Survival International Press Release
13 October 2008
India: Tribe Vows To Fight Mine With Axes And Arrows
One of India’s most isolated tribes, the Dongria Kondh, is preparing to stop British FTSE 100 company Vedanta from
mining aluminium ore on their sacred mountain, after police and hired thugs forced protestors to dismantle a barricade
over the weekend.
About 150 people had blocked the road in Orissa state on Wednesday after hearing that Vedanta intended to start survey
work for a planned aluminium mine which would destroy an ecologically vital hill, and the Dongria Kondh’s most sacred
site. Vedanta employees visited the blockade repeatedly, threatening the protestors. On Friday the villagers gave in and
took down the barricade, but about 100 are still at the side of the road, blocking traffic when Vedanta vehicles
approach.
Vedanta is majority owned by London-based Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal.
Today, Dongria Kondh from all over Niyamgiri, the hill range that would be decimated by Vedanta’s mine, are making
arrows and preparing their axes to stop Vedanta reaching their sacred mountain. One Dongria man said today ‘Now our
people are very angry. We have to show the Dongria Kondh power to Vedanta.’
When India’s Supreme Court gave Vedanta the green light in August to mine on Dongria land, around 40 Dongrias used tree
trunks to block a road leading into their hills, and held banners reading, ‘We are Dongria Kondh. Vedanta can not take
our mountain.’
The mountain that Vedanta wants to mine is not only the Dongria Kondh’s most sacred site, it is also integral to the
entire ecosystem of the hills, enabling the numerous streams and lush forests which sustain the Dongrias to continue to
thrive.
Survival’s director, Stephen Corry, said today ‘The Dongria Kondh are protecting their land from invaders, who are only
interested in plundering the mountain for their own gain. The Dongrias will get nothing from the mine, except
destitution and ruin, and Survival will continue to support their resistance to Vedanta.’
ENDS
We help tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures.