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From
Tehelka Magazine, Vol 9, Issue 18, Dated 05 May 2012 |
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“They will lay down their guns and go back to farming once the forces are withdrawn”
For nearly two decades, social activist Himanshu Kumar has lived and worked in rural Chhattisgarh. Through his Vanvasi Chetna Ashram (VCA) he has been educating tribals, teaching them their right, how to vote and bringing them access to healthcare. He tells Karuna John that once the armed forces leave tribal lands, the Naxal groups will vanish as well.
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Himanshu Kumar Social Activist
Photo: Shailendra Pandey |
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What is your understanding of the complex situation that has arisen after Sukma Collector Alex Menon’s abduction?
This abduction will not change the ground situation much. The operations are not going to be reduced and the attacks on the [common] people will continue. I have even heard that the senior officials have been told not to de-activate their operations. We know well what the purpose of these operations is. I say, they [the forces] should instead come out of the jungles and let the political system and the social service organisations do their work. This is what the tribals need right now.
The Tribals, however, also deal with the Maoists on the other side. They are stuck in the middle.
For a minute if we believe the theory that the armed forces will leave. Toh ek peetne wala toh kam jaye, sarkar toh na peete (There is one less side attacking the Tribals, let the authorities not attack). Let the statistics talk, more than the Naxals, the people have been harmed by the police. Take rape cases for instance, here is not a single case of rape by Naxalites. We can give a list of rapes by the forces. Take the forces away and we (locals) will deal with the Naxals. We are ready to take the responsibility. We know that people have taken up arms because the authorities are not letting them work peacefully.
However, governments always claim they will not attack non-violent movements.
Take an example. If the people want to use land, probably held by a landlord through illegal means, to be used for the people’s betterment using constitutional methods, tell me who will the police support? The poor villagers or the powerful landlord? The government is snatching the land from the people. The state apparatus is working against the people. Then why do they say people should fight in a non violent manner? The state does not recognise the non violent manner. Therefore, people pick up arms. We understood why the people did that. Now it is our job to set things right. Implement the Constitution. The people will welcome that. Why should the state always be with the powerful? We are ready for deep discussion but the state does not want that.
If the state does not come to the discussion table, the Maoist accelerates violent action.
Who are these Maoists [leaders]? They are educated men and women from India, they see and study that the people’s rights are being trampled upon. The tribal lands are being taken away in Bastar. When these educated people come with an aim to help the tribals they are jailed. So, they say, “Ok if you can do this because you have a gun. Then we will also carry a gun”. Then the government panics and says that the Constitution is being violated. I said ok we will take the responsibility and make them obey the Constitution, but the government should also adhere to the Constitution. I was chased out.
How can abduction be a viable solution even for the Maoists to adopt?
Yes, this instance can be used by the government against the people. They will blame Maoists, say our collector was abducted and Maoists are anti development. They can say that they have to clean out the Naxals and Maoists who do such things. And in the guise of this clean up, the tribals too will be finished and their lands vacated.
So such high profile abductions can backfire?
Yes. This does not help the common people.
Then why use abduction as a negotiation strategy?
The atrocities are not stopping. They burnt three villages in March. The collector R Prassana who spoke for the people was removed. Collector Menon’s abduction is the first high profile abduction in that sense. The threats have always been there. However, I believe that such abduction will certainly not help the people.
What is the way forward to try and solve the situation?
The first thing is that the government must make the area accessible. Grant accessibility to peace workers and journalists. Let them go and talk to the people, listen to the people vent their frustrations. Then there will be some relief. The hostility will lessen as will the violence. However, the government is doing the exact opposite. It is creating more and more inaccessible areas where no one can venture. They just deported French activists in Bihar. Journalists were not allowed in Jharkhand. The government claims they want development and Maoists are violent. So let the people see for themselves. Let the journalists and activists go and report the [ground realities] to the people.
How will the immediate crisis be resolved, and a future crisis prevented?
I think it will solve soon and he will be released. But for the future, the government must keep the channel of communication open. People can get desperate again, even harm themselves. Indigenous people need to live in communities to survive. However, it is they who pay the price of ‘development’ and are exploited. This is an extension of colonial times.
Karuna John is Associate Editor, Tehelka.com.
karuna@tehelka.com
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