Dear Friends,
Please find a press release by the Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch (BBJ), Kalinganagar, Sukinda. As you may be aware, after the police firing in which 13 tribals protesting against displacement were killed at Kalinganagar on January 2nd, 2006, the people of Kalinganagar have been resisting the Government of Orissa's attempts to takeup further displacement in Kalinganagar and have also been blockading NH205 for last one year (the blockade is economic i.e. the mineral laden trucks are blockaded whereas normal passengere vehicle is allowed) demanding fulfillment of their demands including punishment of the officers responsible for the firing, no displacement etc.

Recently, based on a PIL filed a proxy of the mining companies, the High Court has generously passed an order that all road blockades in Orissa must be lifted. The Government therefore called a meeting with the BBJ on 31st January, 2007, to discuss the various issues.

The Press statement of Bisthapan Virodhi Janamanch is given as below along with other press coverage on the crucial meeting on 31st January

Regards

Moderator, EPGOrissa

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*BISTAPAN BIRODHI JANMANCH, SUKINDA*

Kalinganagar, Sukinda, Dist.: Jajpur
*Press Release*

Bhubaneswar, 31st January 2007

After a delegation of 15 members of the Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda led by Secretary Rabindra Jarika discussed with the Orissa Chief Minister on 31st January 2007 at the Secretariat at Bhubaneswar through a detailed press release the Janmanch has informed about the expectations with which they came to the discussions, what they got, the current status of the anti-displacement movement, the decision regarding road blockade and their future plans.

*"With What Mindset we came, what we got in return?* The agitating people of Kalinganagar had sent us to discuss with the chief minister with an open mind so as to put forward the logic behind all the seven demands of the movement and understand the views of the government on each of the 7 demands. Neither we were allowed to place our views on the 7-point demands clearly nor the Government placed its views. The government however, pointed out that all the demands cannot be agreed upon. The government did not clarify as to which demands are acceptable and which are not. This shows the casualness of the government.

*What we expected and what we got?* After the 7th May 2006 meeting held between the Orissa Chief Minister and the Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda since in relation to displacement in Kalinganagar, in Orissa and the country as a whole many changes have been noticed both at the level of the people at large and the government we had come to the 31 st January 2007 meeting with a lot of hope. In the meantime the Kalinganagar anti-displacement movement has emerged as a strong peoples' movement. In Orissa the anti-Posco movement has gathered momentum and many anti-displacement movements have surfaced and the earlier movements are stronger now. Including the anti-displacement movements at Singur and Nandigram in West Bengal anti-displacement movements have come up in large numbers across the country. In the context of the Singur movement the NDA, of which the ruling parties of Orissa, the BJD and BJP, are major partners, has declared that agricultural land should not be given for industries. The chief Minister of Orissa is said to have opined that in Orissa agricultural land will not be acquired for SEZ industries. In the meantime the Orissa Government has revised its R&R policy. Such change on account of mass movements is a good democratic sign. We believe that the government changed the R&R policy only after looking deep into some of the issues concerning R&R. Similarly we hoped that if the Government will look into the various aspects of displacement and industrialisation then they will definite consider changing the policy of industrialisation. The Government indicated that they would publish a white paper on the industrialisation and displacement in Kalinganagar. However, they were non-committal on the issue of reviewing industrialisation policy. Instead of willing to discuss on industrial policy the government tried to impress upon us as regards R&R policy. However, the representatives of Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda were categorical in their views that since they represent the ant-displacement people of Kalinganagar there is no question of discussing on the merits and demerits of R&R policy of the Government.

We had hoped that the government will agree to our view that peoples' representatives, bureaucrats and the police officials who do not honour democratic processes are anti-people and have no place in a democracy. The peoples' representatives, the bureaucrats and the police officials who were responsible for suppressing the views of the people of Kalinganagar for long, forced them to agitate and who have replied to the people only through lathis, bullets and police cases is a an act of brutal repression, a thing not acceptable in a democracy. Thus we had hoped that the government would consider removing from posts, service and start proceedings against those peoples' representatives, bureaucrats and police officials who are responsible for the killing of the 13 tribals. But we are forced to say that the government did not show any sensitivity on the matter and mentioned that after the inquiry commission report appropriate punishment shall be given.

As regards compensation amount to be raised from Rs.10 lakhs to Rs. 20 lakhs per family of the dead the Government indicated that they might increase the same and grant appropriate assistance to the family such as providing jobs for the adult members of the concerned families. The government has not responded as regards the granting of assistance to the tune of Rs.10 lakh for the injured. However they agreed to revise the injured list to include those who have been left out.

