CPI(ML)–New Democracy has launched a country-wide campaign against the Central Govt.’s order to evict tribals and non-tribal poor from the lands they have been cultivating in the forest areas. To prepare public opinion against this inhuman order from the Central Govt., CPI(ML) has organized a number of conventions at different centres.

On 22nd October 2002 East Godavari District Committee of the Party held a Convention at Rajamundry in which 2000 people participated. The Convention was addressed by the President of All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS), Com. Madala Narayan Swamy, District Secretary of the Party, Com. P. Tanya, District President of AIKMS, Com. Durga Prasad, District Secretary of AIKMS, Com. Raja Rao and ex-MP K. Mohan Rao. The speakers condemned the Govt. order and stressed on the need to build a militant struggle against it. Addressing the Convention, the General Secretary of CPI(ML)–New Democracy, Com. Yatendra Kumar, denounced the conspiracy to dispossess tribals and non-tribal poor from the forest land, in the name of protecting environment. He also declared the determination of the Party to wage a broad-based and militant struggle.

Besides Rajamundry, district-level Conventions were organized in several districts in AP, leading to a state-level Convention in Hyderabad on 15th November 2002, in which over 1000 representatives of tribals and non-tribal poor from different forest areas of Andhra Pradesh participated.

Presiding over the Convention, AIKMS General Secretary, Com. V. Venkatramaiah, dealt with different aspects of the issue. Speaking at the Convention, Human Rights Activist, Shri Bala Gopal, discussed legal aspects of the issue. Mentioning the problems of tribals particularly women, Com. P. Tanya stressed on the tradition of struggles amongst tribals. The AIKMS President Com. M. Narainaswamy emphasized the need of unity between tribals and non-tribal poor in the struggle against this order of the Central Govt. The Convention was also addressed by CPI(ML) – New Democracy MLA Com. G. Narsaiah, Khammam District Secretary of the Party, Com. K. Ranga Reddy and AP State Secretary of AIKMS, Com. G. Diwakar. Prof. K.R. Choudhury released the booklet “Undeclared War Against Tribals”, published by the Party.

The main speaker of the Convention, General Secretary of CPI(ML) – New Democracy, Com. Yatendra Kumar, dealt with the brutal attack on the livelihood of the tribals by  the Central Govt. and the Supreme Court, at  the behest of the World Bank and pointed out that the Courts have come forward to implement the pro-imperialist New Economic Policies. He said that the environmental hazard caused by the industries of the developed capitalist countries is sought to be compensated by the evicting the tribals and non-tribal poor from the forests of third world countries like India. He also stated that the real objective of this World Bank Project is to displace the tribals, an overwhelming majority (fifth-sixth) of whom depend on agriculture, employ some of them as casual labourers, and compel them to come out of forests in large numbers in search of jobs. The real danger to environmental protection and forest conservation, he pointed out, is from the MNCs, the contractors and the govt. officials, and not from the tribals.

In addition to AP, efforts were also made to mobilize people in other areas of the country against the Central Govt. order. The Lok Sangram Manch in Orissa has started a massive campaign in tribal areas of Southern Orissa. A regional Convention was organized on 16th December 2002 at a place near Badagada in Ganjam district. Around 1000 people from Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandmahal and Rayagadda districts participated. Presiding over the Convention, Com. Buddha Gomang, President of LMS, highlighted the problems of tribal land. Addressing the Convention, a renowned advocate from Berhampur, Shri Bhagawan Sahu, threw light on the dreadful conditions of education, health facilities and public distribution system in tribal areas, and called upon the people to struggle against it. The Convention was also addressed by Shri Neelmani Sahu (an intellectual), Secretary of AIKMS, Com. Y. Sambasiva Rao and Secretary of Lok Sangram Manch, Com. Bhala Chandra Shadangi.

The Chief Guest of the Convention, Com. Yatendra Kumar, denouncing the barbarian attack on the subsistence of tribals by the Govt., asserted that the people of this region will not allow implementation of the Central Govt. order and will fight back the World Bank dictated collusion of the Govt. to oust the tribals from their own lands.

There is widespread anger in the tribal areas countrywide against this order of the Central Govt. and the inhabitants of these areas are eager to fight against it. The opposition from the masses has prompted several state govts. to request the Supreme Court to review its order and to express their inability to implement the order of the Central Govt. Nonetheless, implementation of the order has already started in several states. Only the tribals and non-tribal poor of those areas can defeat this conspiracy of the World Bank and Central Govt.