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Ongoing violence against the Dalits in Orissa must be
prevented immediately
Het geweld in de Indiase deelstaat Orissa tegen Dalits duurt
voort.
Doe mee aan de Urgent Appeal van de Asian Human rights
Commission, de National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights en
het International Dalit Solidarity Network.
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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEAL
PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-192-2008
28 August 2008
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INDIA: Ongoing violence against the Dalits in Orissa must be
prevented immediately
ISSUES: Caste based discrimination; impunity; religious group;
state inaction
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), the National
Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) and the
International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) hasten to bring to
your urgent attention the ongoing violence reported from the
state of Orissa, India. It is reported that as of now in Orissa,
particularly in parts of the state like Kandhamal, Bargarh and
Koraput Deogarh districts, a rampage of burning, looting and
murdering is underway. It is reported that the violence has
resulted in 14 deaths so far, in addition to the murder of four
Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) carders that reportedly has
triggered the current outbreak of violence.
CASE DETAILS:
On August 23, 2008 a VHP leader Mr. Laxmananda Saraswati
(89 years) and four of his associates were killed in Kandhamal
district. The VHP is a Hindu militant organisation operating in
India since 1964. The VHP has close associations with other
fundamentalist Hindu divisive forces operating in India, like the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political force, the
Bahratiya Janata Party (BJP). The youth-wing of the VHP is
called the Bajrang Dal.
Immediately after the murder, the VHP and its allies called for a
state-wide bandh (enforced protest by the closure of all
commercial, government and private establishments). The VHP
issued a public statement accusing the Christian community in
the state as being behind the murder. Soon after this, the VHP
carders and its supporters reportedly unleashed a brutal and
systematic attack upon the Dalit communities in the state,
focusing on the Christian Dalit communities, their properties like
houses, business institutions, prayer halls and other Dalit
community organisations.
The rampage unleashed by the VHP and its cadres has resulted
in the murder of 14 persons so far and in the destruction of
millions worth of property. For the murder of the VHP leader and
four of his associates, a Maoist group operating in the region
has claimed responsibility for the murder. Credible sources also
inform that the same Maoist group had in fact sent warning
messages prior to the murder of the VHP leader. It is reported
that the VHP is now making use of the murder of one of its
leaders as an excuse to flare-up violence against the Dalits in
the state.
It is reported that even though several people lost their life and
property in the ongoing violence in Orissa, the state government
did nothing to prevent the incident of the murder of the VHP
leader snowballing into a large-scale violence. The government
of India also abstained for several days before intervening.
It is only on August 27, that the Union Minister of State for Home
Mr. Sriprakash Jaiswal visited the state. The minister before
returning to New Delhi also met the Chief Minister of the state
Mr. Naveen Patnaik and the State Governor Mr. M. C.
Bhandare. While the minister ensured that four battalions of the
Central Reserve Police (CRPF) and its three helicopters will be
deployed in the state at the request of the state government, the
minister also accused the state administration of its neglect in
preventing the violence.
The lack of prompt and immediate action to prevent the violence
resulted in horrific incidents. For example a violent Hindu mob
terrorised the inhabitants of an orphanage and set fire to the
building where a female staff was burnt alive. A few days ago, a
school was raided by the Hindu mob where five innocent
persons were killed. More than two dozen similar incidents were
reported from Orissa since August 23 that depicts the willful
negligence of the state government to prevent the violence.
It is only yesterday that the state government declared an
emergency in the violence hit area. The state government has
also issued a shoot at sight order. Yet the state government has
failed completely to control the ongoing violence and to arrest
the actual persons behind it.
It is reported that the victims of the violence are forced to
abandon their houses, stop their businesses and to run away for
life to nearby forests to be safe. Ordinary life has become
impossible in certain parts of the state, especially in Kandhamal,
Bargarh and Koraput Deogarh districts. Schools and other
educational institutions remains closed indefinitely. The violence
was targeted against the Dalits and those who work for the Dalit
empowerment.
