âBeing Neutral is Our Biggest Crimeâ - Global Coalition to Protect ...

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eceived a copy of the written representation that they submitted to you and hope that you will take into account their concerns, and make a decision in accordance with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, which would protect the rights of the displaced tribal communities. In late 2007 Human Rights Watch traveled to Khammam and Warrangal districts of Andhra Pradesh to investigate the plight of IDPs settled in these areas. In interviews with us, these villagers said that they were reluctant to return to Chhattisgarh until there was a concrete plan by the government to ensure their safe return in consultation with them. The UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, while not a binding instrument, reflect and are consistent with international human rights and humanitarian law. They provide that displaced persons have the rights to seek safety in any part of the country, to liberty and freedom to choose their residence, and to protection against forcible return to or resettlement in any place where their life, safety, liberty or health would be at risk. Displaced persons also have the right to an adequate standard of living. They also state that plans for relocation and rehabilitation should be drawn up in consultation with displaced persons, especially women. Unfortunately, the Andhra Pradesh forest department has repeatedly unlawfully forcibly evicted and relocated many IDPs without developing a safe rehabilitation arrangement in consultation with them. The Andhra Pradesh authorities have also failed to extend government welfare benefits to many IDPs. Persons displaced by the infighting in Chhattisgarh have a right to seek safety, protection, and humanitarian assistance in any part of India including Andhra Pradesh. We urge you to use your extraordinary powers under the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and ensure that: a) IDPs communities are not unlawfully forcibly relocated to Chhattisgarh without adequate and safe alternative housing arrangements. 157 Human Rights Watch July 2008
) Chhattisgarh government assists the Andhra Pradesh government in extending benefits of all government schemes to IDPs without discrimination c) A policy for safe and voluntary return and rehabilitation for IDPs is prepared in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement in consultation with government officials, nongovernmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations, lawyers, and IDPs. We would appreciate learning the steps you have taken in this regard. Responses may be emailed (beckerj@hrw.org) or faxed (+1-212-736-1300) to us. Sincerely, Jo Becker, Advocacy Director CC: 1. Shri Raman Singh, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. 2. Minister of Tribal Welfare, Chairperson of Tribal Advisory Council, Chhattisgarh. “Being Neutral is Our Biggest Crime” 158
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India “Being Neutral is Our Bigge
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Copyright © 2008 Human Rights Watc
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VI. Plight of Persons Displaced by
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© 2008 John Emerson “Being Neutr
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Gram Panchayat/ Panchayat ICCPR ICE
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of villages in Bijapur and Dantewad
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Since 2006 local nongovernmental or
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Frightened, many villagers hid for
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Salwa Judum, particularly Salwa Jud
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of camp residents and other displac
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Vanvasi Chetna Ashram, People’s U
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egion between June 2005 and June 20
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through underground village committ
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health care. 17 Census data from 20
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The Naxalite problem has led to lac
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egular battalion to counter Naxalit
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NGO fact-finding teams have also ap
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The ‘Salva Judum’ movement is p
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persons also gave Human Rights Watc
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Sometimes senior police officials,
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were sick we had to go and report i
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to our village had bows and arrows,
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All able-bodied men had to particip
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them with escorts. We go with them
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there [pointing to a location about
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V. Abuses by the State Although the
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and my sister’s in the fields. My
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camps. 109 Two SPOs came forward to
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Gangi, one of the villagers, said t
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weeks [from the first visit to the
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One of the boys got beaten a lot wi
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A woman from Nendra said she saw th
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member of the fact-finding team tha
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In 2006 the Chhattisgarh government
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under Indian penal law. 163 Many NG
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independent and report because ther
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eing beaten up by Salwa Judum membe
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the country, to liberty and freedom
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electricity, adult literacy centres
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only 10 health workers to attend to
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dependent upon the state for their
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camps were started. 233 Assuming th
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Impediments to return The Chhattisg
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villagers’ access to markets maki
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1. Prior to carrying out evictions,
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our huts. About 10 forest departmen
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A volunteer with an NGO that provid
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met with further retributive measur
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Despite the court’s orders, fores
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for at least 100 days a year. 303 T
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In many places, displaced persons d
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Naxalites beat and kill villagers,
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that they rubbed small stones [grav
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Similarly, Naxalites beat and haras
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not kill my uncle. They threatened
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Page 115 and 116: Errabore camp on July 17, 2006, whe
Page 117 and 118: E. CPI (Maoist) Party statements Hu
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Page 121 and 122: The Naxalites do not deny the recru
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Page 125 and 126: The recruitment process The nationa
Page 127 and 128: I became an SPO last year in March
Page 129 and 130: of them. My brother actually surviv
Page 131 and 132: Maraiguda stated that he was ordere
Page 133 and 134: The Chhattisgarh state government r
Page 135 and 136: ecruitment, but Naxalites pressure
Page 137 and 138: When he was part of the bal sangam
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Page 141 and 142: When Veka Idma was about age 12 or
Page 143 and 144: later on when I became a dalam memb
Page 145 and 146: Naxalites’ policy regarding recru
Page 147 and 148: IX. Impact of the Conflict on Educa
Page 149 and 150: other villages which do not have sc
Page 151 and 152: The ITDA project officer for Khamma
Page 153 and 154: uses all authority at its disposal
Page 155 and 156: To the Chhattisgarh state governmen
Page 157 and 158: • Release complete information, u
Page 159 and 160: • Cooperate with UNICEF and other
Page 161: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH 350 Fifth Avenue
Page 165 and 166: protect the rights of the displaced
Page 167 and 168: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH 350 Fifth Avenue
Page 169 and 170: government investigated any allegat
Page 171 and 172: “Being Neutral is Our Biggest Cri
Page 173 and 174: We acknowledge with gratitude the f
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