Almost 7 weeks after the bulldozers wreaked havoc on Auroville land and divided the community, the Residents Assembly responded with a historic vote, showing near unanimity on the question of Auroville’s development.
This was the highest Resident Assembly turnout in recent history, despite a campaign to scare residents away from the ballot box with false claims about the legal standing of the Residents Assembly.
This has now become the core of the conflict: do the people actually have a say in their own development?
The pressure from authorities on residents to back down from active participation in community processes and to "fall in line" keeps mounting. The government-appointed secretary to the Auroville Foundation recently forced foreign residents renewing their visas to sign a statement pledging allegiance to the undemocratic Town Development Committee and their top-down imposition of the Crown Road. After weeks of public outcry, the Foundation Office backed down and residents were told that the document was "a pilot/ draft to get a pulse ..."
Then the Secretariat gagged and threatened to confiscate all the assets of Auroville's Outreach Media, the community's liaison office for domestic and international journalists. Clearly, media attention is annoying to the authorities. This move was blocked by a rare show of solidarity from Auroville’s official finance body - the Funds and Assets Management Committee (FAMC) - who reminded her that Auroville assets are not government property.
Finally, in the latest intimidatory measure, the Governing Board announced that it intends to push through land clearing regardless of any decision by the Residents Assembly.
We are now at a stalemate between these two main bodies making up Auroville’s governance, while the third leg, the International Advisory Council is unsure how to respond. The National Green Tribunal verdict is expected any day now, and this could sway the balance of power in either direction.
Meanwhile in Delhi, the annual Republic Day parade saw a celebration of Sri Aurobindo seated on top of a model of Auroville's Matrimandir, amidst other symbols of central government power.
This petition – currently at 51,000 signatures - is addressed to the Prime Minister because in today's political climate the only voice that is taken seriously is the voice from "above". We want to remind the Prime Minister that Auroville is not a central government playground. It belongs to humanity as a whole. We are grateful for the support given by his administration, and invite him to honour the spirit of the Auroville Foundation Act, which calls for brotherhood and compromise rather than hierarchy and oppression.
We urge you to share this petition widely, and help us reach our goal of 100,000 signatures by next week, when the National Green Tribunal will announce its findings – which will determine the future of Auroville.
Please find a suggested text to send to your networks below:
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Dear Friends,
Auroville urgently needs your support!
Although Auroville has been globally lauded for its many achievements over the last 50 years, it is currently subjected to very heavy-handed ‘takeover’ measures by government authorities, including unauthorised destruction of forest and buildings, violence, threats and the silencing of freedom of speech. These actions contravene the community’s autonomy and long-standing participatory processes (which are upheld in law), and are against the community’s commitment to realising human unity.
In less than one week, the outcome of a court case going through the National Green Tribunal will be announced. Please sign this petition, and help us reach our goal of 100,000 signatures by next week!
https://www.change.org/sosauroville
See more information and links to social media here: https://linktr.ee/helpauroville