South Asia Citizens Web

Resource conflicts between corporates and tribals: About half of Chhattisgarh is notified tribal areas, ie, it is difficult for non-tribals to acquire property rights. This has become a hindrance for exploiting the state’s natural wealth; hence it is necessary to get the tribals out of the way. This has led to resource conflicts as exemplified by the recent one in Jagdalpur over the siting of Tata’s 5.5 MT steel plant. Corporates want access to minerals and the tribals want retain control over their land
and way of life. Such conflicts have occurred recently in Sierra Leon, Angola, Congo, Solomon Islands, Borneo, etc, where mercenaries and paid vigilantes were used (as happened in Chhattisgarh)

Globally, nuclear power has exhausted its technological potential. It has a bleak future. India must stop chasing the nuclear power mirage—and drop Jaitapur.

The Supreme Court ruling that a Court Martial is a court in terms of Article 89 (d) of the Constitution has troubling implications for constitutional governance in Sri Lanka. Precisely because Courts Martial are constituted by the executive President, and convictions by it require his certification before becoming valid’ the ruling that Courts Martial also exercise the judicial power of the people undermines the basic assumption of independence from executive interference upon which any liberal and democratic judicial system is supposed to be built.

This winter, Orissa has seen a spate of encounters

NAPM strongly disapproves the granting of the Environmental Clearance to the Steel cum captive power plant and captive minor port with an additional 28 and 32 conditions respectively today by the Ministry of Environment and Forest. The clearance is a contradiction that would reduce the credibility which the Minster has earned for the Ministry for the first time and would go down in history that MoEF has supported the offences and illegalities of the Company. It completely belies the findings of the Saxena Committee and the four member committee constituted in past six months or so. We reiterate our disapproval of the order of the Ministry and continue to extend full support to the struggles of the people of the region and their struggle to safeguard the environment and livelihood under the banner of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti and others and whatever position they would take on the concerned clearance.