State Govt, Naxals urged to talk

New Delhi, Mar 18: Expressing concern over the increasing number of deaths in Chhattisgarh, the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) has urged both the State Government and the naxalites to immediately declare a ceasefire and initiate talks to stop civilian fatalities.

In a report,"The Adivasis of Chhattisgarh: Victims of the Naxalite Movement and the Salwa Judum Campaign", the ACHR also urged the the Chhattisgarh Government to immediately order a judicial enquiry into the recruitment and use of child soldiers in hostilities as SPOs and release all the surrendred naxalites from detention.

Stating that the armed conflict in Chhattisgarh had claimed the lives of 227 people, including nearly 150 civilians, between June last year and March this year, the rights body called upon the naxalites and the Chhattisgarh Government to immediately declare ceasefire to facilitate holding of talks, dismantling of all temporary camps and ensure return of the camp inmates to their respective villages with full safety and security.

Calling for an immediate stop to the Salwa Judum campaign, which it said, had led to more civilian deaths either due to the gross violations of human rights by the Salwa Judum activists or due to an increasing number of civilian being forced to join the campaign, the ACHR said,''the direct involvement of civilians in the conflict through the Salwa Judum campaign negates the state's positive responsibility to protect the right to life. The Chhattisgarh Government is increasing the risk from naxalites in the name of countering the naxalites.'' The ACHR, which visited the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh and Bhadrachalam district of Andhra Pradesh from March 3 to 6, stated that the situation had worsened after the Salwa Judum campaign was launched in June last year.

''The naxalites have been responsible for more killings of civilians and gross violations of international humanitarian laws.

At least 138 Salwa Judum activists, most of whom are civilians, have been killed by naxalites between June 5 last year and March 6 this year. Even the children of the Salwa Judum activists were not spared,''the ACHR said.

''The Central Government must intervene with the State Government to stop the Salwa judum campaign and ensure that civilians are not involved in the camoaign with the armed opposition groups and that no counter-insurgency or security measures be taken which increases the risks to the civilians,''director of the ACHR, Suhas Chakma said.

UNI