[IMC-Editorial] [India Thinkers Net]Kerala : Adivasis To Launch Agitation Against Tree Felling

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From: "chro chro chro" <chro at rediffmail.com> 
Date: Sun Dec 28, 2003 1:07pm 
Subject: Kerala : Adivasis To Launch Agitation Against Tree Felling  

New Indian Express, December 28, 2003, Sunday

Adivasis to launch agitation against felling of trees

KOCHI: The Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha on Saturday said it would launch massive agitations against the Forest Department’s ‘clear felling’ of trees in over 500 hectares of land in the upper Bhavani regions, near the Silent Valley.

At a news conference here, C K Janu, president, Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha, alleged that the Japan-aided project to restore environmental serenity of Attapaddy was now being used by officials to divert funds.

The ‘clear felling’ of trees in the upper Bhavani regions will spoil the environmental serenity of the area which is home to many rare breeds of birds and trees. The deforestation in this area may eventually lead to drying out of the Bhavani Lake. The 3,000-acre forest land is inhabited by tribal communities from 17 ‘uoors’ or habitats.

‘‘They are trying to wipe away the Adivasi population by cutting down our traditional area under possession,’’ Janu said.

According to the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha, trees in five acres of forest land have already been cut down. Trees in the traditional land in ‘Anavayu ooru’ belonging to the 119-year-old Mudha Moopan and ‘Thadikkundu ooru’ are being cut down. ‘Mudha Moopan’ is also the head of 108 tribal leaders. He was also appointed as the head of the Moopan’s Council, which was formed by the Kerala Government.

‘‘The Government was cheating the tribals by forming the Moopan’s Council and this has become evident by their encroachment of Mudha Moopan’s land,’’ Janu said. She also alleged that the Rs-250 crore loan that has been sanctioned by the Japan Government for the restoration works in Attappady is being unappropriatedly handled by Attappady Hills Area Development Society (AHADS).

The atrocities against the Adivasis are continuing in the Attappady area with the police and excise officials conducting raids in the name of ‘ganja hunt’ even as the real mafia is being protected, Janu alleged.

The AGMS is also planning to approach the court on the issue.
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The Hindu, December 28, 2003, Sunday

Stop tree felling at Attappady: AGM 

By Our Staff Reporter 

KOCHI DEC. 27. The Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha (AGM) has warned of launching an agitation against the illegal felling of trees in the Attappady forest belt. 

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the AGM leaders, C.K. Janu and M. Geethanandan, said they would take legal action if the Government failed to take steps to stop the deforestation of the remaining forest tracts of Attappady. If the present situation continues, the whole of Attappady would become uninhabitable for everyone including the tribal people. 

They alleged that the afforestation activities being conducted in the tribal belt through the Attappady Hills Area Development Society (AHADS) were only to hoodwink the tribal people. On the pretext of destroying ganja plantations, the police, AHADS officials and environmentalists were looting the Adivasi hamlets. 

They said that tree felling was taking place even in the land belonging to Mudda Mooppan, the head of the Mooppans' Council formed by the Government years ago with a view to exerting control over the tribal people. The AGM leaders said they would cooperate with the CBI inquiry into the Muthanga incidents despite complaints on the treatment meted out to the tribal people during the inquiry.

for CHRO
Mukundan C. Menon
Secretary General

CHRO
3, Rams' Cottage
Ambalathumukku
Pettah
Thiruvananthapuram-695 024
(Ph.: 0471-2476262)


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