The struggle of the people of Chhatisgarh against the gross violation of human rights by the Indian state continues. As part of this struggle, the People’s Union of Civil Liberties organized an important All India Convention on suppression of democratic rights in Chhattisgarh, at Raipur, on December 8, 9 and 10. The Convention was attended by several organizations and individuals working in defence of the rights of the people.

The Convention took place at a time when the people of Chhattisgarh are waging a resolute struggle against severe state repression and violence. Acquisition of land, forests, mines and rivers by big Indian and foreign monopoly capitalists such as Tata, ESSAR and others has been going on at a rapid pace ever since the new state was formed in November 2000, accompanied by large scale displacement of lakhs of people. The resistance of the people to this attack on their livelihood and rights has been met with fierce state terror in the form of the state organized terror campaign called Salwa Judum as well as through repressive laws such as the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005 and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (1967)-2004.

Houses and crops in entire villages have been burnt down and the adivasis are forcibly driven into “training camps” of the Salwa Judum, where they are given military training to kill their own adivasi brothers. The Chhatisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005 and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (1967)-2004 are being used to indiscriminately arrest people, kill them in custody or in false ‘encounters’. Organisations and individuals fighting for the rights of the people are being especially targeted. Dr. Binayak Sen, general secretary of Chhattisgarh PUCL has been jailed for several months now, for standing up in defence of the rights of the oppressed people of Chhattisgarh.

The Convention adopted important resolutions opposing the loot of natural resources and widespread displacement caused by the entry of big Indian and foreign monopolies in the region, the forcible eviction and torture of adivasis and internecine violence through the state organized Salwa Judum campaign, as well as the reign of terror unleashed by the police and paramilitary forces in the name of ‘combating naxalism’, which has resulted in large scale disappearances, fake encounter killings, rape and murder.

The Convention condemned the forcible land acquisition from the peasants for setting up SEZs and the eviction of adivasis from the forests that have been their traditional homes and sources of livelihood. Resolutions were passed denouncing the state administration for harassment of minorities, particularly the Christian community, demanding greater transparency in functioning of state institutions and of the MOUs signed by the state government with various private companies, as well as expressing grave concern at the deteriorating living conditions of the people of Chhattisgarh.

The Convention demanded an independent inquiry into the incidents of violation of human rights by the State Human Rights Commission. It also demanded immediate repeal of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005 and the release of Dr. Binayak Sen. In conclusion, the Convention expressed solidarity with all forces, fighting to uphold the democratic and human rights of the people.