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A landmark victory for adivasis in India                            Dear ,                                August 24th saw a landmark victory  for the  human rights of adivasi communities  in India.                                The Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) denied permission  to UK-based Vedanta Resources to set up a bauxite mine in the Niyamgiri  Hills of Orissa. Expansion plans of its alumina refinery at nearby Lanjigarh  were also stalled.                                The Niyamgiri Hills are the traditional habitat of the Dongria  Kondh and other adivasi communities  who faced serious human rights violations due to Vedanta's plans.                                                                                     "After years of struggle and visits by committees our voice has finally reached Delhi," a leader from the  Dongria Kondh told Amnesty International.                            In mid-2008, Amnesty International joined their campaign and published a damning report in early 2010 documenting the abuses and violations  of the law. The MoEF decision came after its own committee reached similar conclusions.                                                                                                                                  Amnesty International UK  activists wearing aluminium foil masks at a protest outside the offices of Vedanta Resources in London, UK, 9 February 2010. The demonstration coincided with the launch in New Delhi of AI's report 'Don't mine us out of existence: Bauxite mine and refinery devastate lives in India'                                                                                                       So what now?                                The ruling knocked £300 million off Vedanta Resources’ market value on the day the MoEF rejected their proposal.                                However, we need to remain vigilant so that the company and the Orissa government do not simply move the project to another site without ensuring adequate safeguards. They need to respect the human rights of other communities wherever they plan to operate, as well as clean up the existing refinery.                                    Amnesty International’s campaign saw more than 30,000  members writing to the Indian authorities while the organization briefed  government experts and engaged in lengthy talks with the company.                                The protests by Dongria Kondh and the  joint campaign by  Indian activists and international organizations including Amnesty  International helped stall the mining and refinery expansion plans till this  ultimate decision was made.                                So for now, we’d like to say a big thank you for your  support and hope you will continue to support us in the future.                                Yours  Sincerely Online Communities  Team, Alaphia, Buddha,  Jennifer and  Jeremy                                Join our Online communities                                Facebook African | Arabic | Asia Pacific Youth | Bangla | India | Latin American                                   Twitter English | India | Spanish Amnesty International                                International  Secretariat 1 Easton Street London, WC1X 0DW United Kingdom Become a member | Donate | Take Action