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Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
06CALCUTTA540	2006-12-01 13:32	2011-08-30 01:44	UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY	Consulate Kolkata

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 
 
 
¶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

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Viewing cable 06CALCUTTA540, STRIKE CALLED IN WEST BENGAL AS OPPOSITION DESTROYS