It was a victory of the people.

The government's decision to support the wishes of the local people to get the London-based Asia Energy out of Phulbari and not to allow open pit mining in the country is worth appreciating.

This means the government is listening to the grievances of its peoples and this is what is important. When the government listens more closely to what its own people are saying, then it can govern more effectively and steer the country to a better economic and political state. After all, people are the most vital component of what composes the government. They are the ones who directly know what's happening to them and what directly affects them.

It is in this context that the determined decision of local people here to have the coal mining operations closed down is equally worth celebrating.

This is a clear expression of a community decision which an empowered people wants-- whether they were backed or not by other political and civic groups. (In the first place, everybody influences everybody and it is up for one to join in the influence of the other or not, based on his own free will.)

Empowerment has time and again been manifested by a number of hartals by Bangladeshis throughout the years. The people from different sectors- garment workers, teachers, students, indigenous peoples, other sectors, and the affected community itself - express their grievances and what they want. This venue for expression says that the parliament and the government's implementing and legislative bodies are not accommodative enough to listen and go for people-based solutions to the peoples' problems.

Need the people say more? They sacrificed and continue to sacrifice their very own lives to make the government understand and address their plight, poverty, low wages, landlessness, denial of human rights, neglect over basic services, etc. This state of street articulation has reached a staggering show of democratic expression of the peoples' political will to change systems in order to address their social, economic, and political needs.

On the occasion of the upcoming elections in 2007, what promising changes do we see for the suffering majority of Bangladeshi people- a great percentage of them being mired in poverty and not having access to land, skill, technology, resources, services, and the law?

Indigenous peoples , numbering some estimated 2 million spread out all over the hilly borders of Chittagong Hill Tracts and plains of northwest, northeast and southeast parts of the country, are slowly losing their remaining few parcels of land because of miserable poverty and land grabbing.

Their ignorance of the State Acquisition and Tenancy Act of 1950 which saw earlier recognition in the early 1900s provides for the permission of the revenue officer before any transfer of their land in order to protect them from deceitful sales and transfer, has led them to sell their land without the required permission. Though ignorance of the law excuses no one, it is the responsibility of the government to let a great percentage of illiterate Adivasis know what the law means.

In the plains of the northwest because of losing lands, they resort to working as share croppers and daily farm workers earning as low as 40 taka a day. It is a question to ask what proper government intervention has been done to alleviate the plight of these Adivasis or making landlords give the farm worker just wages.

A separate Land Commission has constantly been demanded by the long neglected sectors of society but the government has long turned a blind ear to them. The long demand for Constitutional recognition has also long been denied to these peoples referred to as "backward sections of society" in the Constitution.

The government so far has not initiated any promising step to accommodate indigenous peoples. What is wrong with the government, why it cannot accommodate and effectively address the problems of its own people?

With the government's decision to get Asian Energy out of Phulbari, following a massive protest against the mining company, it is expected that other problems of the people will also be attended.

Gina Dizon, Adivasi Unnayan Songstha, Court Station More, Rajshahi

I fully endorse Sharier Khan's view that very inept handling of the matter has led to such an unfortunate situation. Mahmudur Rahman in a press meet termed the contract with AEC as anti-people and he even demanded punishment of the persons involved in the deal , irrespective of party affiliation. This meant that he even raised question about the sincerity of the previous BNP government. Sitting inside the glasshouse, he pelted stones which now has created such an unfortunate situation. The government without considering the consequences jumped into conclusion. Why Mr. Rahman did not keep track of what his committee was doing in Phulbari? Who are the people behind such incidents? If anyone tries to assess who are the beneficiaries of scandalous Barapukuria and Maddhyapara mining, the answer would be found. Bangladesh will have pay through its nose for the inappropriate mining technology of Barapukuria for years. And now if the government ultimately cancels AEC deal it will definitely have to face arbitration and lose, as the government had given guarantee. Open pit mining is the only answer if we like to mine at all. Relocation and rehabilitation have to be done in the best interest of the people. Whether or not the AEC is a competent company is a different issue. Bangladesh will turn into a hell for FDI if our mindset is not revolutionised.

The government may leave it for its successor, but what will happen to the image of the country? Leading a country's energy sector is not the same as innovating ceramics. For God's sake, do not create any further drama in the remaining period.

Saleque Sufi, Melbourne

On the recent Phulbari firing a writer in a local English daily reminded our (democratic?) government to "heal rather than kill" in resolving issues. The advice possibly falls on deaf ears and remains unread by blind eyes! This (despotic or democratic?) government though elected by votes operates in democracy's now demonic definition "of the family, by the family, for the family" to suite their needs! Their main interest is for the "deal". It has nothing to do with "heal"; while "kill" is an incidental step on the route to wealth from the deal. They tend to "kill" those who come in their way of lucrative deals and deal makers. Heal is never a part of their deal; if it diminishes their "deal margins"!

This unfortunate and blood thirsty un-quenching desire for the spoils of the "deal" is the reason behind the number of killing sagas in various places in Bangladesh within the short span of a month or two! Usually local "tycoons", greedy "foreign investors" and the ever-present opposition are useful catchwords for passing the buck. The real gainers are shielded with big words and promises in speeches. Ordinary people remain "deaf, dumb and blind" to the deft manipulations of the experienced deal makers!

Given the unholy JP- BNP-JI nexus; the deal makers are already sure of the next election; the fangs of death have been bared. Sweet talks and long list of developments mask the dark deeds "where all is fair" in latching on to the spoils of "deals" totally ignoring the views from anyone.

With ballots assured by fair means or foul; bullets are flying around thick and fast. What we see is a diabolic version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" from which we may possibly not wake up timely. Not only the quality, but also the very existence of life has reached an all time low! There is no silver lining visible in this dark cloud of gloom and doom!

One frightened citizen, On e-mail