The Forum Against Corporatization And Militarization (FACAM) submitted a report at the United Nations Human Rights Committee demanding the appointment of a UN Special Rapporteur to “monitor human rights, civil and political rights violations committed” during the war between the Indian Government and Maoists. The report is titled “Violation of Civil and Political Rights of Indigenous Peoples in India”. It is available for download on the group’s website.
FACAM submitted the report in June, 2024 in collaboration with 4 organisations based outside India: a) Foundation The London Story, The Netherlands, b) International Solidarity for Academic Freedom (InSAF India), c) India Justice Project, Germany and d) London Mining Network, UK. The report was submitted for India’s ICCPR Review by the UN Human Rights Council.
The report recommends the UN to “Commission an independent investigation into allegations of violations of the right to life, right to liberty, and prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, in Chhattisgarh.” It also wants the UN to “Appoint a UN Special Rapporteur to monitor human rights, civil and political rights violations committed during the course of the armed conflict between Communist Party of India (Maoist) and the Government of India.”
The report also demands that the Indian Government “Repeal draconian laws, including UAPA and CSPA, and ensure that fundamental human rights to due process of law and fair trial is respected.” Other demands include:
a) Allow UN officials and observers to engage in systematic inquiry regarding respect for civil and political rights in India.
b) Disband outfits like District Reserve Guards and similar militia groups in accordance with the
Supreme Court order on the disbandment of Salwa Judum.
What is FACAM?
The group’s website describes it as a “joint platform of various organizations and individuals ranging from students, lawyers, women’s rights groups, minority rights groups, academics, teachers, intellectuals, trade unions, labour rights groups, journalists and writers, based in Delhi, India.”
It says that the group was formed in 2022. The notable constituent organisations of the group include All India Students Association (AISA), Democratic Students Union (DSU) and the Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI). All of these are Leftist Activist Groups.
FACAM condemned the neutralisation of dreaded Naxal terrorist Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraj as a “cold blooded killing”.
FACAM was also very active in demanding a ceasefire between the Indian Government and the Maoists during Operation Kagaar. In an appearance at a ‘virtual press conference cum public meet’ on April 27, 2025, Baadal represented the group and called for a ceasefire.
During her address, Baadal claimed that “The Maoist Party is showing sensitivity towards the plight of the people of Bastar” by declaring a unilateral ceasefire. At the same time, she criticised the “BJP-RSS led Brahminical-Hindutva Fascist Govt” for “showing more insensitivity by killing Maoist leaders in Jharkhand, by encircling hundreds of Maoists in the Karregatta Hills.”
"The Maoist Party is showing sensitivity towards the plight of the people of Bastar.. But… the BJP-RSS led Brahminical-Hindutva Fascist Govt is showing more insensitivity by killing Maoist leaders in Jharkhand, by encircling hundreds of Maoists in the Karregatta Hills." https://t.co/XDFBLI5yo2 pic.twitter.com/LqYb8ZGVa6
— Sensei Kraken Zero (@YearOfTheKraken) August 25, 2025
The video was published on the YouTube channel of PUCL India on the 29th of April, 2025.
Ford Foundation in the picture: London Mining Network
One of the organisations that FACAM collaborated with for the submission to the UN is the London Mining Network (LMN). The LMN has a history of supporting subversive elements in India. According to its own website, they were involved in the campaign to free Binayak Sen, a person convicted of sedition and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Chhattisgarh Trial Court.
LMN is funded by The Ford Foundation and other groups such as The Passionist Community and Jesuits for Social Justice.
Since the submission of the report by FACAM and LMN along with others, the UN Special Rapporteurs on Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights Defenders wrote to the Indian Government in August 2024 registering its concerns regarding the arrest of Suneeta Pottam by the Chhattisgarh Police. It was made public in October.
According to the Police, she is accused in nearly a dozen cases, including murder and attempt to murder. The Indian Government did not respond to the letter. Suneeta Pottam was reportedly taken into by the NIA in May 2025. She was in judicial custody when it happened.
