Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CALCUTTA540
2006-12-01 13:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:  

STRIKE CALLED IN WEST BENGAL AS OPPOSITION DESTROYS

Tags:  PGOV IN EINV ECON ASEC 
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VZCZCXRO3876
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCI #0540 3351332
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011332Z DEC 06
FM AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0292
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 1588
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0465
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0463
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0292
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


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