COMMUNISTS GRAB LAND IN KERALA, BUT NO NANDIGRAM THIS

UNCLAS CHENNAI 000707 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV IN SUBJECT: COMMUNISTS GRAB LAND IN KERALA, BUT NO NANDIGRAM THIS TIME REFS: A) NEW DELHI 5157 B) KOLKATA 345 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Workers from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)),together with more than 700 locals, tried to grab a 127 acre piece of government land in Kerala. After pushing out a group of tribal families that had previously claimed the land for themselves, the CPI(M) cadres tore down the tribals' sheds and planted flags to mark their possession. The local government acted swiftly, convincing both sides to vacate the land. Opposition leaders and media outlets were quick to draw comparisons to the recent situation in Nandigram, West Bengal, but attempts to equate the two are misplaced in light of the quick, peaceful resolution of the Kerala dispute. END SUMMARY COMMUNISTS AND TRIBALS TRY TO GRAB GOVERNMENT LAND -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Kerala's scenic Munnar region is an increasingly popular tourist destination. With new resorts sprouting up like mushrooms throughout Munnar's hills, vacant land is becoming scarce. On November 26, 150 CPI(M) workers, along with over 700 locals, tried to grab a 127 acre piece of government land near Munnar. A group of 120 tribal families had previously laid claim to the same land based on a promise made to them four years ago that they would receive land in the district. Two journalists told post the CPI(M) activists pushed out the tribal families, destroyed the sheds the they were putting up, and planted red flags on the land marking possession. Both journalists said no one was physically injured. By late evening, the Additional District Magistrate (Deputy Collector) intervened, firmly asking both the CPI(M) workers and the tribals to leave the land. According to the journalists, both sides quickly vacated the land, but the tribals are still squatting on a nearby area demanding allocation of the land they were promised. ¶3. (SBU) The disputed land is part of 1,500 acres of land the government of Kerala has leased to a newsprint factory to grow eucalyptus trees. Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who visited the site, told post that although the CPI(M) workers have vacated the land they briefly occupied on November 26, ten acres of an adjoining plot is still under the unlawful custody of a local CPI(M) leader who recently fenced it off. Chandy said that local CPI(M) leaders act with impunity only because they get protection from their political bosses. LEFTIST INFIGHTING AND MEDIA DETER IMPUNITY -------------- ¶4. (SBU) According to one of the journalists, the district officials dealt firmly with the land usurpers because they were supported by the state's Revenue Minister, a member of the Communist Party of India (CPI) (which is separate from the CPI(M)). He said that although the CPI is a partner in the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front, it is at odds with the "big brother attitude" of the dominant CPI(M) and would not pass up a chance to embarrass them. Even the CPI(M) is itself divided in this regard: there are two warring factions within the party and the journalist said only one of them countenances this type of behavior from its party workers. Another journalist commented that although political leaders are able to act with impunity, "it is difficult to monopolize power for too long in Kerala where you have too many factions and groups, and a hyper-active media." ¶5. (SBU) The November 26 land grab comes against the background of another recent CPI(M) land controversy in Munnar. Soon after coming to power, Kerala's CPI(M) Chief Minister personally led an effort to demolish unauthorized structures built on illegally encroached lands in Munnar. The demolition drive ended abruptly after local LDF leaders raised protests. Still recovering from the embarrassment of the stalled demolition drive, the CPI(M) is now also facing criticism over the November 26 incident, which the media and opposition have characterized as a "Nandigram style operation minus the violence." ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: The Kerala CPI(M) may be a worthy target for criticism, but equating Nandigram and Munnar is misplaced. Though Nandigram and Munnar involve similar tactics -- CPI(M) intimidation in furtherance of a land grab - there are stark differences. In Nandigram, CPI(M) goons armed with automatic weapons raped women and fired on unarmed civilians (ref B); in Munnar CPI(M) cadres pushed aside the tribal families and planted flags. Most tellingly, unlike Nandigram where the state government condoned the violent land grab, in the Munnar dispute the CPI(M)-led government in Kerala allowed local bureaucrats to resolve the matter. Observers from across the spectrum agree that organized, state-sanctioned violence of the scale perpetrated in Nandigram is virtually impossible to imagine in Kerala. Given the scarcity and increasing value of real estate in Kerala, land grabs and intimidation by the CPI(M) can be expected in the future. But unlike in West Bengal, future victims, like the tribals in Munnar, will be able to turn to the government, the opposition, and the media for protection from Kerala's CPI(M). END COMMENT. ¶7. (U) This message was coordinated with Embassy New Delhi. HOPPER