[sustran] [sustran] Re: Appeal re Violent Arrests at expressway protest in Bangalore

[SUSTRAN Resource Centre]

Here is an update from Bangalore. Thanks to anyone who responded to their
appeal by sending emails to the State Chief Minister.

Paul

>From: Environment Support Group <esg at bgl.vsnl.net.in>
>
>Dear Friends,
>
>Last week we reached you with an appeal to write to the Chief Minister of
>the State of Karnataka, India condemning the brutal and selective arrests
>of several citizens demanding environmental and social information on the
>proposed Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor.  We are happy to share
>that the response has been overwhelming, and has compelled the Chief
>Minister to order an enquiry into the matter.  The Chief Minister's action
>may not have been as strong as we desired, but nevertheless has had an
>effect.  An article highlighting the efforts of several of you appeared in
>The Hindu, 15 July 2000, and the same is enclosed below.  Last week's
>appeal was emergent. 

.....  non-transport matters snipped ....

>With best regards,
>
>
>Bhargavi S. Rao and Manu Mathai
>Environment Support Group
>
....

>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
>
>The Hindu, Bangalore. July 15, 2000
>
>CM RECEIVES PROTEST E-MAILS AGAINST ARREST OF ANTI-BMIC PROJECT ACTIVISTS
>
>By our Staff Reporter
>
>BANGALORE, July 14:  "I have gone through your mail and I am directing this
>message to the Divisional Commissioner to enquire into the matter and take
>necessary action - warm regards, S. M. Krishna."
>
>This is the response from the Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, to over
>150 persons all over the world who e-mailed him last week expressing
>outrage at the manner in which the public hearing for the Bangalore-Mysore
>Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) Project was conducted.
>
>Most of the mails were from the U.S., with about 40 from the US-based
>Association for India's Development.  Others from Holland, Japan, and from
>the Narmada Bachao Andolan and the citizens of Thirthahalli.
>
>Soon after the July 5 meeting when some representatives of NGO's and
>environmentalists were arrested when they demanded documents and other
>information that would enable their participation in the public hearing,
>mailers were sent to environmental organisations, individuals and Indian
>living abroad.
>
>Mr. Hisako Motoyama and Mr. Ikuko Matsumoto of Friend of the Earth - Japan,
>have condemned the "brutal" beating and arrest of people such as the
>Gandhian, Mr. H. S. Doreswamy, and Mr. Leo Saldanha of Environment Support
>Group, and called on other NGOs in Japan to do the same.
>
>The mails have demanded that the whole incident must be investigated,
>pending which Mr. Sanualla, Deputy Commissioner (Bangalore Urban District),
>should be suspended, and the hearing be declared null and void.  Mr. Kumar
>Venkat wrote to Mr. Krishna from Santa Clara, California, US., saying "
I
>am deeply shocked by the inhuman violence with which peaceful citizen
>activists of your State have been handled by your polic force.  
.It would
>have been most appropriate if the hearings were held after the documents
>were provided to the public as assured in the previous hearings held during
>March 2000".
>
>Another mail reproaches Mr. Krishna:  "As a member of the Postal Workers'
>Union in Canada we are used to consultations that resemble more of a public
>relations exercise than anything meaningful.  I had hoped that things might
>be different in India
. To have denied these documents, and what's worse,
>arrest those who were exercising their rights to demand the information, is
>a most condemnable act of an officer of your Government".
>
>When the Chief Minister responded to their mail, Indians and friends felt
>motivated enough to write to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.
>
>"Mr. Krishna has written to us stating that the Divisional Commissioner has
>been directed to enquire into the matter and take necessary action."
>Consequently it is to be expected that the process of according clearance
>to the project will be set aside, till such time the enquiry findings are
>made public.  However, it is understood by way of communication from the
>Environment Support Group that the KSPCB is preparing to accord No
>Objection Certificate to the project."
>
>"This certainly is a retrograde action considering that the hearings you
>have held so far on the project have been marked with abuse of human
>rights, denial of project information which in most progressive societies
>is public domain and arbitrary denial of the Fundamental Rights to Freedom
>of Speech and Expression (Article 19), Right to Equality before Law
>(Article 14) and Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21) by
>targeting certain citizens selectively".
>
>ENDS
>
>(ESG clarifies that though the article mentions "beating" of Mr. Doreswamy,
>the same did not happen.  And, with due apologies, Hisako and Ikuko are
>women!)
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>WE HAVE MOVED : OUR NEW ADDRESS
>
>Environment Support Group (R)
>S-3, Rajashree Apartments
>18/57, 1st Main Road
>S. R. K. Gardens
>Jayanagar
>Bannerghatta Road
>Bangalore 560 041. INDIA
>Telefax: 91-80-6341977
>Fax: 91-80-6723926 (PP)
>Email: esg at bgl.vsnl.net.in=20
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~