Condemn the state repression on struggling people in Tamilnadu

According to reports we have received, the police and district administrations in several districts of Tamilnadu, have stepped up harassment and persecution of activists and supporters of organisations working amongst the people.

As is well known, following the elections to the Panchayats and town councils in September 2006, wherein Lok Raj Sangathan had spearheaded a program of active intervention in the elections by organising selection and election of peoples candidates, the candidates sponsored by the Lok Raj Sangathan were viciously targeted by the Kanyakumari District Police and Special Branch immediately following the elections. The Lok Raj Sangathan immediately launched a campaign to bring to light the fact that the Indian state does not want any political force to expose the flaws in the present political process and strive to bring people to power.

Now we have received reports that in the very North of Tamilnadu, in Kanchipuram District, the police and state administration has been behaving in extremely fascist manner with the activists of another organisation working for the rights of the people.

Kancheepuram People’s Forum or Makkal Mandram is based in Kancheepuram and has been actively working since 2000, among marginalized sections of people like Tribals (Irulas), Dalits, Women, rural and urban poor in more than 60 villages. Makkal Mandram takes up issues of gross economic inequalities faced by these people. Makkal Mandram considers the social, cultural & political repression of these people as violations of their basic human rights; Makkal Mandram conducts campaigns for bringing such awareness among the people; It works to get central and state laws implemented in favour of the marginalized people.

Makkal Mandram has got tribals working as bonded labourers (who are Irular tribals) released from the clutches of their owners and conducted long struggles for their rehabilitation to ensure basic rights for them, like livelihood, housing and security/safety from their erstwhile owners.

Makkal Mandram has also taken up environmental issues like sand quarrying in the river beds, most of which takes place illegally. This also becomes a very sensitive issue for the administration as a lot of corruption and big money is involved.

According to a report received from the Makkal Mandram, in its work in defence of the rights of the people, it has faced severe problems at the hands of the District Adminstration, revenue and the police departments.

In June 2006, Makkal Mandram organised a novel form of protest involving donkeys to highlight the anti-poor attitude of the District Administration and its refusal to give land to the tribals. The people came in a queue to give their representations and memos concerning their requests/demands to the ‘District Administration’ and the donkey kept on eating these promptly! It was a symbolic protest, which was peaceful and democratic. On the collector’s orders, 8 leading activists of Makkal Mandram (4 men and 4 women) were booked under Section 124A (sedition/conspiracy against the state). They came out on getting bail from the Chennai High Court after about 13 days.

According to the report received from the Makkal mandram, the state repression on activists of the Mandram has reached a new height following a militant agitation in front of the Collector's Office in February 2007. The attacks on the activists including using of goondas to terrorise women activists, physical harassment of activists as well as arrests and police cases.

The unleashing of state terror on peoples activists by the Tamilnadu police, Special Branch as well administration deserved unreserved condemnation. Peoples Voice calls upon all the fighting people to stand united and firm in defence of rights against state terror, upholding the principle that “An Attack on One is An attack on All”!