World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP), National Fish Workers' Forum (NFF) and the National Alliance of Peoples' Movement (NAPM) condemn this BARBAROUS behavior of the forest officials and demand that these officials should be prosecuted for MURDER. Instead of protecting the lives of their citizens these Government Forest officials are killing and murdering them. All those who believe in INDIAN CONSTITUTION must come together to condemn this barbaric behavior of the government officials. We must come together to stop this kind of actions and see that these officials are put behind bars. All over the World people must rise up to protest against this. We also sympathize with all those who lost their lives and boats. All over India and in the World let us work together to stop these kinds of human rights violations and atrocities on the working people.
We demand immediate punishment of the forest officials and compensation for the families who lost their breadwinners.
We must take over JAMBUDWIP AND CHASE OUT THE FOREST OFFICIALS IMMEDIATELY.

Please mail the chief minister and the ministers of fisheries and of forest and environment.


To:
Honorable Chief Minister of West Bengal
Fax: 91 33 214 5480
Email:  6234@writerscal.gov.in

Honorable Minister of Fisheries of West Bengal
Fax: 91 33 214 3929
Email:  6286@writerscal.gov.in

Honorable Minister for Environment & Forests
Fax: 91 11 436 2222
Email:  6416@writerscal.gov.in

4 December, 2002

Dear Hon. Ministers,

RE: CALL FOR JUSTICE FOR BARBAROUS FOREST OFFICIALS' ACT NEAR JAMBU ISLAND, BAY OF BENGAL

We are deeply shocked distressed by the news we have received about a horrific incident that took place near Jambudwip Island, West Bengal. We have been informed that Forest officials of Jambudwip, on the afternoon of 12th November, 2002, stopped the fishermen entering the island's channels to save their lives and boats from a devastating storm, resulting in several of them being drowned along with their boats. The Forest officials also destroyed fishing equipment worth one crore (10 million) Rupees, allegedly on the ground that local small-scale fishermen activities were impacting on the island's ecology. At the time of the incident, 40 fishermen were confirmed dead and many more missing.

We find the Forest Department officials' action utterly inconceivable and in violation of the Indian Constitution as well as fundamental norms of human rights established under international agreements – many of which have been ratified by the Government of India.

We strongly demand that the relevant Government departments set in place a full and independent investigation into this atrocious event and that the government officials responsible for it be brought to justice.

We also request that the government provide compensation to the families that lost their loved ones.

Looking forward to receiving a reply concerning your action to address this grave matter.

Yours sincerely,