STRIKE CALLED IN WEST BENGAL AS OPPOSITION DESTROYS

UNCLAS CALCUTTA 000540 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS PACOM FOR POLAD, NEW DELHI FOR RSO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV IN EINV ECON ASEC SUBJECT: STRIKE CALLED IN WEST BENGAL AS OPPOSITION DESTROYS PARLIAMENT FURNITURE ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On December 1, West Bengal regional political party Trinamul Congress (TC) organized a12-hour general strike in the state, disrupting commercial activity and resulting in some violent incidents. One government official was killed and four people reportedly injured by crude bombs and stones thrown by party activists enforcing the strike. Most people remained at home, indoors and many businesses were closed, though limited public transport was available. The strike and Trinamul Congress' mayhem in the state legislative Assembly on November 30 has tarnished the image of TC leader Mamata Banerjee, and damaged the party's credibility as they battle West Bengal's ruling Left Front over land acquisition policy. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Uneasy calm prevailed on the streets of Calcutta on December 1 as West Bengal observed a 12-hour general strike called by the Opposition Trinamul Congress Party. The party leadership hastily announced the strike on the evening of November 30 after the police used force to prevent TC leader Mamata Banerjee from reaching the town of Singur, where Tata Motors is intending to construct an automobile factory. Banerjee and her party oppose the project, arguing that setting up the factory on Singur's fertile land will render thousands of farmers and their families homeless and destroy their livelihood. The police told Banerjee that she could not go to Singur as the District Administration had imposed an order to prevent political gathering of more than 5 persons, known as a Section 144 order. ¶3. (U) Having failed to reach Singur, an agitated Banerjee returned to Calcutta, to the state Legislative Assembly while the House was in session. On hearing what the police had done to their leader, party legislators went on a rampage, destroying antique colonial-era furniture, chandeliers and the modern electronics and microphones, while the assembly was in session. The incident was beamed live over news channels. Banerjee and her followers then announced a 12-hour general strike for the following day, "to protest the murder of democracy." ¶4. (U) The strike started at 6 am in the morning. Although most shops remained closed in Calcutta, offices were open. The state administration increased the supply of public transportation, as transport unions owing allegiance to the ruling Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPM) deployed more vehicles on the road. However, the number of private vehicles was noticeably diminished in Calcutta and the suburbs. Because it was a Friday, many people simply started their weekend early and stayed away from work. Contacts told post that attendance at Calcutta's burgeoning 24/7 IT and BPO sectors was between 50 and 60 percent. Workers in companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and Siemens BPO reached office by 6 am, before the strike officially started. The strike evoked mixed reactions. ¶5. (U) There were some instances of violence. Police arrested 1,000 people from different parts of West Bengal for disrupting traffic or illegal acts. One government official died and four people were injured by stones and crude bombs thrown by party activists enforcing the strike. Suburban train services were disrupted as Trinamul workers blocked the tracks. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamul Congress' behavior in the legislature and its violent protests have damaged the party's image. The CPM quickly jumped on the public relations offensive by leaving the assembly chamber open for public viewing over the weekend. Singur had been a rallying point for the Trinamul Congress to utilize against the Left Front, giving Trinamul the opportunity of accusing the Left of abandoning its traditional political base, the farmers. By resorting to violence, Mamata Banerjee and Trinamul Congress have reduced the issue to a law and order problem to be dealt by the administration and police, effectively undermining their own credibility. JARDINE