Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KOLKATA145
2007-05-03 12:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:  

RENEWED VIOLENCE IN NANDIGRAM INDICATES A POLITICAL BATTLE

Tags:  PGOV ECON EINV IN PHUM 
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VZCZCXRO4444
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHCI #0145 1231254
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031254Z MAY 07
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1533
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1889
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000145 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT PLS PASS USTR-AADLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EINV IN PHUM
SUBJECT: RENEWED VIOLENCE IN NANDIGRAM INDICATES A POLITICAL BATTLE
FOR RURAL VOTERS

REF: KOLKATA 000104, KOLKATA 000088

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000145

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT PLS PASS USTR-AADLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EINV IN PHUM
SUBJECT: RENEWED VIOLENCE IN NANDIGRAM INDICATES A POLITICAL BATTLE
FOR RURAL VOTERS

REF: KOLKATA 000104, KOLKATA 000088


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Two people were killed and five injured in
Nandigram on April 29 in a recurrence of violence between
supporters of the Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPM) and
the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee ("Committee to Resist
Displacement from Land") (BUPC). While the fighting in
Nandigram earlier this year was over land acquisition for a
proposed petrochemical hub, the latest violence reflects a
growing struggle between the CPM and Trinamul Congress
(TMC)-backed BUPC over turf and political control. The CPM is
experiencing cracks within its Left Front with growing criticism
coming from its smaller coalition partners who have been
traditional CPM allies. For the first time in decades, the CPM
may be facing a real challenge to its dominance in some parts of
West Bengal. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Despite West Bengal government's recent decision not to
locate a 14,000 acre chemical hub in Nandigram -- a small rural
neighborhood in East Midnapur district, about 100 miles
southwest of Kolkata - the area remains a flashpoint for
violence. Two persons were killed when fighting broke out
between supporters of the CPM and BUPC. During the battle,
there was liberal use of improvised bombs, muskets and small
arms. Starting in the early hours of April 29, the fighting
lasted nearly two days, resulting in damage to houses and crops
as well.


3. (SBU) Media reports indicated that fighting started when
about 150 armed CPM supporters made an effort to enter Nandigram
on April 29. CPM leaders claimed that these supporters were
former residents of Nandigram who have been living in makeshift
camps since early January after being driven out of their homes
by BUPC activists. The BUPC and TMC leaders, however, claimed
the men were not residents of Nandigram but thugs hired by local
CPM leaders. A senior political leader from the Congress party
told post on his return from Nandigram that the police stood by
as the CPM and BUPC groups attacked each other and ransacked
close to 200 houses in the area.


4. (U) On April 30 in Kolkata, TMC supporters protested and
blocked important city streets, tying up traffic. A Post
contact said that the TMC is not in a hurry to begin any
political dialog in Nandigram, content to put itself forward as
the face of resistance to CPM rule. He also said that small
arms were pouring into Nandigram from all over West Bengal and
also from neighboring Bihar and Jharkhand.


5. (SBU) Although Senior Left Front partners of the CPM dismiss
the idea of their forming a separate Left Front, a section of
the CPM leadership has begun to fear, justifiably, the
possibility of losing their rural agrarian support base. In
Nandigram, the BUPC itself consists partly of former CPM
supporters who defected and are now taking the lead with
opposition supporters in fighting the CPM. The opposition TMC
hopes to build a front of all opposition forces comprised of the
BUPC, Muslim organizations and smaller parties in the months to
come. However, until the TMC formally severs ties with the
rightist BJP and develops an effective organizational network
statewide, the possibility of its weaning away former Left
supporters, including Muslims, is remote.


6. (SBU) Comment: Nandigram began in January as fight by local
villagers to keep their land in the face of GOWB plans for a
mega-chemical hub. However, it is quickly transforming into a
battle for political power. The CPM for the first time in
almost three decades faces a serious challenge to its authority
in rural West Bengal. The repercussions from Nandigram are now
being felt within the CPM's Left Front coalition as the smaller
Left parties, like the Forward Bloc, the Communist Party of
India (CPI) and others are criticizing the CPM and Chief
Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Even among the CPM
leadership, tensions appear to be growing with some Ministers
publicly unhappy with the direction of Bhattacharjee's
industrial policy. Nandigram has catalyzed a serious political
crisis for the CPM and is likely to fester, generating further
violence, with the possibility of other areas slated for
industrial development becoming new flashpoints.

JARDINE