While the memory of ruthless repression where the police open fired at the peaceful protesters at Kanhar Dam on Ambedkar Jayanti is still fresh, this attempt to crush the voice of dissent comes in the wake of the planned people’s rally against land acquisition and loot of natural resources that was to take placein Robertsgunj (today) is unjustifiable and unacceptable, said NAPM.

The right to peaceful protest is part of the fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution of India and no government can take away or infringe upon this sacred right. It needs to be noted that in numerous instances in the past the higher courts have repeatedly come down on the authorities for trying to muzzle protests through fabricated cases and arrests.

NAPM said that it also wished to remind the UP government that some of of its members had met the CM at the CM House in the last week of April, in the wake of the brutal police firings at adivasis and dalits in the Kanhar dam-affected area. The Order of the NGT as well clearly establishes the illegality in the entire process.

NAPM claimed that the UP CM had assured it that he would take note of all the demands in their memorandum and ensure that the conflict is resolved through dialogue with the people and Gram Sabhas.

“Is this how the Government seeks to resolve conflict? Are these arrests really necessary and lawful? Such actions will only intensify the conflict and lead to further tensions in the area,” said NAPM.

NAPM expressd hopes that the UP Government would take serious note of the national discontent against the arrest of senior activists of the AIUFWP and direct the district administration to drop all chargers and release the arrested activists and villagers.

They conveyed their deep disdain for the approach of the UP government to openly harass and target activists who are engaged with the people’s issues on the ground and are raising important questions of land, natural resources and equality and democracy.

They expressed wish to remind the government and the administration that peaceful and democratic struggle of the adivasi and dalit communities, led by the women of Sonbhadra, is their constitutional right and we stand in full solidarity with them.

Web: http://www.merinews.com/article/napm-condemns-arrest-of-all-india-union-of-forest-working-people-activists-by-up-police/15907566.shtml