In Solidarity with Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti

The New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI) condemns the arrest of Akhil Gogoi and stands in solidarity with the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and the people of Assam in their agitation against the undemocratic activities of the Government of Assam. KMSS, an organisation has been working on issues of implementation of Forests Rights, PDS, NREGS and ensuring transparency using the RTI Act. Gogoi, its General Secretary, was arrested on 24 June 2011 from the Guwahati Press Club while addressing a press conference, on charges of ‘instigating’ violence, arson and culpable homicide on the streets in Dispur, on 22 June during a protest against the ongoing drive to evict ‘encroachers’ from forest land, wetlands and hills in and around Guwahati.

The State Forest Department has been ruthlessly carrying on a massive eviction drive around the hills, in localities like Chachal, Shilshaku, Gaurchuk, in the Kamrup district of Guwahati against people, who are mostly Adivasis and Dalits. This frenzied eviction drive which has rendered thousands of people homeless, violates the Assam Government’s own Land Policy of1989, which lays down that any family in occupation of government land for more than 15 years shall be eligible for freehold title of the land. This also violates The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006, which gives forest dwellers, both individual and collective rights over forests. Earlier, this year, more than 700 hectares of the forest was distributed among the Tharu tribals, with each family getting upto four acres of land, in the villages of Surma and Golbhoji in the Lakhimpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

The actions of the Assam state government, against its own citizens, have led to mass protests and agitations. The protest on 22 June was the outcome of the land agitations precipitated by the government’s displacement and demolition policies. A peaceful protest of more than 6000 displaced and affected people, turned violent when the police resisted the protestors, tear-gassed, then lathi-charged them. Failing to disperse the protestors, the police fired on them, which led to the death of 4 people, including that of a 9 year old child, and left over 50 injured. Despite being informed that a third of the protestors being women, no policewomen were present during the protest.

In addition, Akhil Gogoi, the leader of the protest was arrested on several non-bailable sections of the IPC. This act of the government is a clear violation of the Right to Freedom of speech and expression and to assemble peacefully. Baseless allegations have been made by the Assam Government of Gogoi having links to the Maoists. With the arrest of Akhil Gogoi, KMSS launched a ‘Jail Bharo’ and called for a bandh on 25 June, which received overwhelming support from all sections of the civil society.

NTUI demands of the Government of Assam for:
• The immediate release of Akhil Gogoi
• A swift judicial enquiry on the police firing with the erring police officials be punished
• Protect the rights of the forest dwellers and to implement the Forest Right Act
• Stop repression of the right to democratic dissent