Press Release: Collective Statement to the Government of Odisha, India
Dhinkia Village, Jagatsinghpur, Odisha
February 15, 2013
We, the undersigned, write on behalf of an international community of human rights activists, organizations, academics and independent experts to express our deep concern about the ongoing violent acquisition of land by the government of Odisha in Gobindpur village, Dhinkia Gram Panchayat. We strongly condemn the illegal use of force by the government of Odisha against village residents and protesting community members. The most recent wave of police violence, which took place between February 3-6, 2013, is consistent with a documented pattern of abuse, threats, and intimidation by the Indian government to forcibly acquire land in Odisha for the South Korean POSCO corporation’s steel processing plant. We wish to emphasize that these attacks are in clear violation of Indian law, as well as established international human rights norms and standards.
Between February 3 – 6, 2013 we received direct reports of escalating government violence through our contacts among community leaders in Gobindpur, Dhinkia, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar. We were informed that a police force of twelve platoons, along with senior government officials and POSCO representatives entered Gobindpur village at 4 am on Sunday, February 3rd. Reportedly, the police attacked a human barricade composed of over 350 women. The indiscriminate use of force, which allegedly included lathi attacks on women and children, injured over 50 people. Three women and one elderly man sustained serious injuries.
Although the land acquisition process has temporarily been halted, we find the Indian government’s continued efforts to forcibly acquire land for the POSCO project to be incredibly troubling especially in light of serious questions that have been raised regarding the legality of the project. The environmental clearance for the POSCO project was suspended in March 2012 by decree of the National Green Tribunal – a body established by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. In addition, the government of Odisha has refused to follow the procedures established by the Forest Rights Act, whose provisions require clearance of the project by local governance structures, known as Gram Sabhas, which have issued three resolutions rejecting any diversion of land for the POSCO project. Further, the initial Memorandum of Understanding for the project, which expired in July 2010, has not been renewed.
According to Miloon Kothari, former UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, and Executive Director, Housing and Land Rights Network: “the lack of transparency, accountability, and due process in acquiring land for POSCO and moving ahead with the project is alarming. It is clear that the recent action in Odisha is a result of the Government’s insistence on promoting foreign direct investment, even though it violates the Constitution of India, international law, and the human rights of the local villagers. I strongly condemn this undemocratic action that also defies reports of independent and government-appointed committees cautioning against environmental and human rights abuses of the project.”
We urge the Indian government to take the following measures in order to address ongoing human rights abuses associated with the POSCO project:
1. Immediately cease all measures aimed at the forcible displacement of residents living in Jagatsinghpur district, Odisha;
2. Carry out an independent and impartial investigation into the illegal use of force by the police and a government official on the morning of 3 February 2013 and hold those with command responsibility to account;
3. Ensure adequate compensation to those injured and those who incurred loss and damage of property, and loss of livelihood;
4. Rescind the false charges filed against more than 230 individuals and several prominent leaders of the anti- POSCO movement, and
5. Uphold the rights of the affected communities established under the Forest Rights Act as well as the determination of the National Green Tribunal that raised serious environmental concerns relating to the POSCO project.
