Dear Friend,
Branding ‘left wing extremism’ as the most serious threat to internal security, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress led UPA Govt. is unleashing serious onslaught on certain areas of the country where such forces are strong. Armed forces of the country are being pressed into this attack. Over 65,000 Special Forces are being trained by the Army for the purpose. While Govt. spokesmen are obfuscating the role of the Army in this offensive, armymen of Rashtriya Rifles and closely aligned ITBP are being thrown in. Air Force has been given permission for firing in “self-defense”. This last word is being added only to confuse the people. Where is the question of “self-defense” when Air Force is being asked to take part in offensive action? Air Force helicopters are being readied for attack and Air Force personnel “Garuds” are being given combat role.
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who has been an advocate for Enron and a director of Vedanta, is articulating the strategy of “capture, hold, develop” against areas where Naxalites, to begin with CPI (Maoist), are strong. He is echoing US Gen. McChrystal’s Afghanistan strategy, essentially a strategy of occupation. In this vision development comes last and it has not come for last over 62 years. And it is even now being used to camouflage what is essentially a move to deprive the people of their rights to livelihood.
Along with this Army action goes enactment of black laws, indiscriminate arrests, torture, intimidation and fake encounters.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had underscored the need for this offensive in his speech in Parliament on 18.6.2009, “If left wing extremism continues to flourish in parts which have natural resources of minerals, the climate for investment would certainly be affected.” Thus he made clear that “left wing extremism” is the main stumbling block in his govt.’s vision for development i.e. for exploitation of mineral resources by foreign MNCs and big corporate houses of the country.
But these areas are inhabited by people, living and desiring to live with dignity. These are among the most oppressed people of the country. Their land is taken, livelihood destroyed and they are thrown into the wilderness of destitution, despair and hunger.
While the callous and criminal disregard of their concerns is glaring, the most appalling aspect is the use of Army and Air Force against citizens of the country. These should not be the forces used for the whims of those in power. They must not in any case be used against the people of the country. They are supposed to defend the borders of the country and not to kill, maim, intimidate and subjugate its own people. The action of the Govt. is bound to redefine the role of the Army and Air Force in the eyes of the people and the present Govt. has no right to do so. Progressive, democratic and peace loving people of the country reject this role to be assigned to the Army and Air Force.
WE SAY AN UNEQUIVOCAL NO TO THE USE OF ARMY AND AIR FORCE AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY IN ANY NAME AND UNDER ANY PRETEXT.
WE CALL UPON YOU TO SAY NO TO SUCH USE OF ARMY AND AIR FORCE.
LET US JOIN HANDS TO PROTEST AGAINST THE PLAN OF THE GOVT. TO SUCH USE OF ARMY AND AIR FORCE. LET US RAISE OUR VOICE AND BUILD A STRONG PROTEST TO DETER THE GOVT. FROM SUCH CALLLOUS DISREGARD FOR THE PEOPLE AND ARMED FORCES.
We are organizing a meeting on 24th October, 2009 (Saturday) in the Speaker’s Hall, Constitution Club, New Delhi. We request you to participate in the meeting and help build a movement to prevent misuse of Army and Air Force.
Speakers:
* A. B. Bardhan
* Surendra Mohan
* Justice (Retd) Rajendra Sachar
* Prof. (Retd) Randhir Singh
* Admiral (Retd) R. H. Tahiliani
* Arundhati Roy
* Prashant Bhushan
* Gautam Navlakha
* G. N. Saibaba
* Aparna
PUCL
Jan Hastakshep
PUDR
Radical Notes 
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