Indigenous Peoples’ Un-Freedoms and Our Academic Freedom
A Call for Solidarity
Left: open source; Right: Newsclick
We, the undersigned, note with deep concern and urgency the escalating drone attacks by security forces on India's Indigenous (Adivasi) people, particularly the recent bombings of Adivasi areas in Bastar. These acts not only violate the Indian Constitution but also infringe upon the fundamental rights and dignity of Adivasi communities. As scholars concerned about indigenous communities, we consider it our responsibility to draw attention to these attacks on Adivasi lives and livelihoods, and advocate for justice for the people whose lives are intertwined with our research and scholarship.
In April 2023, there were reports of yet another aerial drone bomb attack carried out by security forces in the Bijapur district of Bastar, Chhattisgarh. These attacks represent a disquieting expansion of state-sanctioned terror against the Adivasi population and pose an imminent threat to their lives and existence. It is crucial to recognize that these attacks are not isolated incidents but occur within the wider context of Adivasi resistance against state-led efforts to displace and dispossess them from their ancestral lands, enabling corporate access to the region's mineral wealth. The use of aerial bombardment against civilians demands immediate attention and action. We express deep concern about the silence within the academic community regarding this critical issue.
The latest drone attack marks the fourth instance of such attacks within a span of three years. Investigations have verified the allegations of aerial attacks. In February 2023, the Coordination of Democratic Rights Organizations (CDRO) Fact-Finding Team was initially denied access to the villages of Usoor Block in Bijapur to investigate the aerial bombings that occurred on January 11, 2023. However, in March 2023, the CDRO successfully conducted an inquiry, visiting Mettuguda, Bottethong, and Errapalli villages, where evidence and testimonies confirmed multiple drones dropped nine bombs, followed by intense firing from two helicopters. Such compelling evidence leaves little room for doubt regarding the allegations made by the villagers of Bastar. Similar claims of aerial bombings were reported in 2021 and 2022, further corroborating the distressing reality. Denying access to a reputable rights organization like the CDRO, who subsequently confirmed the allegations, strongly suggests an ongoing aerial war waged by the Indian state in Bastar.
The testimonies of affected villagers poignantly reflect the trauma and fear inflicted by these attacks, with drones indiscriminately dropping bombs on individuals engaged in their daily routines. This wanton use of force serves as a strategic tool to instill fear and coerce Adivasi communities into abandoning their villages, effectively facilitating the takeover of the region by mining corporations. The dismissive response of the police to these allegations compounds the injustice.
International laws explicitly prohibit the use of aerial attacks in internal conflicts or areas inhabited by civilians. However, the Indian state appears to be gearing up towards an all-encompassing war against the Adivasi populace, relentlessly supporting the plundering of rich mineral resources in the region by both Indian and multinational corporations and conglomerates. The latest drone attack must be contextualized within Operation SAMADHAN-Prahar, an ongoing military operation initiated in 2017 as an extension of Operation Green Hunt explicitly designed to suppress the democratic resistance of the Adivasi people against corporate exploitation. These operations clearly involve procuring drones and weapons, establishing numerous paramilitary camps, and effectively transforming security forces into private militias for corporations, despite the Supreme Court of India declaring Salwa Judum, a government-funded vigilante organization, as unlawful. In other words, an undeclared civil war is being waged upon the people to facilitate resource exploitation in the interest of capital.
These attacks also flagrantly violate not only the rights of the Adivasis but also contravene the Indian Constitution. Article 14 guarantees the right to equality before the law, which is severely compromised by the targeted nature of these attacks. Article 21 safeguards the right to life and personal liberty, undermined by the use of force and the creation of a climate of fear. Article 19 protects freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, all of which are suppressed by silencing Adivasi voices and dissent. Moreover, the erosion of constitutional safeguards intended to protect Adivasis further exacerbates their vulnerability to state-sanctioned attacks. Special provisions designed to prevent displacement have been systematically undermined, leaving these communities defenseless. The diminishing authority of Tribal Advisory Councils, responsible for ensuring Adivasi participation in decision-making processes, curtails their agency and perpetuates the violation of their rights and traditional practices.
The resounding silence of the opposition, judiciary, media, and the larger citizenry of India in response to these drone attacks and paramilitary camps is a stark mockery of democracy. Academic research has contributed to the evidence that the fundamental conflict in the central Indian forests centers around the Adivasis' unwavering defense of their ancestral lands against the encroachment of powerful corporate entities seeking valuable mineral resources. Academic work has also paid due recognition to the dire consequences of displacement and dispossession, which the Adivasis have bravely chosen to resist despite becoming primary targets of violence and human rights violations, exacerbating their persistent marginalization and pre-existing socio-economic disparities perpetuated by a negligent state.
