From: Christic Institute <christic@igc.org>
Subject: Urgent Request From India
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: University of Missouri
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 02:01:45 GMT

/* Written 10:51 am  Apr  7, 1992 by econet in cdp:en.alerts */
/* ---------- "Urgent Request From India" ---------- */
From: Institute for Global Communications <econet>
Subject: Urgent Request From India


[Note from EcoNet: It probably won't hurt a think if NGOs outside of
Canada also respond.  Send your e-mail responses to web!eprobe.]

From web!eprobe Tue Apr  7 08:10:45 1992

       to: Canadian NGOs

       re: URGENT ACTION REQUEST FROM INDIA

       from: Margaret Barber, Probe International  web:eprobe
					fax: 416-978-3824
					tel: 416-978-7014       

       Colleagues in India have asked Canadian NGOs to sent a letter
       to Japanese officials regarding their plan to renew funding
       for the Narmada Project.

       If your organization can sign on to the following letter, 
       please let me know by 4:00pm (Toronto time) Wednesday, 
       April 8, 1992.   

       THANKS from friends in the Narmada Valley
       ---------------------------------------------------------


         April 8, 1992


         Mr. Akira Nishagaki
         The Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund
         1-4-1 Ohtemachi, Chiyoda-ku
         Tokyo 100


         Dear Mr. Nishagaki:

         We were deeply distressed to learn that the Overseas 
         Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) is considering renewing 
         its funding for the Sardar Sarovar Project in India's 
         Narmada Valley.  The OECF took a strong stand against the 
         abuse of human and environmental rights in May, 1990 by 
         halting its funding for this project.  It must be pointed 
         out that these abuses have not subsided, indeed they have 
         recently increased.

         On March 26, 800 armed police, bulldozers, earth movers and 
         8 truckloads of personnel entered Manibeli -- the first 
         Maharashtra State village to be threatened with submergence 
         this year -- on the premise of relocating those villagers 
         who wished to move.  Outside assistance was not required, 
         however, since about 150 other villagers had already 
         offered to help those who wished to move.

         Nevertheless, the equipment and personnel returned on March 
         27 and began to drive a pathway through the centre of the 
         village.  Sixty villagers who protested this action were 
         beaten and arrested.  On the following day, police attacked 
         70 villagers who were protesting.  Villagers were kicked 
         and gagged and 55 were arrested.  Such atrocities continued 
         for 5 days and the homes of many villagers who had refused 
         to move were destroyed.

         Not only does violence continue to plague the Sardar 
         Sarovar Project, but the original concerns regarding 
         compensation which led the OECF to suspend financing for 
         the project persist.  For example, inadequate compensation 
         was paid to the first twenty villages relocated (many 
         villagers are now homeless), and approximately 60,000 

                                                            .../2

    April 8, 1992
    Page 2
    -------------


    people who will be affected by the canal works have not been 
    given the status of 'project affected people' and are therefore 
    not eligible for compensation.

    Given the escalating threat to the people and environment of the 
    Narmada Valley, we respectfully urge you to stand by your 
    government's decision of May, 1990 and refrain from any further 
    involvement in the Sardar Sarovar Project.

    We await your response to this most urgent matter.


    Sincerely, 




    Margaret Barber
    Probe International
    Toronto, Canada






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