Hotline Asia Urgent Appeals -- UA990722(12)

Action Requested || Sample Letter || Background

Summary

Thousands of local fishworkers have been struggling for seven years to fight for their RIGHT to FOOD around the Chilika Lake in Orissa, India. The shrimp industries run their business nearby and earn their money from the rich Chilika Lake but local fisherfolks are restricted from reaching the lake and fishing, denying them their livelihood. On 11 December 1994, the Supreme Court of India ruled that there should be a ban on shrimp farms within 1,000 meters of the lake. However, some small-scale shrimp farms were still illegally constructed in the area. Throughout the few years, the government of Orissa State have not implemented the judgement of the Supreme Court. India is a State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Indian government is responsible for the respect and protection of the right of their people to the basic necessity of food.

Local fishworkers have continuously protested against those illegal shrimp industries. On 29 May 1999, thousands of affected fishworkers held a protest rally and destroyed 11 shrimp farms because the government did not respond to their 24-hour ultimatum - given on 27 May - that all illegal shrimp farms should be closed down. At midnight of the day of the protest, police forcibly raided Sorana village and brutally killed 4, included one woman, and injured at least 13 people. We also received information that Mr. Harekrishna Debnath, the chairperson of the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) was recentlyattacked at midnight by armed men. Mr. Debnath has been threatened many times and it is believed that this is because he is very much involved in the protest activities at Chilika.

Please write to the Government of India and express your deep concern about the plight of the local fisherfolks and request that they immediately:

• implement the 11 December 1994 judgement of the Supreme Court;

• enforce the right of local fisherfolk to freely fish at Chilika Lake;

• punish those who were responsible for the death and injury to the villagers of Sorana;

• protect supporters of the fisherfolk, especially Mr. Harekrishna Debnath who is being threatened.

Sample Letter

Background

Chilika Lake in Orissa, India is the biggest brackish water lake in India and is full of varied fauna, including dolphins and a habitat for a myriad of migratory birds. Thousands of traditional local fisherfolk live around Chilika Lake and feed themselves by catching fish from the lake. In early 1993, local communities and human rights groups started launching protests against the shrimp industries who built shrimp farms along the shore of Chilika Lake. Local fisherfolks were not allowed to reach the lake to fish and the effluent from the shrimp production has affected the ecology of Chilika Lake. These shrimp farms caused many problems for local communities as well as the degradation of the environment at Chilika Lake.

According to sources, the Supreme Court declared the forbidden farming by the shrimp industries within 1,000 meters of Chilika Lake. At that time, one of the biggest industrial cooperations in India, TAKA, withdrew their plan to run their shrimp farm and left Chilika. However, some other small-scale shrimp farms were built quietly and illegally operated but not closed down by the government of Orissa. It is alleged that the continued illegal businesses are supported by local politicians and bureaucrats.

Local communities have protested over the last seven years. On 27 May 1999, they decided to give an ultimatum to the government and demandedfor the closing down of all illegal shrimp farms. The government did not respond to their request and 10,000 villagers joined a protest rally on 29 May. 11 shrimp farms were also destroyed. At midnight of same day, police raided Sorana village and beat villagers mercilessly. Tear gas was used and without provocation, police began shooting indiscriminately. Banchhanidhi Behera died on the spot. Digambar Behrera and Prema Behra died on the way to hospital, while another victim died later at the hospital.

The police violence resulted in a massive popular strike held on June 5 called by the fishermen's union who strongly condemned the violence by police in Sorana village. Thousands of fishworkers blocked the railroad at many stations for 12 hours, railway and road connections with the eastern coast of the country came to a standstill. Police arrested 2,000 protesters including fishworkers and workers from different political groups.

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