Down with State repression on farmers opposing land acquisition

Over a hundred and fifty farmers have been arrested on January 20, 2008 by the Andhra Pradesh government for protesting the setting up of a Special Economic Zone in Kakinada on their lands. This protest is a continuation of a struggle that farmers have been waging since September last year.

According to reports received by People's Voice, state terror has been unleashed in the Kothapalli and Thongdangi mandals of coastal East Godavari District. The SEZ authorities, backed by the police forces have been trying to set up a fence. They have been threatening, forcing and spreading misinformation among people to compel them to sell their lands. The farmers have been opposing setting up of the fence on their lands.

The farmers had approached the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) alleging coercion in acquiring lands. The SHRC had ordered that government should not use coercive methods to acquire land. 110 farmers had filed affidavits with the SHRC and the next date of hearing was set as February 7, 2008. Without waiting for the NHRC hearing, the authorities have tried to set up stones and pillars to fence the area which they claim has been sold to the SEZ. When the people removed the stones and pillars, the state attacked the farmers and arrested them.

In their petitions to the SHRC, farmers have declared that devious methods were adopted to coerce them to part with their land. The farmers were also angry that these highly fertile lands were described barren and unproductive by the district authorities. In the sale deeds executed by the so-called willing farmers with the developer, the entire land was shown as barren. The land declared barren is partly watered by the left canal of the Godavari barrage and three big tanks.

Meanwhile, as part of its attempts to split the fighting farmers, the SEZ management announced a revised relief package on January 20, to affected villagers. According to the SEZ management, this includes increasing financial assistance for construction of houses to families below poverty line from Rs 40,000 to Rs 2 lakh. It has also offered one job for each displaced family. It must be noted that the State government offered only Rs 1.05 lakh per acre to the farmers whose land was being taken over forcibly. Then, the SEZ company offered Rs. 3 lakh and started direct buying of land.

The Kakinada SEZ project is estimated to cover nearly 10,000 acres of land in 12 villages, about 5 km from the port. The SEZ management claims to have already purchased 7,800 acres through direct purchases. While some farmers parted with their lands due to coercion, others refused to do so and continued to fight. Now, the struggle has become more intense, with masses of farmers taking up struggle for their rights On the other hand, the government is deploying the state machinery to attack the farmers and deprive them of their livelihood and rights.