The Risks of Our Tacit Approval

Newsreel Asia Insight #51
Nov. 22, 2023

In the dense forests of Maharashtra on November 20, police dismantled a protest site where Adivasi communities had been demonstrating against proposed iron-ore mines. In this act, the government also disrupted the delicate balance between state authority and citizen rights in a democracy.

The facts are straightforward but unsettling. Over 70 Adivasi villages had been engaged in an eight-month-long peaceful protest in Gadchiroli district’s Todgatta area. Their opposition to the six proposed mines in Surjagarh area was met with a forceful response, The Wire reported,  saying that key protest leaders were reportedly taken into custody, their personal belongings confiscated. Reports of police using lathis and causing injuries add to the gravity of the situation.

The police’s rationale for their actions – claims of Maoist influence and obstruction – has been met with scepticism. Protest representatives and activists argue that the nature of the Todgatta protest was peaceful and that the allegations of violence and Maoist links are a misrepresentation.

Gadchiroli’s history tells a tale where the loud drums of development and security often drown out the whispers of its local communities. Picture this: a 2018 report unveils a troubling trend – as mining activities ramp up, so does the security presence. In this escalating atmosphere, villagers raising their voices are quickly labelled as Naxalites or Maoists. It’s a classic case of blurred lines, where the pursuit of law and order sometimes seems to overshadow the right to legitimate protest.

The issue’s global resonance, underscored by discussions at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, highlights its profound significance. The proposed mining projects, with the potential to displace thousands, transcend local environmental and economic realms, touching the core of human rights. Moreover, the detrimental health impacts already emerging from existing mining activities in the region add another layer of urgency to these concerns.

Throughout the nation, we witness similar narratives – a perpetual tug-of-war between the forces of development, security and the rights of citizens. The response to the Gadchiroli protest serves as a mirror to this continuous, delicate negotiation.

When a government greenlights a project that adversely affects local communities, communities that have roots in the area stretching back decades or even centuries, it stands on shaky moral ground. This situation becomes even more indefensible when the government resorts to violence to silence those who rise to defend the interests of these local populations. It's akin to adding insult to injury – not only are the deeply ingrained lives and traditions of these people disregarded, but their pleas and protests are met with force, further deepening the divide and the sense of injustice.

When those who are not directly impacted by such unjust actions of the government choose to remain silent, it inadvertently sends a signal of tacit approval to the authorities. This silence can be interpreted by the government as a green light, suggesting that the populace is either indifferent or supportive of their actions. It’s akin to witnessing a wrongdoing and choosing to look away; such non-action can be misconstrued as endorsement, emboldening the government to continue on its contentious path.

The true strength of a democratic system lies not merely in the grandeur of its institutions, but in its capacity to attentively listen, thoughtfully respond and genuinely respect the myriad voices of its people. It’s like an orchestra where the harmony is not just in the instruments, but in how attentively each note is played and heard, creating a symphony that truly embodies the spirit of a vibrant, diverse democracy.