The Undersigned,
Mining Zone Peoples’ Solidarity Group
Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, Berkeley, CA
Boston Mobilization, Boston, MA
Friends of South Asia, Santa Clara, CA
Professor Balakrishnan Rajagopal, PhD
International Development Exchange, San Francisco, CA
Pesticide Action Network- North America (PANNA)
The Oakland Institute
Association for India's Development
Plataforma Interamericana de de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo (PIDHDD)
Action Contre Impunitie Pour Les Droits Humains
Action for Social Rights - formerly Youth Movement for Peace and People's Rights
Actionaid International
African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies
Afro-Colombian National Movement CIMARRON
Aliança para Promoçao do Desenvilmento da Comunidade de Hoji Ya Henda
Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights
Amnesty International
Arab NGO Network for Development
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
Asian Foundation for Human Rights and Development
Asian Human Rights Commission
Asian Institute for Human Rights
Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia
Asociación Comité de Familiares de Victimas de Violaciones a los Derechos Humanos “ Marianella Garcia Villas ”
Asociación Q’ukumatz
Association for Women's Rights in Development
Association Nigerienne de Défense des Droits de l’Homme, Niger
Association of Environmental Lawyers of Liberia
Avocats Sans Frontières
BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights
Bretton Woods Project
Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
Butere Focused Women in Development
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Center for Constitutional Rights
Center for Economic and Social Rights
Center for Economics, Social and Cultural Rights Promotion
Center for Reproductive Rights
Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL)
Center of Concern
Centre d'Information Juridique/Femme Justice Aide
Centre for Applied Legal Studies
Centre for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Hakijamii)
Centre for Equality Rights in Accomodation
Centre for Minority Rights Development
Centro de Apoyo Comunitario Trabajando Unidos
Centro de Asesoria Laboral del Peru
Centro de Capacitación y Desarrollo de la Mujer y la Familia
Centro de Derechos Economicos y Sociales
Centro de Derechos Humanos y Ambiente (Center for Human Rights and Environment)
Centro de Estudios Aplicados a los Derechos Económicos Sociales y Culturales
Centro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad (Dejusticia)
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales
Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental A.C
Charter Committee on Poverty Issues
Child Rights Information network
Citizens for Justice
Collectif des Femmes du Mali
Comisión Colombiana de Juristas (Colombian Commission of Jurists)
Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humans, A.C.
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Organization
Community Law Centre (University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Conectas Direitos Humanos
Confederación Campesina Del Peru
Conscience International, formerly People Against Injustice (PAIN)
Corporate Accountability International
Defened Jobs Philippines
Democracy and Workers' Rights Center in Palestine (The )
Democracy Center (The)
Desarrollo, Educación Y Cultura Autogestionarios Equipo Pueblo A.C.
Dignity International
EarthRights International
Eastern Africa Coalition for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Economic and Social Rights Academic Network UK-Ireland
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Asia
Education and Research Association for Consumers Malaysia
Egyptian Center for Housing Rights
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
Ekta Parishad
EnGendeRights
EQUIS: Justicia para las Mujeres
Estudio Para La Defensa De Los Derechos De La Mujer
European Anti Poverty Network
European Roma Rights Centre
Federação dos Orgãos de Assistencia Social e Educacional
Fédération internationale des droits de l'Homme
Federation of Women Lawyers
Femmes Cote d'Ivoire Experience
Food First Information and Action Network Organization
Foro Ciudadano de Participación por la Justicia y los Derechos Humanos (FOCO)
Foundation for the Conservation of the Earth
Foundation For Human Rights And Democracy
Frente Autentico del Trabajo
Front Line - The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Fundacion Emmanuel Internacional
Global Action on Aging
Global Basic Income Foundation
Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Habi Center for Environmental Rights
Habitat International Coalition
Harvard Law School Project on Disability
Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights
Housing and Land Rights Network
Human and Environmental Development Agenda
Human Rights Centre at the School of Law, Queens University Belfast
Human Rights Law Resource Centre
Human Rights Tech
Inclusive Development International
Indonesian Legal Aid Society Association
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
Institute for Democracy in South Africa
Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti
Instituto de Estudios Legales y Sociales del Uruguay
