Salwa Judum is state-sponsored terrorism, say forest communities

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) Organisations representing forest communities today accused the Government of trying to dilute the Forests Rights Act through Rules and helping corporates in seizing their land by criminal act.

They also said that 'Salwa Judum' was a campaign of inhuman state-sponsored violence in the name of countering Maoist organisations, but actually intended to benefit the coprorates.

The organisations demanded a halt to the moves ''to forcibly seize the lands, minerals and resources of forest communities, either directly by the government or by allowing corporates to engage in criminal violence.'' The demands were made at a convention attended by representatives from the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Rajasthan, as well as by friendly organisations from North Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

Delegates addressed the convention to describe the current situation in their states, including moves to seize community lands for biodiesel plantations and SEZs, as well as brutal evictions and police firings.

"Adivasis have been struggling to get this Act passed, but now the government is using all methods including mass crime represented by such as salwa judum, a form of 'strategic hamleting' used by the Americans in Vietnam. The government is sponsoring terror in the country" said Suneet Chopra of All India Agricultural Workers Union.

Others who spoke included Noorul Huda of the All India Kisan Sabha, senior Socialist leader Surendra Mohan, Dr. B.D. Sharma of Bharat Jan Andolan and former SC/ST Commissioner; Dileep Singh Bhuria pf Gondwana Ganatantrak Party and former SC/ST Commissioner, and Dr K B Saxena, former Chief Secretary of Bihar.

UNI