As academics, we recognize our social responsibility to use our academic freedom to unequivocally condemn these attacks and ardently advocate for the restoration and fortification of constitutional safeguards. It is imperative that we utilize our academic platforms, expertise, and influence to raise awareness of these violations, and demand immediate action to safeguard the rights and lives of Adivasi communities.
We commend Member of the European Parliament, Marisa Matias, for raising the issue in the European Parliament and asking, “How is the Commission, and specifically DG ECHO [Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations], supporting the victims of aerial bombing and the indigenous environmental defenders who are suffering persecution in India?” This question was asked shortly after a statement on the bombings was released by several global civil society organisations, a few days after the fourth attack. The EU has acknowledged that “Due to access restrictions imposed for security reasons by the Government of India in Bijapur district, no humanitarian or human rights organizations are allowed to operate in these regions.” It is crucial to question the security reasons behind these access restrictions, as they may impact our academic freedom to work in these areas.
We strongly believe that it is our responsibility to amplify the voices of the Adivasis and to stand in unwavering solidarity with them. We pledge our support to their fight for justice and a more equitable India, where the rights and dignity of all individuals are upheld.
SIGNATORIES
American Anthropological Association, USA
Indigenous Environmental Network, USA
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, Denmark
First Peoples Worldwide, USA
Association of Social Anthropology in Aotearoa, New Zealand
International Solidarity for Academic Freedom in India
Tarcila Rivera Zea, CHIRAPAQ Centro de Culturas Indígenas del Perú, Peru
Ruth Buffalo, Human Rights Program Advocate, International Indian Treaty Council, USA
Ben Silverstein, Australian National University; Co-Editor, Aboriginal History, Australia
Fany Kuiru Castro, Coordinadora de las Organizaciones Indígenas de la Cuenca Amazónica, Colombia
J. Kēhaulani Kauanui, Professor of Anthropology and American Studies, Wesleyan University, USA
Jeff Corntassel, Professor, Indigenous Studies, University of Victoria, Canada
Teresa L. McCarty, Distinguished Professor and GF Kneller Chair in Education and Anthropology; Faculty, American Indian Studies; Co-Editor, Journal of American Indian Education, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Jaume Franquesa, Associate Professor, University at Buffalo-SUNY, USA
Michael Yellow Bird, Dean and Professor, University of Manitoba, USA
Manuela Lavinas Picq, Professor of International Relations, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador, USA
Noelani Goodyear-Kaopua, Professor of Political Science & Indigenous Politics, University of Hawai’i, USA
Jon Charles Altman, Emeritus Professor, Australian National University, Australia
Temitope Oriola, Professor, University of Alberta (signed as an individual), Canada
Aileen Moreton-Robinson, Professor of Indigenous Studies University of Queensland, Australia
Ramy Bulan, Research Fellow, University Malaya, Malaysia
Marisol de la Cadena, Professor (Anthropology and STS) University of California-Davis, USA
Meena Dhanda, InSAF India
John Harriss, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Syracuse University, USA
Priya Chacko, University of Adelaide, Australia
Ilan Kapoor, Professor, York University, Toronto, Canada
Haroon Akram-Lodhi, Trent University, Canada
Ania Loomba, University of Pennsylvania, USA
Suvir Kaul, University of Pennsylvania, USA
Sourayan Mookerjea, Professor, University of Alberta, Canada
Gyan Prakash, Professor, Princeton University, USA
Alpa Shah, Professor, London School of Economics, UK
Jayant Lele, Professor Emeritus. Queen's University, Canada
Felix Padel, Research Associate, Centre for World Environment History, University of Sussex, UK
Gyanendra Pandey, Professor, Emory University, USA
Jens Lerche, Professor, SOAS University of London, UK
Lotika Singha, InSAF India
Alvin So, Professor Emeritus, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
Vinay Lal, Professor of History, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Raju J Das, Professor, York University, Toronto, Canada
John Hutnyk, Professor, Ton Duc Thang University, Vietnam
Vamsi Vakulabharanam, Co-Director Asian Political Economy Program, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
Subir Sinha, Reader, Development Studies, SOAS London, UK
Walden Bello, Most Distinguished Defender of Human Rights Awardee from Amnesty International Philippines, International Adjunct Professor of Sociology, State University of New York, Binghamton, USA
David Nugent, Professor of Anthropology, Emory University, USA
Vinita Damodaran, Professor University of Sussex, UK
Jan C Breman, Professor, Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research, The Netherlands
Chandana Mathur, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology Maynooth University, Ireland
Alessandra Mezzadri, Reader in Global Development, SOAS, UK
Marion Werner, Professor, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, USA
David Ludden, Professor of History, New York University, USA
Dina M. Siddiqi, Clinical Associate Professor, New York University, USA
