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Surya
To: Indian Prime Minister and Indian
National Congress Party Chief
Dr. Manmohan Singh Hon. Prime Minister of India
&
Sonia Gandhi Chairperson, United Progressive
Alliance and Indian National Congress Party Chief
We are writing to draw your urgent attention to a matter of grave
concern for India and the world, and appealing to you to protect the
lives, culture and place of worship of the Kondh Adivasis, and the rich
biodiversity which has been conserved due to their beliefs.
Respected Sir and Madam,
The Supreme Court, after a case lasting over three years, is about to
give clearance to Sterlite/Vedanta to mine bauxite on the summit of
Niyamgiri in the state of Orissa based on the recommendation of the
Ministry of Environment and Forests as well as Government of Orissa. If
mining is permitted there, two of India's strongest Constitutional
guarantees will be overturned: the right of a "primitive tribal group"
to their territorial integrity and to decide on their own path of
development (Schedule V of the Indian Constitution); and the right to
religious practices and beliefs (Article 25 of the Constitution), since
the summit of this mountain is sacred place of worship to the Dongria
Kondh's supreme deity Niyam Raja.
Your intervention is required because the case has been marked by
numerous legal irregularities, starting with the construction of
Vedanta's refinery below the mountain without seeking forest clearance
for mining it and against strong recommendations from the Central
Empowered Committee (the Supreme Court's advisory body). The Court
judgment dated 23rd November 2007 concedes that Vedanta is not a
trustworthy company, due to its worldwide pattern of human rights and
environmental abuses, outlined in a recent Norway Government report. It
nevertheless invites Sterlite to form a 'Special Purpose Vehicle'
to mine the mountain, despite Sterlite being Vedanta's 80% owned
subsidiary, mentioned for its malpractice throughout the Norway report.
