Bhubaneswar:
For nearly three weeks Italian national Paolo Bosusco has been in captivity of Maoists in Odisha. Today, talks between the Maoist-appointed mediators and the state government on the demands made by the Maoists remained inconclusive. The next round of talks with mediators for the release of Mr Bosusco will take place on Wednesday. Earlier today, an audio tape was released with a message by Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda demanding a signed copy of the deal between the mediators and the state government.
Here's the full transcript of the audio message:
The state government has been adopting dilatory tactics towards the demands put forth by us for the release of the Italian national. Also they have been using some of the surrendered members of our party to spy on us and also trying to turn the heat on us by planning counter-measures. If such activities do finally spell danger for the Italian hostage it's going to be the state government which will be held responsible.
The government has been spreading false news and disinformation about us. We wish to make it clear, ever since we agreed to hold talks with the government, the Odisha State Organising Committee has desisted from any kind of aggression or violent activity. We have even gone to the extent of criticising and condemning violent acts by other Maoist groups and Andhra Odisha Border Committee.
Like the great martyr Bhagat Singh we too do not believe in violence for violence sake. But we surely oppose the government-sponsored repression under the guise of peace-keeping.
Like every revolutionary party and people's organisation we have the right to defend people against violent repression by the government. We wish to state that as long as the state government does not bring in references to violent acts by Maoists elsewhere including the Odisha Andhra Border Committee, treats us as a separate entity and signs a formal cease-fire pact with us, we promise to abide by it. But as far as we know, it's never the Maoists but the government itself which has always been the violator.
In this context let me say we have already received a letter from the mediators appealing us to release the Italian national. But that does not mention which of our demands have been accepted and which ones have been rejected by the state government. Under such circumstances there is no question that we will release the hostage. On the contrary we will be forced to take the extreme step if there is undue delay by the government in dealing with this matter.
While releasing the other Italian we had very clearly said that the government should accept every demand that is valid within the ambits of law and first of all release all those who are in jail on the basis of false cases, especially those who have been re-arrested on fresh charges even after getting bail or court acquittal. We are also asking the state government not to beat around the bush and lift the ban imposed on several mass organisations. We reiterate our earlier demand that these organisations be allowed to function within the democratic space.
The repression against people's organisations and their leaders must stop forthwith. Arati Majhi, a victim of gang-rape, is now in jail and should be released immediately. And the government should initiate action against all police officials involved in incidents of rape, fake encounters and custodial death as per the laws of the land.
After government responds by releasing people serving jail terms on false charges, the released people can reach us with a copy of the signed agreement between the mediators and the state government and we can hand over the Italian to them.
In this context let me ask the government to state clearly which of our demands has met with their approval and also the names and time-frame for the release of individuals mentioned in the note submitted by mediators to the state government.
The state government should release at least seven people - Kamalakant Sethi, Arati Majhi, Sujata, Subhashree Das, Gana Nath Patra, Suka Nachika and Sudarshan Mandal - immediately as it constitutes one of our basic minimum demands and ensure the safe release of the Italian national.
Once these prisoners are set free and reach us with the signed agreement between the mediators and the state government we will hand over the Italian to them.