On 7th April there was a heavy arial strike on the indigenous people of south Bastar Bijapur district

Protest at Silger, Bastar, Chhattisgarh
Protest at Silger, Bastar, Chhattisgarh

Berlin, 9 June 2023

On 7th April there was a heavy arial strike on the indigenous people of south Bastar Bijapur district. Forest hills between villages of Minaghata, Jabaghata, Kavurghata, Bhattiguda were targeted in the strikes. Aerial strikes and bombs should not be used by state and central governments against the indigenous people whose lives are dependent on the forest and hills of Bastar. Indigenous communities of Bastar depend on the forest and hills and use only conventional weapons for hunting for their survival. They also go to forests for seasonal produces like mahua, tora and while they have to go to the forest for their survival, government should not drop bombs in the forests. Are the indigenous people not the people of India? Voices should be raised against the attack on them by Indian airforce, army, NSGC, RPF grayhounds. Let’s unite in a broader front against Brahminical Hindutva fascists, and protect the natural resources and riches and the environment of the country. Therefore we appeal to the intellectuals, journalists, other indigenous organisations- adivasi Yuva chhatra sangathan, adivasi samaj, dhruv samaj, and all other indigenous community members and village head/ secretaries of Congress and BJP to support us and oppose and stop the aerial attacks on Indigenous people. Please come forward!

By: Moolwasi Bachao Manch, Usur Block, Bastar Section

STAND WITH MOOLWASI BACHAO MANCH

STAND WITH THEIR DEMOCRATIC STRUGGLES AGAINST CORPORATIZATION AND MILITARIZATION

STOP DRONE ATTACKS, SAY NO TO CAMPS

STOP OPERATION SAMADHAN-PRAHAR

.Moolwasi Bachao Manch (Save Natives Forum) is a democratic mass organisation of indigenous people of Bastar division, Chhattisgarh, India fighting to protect their water, forest  and land. Moolwasi Bachao Manch is currently heading more than 20 protest sites in Bastar against camps, fake encounters, forced surrenders, sexual violence and drone attacks. With young boys and girls at its helms as the leadership, members of the forum are  bravely waging these struggles amid heavy state repression to protect the natural resources of the country from imperialist loot.

Further readings on Operation SAMADHAN Prahar and Aerial bombings on indigenous people of India:

  • In the Name of Development: Indigenous Rights Violations and Shrinking Space in Chhattisgarh.ecchr.eu and indiajusticeproject.de, 2022
    • This report by India Justice Project and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights presents insights into the ongoing assault of the Indian state and mega-corporations on the country’s Adivasi (indigenous) inhabitants. Through a case study of the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000 to facilitate state-sanctioned and corporate-led resource extraction, the report highlights the legal and institutional means through which powerful state, military and corporate actors shrink space, both literally and metaphorically, for Adivasi rights. https://www.ecchr.eu/en/publication/in-the-name-of-development/