Orissa tribes THANK Norwegians – latest in Vedanta mining struggle

Seven representatives from the distinctive Dongria Kondh tribal group presented a letter to Therese Wagle Bazard, Counsellor of the Norwegian Embassy thanking the people of Norway for showing support in the struggle to protect their forest, rivers and way of life.

Indigenous groups are opposing Vedanta mining corporation's plans to extract bauxite from the Niyamgiri hills in Orissa which are sacred to local people and the source of their food, water and livelihoods.

"We cannot survive without our Niyamgiri, we need the mountain and the mountain needs us (Ame Niyamgiri bina bonchi paribu nahi. Amaku dongar dorokaro au dongarku ame dorokaro )," says Dandu Sikoka a young Dongria Kondh woman with the delegation in Delhi.

"If Vedanta starts to mine our hill, water will dry up. We grow and collect many different types of crop," says 40 year old Rongo Kadraka. A report by the Supreme Court's own Central Empowered Committee concurs that rivers and streams will dry up if bauxite mining plans go ahead.

"There are many villages, streams and animals. We cannot live anywhere else. Dongria culture would be destroyed," Jittu Jasesika of Rayagada district, Orissa, wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the slogan 'Save Niyamgiri'.

Dongria Kondh, Kutia Kondh, Jharania Kondh are the 'Primitive Tribal Groups' that live in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts around Niyamgiri.

Following a study by their ethics council, Norway 's pension fund, the world's second-largest sovereign wealth fund, recently sold shares worth 13.2 millon US dollars in Vedanta Resources Plc, a mining company, due to "systematic" environmental and human rights failures including "forced relocation" of indigenous tribes.   

"Today tribal groups are thanking the Norwegian people. We hope that other investors will follow suit and send a clear message to Vedanta that profit must not come at the expense of the livelihoods and identity of indigenous people," says Bratindi Jena of anti-poverty agency ActionAid which is campaigning internationally for companies to be held to account for human rights violations.

The Dongria delegation also presented a gift of two photographs showing the fertile Niyamgiri forest and hills and a portrait of Dongria Kondh boy wearing traditional attire.

"I am happy to receive this expression of thanks from indigenous people and will be passing the letter on to our ministry of finance," said counsellor Bazard of the Norwegian Embassy.

While in Delhi the delegation also met parliamentarians - including renowned tribal Lok Sabha member, Jual Oram who was the first minister of tribal affairs - to build support for their demand to end mining and refinery activities in the Niyamgiri hills.

Photo credit: Jason Taylor/ActionAid