Welcoming the offer made by the banned CPI (Maoist) for a peace talks and the government of Chhattisgarh responding to keep its doors open for talks, a number of human rights organisations have come together here on Monday (April 07), demanding an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of anti-Maoist ‘Operation Kagaar’ and go ahead the road for the talks.
They also demanded both parties to keep the best interests of the Adivasis and other villagers in mind and to engage in peace talks keeping in mind the constitutional, democratic and human rights of citizens within the broader framework of the Constitution of India.
They pointed out that the Adivasi-dominated districts of Bastar division in Chhattisgarh, West Singhbhum in Jharkhand and Gadchiroli in Maharashtra are currently at the epicenter of this conflict and the lives and well-being of the residents must be given first priority in any talks.
Expressing serious concern over the loss of lives on both sides and the innocent Adivasis, they said that there should be no more hostilities from either side whether in the form of operations, extra-judicial killings and encounters, IED blasts and killing of civilians or any sort of violence.
For the talks to be successful, the government, which has been constituted under the Constitution of India, is obligated to be the first to observe, respect and function based on constitutional principles and values, said V.S. Krishna of the Human Rights Forum (HRF).
The rights groups pointed out that the fact finding teams led by various rights organisations in the past have uncovered evidence the mayhem caused by the earlier-State sponsored and the now banned Salwa Judum over the last 20 years in the State and then the Adivasis had faced the wrath of ‘Operation Green Hunt’ and now ‘Operation Kagaar’, of the security forces, which had claimed the lives of many innocent Adivasis.
Instead of observing the directions of the Supreme Court to disband SPOs and stop engaging surrendered/arrested Maoists in any form in counter-insurgency operations, the government has expanded the use of District Reserve Guards and Bastar Fighters consisting of ex-Salwa Judum recruits and they are the ones most responsible for human rights abuses, and their own human rights are abused in the process, said the members of over 62 rights organisations, in a statement released here on Monday.
The rights group demanded that the government stop the offensive in Adivasi areas and the CPI (Maoist) should cease all hostilities against the State forces, to facilitate a ceasefire, dialogue must begin between government and CPI (Maoist), free access to the affected areas should be provided to the independent civil organizations and media, people’s livelihood needs and constitutional rights must be addressed urgently, the State should immediately release Adivasis and other activists jailed for asserting their democratic rights and disagreeing with State policies and Adivasis should be allowed to participate in the talks and remain equal stakeholders in this dialogue.
Published – April 07, 2025 03:11 pm IST