Instituto de Estudos, Formação e Assessoria em Políticas Sociais
Instituto de Formacion Feminina Integral
Instituto LatinoAmericano De Servicio Legales Alternativos
Interchurch Organisation for Development
International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual RightsInternational Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights
International Commission of Jurists
International Human Rights Internship Program
International Women and Mining Network
International Women's Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific
Jus Semper Global Alliance (The )
Justiça Global
Justice, Development & Peace/ Caritas Commission
Karimojong Community Child Welfare Initiatives
Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre
Kenya Human Rights Commission
Kenya Land Alliance
Kituo Cha Sheria (Center for Legal Empowerment)
Labour, Health and Human Rights Development Center
Land Center for Human Rights
Lawyers for a Democratic Society
Legal Resources Centre
Legal Resources Centre Organization
Mahila Sarvangeen Utkarsh Mandal
Maison des Droits de l'Homme du Cameroun
Masimanyane Women's Support Center
Mazingira Institute
Media Mobilizing Project
mines,minerals & PEOPLE
Minority Rights Group International
Mission Naya Nepal
Mouvement pour le Progres de Roche Bois
Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People
Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens
Multi-Initiative on Rights: Search, Assist, Defend
Nairobi Peoples Settlements Network
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative
National Fisheries Solidarity
National Union of Domestic Employees
Network Movement for Justice and Development
Observatoire Congolais des Droits de l’Homme (OCDH),
Observatorio de Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas
Observatorio de Política Social y Derechos Humanos de INCIDE Social, A.C
Office of Human Rights Studies, Mahidol University
Ogiek Peoples Development Program
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
People's Health Movement
People's Movement for Human Rights Learning
Plataforma Dhesca Brasil
Poverty Initiative
Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy (The )
Programa de Justicia Global y Derechos Humanos
Programa DESC, Universidad Diego Portales
Programa Venezolano de Educacion Accion en Derechos Humanos
eProgramme on Women's Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Project on Organizing, Development, Education and Research (The )
Proyecto de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales
Rencontre Pour LA Paix Et Les Droits De L’Homme
Rights and Accountability in Development
Samata
Shelter Forum
Social and Economic Rights Action Center
Social and Economic Rights Action Center - Indonesia
Social Rights Advocacy Centre
Socio Economic Rights Initiative (formerly Shelter Rights Initiative)
Socio Legal Information Centre
Socio-Economic Rights Foundation
Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa
Sœurs Unies à l’œuvre
South Africa Human Rights Non-Governmental Organization Network, Tanzania Chapter
Southeast Asian Council for Food Security and Fair Trade
Spaces for Youth Development and Social Change (Spaces For Change)
Stakeholder Democracy Network
Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF)
Take Back the Land
Tebtebba Foundation (Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education)
Terra de Direitos
Thailand Burma Border Consortium
Tierraviva a los Pueblos Indigenas del Chaco
Tribunal de Mujeres y Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales
Uganda Environmental Education Foundation
Waso Trustland Project, Kenya
Western Shoshone Defense Project
WITNESS
Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Educational Trust
Women in Law and Development in Africa
Women's Economic Agenda Project
World Organization Against Torture
Yiaku Peoples Association
Zi Teng
Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association
Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association
Abdoul Aziz Niang
Adams Aswani
Africa Magongo
Alicia Ely Yamin
Alison Symington
Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi
Anna Cody
Ayman Bardawil
Carol Jane Ransley
Claire Mahon
D.J. Ravindran
Danwood M. Chirwa
Daria Caliguire
David Kinley
Deborah Ewing
Dolamohan Singh Babu
Evelyne Schmid
Ganesh Devi
Ge Mingzhen
George Kent
In-duk Ryou
Ingrid Gorre
Jacques Tshibwabwa Kuditshini
Jamil Junejo
Julieta Rossi
K'nyaw Paw
Lilian Chenwi
Luisa Nardi
Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona
Malcolm Langford
Maria Herminia Graterol GarridMary Jane Real
Maureen Meyer
Michael Lerner
Minar Pimple
Murielle Mignot
Patricia Ramirez Parra
Paulina Garzon
Pemii Benedict
Raju Prasad Chapagai
Rodrigo Bustos Bottai
Sarmila Shrestha
Suad Elias
Thomas Bruno Nzumbi
Tyler Giannini
Vincent Calderhead
Yves Lador
Read here for a recent urgent action sent on behalf of ESCR-Net's membership regarding serious human rights concerns with the POSCO/India project.
See, also, recent statements by ESCR-Net members regarding the POSCO project and related concerns, including (attached) Press Release from the Housing and Land Rights Network, appeals by Amnesty International and Front Line Defenders and a blog by WITNESS.