Strengthen Actions on Kandhamal Day on August 25, 2014
By Dhirendra Panda
25 July, 2014
Countercurrents.org
Dear friends,
National Solidarity Forum is a coalition of various organizations, artists, film makers, writers, academicians, legal activists and human rights activists, which has undertaken various actions on the issue of delayed and undelivered justice to the victims and survivors of communal violence in Kandhamal in Odisha in India. We have appealed to the civil society in India and abroad to observe Kandhamal Day on August 25, 2014, when Adivasi and Dalit Christian survivors of 2007 and 2008 violence are still waiting for justice and perpetrators violence are roaming free. The violence on the minorities spread to many other parts of India apart from Kandhamal also.
It is becoming more and more obvious that the violence was entirely a pre-planned activity rather than just a spontaneous action on the basis of religious identity. The questions before us are many on the question of women’s rights, child rights, religious rights, Adivasi rights, Dalit rights and human rights in general. The questions are also being raised on the role of police machinery, legal system, governance, media and how such a genocide attempt can take place questioning the very foundations of Indian democracy.
It is not that several people were killed and many churches were demolished, women were raped, religious minorities were forcefully converted, houses were burnt, institutions of education, health and even orphanages were destroyed by Sangh Parivar – a non-state actor, but it is painful and frustrating that the Government almost facilitated these forces for such violence. Another important question is how the majority of civil society stood watching it and whether the civil society has a role in shaping Indian Democracy.
We are glad that after our appeal many people have positively responded. At the same time, we are eager to know about your plans for actions within your area, expertise and skills, in order to strengthen the actions for justice for the victims and survivors of Kandhamal. Please remember that even a smallest action from your part will be a contribution for the preservation of secularism and democracy in this country, when the values of peace, justice and harmony are being fast displaced by fascist interests. Therefore, we appeal to you to send your suggestions for actions for the forthcoming Kandhamal Day to the following emails: [email protected], [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected]
We are enclosing an appeal by K.P. Sasi, film maker and activist along with this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNWIY-V2XkM
Please read further on the need and possibilities of action on the following link:
http://www.countercurrents.org/puniyani150714.htm
Please share these concerns to all your friends, discuss on the need for urgent action for the preservation of justice, peace and harmony.
Dhirendra Panda,
Co ordinator, National Solidarity Forum
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