Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Two days after there was a clash between tribals and the police in Muthunga Wildlife Sanctuary in Wayanad district of Kerala, Arundhati Roy has written to Chief Minister A.K. Antony to express her solidarity with the Adivasis and Dalits of Kerala in their ‘‘struggle for land and justice’’.
The tribals entered the forest more than a month ago, after Antony failed to keep his promise to them to give them land in return for their ancestral property. They were led by activist C.K. Janu of the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha.
‘‘The unforgivable and cynical delay in delivering the land promised by the government of Kerala to these poorest and most needy people has resulted in an unfortunate and needlessly brutal confrontation that would make any citizen of Kerala ashamed,’’ says Roy in the letter.
Police started operations early on Tuesday morning after a guard and policeman were taken hostage. When the tribals poured kerosene on them and threatened to burn them, the armed battalion opened fire, killing five people, according to initial reports.
‘‘Today, the Kerala police has arrested scores of Adivasi and Dalit people. This is to urge you that no further brutality take place while they are in police custody,’’ urges Roy in the letter. She has also expressed concern over the fate of women who have been arrested. Roy has also asked that the police and government officials who ‘‘embarked on an inexcusable spree of violence are tried and punished under the same law’’.
After sitting on the crisis for long and hoping the tribals, who number around 700, would move out on their own, the Kerala government was forced to take action after it came under pressure from the Centre. The Ministry of Environment and Forests wrote a strongly worded letter to Antony in this regard. The Muthunga wildlife sanctuary forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is a rich elephant habitat.
