New Delhi, 20 September 2016: The All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) has strongly condemned the dastardly act of forceful eviction and firing leading to the death of two women at Bandardubi area near Kaziranga National Park.
In a joint statement Jarjum Ete- President, Ashok Chowdhury- Gen Sect and Roma-Dy Gen Sect. of AIUFWP said,
“The war on the hard earned FRA has begun. The BJP government at the Center, after trying numerous ways to scuttle the FRA, finally managed to win for itself the sanction of Parliament in the form of the passing of the CAMPA Act, the tool to directly attack the recognition of rights of forest dependent communities. And the attack has begun in all its fury and nastiness.”
“The BJP led State government in Assam has shot dead two peasant women, injured many, demolished homes of leaseholders from 1980, when they were settled by the then AGP government. Despite a Assam High Court order that all due process of law must be followed prior to any eviction, the fascist BJP, lackeys of Ambanis and Adanis and other big corporates, came in the early hours of 19th September with more than 1000 personnel from the Assam Police, CRPF elephants, JCBs arrived there and started uprooting the houses by unleashing the elephants and burning the houses.
When the peasant families resisted, the police fired at them leading to the death of 2 women on the spot and leaving more than 10 people severely injured. This followed open threats by the State Finance Minister that the lease holding settlers move out and only then any compensation might be thought of.
Such is the arrogance and audacity of the anti-people fascist BJP – whether at the State or Center. Attempts to communalise the situation would be the obvious ploy of these cunning fascists and the AIUFWP warns the State government of Assam not to use such petty tactics and asks people to be vigilant about such possibilities being engineered by the government” added AIUFWP leaders.

Adequate compensation be paid
The AIUFWP demanded that adequate compensation be paid to the families of the deceased and injured and all rights have to be settled before any eviction is planned for. The Union also opposes this notion of saving forests and so called Protected Forests/National Parks by evicting people.
While the AIUFWP stands in solidarity with the families of the deceased, injured and terrorized people of Bandardubi area at the edge of the Kaziranga National Park, it also pledges unstinted support to all efforts to bring justice to the people.

AIUFWP calls on all organisations fighting for the rights of people
AIUFWP said, “The war on the rights of forest dependent communities/forest dwellers and push the FRA into oblivion to benefit land grab by the big corporates requires united opposition by all peoples’ organisations and the AUFWP calls on all organisations fighting for the rights of people over land, water, forests and all natural resources to rise above differences to give a fitting reply to this reign of terror being unleashed.”

Hastakshep