(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply concerned by the latest efforts to suppress discussion of the social and environmental costs of Gujarat’s Sardar Sarovar dam construction, part of a controversial irrigation and hydroelectric project along the Narmada River. India’s Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for 29 July 1999, to decide whether to initiate contempt of […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply concerned by the latest efforts to suppress
discussion of the social and environmental costs of Gujarat’s Sardar Sarovar
dam construction, part of a controversial irrigation and hydroelectric
project along the Narmada River.
India’s Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for 29 July 1999, to decide
whether to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the writer
Arundhati Roy for publishing an essay on the Narmada Valley Project. In a
statement issued by the three-bench panel on 22 July, the judges said that
the essay – which originally ran as an article in the Indian weekly
newsmagazines “Outlook” and “Frontline”, then was excerpted in London’s “The
Guardian” newspaper, and has now been published as a short book – seemed to
be “an attempt to undermine the dignity of the court and influence the
course of justice.” Two leading activists with the Narmada Bachao Andolan
(NBA), or “Save the Narmada Movement”, are also threatened with contempt
charges.
Chief Justice A.S. Anand, Justice S.P. Barucha, and Justice B.N. Kirpal
scheduled the hearing in response to a petition filed by the Gujarat state
government, which claims that there should be a ban on the “publication of
various matters in different newspapers, journals, and other media touching
upon the matter under consideration of the court.” In February, the court
lifted a four-year stay on further construction of the Sardar Sarovar dam,
and this decision was scathingly critiqued in Roy’s book, “The Greater
Common Good”.
In her book, Roy argues against “Big Dam” projects generally, and criticizes
the court for its apparent indifference to reports that the Sardar Sarovar
project would displace half a million people.
Meanwhile, in Gujarat State, CPJ’s sources report that virtually all
bookstores have pulled copies of Roy’s book for fear of violent reprisal.
Last week, activists from the two most powerful political parties in India,
the Congress Party and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), held
demonstrations condemning Roy for her anti-Narmada views. On 22 June,
members of the youth wing of the Congress Party burned several copies of
“The Greater Common Good”, and Youth Congress President Himattsinh Patel
threatened that “If within the next 24 hours, all [Roy’s] irresponsible,
anti-development books are not withdrawn from the shelves, the bookstores
will have to face the wrath of angry Youth Congressmen.” The BJP’s youth
wing held a similar demonstration on Saturday 24 July. In this climate of
extreme intolerance, the renowned Gujarati writer Ashwini Bhatt was unable
to find a publisher willing to release a Gujarati edition of Roy’s essay,
and is now planning to publish the book himself. However, CPJ fears that
distribution of the book will be extraordinarily difficult, and even
dangerous.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the prime minister:
Gujarat’s political leadership are being used to stamp out dissent on a
matter of vital public interest
condemn the actions taken by the Youth Congress as well as by members of his
own political party to threaten and intimidate bookstore owners and
publishers in Gujarat, effectively censoring debate regarding the Sardar
Sarovar dam
ensure
that those who choose to display and distribute “The Greater Common Good”
will be protected from violent reprisal
India’s constitution, which guarantees that “All citizens shall have the
right…to freedom of speech and expression,” and abandon its pursuit of
contempt of court charges against Roy
Appeals To
His Excellency Atal Behari Vajpayee
Prime Minister of India
Office of the Prime Minister
South Block
New Delhi 110 011, India
Fax: +91 11 301 6857
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
