The Hindu : Tribals wanted to talk to CM only: Sudhakaran

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Tribals wanted to talk to CM only: Sudhakaran

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM FEB. 22. The Forest Minister, G. Sudhakaran, has said that conciliatory talks had not taken place between the Government and the agitating tribals at Muthanga because the latter had insisted that they would talk only to the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony.

The Minister told a press conference here today that forest officials at the level of divisional officer had been sent to hold discussions with the tribal leaders and arrange for further discussions. The Cabinet had entrusted him and the Minister for SC/ST Welfare, M.A. Kuttappan, for talks.

Mr. Sudhakaran said the police had not fired upon the tribals to evict them. The police first fired a rubber bullet at a tribal who was about to set fire to the policeman, Vinod, who had been captured by them. That was the only casualty from among tribals. The postmortem of Vinod, who died later, showed that he had multiple fractures and injuries.

Asked about the pictures of three `dead' tribals published by a newspaper, the Minister said they had not died. They had been moved to hospital and were alive. However, he did not have their names. If anybody had any clues about other deaths, the Government was prepared to inquire into it.

He said the tribals had set up checkposts and declared self-rule in the area encroached by them. The police had recovered evidence regarding the administration set up by them from their camp. There were also minutes of their meetings besides some pass books with various account balances ranging from a few thousand rupees to more than Rs. 8,000. Permission from the finance controller of the administration was needed to withdraw the funds.

The minutes spoke of a decision that in the event of a police action, women and children should stand in front to defend the leaders. Phone numbers of some people who had been implicated in ivory smuggling cases and a priest had also been found. Bible and other literature in Malayalam and other languages were also among the findings, besides a passport bearing the name of a Tamil.

He said that outside forces were behind the tribals. Asked whether it was the LTTE or the People's War, he said it could be others.

Asked about the promise given by the State Government about the establishment of autonomous areas for tribals under provisions of the Constitution, the Minister said the promise of self-rule was for consideration after distribution of land to the tribals. The Government would be distributing more land to the tribals next month and in May.

He said that the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha leader, C.K. Janu, and M. Geethanandan, had been held and turned over to the police by tribals in a colony. This and other events showed that they did not have the support of local tribals.

He said that there was no need for a judicial inquiry into the incidents at Muthanga. What was needed was a police investigation to find the connections of the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha. The police action had taken place in broad day light in the presence of many people and press who could watch from the nearby road. The area encroached by the tribals had no trees, but was surrounded on three sides by woods. The road was on the fourth side.

He said that directives had been given to police not to harass innocent tribals.

Asked about the reluctance of the Government to evict encroachers of other forests, the Minister said this would be done after joint verification. He admitted that eviction was to be done in about 6,000 hectares that had been encroached after 1977.

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Tribals wanted to talk to CM only: Sudhakaran