Several local and national organisations have written to the
Indian authorities calling for an urgent intervention. Of particular
importance is an application filed in the state high court by two
groups--the Human Rights Law Network and the Ambedkar
Lohia Vichar
Manch--requesting a direction from the court to the state
government to
ensure the safety of the victims of violence and to prevent it
from
further spreading.
It is reported that the court has allowed the application directing
the state government to ensure that all victims are indentified
and provided adequate protection from further violence. The
court has also directed the government to ensure that the
victims receive necessary relief supplies and provisions are
made for their rehabilitation.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The murdered VHP leader in the past was accused of
orchestrating communal tension in the state. It is reported that
this person was spearheading a violent and fundamentalist
Hindu movement in the state, particularly against the Dalit
communities and their villages. The VHP was targeting the Dalit
communities and their villages who had liberated themselves
from the age-old inhuman practices of caste based
discrimination and forced slavery.
Instead of openly speaking out against the Dalit empowerment
and the growing tendency of the empowered Dalits posing new
challenges against the arbitrary domination of the dominant
castes, the VHP cadres led campaigns in the state to force the
Dalits to return and reaffirm their belief in the Hindu religious
practices, which supports the caste system. The forced
reaffirmation of faith in the Hindu Religion upon the Dalit
communities was justified and carried out vehemently by
Saraswati and his cadre as the 're-purification' of the Dalits.
Neither the state government nor the government of India
intervened to prevent this.
Orissa is a relatively poor state, with a large Dalit/Tribal
population. The practices of the caste system like
'untouchability', manual scavenging and bonded labour is forced
upon the Dalit community with full vigor in the state. Dalits are
denied education, decent jobs and reasonable payment for the
work they do. The Dalit identity is stamped upon a person at
birth being born to a Dalit parent/s. In short, being a Dalit often
means segregation, bonded labour, illiteracy and social
ostracism. The Hindu religious belief does not allow a change of
this status by any means. It also means for the dominant caste
Hindu, a Dalit remaining a Dalit is a guaranteed form of free
labour.
The gradual liberation of a considerable section of the Dalits in
Orissa from the shackles of the Hindu religious divisive and
discriminatory practices meant that the Dalits benefiting from
the relatively open economy and other opportunities like
education accessible to them. This means that Dalits are no
more bound to be bonded to the dominant caste and to be their
slaves, but could obtain reasonably good government jobs and
also educate their new generations. For the dominant caste this
change was nothing but an unwelcome change in the socio,
political economy. It also uprooted the centuries old social
patterns that guaranteed them unchallenged and comfortable
living conditions at the expense of the Dalits.
The dominant caste responded by setting up their own
educational institutions. These institutions are called Vanvasi
Kalyan Kendra (forest dweller welfare centre) where education
was nothing but indoctrination into ritualised Hindu practices and
the structured reassertion of the caste dominance in schools
fueled by pretentious nationalist sentiments based on Hindu
scriptures like the Vedas and the ultimate Sanadana Dharma
that justified caste as an essential requirement for social
harmony, prosperity and peace.
These schools and the education offered by the dominant caste
were rejected by the Dalits, who by then had realised the fruits
of liberation through proper education, given by the Government
and Christian missionary schools. The fundamentalist Hindu
forces like the VHP soon started implementing covert ways of
punishing the liberated Dalits by orchestrating communal
violence. On the outside it appeared as Hindus fighting Christian
missionaries. Deep within, it is an attempt by the communal
forces like the VHP, Bajrang Dal, RSS and the BJP to reassert
caste identity and the domination these forces enjoyed upon the
Dalits on the excuse of religious beliefs.
A report by the National Commission on Minorities (NCM), a
government of India establishment that conducted a field study
in Orissa during 21-24 April 2008 proves this point. The study
was conducted by the NCM after the December 2007 violence
in Orissa orchestrated by the VHP.