The Government agreed that till seven demands of the movement are properly discussed with the Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda and a final decision is arrived at, the TATA Company shall not be permitted to enter into the area and carry out any activities. The TATA Company should immediately stop all such activities including obtaining the consent of villagers to shift out of the villages under duress, deceit & bribing and survey work which they were trying to do on 17 th January 2007.

*On Road blockade:*

The Government has agreed to continue the political dialogue at the highest level; agreed to hand over parts of bodies found missing with adequate identification and carry forward the process of lifting of all the cases filed against the agitators and leaders of the Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda on an expeditious basis. The Government did not agree to suspend the then collector, SP and the ADM on the plea that the inquiry commission is already looking into the matter. Although we reminded the Chief Minister that suspension is not a punishment according to the service rules of the officials concerned and there is no connection between suspension and the inquiry commission and that there is several precedence of suspension in such situations it is unfortunate that the government is trying to shield its officers. However, the leaders of Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda mentioned that they would consider lifting of the road blockade after receiving in writing the commitments given in this regard and after placing such written commitment of the government in front of the people of Kalinganagar.

*On the Movement:*

The government was informed that if the peoples' views are not properly discussed and acted upon the people have no option other than agitating. It is clear that after the Kalinganagar movement the government was forced to change its R&R policy. If the Government only responds to movements and agitations then it becomes the sacred duty of the people to organize movements and agitations to protect their rights. As on today the Kalinganagar anti-displacement movement has gained substantial experience and is much stronger than when we started in late 2004. Until the government reviews its policy of industrialisation and bring a halt to all displacements the Kalinganagar movement shall continue. In this regard the Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda shall welcome all political parties, mass
organisations, mass movements and individuals who stand behind our 7-point demands. The malicious campaign that is going on through some newspapers of Orissa using fabricated and false documents with forged signatures of our leaders and the leaders of political parties and organisations supporting our movement is extremely regrettable and we urge the newspapers of Orissa not to get used by the agents of TATA and vested interest groups. The Kalinganagar movement is a real peoples' movement. Those who would indulge in creating problems for a just movement such as ours will actually face problems themselves whereas the Kalinganagar movement shall get further strengthened.

*Future Action:*

The Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda calls for a massive joint campaign against displacement and industrialisation policy of the government including SEZ policy so as to strengthen all the anti-displacement and anti-industrialisation movements in Orissa. Only after such a massive movement the Government can be expected to review its industrialization policy in favour of the people.

*What We Hope From the Government:*

The Government should immediately do the following in response to the strong and clear demands of the Kalinganagar people:

1. Prepare detailed views on each of the 7-point demands with supporting arguments and information and provide the same to Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda at the earliest.
2. Carry forward the political discussions at the highest level on expeditious basis.
3. Bring a halt to all machinations by the district administration, political parties and the TATAs aimed at weakening the movement."

On Behalf of Bistapan Birodhi Janmanch, Sukinda

(*Mathura Hanhaga*) (*Rabindra Jarika*)

Member Secretary

Sudhir Pattnaik, Independent Media
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*Tribals set pre-conditions for truce*

Statesman News Service

BHUBANESWAR, Jan 31: The much-hyped talks between delegates of the Visthapan Birodhi Janamanch, an outfit leading the successful tribal movement at Kalinga Nagar for over one year, and the state government failed to resolve issues related to displacement. There was, however, some indication that the year long road blockade may be lifted.

A 15-member delegation led by Janamanch secretary Mr Rabindra Jarika reached the state secretariat for talks with the CM. The first round held in May 2006 had been a complete failure. The Janamanch had dropped its pre-conditions and agreed to discuss matters relating to its demands and objections to displacement. At today's meeting, however, it iterated that it had resorted to an economic blockade and not road blockade as was being termed by the government. Passenger vehicles are being allowed, said the delegates while insisting that the economic blockade will be lifted only after the government concedes to demands for withdrawal of cases against tribals and their leaders, secondly return the palms which were chopped off from dead bodies on 2 January 2006 along with forensic reports as well as explanations as to why they were severed from the bodies of tribals.

Since the government refused to budge on the third demand of suspending the former SP and DM of Jajpur, on the plea that a judicial commission had been ordered, the Janamanch did not press on it.

Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik sounded hopeful when he told media persons that he had a very thorough discussion with the concerned people of Kalinga Nagar. "We explained the High Court order on lifting of the road blockade and told them that all should obey the court orders," he said.

Mr Patnaik said certain demands of the Janamanch can be conceded. He went on to refer to the two demands of withdrawal of cases and return of chopped palms. As such the cases are already under review, he added.

District collector of Jajpur Mr Arabinda Padhee said that no deadline has been set for lifting the blockade.

