Southern States - Kerala   

Tribals will implement pact unilaterally: Janu

By Our Staff Reporter

KANNUR AUG. 26. The Adivasi-Dalit Action Council chairperson, C.K. Janu, has said that the decision of the recent `Tribal Court' to occupy land from October 16 as part of unilaterally implementing an agreement with the Government through agitation symbolises the Adivasis' resolve to wage a relentless battle for justice denied to them by successive Governments in the State.

``This struggle for justice that the Adivasis themselves will lead is not merely an agitation for Adivasis' cause, rather this is a struggle for protecting our forests, water and soil,'' Ms. Janu told a press conference here today, reiterating that the successive Governments of the State had grossly failed in allowing the Adivasis their fundamental right to live on their lands. The `court' was a response of the tribals to the actions of the Right and Left Governments that had made a mockery of the entire system of enforcing justice, she said.

Describing the Adivasis as the historical victims of the destruction of biodiversity-rich forestlands in the State for the East India Company and powerful planters, she said the democratic Governments that ruled the State since then continued the same policy. Large extent of the land traditionally inhabited by the Adivasis had been encroached upon by the successive Governments in the name of conservation of forests and for development activities. An estimated 2,00,000 hectares of forest land had been cleared in this way and much of the destruction was done by invoking the Vesting and Assignment Act of 1974, which had, in fact, envisaged the assignment of 50 per cent of the vested land to the Adivasis, she said.

Blaming the Forest Department as the main force behind these actions, Ms. Janu said over 10,000 fabricated criminal cases had been registered against the tribals. While evictions continued from the forestland proposed for developing national parks, tourist resorts continued to mushroom in forest areas. The Government had lapsed Rs. 40 crores set apart for Adivasi welfare this year, she added.

The Antony Government's inclination to use brutal police force to suppress agitations was now being turned against the Adivasis, she said referring to the removal of the shack erected in front of the Collectorate here by the Adivasis of Vilakkode-Vadakkini Illam colony near Iritty demanding rehabilitation. The Adivasis demanding protection from attacks by CPI(M) workers were now being virtually held captive inside their colony by police as no members of the colony were being allowed to go out by police personnel deployed there.

The Adivasi leader said that efforts were already under way to mobilise mass support for the land occupation agitation scheduled to begin on October 16.

The Adivasi-Dalit Action Council general convener, M. Geethanandan, was also present.

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