The report says "But the underlying causes for this go well
beyond the Kui Pana conflict [Hindu - Christian conflict] so ably
highlighted in the report of the last team. In Bamunigaon, for
instance, the Christain sahi (locality) was attacked and this was
followed by an attack on the Hindu sahi. But the village itself has
more than one Christian and Hindu sahi. Yet only two sahis
were vandalized. On closer questioning, it turned out that the
Christian sahi that was attacked was far more prosperous than
the one at Battapally that was not attacked.
Although both are inhabited mostly by Dalits Christians, the
attack was concentrated in the sahi whose members were
prosperous and had organised themselves under the banner of
Ambedkar Vanik Sangh. These people are shop owners or are
in service. The inhabitants of Battapally sahi are much poorer
and provide no competition to the inhabitants of the Hindu sahi.
The economic motif behind the rioting becomes apparent."
Similar sentiments were expressed by Mr. Vincent Manoharan,
the General Secretary of the NCDHR. According to Vincent
"...the current violence is an offshoot of the earlier incident that
happened in December 2007. It is beyond doubt that the
attempt by the
Hindu fundamentalist forces are to silence the Dalits and to
ensure an end
to the Dalit socio economic empowerment that they inherited
recently
through education and business. For the NCDHR and its
partners who work in
this region, it is clear that the violence is a ruse to prevent the
assertion of Dalits and their economic development and
empowerment in the
state. The dominant caste Hindus cannot tolerate the Dalits
liberating
themselves through economic empowerment, becoming socially
equal in status
and thereby posing a formidable challenge to the dominant
caste's socio-
economic and political dominance, superiority and authority.
The NMC has also expressed the same opinion in their report
after the December 2007 violence.
In addition to issue of Dalit empowerment, there are also other
interests playing a role, clandestinely in the state. For example,
Orissa is rich in its mineral resources. Dalits are on a regular
basis being evicted from their natural environment to facilitate
the operations of the mining companies. Violence committed
against the Dalit communities in Orissa is an easy way of
instilling fear in the Dalit community.
Unfortunately the violence in Orissa is portrayed as a purely
Hindu-Christian issue, sidelining the caste factor. The
fundamental fact that the violence in the state is against Dalit
empowerment committed and sponsored by fundamental
dominant caste Hindu forces is ignored. The government also
plays the same tune. In fact, had the government been more
vigilant and true to its commitment to the people, this incident
would not have happened. They knew that violence would erupt
at anytime. By their inaction they let it happen."
Living conditions are tough in this backward state. Deaths from
starvation and other natural disasters are common in Orissa.
Though the government is still in a denial mode, hundreds of
persons have died from starvation in that state in the past
decade. The estimates made by credible sources suggest that
on an average 100-170 persons die from starvation each year in
Orissa. In the period 2000 - 2003 about 441 deaths from
starvation were documented from Orissa. Most of these deaths
were reported from the southern region of the state, which has a
high Dalit population.
An estimated 2/3rd of the population live in abject poverty in
Orissa. The state has some dismal records vis a vis national
statistics on infant mortality rate, lowest number of doctors per
capita, poor public facilities like government sponsored
education, sanitation, housing, electricity and clean drinking
water. This not only paints a dismal picture about the
government but also of the humanitarian and other social
service agencies operating in the state and their actual reach to
the poor and needy population in Orissa.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the relevant authorities named below expressing
your concern about the situation in Orissa. The Indian
authorities must be urged to take all possible steps immediately
to end the violence in the state. The victims must be provided
immediate protection and the state must ensure that the
perpetrators are investigated and brought to justice without
delay.
The AHRC with NCDHR and ISDN will write separate letter to
the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism,
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, calling for
an intervention in this situation.
