHAMAL INTERIM PREPORT

NATIONAL PEOPLE’S TRIBUNAL ON KANDHAMAL JURY’S PRELIMINARY FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS 24 AUGUST 2010 The National People’s Tribunal (NPT) on Kandhamal, held in New Delhi on 22-24 August 2010, was   organized by the National Solidarity Forum – a countrywide solidarity platform of concerned social activists, media persons, researchers, legal experts, film makers, artists, writers, scientists and civil society organizations to assist the victims and survivors... Read More

Indian government rejection of Vedanta bauxite mine a “landmark victory” for Indigenous rights

Amnesty International today described the Indian government’s decision to reject the bauxite mine project in Orissa’s Niyamgiri Hills as a landmark victory for the human rights of Indigenous communities. India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests today rejected the mine project proposed by a subsidiary of UK-based Vedanta Resources and the state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation, after finding that the project already extensively violates forest and environmental laws... Read More

STATE COMPLICITY AND IMPUNITY RULE AS JUSTICE IS DENIED VICTIMS OF KANDHAMAL

The National People’s Tribunal (NPT) on Kandhamal is an initiative promoted by the National Solidarity Forum , a nationwide platform of civil society actors, with the purpose of seeking justice for the victims of communal violence in Kandhamal district of Orissa state. Kandhamal witnessed an upsurge of violence against the minority Christian community beginning on Christmas-eve 2007, which was considerably aggravated in August 2008, following the killing of VHP leader... Read More

It is ‘no’ to Vedanta’s mine project in Orissa

TIMELY DECISION: Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh at a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photo: Ramesh Sharma After a long drawn-out consultation process, the Union government has finally pronounced its verdict against Vedanta Alumina’s $1.7-billion plan to mine bauxite in the Niyamgiri Hills of Orissa. “There has been a very serious violation of the Environment Protection Act, the Forest Conservation Act and the Forest Rights Act,” said Minister for Environment... Read More

Kandhamal Day: Solidarity Protest in Bangalore

NO MORE KANDHAMALs – STOP ALL COMMUNAL VIOLENCE KANDHAMAL DAY Protest in solidarity August 25th 5 pm Town Hall Bangalore Peoples’ Solidarity Concerns Exactly 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 Daliths were killed... Read More

TRIBUNAL ON KANDHAMAL OPENS IN DELHI

Initial Testimonies highlight abject failure of state machinery New Delhi: The 3-day National Peoples Tribunal (NPT) on the Kandhamal communal violence began today at the Constitution Club here with some 400 people in attendance which included 95 survivors from Kandhamal. The NPT is being organised by the National Solidarity Forum, a coalition of over 65 organisations and peoples’ movements that have come together to highlight the plight of victims and survivors; and attempt... Read More

Tribals Plea Against Vedanta: ‘Green’ Court to Give Verdict

Outlook India Even as the government is yet to decide the fate of Vedanta’s controversial mining project in Orissa, a ‘green’ court is likely to deliver its judgement next month on the plea of locals seeking to quash environmental clearance given to the company. The National Environment Appellate Authority has reserved its order after hearing the plea of tribals and Vedanta group, which has dismissed the allegation that proper process was not followed in... Read More

Govt expands scope of panel for Posco project Read more: Govt expands scope of panel for Posco project

The Times of India NEW DELHI: The government has decided to widen the ambit of the Meena Gupta committee, which is looking into the Rs 50,000-crore Posco Integrated Steel Project to review the case not only for its compliance with the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and Forest Conservation Act. The panel will also be asked to investigate the compliance of the state government and the project developers with the Environment Protection Act and the Coastal Zone Regulatory norms. The... Read More

Appeal to Strengthen the Protest in Delhi

Dear friends, It is almost two years after the main communal violence that took place in Kandhamal. Human rights groups estimate that in the months of violence against Christian minorities over 100 people were killed, including women, disabled persons and children, adivasis and dalits. Three women were gang-raped and many injured. 295 churches, big and small, were destroyed. 13 schools, colleges, and offices of 5 NGOs damaged. Even today, many people are living in tents struggling... Read More

A Report to the Nation on the Second Anniversary of the Pogrom

John Dayal This should scare any parent – in fact any sensitive person – out of his or her complacency. Manorama Mohapatra, a District Social Welfare officer in Orissa, has reported two cases of incidents of trafficking of girl children in the Kandhamal district recently. Many other girls have been rescued from other parts of India, most notably from Hyderabad and other cities in Andhra Pradesh, which adjoins Orissa and has had age old trading ties and human migration... Read More