Hunger strike in support of Bhopalis

[अभिजित Abhijit]

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Lokayat Pune <pune.l...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 5:53 AM
Subject: Hunger strike in support of Bhopalis
To:


Dear Friend,

ONE DAY HUNGER STRIKE IN PUNE
IN SUPPORT OF
BHOPALIS ON INDEFINITE HUNGER STRIKE IN DELHI

Date:     June 28, Saturday
Venue:   Balgandharva Chowk (still to be confirmed), Pune

Progressive Organisations of Pune,
                         Do send volunteers to join this hunger strike.
Progressive Intellectuals of Pune,
                   Do volunteer to join us or

         at least come down to the venue, join us in singing songs and shouting slogans,
         and sign the petition to the Prime Minister.
 

As you are aware, the epic 23 year long struggle of the Bhopalis has reached a crucial stage. Nine Bhopalis are on an indefinite hunger strike in Delhi. Earlier, they had walked 800 kms from Bhopal to Delhi and then had sat down on a dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, but despite the gruelling 38 day walk and 74 day dharna, the Prime Minister refused to meet their just demands, and gave only vague promises. Finally, left with no choice, the Bhopalis began an indefinite hunger strike till their just demands are met.

Today, June 24, is the 15th day of the hunger strike. It is shameful that the Prime Minister has not yet seen it fit to yield to the just demands of the heroic Bhopalis.

The struggle of the Bhopalis is a part of the countrywide struggle against corporate globalisation, it is a part of the struggle by people all over the country to fight the sellout of our land, water, forests, mineral resources to Foreign MNCs and big private Indian corporates in the name of development. As Arundhati Roy stated on May 23 in support of the Bhopalis,

By refusing to meet the people of Bhopal who have suffered for decades after the Union Carbide/Dow Chemicals gas leak Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is at the forefront of the Corporatization of India's Economic Policies, is sending out a clear message to the Corporate World: In India you are free to poison, rob and kill our people. The Government will protect you. You will never be brought to book.

The struggle of the Bhopalis is our struggle too.

The Bhopalis have given a call to organise a global day of hunger strikes on June 28, Saturday. In support of their call, we of LOKAYAT have decided to join this global day of protest. On this day, at least 15 of us from Lokayat will be sitting on a day-long hunger strike in Pune, the venue tentatively is Balgandharva Chowk. We are hoping to get other organisations to join us, and are hoping that the number of people fasting will increase to at least 25.

The pamphlet is attached. Download it and distribute it to your friends, or forward it to as many as possible

In solidarity,

Abhijit K