13, Pratap Kunj Society, Karelibaug, Vadodara - 390018
Phone: Kiritbhai Bhatt ® 2464210, Rohit Prajapati ®
2320399


MOST URGENT BY FAX

16th April 2005

To,The Police Commissioner Vadodara
The CollectorVadodara

Sub: Regarding the Fresh Attack on the Office of the Narmada Bachao Andolan.

Dear Sir,

This is with regard to the attack on the Narmada Bachao Andolan office in Vadodara on 15th April ataround 7 pm by some people belonging to the leadingpolitical party.   We anticipated this and had informed the Police Commissioner personally at around6.30 pm. Around 4.30 pm we had warned the PoliceControl room of such an eventuality.
In spite of such prior notice, the attack took placeand in the presence of police personnel. We aresurprised that no arrests have taken place till now â€" the video footage of the attack and ransacking is available with the leading city cable channels.A similar kind of attack had taken place on the NBAoffice on March 20, 1994 in the Dandia Bazar area of the city.   While a complaint had been launched afterthe 1994 attack, no action was taken.

We wish to state that we fear yet another attack willtake place if proper precautions are not taken at the earliest to protect the office of the NBA.   This kind
of incident should not recur as it has larger
repercussions on society at large. We are concerned at
these sorts of repeated attacks, which are extremely
undemocratic in nature apart from giving the State of
Gujarat a bad name, as a place where dissent from the
dominant opinion is not tolerated.

It is also expected that personal attacks are going to be launched on those who are questioning the degree ofrehabilitation undertaken in reality.


Sincerely,

Kirit Bhatt[KIRIT BHATT]
Rohit Prajapati[ROHIT PRAJAPATI]
Chinu Srinivasan
[CHINU SRINIVASAN]

People's Union for Civil Liberties, Gujarat

People's Union for Civil Liberties
13, Pratap Kunj Society, Karelibaug,
Vadodara - 390018 Phone: Kiritbhai Bhatt ® 2464210, Rohit Prajapati ®2320399

Press release     16th April 2005     

ATTACK ON NBA OFFICE
(Includes letter to police commissioner)

In the absence of due priority to rehabilitation of the affected people by the statesconcerned, political parties at the States and Centrethese issues have   embroiled themselves into futile political conflict and have entered into competitive showpiece populism and one-upmanship in trying to show that  they are "patriots" of Gujarat.·        

People's Union for Civil Liberties, Gujarat Appeal for an amicable solution to the ongoing Narmada Dam debate

We the citizens of Gujarat appeal for a peaceful anddemocratic solution to the recent Narmada Damcontroversy.The issues of rehabilitation of people, drinking water and the provision of water for irrigation are crucial for the growth and development of the people of Gujarat. There is an urgent need to address these issues in a democratic and peaceful ways on a priority basis. In this contest we condemn the ransacking of the NBA office in Baroda and attempts to intimidate and thwart any democratic dialogue.

The issue here is of right to life for many people, mostly very poor Adivasis, who have lost their homes,land & livelihoods and many thousands more are likely to lose their dwelling places as more villages come under submergence. As of today even people displacedat the 110 m height are not resettled.

It is unfortunate that Prime Minister Manmohan Singhhas not taken a stand in favour of the poor people displaced and not yet rehabilitated.In the absence of due priority to rehabilitation ofthe affected people by the states concerned, political parties at the States and Centre these issues have embroiled themselves into futile political conflict and have entered into competitive showpiece populism and one-upmanship in trying to show that   they are "patriots" of Gujarat.  And in the same breadth painting everybody asking for rehabilitation as "traitors."