Orissa
tribes THANK Norwegians – latest in Vedanta mining struggle
When/Where:
9.30am, Monday 19 November, outside the Norwegian Embassy,
Chanyakapuri, New Delhi
What:
Seven representatives from the distinctive Dongria Kondh tribal
group present a thank you gift to a representative of the
Norwegian government for showing support in the struggle to
protect their forest, rivers and way of life, currently under
threat from plans to mine bauxite from the Niyamgiri hill in
Orissa, which is sacred to indigenous groups in the area.
“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 woman with
the Dongria Kondh delegation.
Why:
Norway’s pension fund, the world’s second-largest sovereign
wealth fund, recently sold shares 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 group
ActionAid.
Notes to
Editor
1. The delegation has
requested media to exercise sensitivity when photographing –
while their traditional dress (nose jewellery and hair pins) is
striking they are not accustomed to dealing with groups of
photographers.
2. A report by ActionAid
detailing some of the major human rights concerns of local
people is available at:
http://www.actionaid.org/assets/pdf/vedanta_report.pdf
3. The delegation is in Delhi
to meet politicians and journalists after the Supreme Court of
India, failed to acknowledge a petition detailing the effect
that mining plans are likely to have on indigenous people in the
Niyamgiri area. There are three ‘Primitive Tribal Groups’ in the
area: Dongria Kondh, Kutia Kondh, Jharania Kondh.
The Dongria Kondh are
particularly concerned about loss of water sources which
originate from the Niyamgiri hill and would dry up if bauxite
mining plans go ahead, according to geologists and a report by
the Supreme Court’s own Central Empowered Committee. They are
calling for an immediate halt to mining plans in the area.
4. Lasse Bjorn, a
representative of Norway’s Ministry of Culture will accept the
thank you gift.
