Focus on the Global South - India Programme

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Statements, Reports, Calls to Action

Left Triumphs in Ecuadorian Elections, Country's Institutions to be Transformed

Tuesday, 09 October 2007 08:20 Sonila Swaminathan
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By Roger Burbach 01 October, 2007 Source: Countercurrents.org
 
"We have won an historic victory," proclaimed President Rafael Correa of Ecuador. On Sunday the political coalition he heads won an overwhelming majority of the seats in the Constituent Assembly that is tasked with "refounding" the nation's institutions. Taking office early this year in a land slide victory, Correa has repeatedly called for an opening to a "new socialism of the twenty- first century," declaring that Ecuador has to end "the perverse system that has destroyed our democracy, our economy and our society." His government marks the emergence of a radical anti-neoliberal axis in South America, comprising Venezuela, Bolivia and now Ecuador.

PRESS RELEASE : TRIBUNAL FINDS UNDUE INFLUENCE OF BANK ON INDIA'S NATIONAL POLICIES

Thursday, 27 September 2007 06:33 Sonila Swaminathan
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PRESS RELEASE                                24 September 2007, New Delhi   


World Bank officials shy away from participation
'TRIBUNAL FINDS UNDUE INFLUENCE OF BANK ON INDIA'S NATIONAL POLICIES'

New Delhi: The four day Independent Peoples Tribunal (IPT) on the World Bankin India concluded here today hearing numerous depositions indicting the Bank's policy and project interventions in India.

While the World Bank India office did engage with the IPT and claimed they would make a deposition to respond to some of the evidence against the Bank, they failed to show up despite provision of adequate space and time by the organisers.

In its preliminary findings, the IPT observed the Bank had an undue and disturbingly negative influence in shaping India's national policies disproportionate to its contribution, financial or otherwise.

Peoples Media Initiative statement protesting attack on Outlook office

Thursday, 06 September 2007 09:26 Sonila Swaminathan
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Press Statement

Peoples' Media Initiaitve (PMI) strongly condemns dastardly attack on the office of Outlook magazine. Shiv Sainiks vandalised the Nariman Point office, Mumbai, on the eve of India's 60th Independence day. It was an assault on Media's Independence.

Around 10-12 Shiv Sainiks barged into the office, damaged computers and smashed glass partitions and started shouting slogans praising Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray.

Statement Against Implementation of Coastal Zone Management

Wednesday, 20 June 2007 02:10 Sonila Swaminathan
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Dear Friends,

In line with the sweeping changes being made in environment and land acquisition policies to favor industry and investment, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) is preparing to introduce new coastal management legislation to open up coastal land for unregulated commercial exploitation.

A draft notification prepared by the MoEF to this effect and due to be published in the Official Gazette was recently leaked to the press. The draft is based entirely on the recommendations of the infamous MS Swaminathan Expert Committee Report, which since its release in 2005, has been summarily and universally rejected by fisher peoples' organizations and all other democratic forces in civil society.

We must prevent the gazetting of the draft notification, which if allowed to go unchecked will eventually be transformed into new law with disastrous consequences for coastal communities and ecosystems.

Statement on Smartcity SEZ, Kerala

Wednesday, 20 June 2007 02:07 Sonila Swaminathan
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The Smart City project in Kerala is yet another example of the way in which unjust economic development is being pushed as part of globalisation. We are particularly concerned that a Left government elected to power in Kerala on a mandate of questioning the infirmities of globalisation is now firmly on the same path âEURO" be it the approval for Smart City or the acceptance of ADB loans with all the attendant conditionalities. The Left is particularly open to criticism because it is exploiting the provisions of the anti-people SEZ Act (2006) to push neo-liberal reforms in places like Kerala while opposing land acquisition via the SEZ Act in every other state. We specifically oppose the Smart City project on the following grounds, and appeal to the Kerala Government to reconsider its decision to grant approval to this project.

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