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
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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
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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