Mass Demonstrations in January for Forest Rights
Friends,
In response to the Campaign for Survival and Dignity's call for mass protests in January, demonstrations have taken place in different parts of the country demanding a democratic and just system of forest control and due recognition of communities' rights in the forests. The CSD's call for struggle was around the following issues:
* End illegal interference
by official agencies, especially the Forest Department, in rights
recognition
* Respect and recognise community rights,
especially the power to protect and manage forest resources
* Provide transparent, accountable procedures for higher Committees
* Do not undermine the gram sabha by administrative methods and
imposing artificial administrative boundaries
* No
deadlines should be applied for filing of claims
* Joint
Forest Management committees should be prevented from interfering in
rights recognition and forest management
* Withdraw illegal
critical tiger habitat notifications
* Halt all diversion
of forest land and corporate land grabbing in violation of forest
rights
* Stop imposing additional requirements on forest
rights holders
More details on these demands are
available at "Issues for Struggle"
(http://www.forestrightsact.
Over the last two days – the 20th and the 21st – more than 5,000 people sat on dharna in Bhopal under the banner of the Jangal Jeevan Adhikar Bachao Andolan with these demands. This was only the latest in the protests across the country, some of which are listed below:
GUJARAT: Mass public meetings held at Rajpipla on the 11th (3,000 people), in Khedbrahma block on the 19th (4,000 people) and in Songarh block on the 22nd (2,500 people). The public meetings focused on the demand for community rights and for community powers to protect and defend the forests.
RAJASTHAN: Three sub-divisions of Dungarpur District have seen mass demonstrations of over 700 people each, and in one case of 1,000 people. A demonstration of 500 people has also taken place in Udaipur. Two more sub-divisional level protests are planned in the next two weeks.
TAMIL NADU: A mass public rally took place on December 30th in Gudalur, Nilgiris District, in which approximately 70,000 people participated. The main demand was the withdrawal of the illegal critical tiger habitat notification in Mudumalai.
MADHYA PRADESH: In the run up to the mass rally in Bhopal mentioned above, protests have taken place at the district and lower levels.
JHARKHAND, MAHARASHTRA, ORISSA: In Jharkhand, demonstrations are planned for the 7th of February at Palamau and 26th of February at Latehar and Ranchi, while in Maharashtra and Orissa protests are planned in the second half of February.