Mr Jarika told reporters that the Janamanch was firm in its resolve against any displacement. Not an inch of land will be given, he asserted. Asked about lifting the blockade, Mr Jarika said the Janmanch will discuss the matter only after the government fulfils its demands. He denied any rift in the Janamanch ranks and also refuted the charge that Naxalites had infiltrated into the tribal movement. "We are not affiliated to any political party," he said. Other delegates of the Janamanch observed that nothing had been achieved during the talks because the government was not keen on discussing any of the demands nor was it prepared to deliberate on issues of tribal displacement and the lopsided development model.
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CM meets tribals from K Nagar, but talks deadlocked
*Pioneer News service | Bhubaneswar*
We won't obey High Court order, says Janmanch leader

A three-hour-long marathon meeting between members of the Visthapan Virodhi Janmanch and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat on Wednesday failed to break the year-old stalemate in the Kalinga Nagar industrial area. The Janmanch's blockade of the busy Daitary-Paradeep Express Highway has been continuing since January 2 last year in protest over the death of 13 tribals in police firing.

However, the Chief Minister and secretary of the Janmanch Rabindra Jarika termed the talks as "successful" and hoped that the matter would be resolved in the shortest possible time.

Jarika remarked that the talks with the State Government were successful, but he also maintained that the Janmanch would take its own time in considering the lifting of the economic blockade. "We will talk with the people first," he said, adding that the Government had to fulfil a few of their demands first. "The State Government should give in writing that it has accepted our demands. Only then, we will consider lifting of the economic blockade," he added.

Jarika said the Government had accepted their demands of withdrawing cases against the tribals and returning the chopped- palms of the deceased who were killed in the police firing with all the pertinent documentary evidence. "We will review the progress of all these developments and then talk to the people on the issue of lifting of the blockade," he added.

Asked as to how his organisation would respond to the High Court's order that the blockade be lifted, Jarika said, "We won't obey the High Court order in this regard." He further said that the High Court was kept in the dark before it passed the order. "We cannot abide by any order if it affects our life and livelihoods." It may be noted that acting upon a PIL, the High Court recently directed the State Government to take steps to lift the road blockade at Kalinga Nagar.

Jairka said the tribals would continue to oppose the upcoming Tata Steel project at Kalinga Nagar. "The State Government has agreed not to give permission to any official of the Tatas to enter Kalinga Nagar until the issue is resolved," he said.

A 15-member team, led by Jarika, met the Chief Minister. Home Secretary TK Mishra,Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Bijoy Patnaik, Jajpur Collector Arabinda Padhee and SP Asit Panigrahi and a number of other officials attended the meeting.
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*Main issues out of focus at Naveen-Janmanch talks *

Special Correspondent

*Tribals against giving up land for industry at Kalinga Nagar *

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* *
*Massive movement against displacement sought *
*State non-committal on industrial policy, delegation says *
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BHUBANESWAR: Leaders of Visthapan Virodhi Janmanch and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik finally held discussions on the Kalinga Nagar crisis on Wednesday. But the main issues relating to displacement and setting up of the proposed steel plant of Tata Steel did not figure much in the talks.

Members of the 15-member delegation of the Janmanch told presspersons after the talks that they would continue their resistance to the proposed six million tonne steel plant and never give up land and houses for the industry in Kalinga Nagar.

"We have lost 13 lives while opposing the steel project and we will never allow the project to come up in our locality," Rabindra Jarika, secretary of the Janmanch, said.

Firm stance

Asked about the reasons for their opposition despite the Government assurance for proper resettlement and rehabilitation of those facing displacement, Mr. Jarika said no tribal in the area was ready to be displaced after seeing the plight of the hundreds of people who had been displaced by other industrial projects in the area in the past.

Mr. Jarika and Janmanch member Mathura Hanbaga said in a statement that they did not discuss the resettlement and rehabilitation policy of the Government as they represented the people who were against displacement. "There is no question of discussing the merits and demerits of the R&R policy of the Government." They said that the Government indicated during the talks that a white paper would be brought out on the industrialisation and displacement in Kalinga Nagar, but they were non-committal on the issue of reviewing the industrial policy.

"Instead of being willing to discuss industrial policy, the Government tried to impress us as regards R&R policy," the Janmanch leaders said.

Stating that the anti-displacement movement in Kalinga Nagar had emerged a strong people's movement, the Janmanch called for a massive movement against displacement and industrial policy of the Government, including the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) policy, so as to strengthen all the anti-displacement and anti-displacement movements in Orissa.

"Only after such a massive movement can the Government be expected to review its industrial policy in favour of people," the Janmanch leaders said in the statement