Nandigram - True Facts

Statement on Nandigram

We are dismayed by the events of the past few days in and around
Nandigram in West Bengal. It seems that the immediate issue this time
is not land, and the plan to make a Special Economic Zone, but
political control over the area. The manner in which such political
control is sought to be established, based on violence and
intimidation, has no place in a democratic political system. The
attempt of any group to dominate an area through force to jeopardize
security and instill fear to such an extent as to compel the residents
of the area to flee, is unacceptable. This assumes another dimension
if it is enforced through groups that owe allegiance to the ruling
party and impose their writ with the support of the state machinery.

The West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee stated at a
press conference in Kolkatta on the 13th of November, that the
violence was justified in the Nandigram area in the last few days,
and that "…they have been paid back in the same coin". We are troubled
by the attitude of the CPI(M)'s State and Central leadership which
allowed these incidents to happen in the name of the party and
government. The argument that unscrupulous agitators claiming
allegiance to any political party or group were involved in the
Nandigram turmoil, and themselves resorted to reprehensible violence,
cannot be used as a justification for State sponsored violence against
citizens of the area. The state is constitutionally duty-bound to
ensure peace, irrespective of the violence being perpetrated by its
cadre or any other political group.

We also condemn the assaults by anti-social elements carrying CPI (M)
flags, and functioning under the protection of the party, on various
groups of eminent social activists, intellectuals and artists with
Medha Patkar on 7th November 2007, including those who attempted to
reach Nandigram to ascertain the facts and express their solidarity
with the victims. Not only were they prevented from entering
Nandigram, they were subjected to physical violence and intimidation.

We are deeply appreciative of the Governor's statement expressing
concern about the threat to constitutional rights of the people of
Nandigram. We feel that the Governor has the right and responsibility
to advise the Government about matters of serious concern, and share
his concerns with the people of the country. We are sorry that the
State Government chose to respond to the Governor with technicalities
about constitutional norms of going public on a matter that concerns
human and democratic rights of ordinary citizens. As citizens of this
country we would be far more reassured if the Governors played a role
of independently guarding the fundamental rights of citizens of the
State, and through their advice to the government could ensure that
the Government exercises the utmost care to protect the fundamental
rights of all citizens.

We are also concerned about the suppression of information and freedom
of expression around these events. For many days, independent
observers and journalists were not allowed to enter Nandigram. Apart
from suggesting that those in control have much to hide, this embargo
has prevented any clarity in public debates, allowed contradictory
versions of the facts to remain in circulation, and reinforced
polarization on all sides. Further, there has been little tolerance
of voices of criticism, even moderate and constructive ones such as
those of the Governor of West Bengal, members of the ruling alliance,
or independent Bengali intellectuals. The process of restoring peace
in Nandigram has to begin with free access to the area and
transparency of action on all sides.

We appeal to protagonists on all sides to desist from the use of
violence, which obscures the real issues aside from causing immense
human suffering.

We demand that the state government ensures free, safe and open access
to Nandigram, which would allow the visits of independent fact finding
teams of concerned citizens to the area. We feel that the immediate
priority is to ensure that all residents of Nandigram be able to live
in their area in an atmosphere free of fear. A proper enquiry needs to
be conducted into the events that took place in recent months, in
order to record the incidents of violence, consider the grievances of
those affected, and bring all those guilty to book. It is only with
the restoration of the rule of law in the area that Nandigram can be
considered a true zone of peace.

14 November 2007

Aruna Roy -
Jean Dreze -
Nikhil Dey -


Please find attached a statement on Nandigram, kindly sign and
circulate this statement.


Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.