APC demands respect of peasant’s right to land in India

MEDIA RELEASE
22 July 2010

The Asia-wide peasant group Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) lambasted the Andra Pradesh state government that deployed 2,000 police on July 14, 2010 in the villages of Sompeta mandal of Srikakulam District to evict peasant families occupying the land for the construction of the 2,640 MW thermal plants by Nagarjuna Construction Company Ltd.

“The Andhra Pradesh Vyavasay Vruthidarula Union (APVVU), an active member of APC, leads thousand families of farmers, fish workers and other traditional laborers in over 30 villages in the area have been resisting the project that would destroy their life and livelihoods,” said Danilo Ramos, APC secretary general.

“APC support and uphold the APVVU and Indian people’s struggle to protect their communities and livelihoods. We recognize the Indian peasants’ sovereign right to land and disposed the capitalist and the Andra Pradesh state government’s hunger for profit over the people’s interests,” added Ramos.

“APC strongly condemn the brutality of police force of Andra Pradesh State Government that killed three people in peaceful demonstrations on July 14, 2010. We hold them accountable for the violence imposed upon the Indian people. We demand the High Court Sitting Judge for an immediate inquiry on the killings and dismiss the concerned officials,” Ramos further remarked.

The APC demands to the Andra Pradesh state government the following:

1. To give justice to the victims families and protect the life and livelihoods of its people.

2. To ensure that no force is used against the people, immediately remove the police battalions already deployed and guarantee the constitutional and legal rights of the people that will not compromise their livelihood.

3. To cancel all the licenses given to the company for the construction of the thermal power station