A Statement from Asia Press Office, Right Livelihood Award Foundation forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission
The Western Ghat ecosystem supports the lives of people in six states of India. The Western Ghats face serious threats of ecological destruction, which will ultimately have disastrous effects on the lives of millions of people of these states. A committee headed by Prof. Gadgil, appointed by the Government of India has come out with recommendations for the protection of Western Ghats. The Government has not yet accepted the report.
On the other hand, the Government has shelved and replaced the report with another committee, which has made weak recommendations that are also unscientifically drawn. We are also aware of the fact that this manipulation is undemocratic, non scientific and has already been rejected by a large number of people and peoples’ organisations from the Western Ghats.
Yet, we understand that the Governments are proceeding with a number of destructive and devastative projects undertaken in the fragile areas of the Western Ghats, which is a common heritage of humankind to be protected. This will turn a crisis to a calamity, affecting the lives and livelihoods of the millions of people residing the Western Ghats.
In light of the above, we, the undersigned Laureates of the Right Livelihood Award, gathered in Mumbai for the Regional Conference of Asia-Pacific Laureates request the Government of India to accept the Gadgil Committee report and implement its recommendations in letter and spirit without further delay.
Yours Sincerely,
Suciwati (Wife of Munir, 2000 Laureate, Indonesia)
Sima Samar (2012 Laureate, Afghanistan)
Basil Fernando (2014 Laureate, Hong Kong)
Arun Gupta (representing 1998 Laureate IBFAN)
Glorene Das (Representing Irene Fernandez & TENAGANITA, 2005 Laureate, Malaysia)
Nnimmo Bassey (2010 Laureate, Nigeria)
Irfan Engineer (Son of Asghar Ali Engineer, 2004 Laureate, India)
Hogyun Kim (Representing CCEJ, 2003 Laureate from Korea)
Lobzang Tsultim (Representing 1986 Laureate LEDeg, India)
Alyn Ware (2009 Laureate, New Zealand)
Ovais Sultan Khan (Representing Lokayan, 1985 Laureate, India)
Medha Patkar (1991 Laureate, India)
P.K. Ravindran (Representing KSSP, 1996 Laureate, India)
Contact: Karan Singh, Asia Press Office
Right Livelihood Award Foundation
G/F, 52 Princess Margaret Road
Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Mobile: 
+852 6902 5325
Office: +852 2695 6523
Email: press-asia@rightlivelihood.org
Web: www.rightlivelihood.org