Sruti Bala, Associate Professor, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Zoe Todd, Associate Professor, Indigenous Studies, Simon Fraser University, Canada
Audra Mitchell, Professor, Balsillie School of International Affairs/Wilfrid Laurier University, USA
May-Britt Öhman, Associate Professor, Uppsala University, Sweden
Stephanie Leder, Associate Professor/Researcher, Sweden
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Independent Scholar, Canada
Bonita Lawrence, Indigenous Studies Program, York University, USA
Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend, University of California Berkeley Alumna. USA
Harry Fischer, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
Patricia McGuire, Associate Professor, Carleton University, Canada
Neepa Majumdar, Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh, USA
Hoang Tan Nguyen, Associate Professor of Literature, University of California, San Diego, USA
Mehana Vaughan, Faculty, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, USA
Sunaina Maira, Professor, UC Davis, USA
Usha Iyer, Stanford University, USA
Jyotsna Kapur, Professor/Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA
Lyla, Professor, Institute of Development Studies, UK (personal not institutional endorsement)
Clint Carroll, Associate Professor, University of Colorado Boulder, USA
Jennifer L. Fluri, Professor of Geography, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Sudeep Dasgupta, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Joe T. Berry, retired, City College of San Francisco and University of Illinois, Labor Studies/Labor Education, USA
The London Story, Advocacy Officer, UK
Kirsten Anker, McGill University, Canada
Robert Warrior, Hall Distinguished Professor, University of Kansas, USA
Circe Sturm, Professor, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
Sally McAra, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Malvika Gupta, DPhil Candidate, University of Oxford, UK
Marco Bassi, Associate Professor, University of Palermo, Italy
Shiri Pasternak, Associate Professor, Criminology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada
Irene Shankar, Associate Professor, Mount Royal University, Canada
Nancy Glazener, Professor of English and GSWS, University of Pittsburgh, USA
Naomi Lightman, Associate Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada
Lucy Fowler, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba, Canada
Katyayani Vidmahe, Prajaswamika Rachayitrula Vedika, India
Nayantara Ranganatha, Student, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Rahul Rao, Reader, University of St Andrews, Scotland
Shyam Prasad, Bangalore, India
Ian Wall, Professor, Heriot Watt University, Scotland
Prabir Chatterjee, Medical Officer/ Independent
Maithri, Junior Lecturer, Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Rajesh Misra, Professor (Retired)
Paula Chakravartty, James Weldon Johnson Associate Professor of Media Studies, New York University, USA
Hindus for Human Rights, Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director
University of Alberta, Social Justice & International Education Specialization
Dayton Andrews, Public School Teacher with the San Francisco Unified School District, California, USA
Malini Roy, Freelance writer, UK
Dr. Steve Macek, Professor, Communication, North Central College, Illinois, USA.
Shiva Shankar, Professor, Retired from IITB and CMI
Paul Eisenberg, Retired Professor
Aneil Rallin, Unaffiliated Scholar, USA
Dia Da Costa, Professor of Social Justice and International Studies in Education, University of Alberta, Canada
Raj Patel, Research Professor, University of Texas at Austin, USA
Douglas L. Paterson, Retired Professor of Theatre and Social Change
Gurpreet Kaur, Independent Researcher
Rashmi Varma, University of Warwick, UK
Dr. Philipp Zehmisch, Senior Academic Staff, South Asia Institute, Heidelberg, Germany
Satyaki Majumdar, Researcher, Jadavpur University
Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), Member
Putul Sathe, Associate Professor, SNDT Women’s University
Nisha Thapliyal, Senior Lecturer, University of Newcastle
Asmita Aasaavari, Sociologist, University Of Connecticut, USA
Leslie Martin D, Advisor to Dalit Bahujan Shramik Union, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
Deepa, Independent Activist
Anand Doraswami, Private Citizen
Ayelen, London Mining Network
Rohini Hensman, Writer and Independent Scholar
Sue Willman, King’s College Legal Clinic, Lecturer, UK
Anne Harley, Senior Lecturer, UKZN, KwaZulu-Natal
K. Ravi Chander, Activist, Hyderabad, India
Ashok Danavath, Independent Researcher
Amal Chatterjee, Senior Course Tutor, University of Oxford, UK
Basav Sen, Climate Policy Director, Institute for Policy Studies, Washington DC, USA
Priya Jaikumar, Professor, University of Southern California, USA
Ian Woolford, Lecturer, LaTrobe University, Australia
Dr Andy Higginbottom, Associate Professor (Retd)
Chhaya Datar, Retired Professor at TISS
Ronak M Soni, Research Associate, University of Cambridge, UK
Prakash Kashwan, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Brandies University
Pritam Singh, Professor Emeritus in Economics, Oxford Brookes Business School, Oxford, UK
Purnima Bose, Professor, Indiana University, USA
Professor A. K. Maleri, President, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Vichar, Punjab, India
James Igoe, Professor of Anthropology, University of Virginia