---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chengara Land Struggle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
UPDATE ON CHENGARA AUGUST 08
Chengara Landstruggle which completed one year on 4th Aug, 08, is coming to
a head. From third of August, the combined Trade Unions supported by
Harrison Malayalam Plantation Management and C P M leadership have started a
Resistance Programme. They are blocking all roads to the Chengara area where
25000 odd people are staying. The goonda sanghom which is what Trade Union
Leaders Resistance means in effect, not only blocks anybody who tries to
visit the area ,but also treats the women and children in the most heinous
ways. There are incidents where women are abducted and kept in the Estate
store and raped. Young people who try to reach shops outside the struggle
area are badly beaten up. Several groups who tried to meet the people in
Chengara have been either arrested or sent back.
The people in Chengara continue in good spirits. All the same they are in
the grip of poverty. Diseases like diarrhoea, jaundice, chickenpox are
spreading fast. The situation is precarious.
On top of it all, the combined trade unions have warned that they will take
a Rally into Chengara on 3rd September 2008. This seems to be the scheme
hatched out by the C P M to drive out the Dalits and Adivasis. While this
anti-dalit, anti-adivasi stance of C P M leadership is taking satanic
posture, the party was holding`` SC/ST Development Convention'' on 16th of
August 2008 in Kochi claiming that the caste struggle in very much a
constituent of class struggle and the Party's programme.
The threat of combined attack on the Dalits and Adivasis in Chengara is in
the air. Poverty and diseases are tightening their stranglehold on the
people there .The determination and resoluteness on the part of the
community there in the form of preparedness to fight by offering their lives
is very much before our eyes. But the brute power of the state is getting
ready to demolish that spirit by massacring them. This is the struggle
People's Movements have to be ready for.
Many groups especially youth groups are coming forward offering full
support. This gives us hope.
Take on the struggle.
Thiruvalla
The solidarty Group
18.08.08
Chengara
Land Struggle