To support this appeal, please click here:
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear __________,
INDIA: Please take immediate steps to end the violence in
Orissa
Victims: Dalits facing violence in Orissa from the Hindu
fundamentalist forces
Name of alleged perpetrators: Hindu fundamentalist forces
headed by the Visva Hindu Parisad (VHP) and its associate
cadres operating in Orissa
Date of incident: Since 23 August 2008 and continuously
thereon
Place of incident: Orissa, India
I am concerned to know about the recent spate of violence
reported from the state of Orissa that has thus far resulted in 14
deaths and in loss of millions worth property.
I am informed that the current spate of violence in the state has
its roots in the earlier incidents of violence unleashed by the
Hindu fundamentalist force, the Visva Hindu Parisad (VHP)
against the Dalits. A recent incident was reported in December
2007. I am concerned to know that inspite of the government's
complete knowledge that the violence would erupt in the state,
in the event of the killing of a VHP leader by the extremist
groups and that the specific target of the violence would be the
Dalit communities, the government did nothing to prevent it.
I am given to understand that the state is ruled by a political
party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), an ally of the Bahratiya Janata
Party (BJP) supported by the VHP. It is unacceptable that the
state government led by the BJD was sitting tight as the
incidents after the murder of a VHP cadre snowballed into a
massive riot in the state, sponsored by the VHP against
innocent Dalits whose socio economic empowerment is
reportedly not tolerated by the Caste Hindus of this state. The
state government, particularly the Chief Minister Mr. Naveen
Patnaik, must accept and own responsibility for his
government's as well as his ministry's willful negligence and its
incapacity to prevent the violence in the state. The Chief
Minister is also responsible for the Home Ministry in the state.
I am further informed that the current spate of violence is not
just an aftermath of the murder of a VHP cadre, but a planned
and orchestrated violence targeted against the Dalit
empowerment in the state. I am informed that since several
years the VHP is spearheading a campaign against Dalits in the
state. By the silence of the state administration, it appears that
the state government was letting the violence rupture again in
the state.
I am also informed that the condition of life in the state is so
poor that daily life is marred with violence and poverty. I am
informed that the current spate of violence will only make
matters worse for the ordinary people in the state especially the
marginalised, the Dalits and the tribal communities in the state.
I therefore urge you to immediately take necessary steps so that
the violence does not spread any further and that it is
immediately arrested. I also further request you to take all
possible steps to apprehend the VHP cadres who are
orchestrating the violence in the state and to provide all
necessary steps to ensure that the victims of violence,
particularly the Dalits, who were forced to run away into nearby
forests to save their lives are protected and measures taken to
ensure that on their return they will not be further subjected to
any further violence.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Hon. Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare
Governor
Raj Bhavan
Bhubaneswar, Orissa
INDIA
Fax: + 91 674 2404695
2. Mr. Naveen Patnaik
Through the Office of the Chief Secretary
Government of Orissa
Bhubaneswar, Orissa
INDIA
Fax: + 91 674 2536660
E-mail: csori@ori.nic.in
3. Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
PMO, Room number 152, South Block
New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 23019545
4. Mr. Shivraj V. Patil
Minister of Home Affairs
Through the office of Mr. K.C. Jain
Joint Secretary (Coordination and Public Grievances)
Room No. 9, North Block, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi -
110 001
INDIA
Fax: + 91 11 23093750 or 23092763
E-mail: jscpg-mha@nic.in or dirpg-mha@nic.in
5. Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment
Government of India
Shastri Bhawan, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road
New Delhi - 110 001
INDIA
Fax + 91 11 23384918
E-mail: min-sje@sb.nic.in
6. Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi 110001
INDIA
Fax + 91 11 2338 6521
E-mail: chairnhrc@nic.in
7. Chairperson
National Commission for Scheduled Castes
5th Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market
New Delhi 110 003
INDIA
Fax + 91 11 2463 2298
E-mail: jointsecretary-ncsc@nic.in or chairman-ncsc@nic.in
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
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