Just  keeping you updated.

The first day of  the  hunger strike  was  interesting.

The police  and  Tahasildar  terrorized the  adivasis  by giving  them a  letter  asking  them to leave the  place.Our  tribals  were  smart. They  simply suggested  that  they are not  willing to take  the letter and are ready to be  arrested. They were not forcefully  removed.

Then  in the  evening the Tahasildar asks  Bhima, leader  of  the movement, whether he will withdraw the hungerstrike if  the Case is  filed  against  those who demolished  the crop.Bhima  was  smart again. He said  that about  the other  demand: stopping the Corporation people from entering our land and destroying the huts. We  had  filed case  against  the officials immediately after  demolition.No action was  taken.

The very  development  itself shows that the  authorities are on the defensive. That makes us  realize  that we can win provided  we have  the  stamina to sustain the  struggle. Ours  is not  a  big  movement.We  do not have a huge mass base.We  need support  from  people like you who still beilieve that a less unjust society is possible. Please  send  appeals to authorities. It will definitely pressurize them. Let us see what  happens today.

I may go on hungerstrike  from tomorrow onwards.

John