Incomplete & Incorrect reply from ICN - Full history

I have contacted all of the ICN members & after  reminders, I got a incomplete & incorrect reply from ICN (Mr.Gerard Oonk) . Details are here.

Our 1st mail to ICN - & Reminders were also sent

Hi,

I have read your 38 page report titled " captured by cotton" which is totally false report. I have collected lot of informations / comments from the relevant people & published the same in my blog http://www.alexvillipin.blogspot.com/

Many of the comments are with clear points & valid proof against your publication. The blog describes how the report is trying to create religious/caste issue which is not existing. All workers including dalits are given equal salary, opportunities & facilities. But your article criticizes daliths being appointed in Textile factories. There is no religious/caste difference among the textile factories. Also your report trying to make facttories responsible for dowry & marriage. If your team found dowry in India even it was prohibited by law, then you should have raised the same with the Government. Factory has nothing to with that.

Also there were proof of factory workers passing their schoolings in large numbers every year & top scorers getting distinction marks. 365 students passed Higher secondary scooling this year alone . Still lot have written their High school & gratuation exams and waiting for the results from the authorities. If they are working more than 8 hours, it will not be possible. The news has come in the India's National newspaper "The Hindu" and second most read paper "Indian Express". 

The wages calculations made in the report were entirely made against the actuals. Even with lot of calculation mistakes with the intention to blame the factories. Its rediculous that SOMO / ICN demanding workers to work for 30 days a month (all 7 days a week!!)

Also your report criticizes even the aminities provided by the factories. A factory is buying water (even from water scarcity) and maintaining swimming pools like star hotels for the workers. Its the wish of the workers to utilize it or not. But your report criticizes that too.

These all proves that SOMO / ICN/ ECCJ doesnot have any real intention on the welfare of the workers & just blaming the factories
I tried to put my comments on SOMO / ICN/ ECCJ websites. But intentionally these don't accept the comments & only spreading the false reports & forcefully spreading the lies.

If you are really believing what you are saying, then be realistic and give your prompt reply for the contents on the article. Same way either you allow us to put our comments or you modify your false report.

Await your prompt & factual response.

** Futher I was told that Holland law allows Drugs (Even served with a Menu card in Coffee shops) & prostitution. Also more than 10% of Holland people live below the poverty line & the crime rate is very high in Holland. I personally suggest SOMO / ICN/ ECCJ & their connected team first concentrate on your own country and rectify these huge issues before complaining other countries. Don't just complain only because you have the media & getting lot of  money from various government / Factories / Retailers in the name of donation.

Best Regards,

Alex Villipin

Reply from Gerard Oonk of  ICN

Sir,

Your reading of our report as well as you comments are extremely biased. We are nor
creating caste divisions. We plainly state the fact that most of the ''Sumangali girls'' are Dalit
girls or OBC girls, quoting from other publications by Indian organizations. That makes them
extra vulnarable to the ongoing exploitation.

Likewise, there have been a large number of publications in Indian newspapers with the
same analyses on the situation of the girls as well as other reports by reputed Indian and
international organizations.

Also (see the report) a number of companies have publicly admitted that the problems
described exist.  They don't like to say that because it is not in their interests, but so many
repoprts from different sides now they cannot just deny it.

Best,

Gerard Oonk

directeur Landelijke India Werkgroep
Mariaplaats 4e,  3511 LH Utrecht
tel. 030-2321340
www.indianet.nl

Lees het Jaarverslag van de LIW: http://www.indianet.nl/jaarverslag2009.html
en de nieuwe India Actief 23: http://www.indianet.nl/actiefl.html

Our Next recent mail to ICN

Hi,

Thanks for your reply for the part of the mail.

However I'm not satisfied with your part reply since you have NOT at all answered the full points. (Now i had marked the original mail with point numbers ). I would like to have your reply for all the points. Even you didn't answer for the total wrongness in the wages calculation to to create false image on the factories.

Also further to your reply, the article about dalith you are mentioning is not connected with Tamil Nadu textiles factory. But you are using that info against the textile companies. Also the companies accepted about dalith is NOT these 4 factories mentioned in SOMO/ICN 38 page article. So this itself prove your wrong intension complaining some factories with some other region or factories mistake. Also we need the English version of the articles which you sent to me. (They in dutch & we need english).

So I await for the prompt reply on all the said points.

Best Regards,

Alex Villipin

---------------------Below is the original message with point nos. ------------------

I have read your 38 page report titled " captured by cotton" which is
totally false report. I have collected lot of informations / comments
from the relevant people & published the same in my blog
http://www.alexvillipin.blogspot.com/

1) Many of the comments are with clear points & valid proof against your

publication. The blog describes how the report is trying to create
religious/caste issue which is not existing. All workers including
dalits are given equal salary, opportunities & facilities. But your
article criticizes dalits being appointed in Textile factories. There
is no religious/caste difference among the textile factories. Also
your report trying to make factories responsible for dowry & marriage.
If your team found dowry in India even it was prohibited by law, then
you should have raised the same with the Government. Factory has
nothing to with that.

2) Also there were proof of factory workers passing their schooling in

large numbers every year & top scorers getting distinction marks. 365
students passed Higher secondary schooling this year alone . Still lot
have written their High school & graduation exams and waiting for the
results from the authorities. If they are working more than 8 hours,
it will not be possible. The news has come in the India's National
newspaper "The Hindu" ( visit here :
http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/21/stories/2011052161920700.htm   ) and
also in second most read paper "Indian Express".

3) The wages calculations made in the report were entirely made against

the actuals. Even with lot of calculation mistakes with the intention
to blame the factories. Its bad that SOMO / ICN demanding workers to
work for 30 days a month (all 7 days a week!!)

4) Also your report criticizes even the amenities provided by the

factories. A factory is buying water (even from water scarcity) and
maintaining swimming pools like star hotels for the workers. Its the
wish of the workers to utilize it or not. But your report criticizes
that too.

These all proves that SOMO / ICN/ ECCJ doesnot have any real intention
on the welfare of the workers & just blaming the factories
I tried to put my comments on SOMO / ICN/ ECCJ websites. But
intentionally these don't accept the comments & only spreading the
false reports & forcefully spreading the lies.

If you are really believing what you are saying, then be realistic and
give your prompt reply for the contents on the article. Same way
either you allow us to put our comments or you modify your false
report.

Await your prompt & factual response.

5) ** Futher I was told that Holland law allows Drugs (Even served with a

Menu card in Coffee shops) & prostitution. Also more than 10% of
Holland people live below the poverty line & the crime rate is very
high in Holland. I personally suggest SOMO / ICN/ ECCJ & their
connected team first concentrate on your own country and rectify these
huge issues before complaining other countries. Don't just complain
only because you have the media & getting lot of  money from various
government / Factories / Retailers in the name of donation.

Best Regards,

Alex Villipin

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