1. Press Release by Jharkhand Human Rights Movement
November 20, 2011
A rights activist Sr. Valsa John, who had been leading an anti-displacement movement
against the PANEM Coal Mines Ltd, was brutally murdered in the night on November
15, 2011 at Pachubera village under Amarapara block of Pakur district of Jharkhand. 52
year-old Sr. Valsa John had been living in Jharkhand for last 12 years and fighting
against the PANEM Coal Mines Ltd therefore she was under threat from the mining
mafias.
The Jharkhand Human Rights Movement (JHRM) condemns the brutal killing of Sr.
Valsa John. We believe that the killing of Sr. Valsa is a result of nexus among the
corporate sharks, mining mafias and the police. It is also a conspiracy to suppress and
terrorize the human rights activists, anti-displacement activists and social activists, who
have been mobilizing the people to fight against the alienation from their livelihood
resources.
Since the creation of the state of Jharkhand, several Human Right Activists, RTI Activists
and Social Activists like Lalit Mehta, Niyamat Ansari, A.T. Thomas, Kameshwar Yadav,
Somay Gagrai and many others were killed and false cases were also filed against 3500
such activists in the state. Instead of protecting the rights of such activists, the
government has been victimizing them in the regular basis.
Needless to say that Sr. Valsa John came to limelight after she opposed the Punjab based
mining giant, PANEM Coal Mines Ltd, who had started grabbing the lands of Adivasis
by terrorizing the villagers. She mobilized the villagers of Pachubera, Alubera and other
adjoining villages and started protest. As a result, she was dragged in number of
controversies and was living under constant life threat. Since then, the villagers, mostly
women, had been provided security with their traditional arms like axe, bow and arrow.
Sr. Valsa was hiding in the forest for some times as the police was running behind her.
However, on the basis of the Jharkhand High Court’s order, Mr. Stephan Marandi then
the Dy. Chief Minister and journalist Mr. Saji Joseph convinced her to sign the
agreement. This was the major mistake she did. As a result, the movement divided into
two parts. Some people got rehabilitation package and others didn’t. Therefore, one
group went against her.
However, her protest continued. Her organization was demanding proper compensations
like alternative agricultural lands, employment to local youths and proper drinking water
facility, etc. As a result, the company was upset and annoyed with her. According to the
eye witnesses, the killers were associated with the PANEM Coal Mines Ltd. This is not
only killing in Panchuwada, but several villagers like Vijay Hembrom, Joseph Soren,
Raghuvir Ray were also killed by the dumper of PANEM Company but their death was
coined as result of merely accidents.
2. Sr. Valsa John was member of the Rajmahal Pahar Bachao Andolan (RPBA). She was
also running a school for Adivasi children in Amrapara. She was also an herbal medicine
practitioner and living in Panchubera (Pachuwara) village under Amarapara block of
Pakur district. Since, Sr. Valsa John was leading the movement against PENAM Coal
Limited therefore we demand for following actions:
1. The CBI probe should be done on the brutal killing of Sr. Walsa John.
2. The legal action should be taken immediately against the culprits.
3. The top cops should also be booked under the criminal offence for their negligence in
providing protection to Sr. Valsa John despite her repeated demand.
In Solidarity
Sunil Minj (Chairperson)
Gladson Dungdung (General Secretary)
http://www.countercurrents.org/cc301111.htm
