Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Invitation
SOUTHERN REGIONAL STRATEGY MEETING ON SEZ
September 13-14th, 2008, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Dear All,

Zindabad! August 13th, 2008
You all are, in some way or the other, part of struggles against forcible land acquisition and displacement. You are well aware of how State and Corporates are conniving and using various coercive and repressive means to acquire land, displacing people and local livelihoods and exploiting other natural resources for “industrialisation”/”economic development”. Issues of sovereignty of panchayat institutions, employment vs loss of livelihood, land speculations, tax expemptions to corporates, environmental pollution, water extraction, power distribution are very crucial to the debate and protest against SEZs.

Undoubtedly the issue of industrial land grab has emerged as the most significant economic and political issue facing the country with more than 800 SEZ projects approved by the Government. A corporate sympathetic state has been busy using the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 for acquiring land for corporate profits in the name of public interest and public purpose. In many states, like Tamil Nadu, even more draconian laws like TN Land Acquisition Act for Industrial Purposes is being used for such purposes. Industrial Policies are being formulated to promote creation of large land banks for industrialisation. Anti people reforms have been introduced in the Environmental Policy, Mining Policy, Rehabilitation Policy, Industrial Policy, Agriculture Policy, Investment Policy and Coastal Regulations. Land and other natural resources have been reduced to market commodity and are being diverted to facilitate the needs of SEZ and elite class while agriculture and livelihoods of the masses is being willfully destroyed and ignored.

The SEZs viability in India as an economic growth option is also being questioned and criticized by economists considering failed examples of SEZs all over the world and the way Indian Government is irrationally promoting SEZs .

It is well known that the SEZs have been vehemently opposed by farmers, landless labourers, fishing communities and salt pan workers and other rural communities all across the country and have created flash points of conflict.

In past two years, activists, mass struggle groups, communities, ngos, academics etc have debated, formed platforms, have held meetings in trying to challenge/ strategise, lend support to anti-SEZ struggles, and collate and distribute information on issues related to SEZs across the country. There have been national level meetings held at various points of time. What had clearly emerged from all these efforts is the need for all of us to come together at the state and regional level to challenge these developments effectively and unitedly. While very powerful struggles are going on in certain pockets, there are others which need support and solidarity, where there is intense state repression, media black out and people nationally and even in state capitals are oblivious of these local struggles. Anti SEZ struggle in Kakinada being one such example.

Therefore we call upon struggles/groups/individuals opposing SEZs/state-corporate land grab in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala to come together to convene a ‘SOUTHERN REGIONAL STRATEGY MEETING ON SEZ’, which has been in discussion for a long time. Considering elections due next year we feel it is the time for various movements and groups to sit together, share experiences and evolve a common strategy to fight against forcible land acquisition, displacement and for the land sovereignty.
The issues to be discussed in the meeting would be:
Y Sharing and exchange of experiences and strategies used in various struggles -Discrepancy in information at time when land acquisition is executed, legal violations in land acquisition and rehabilitation; problems with RTI related to SEZ; Issues of employment-livelihood loss, environmental pollution, labour rights and local governance sovereignty
Y Discussion on Amendments in SEZ Act during 2006-7/ Land Acquisition Amendment Bill and Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill- contradictions to SEZ Act and Policy,
Y Cross Solidarity-Linking local struggles and support groups
Y Regional strategy and Action Plan
(We will send you the detailed progamme schedule in coming weeks.)

Date of the Meeting: 13th-14th September, 2008 (saturday-sunday)
Venue: Chennai, TAMIL NADU (WE WILL LET YOU KNOW THE EXACT VENUE IN COMING DAYS)

Please confirm your participation at the earliest (many of you have confirmed over phone already). Since this effort is totally voluntary, we request people to contribute (where possible) to this meeting by paying for their own travel to Chennai. For some activists and groups, whom we know it will be difficult to bear travel expenses, we will try to collect contributions from friends and groups. TN groups will organise the venue of the meeting and local stay/food, your contribution is welcome for the same.

We also request you to kindly fwd this mail to others groups/individuals in your state whom you think we should invite for this meeting. Since its an collective effort, please feel free to take the initiative of iniviting people, only let us know whom you are inviting, their confirmation (including yours) so that we can organise stay and food.

For more details local contacts-

Madhumita Dutta (09444390240) Geeta Ramakrisha (09444050071) Gabriele Dietrich (0452 2605134)

In solidarity

Madhumita
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
42 A, F.F, 5th Avenue, Besant Nagar, Chennai 600 090, Tamil Nadu