GIVE BINAYAK SEN BAIL! OR ELSE GIVE US JAIL!
Statement issued on 4th May 2009, Raipur by Ms. Medha Patkar and other social activists on the occasion of the 8th week of the Satyagrah for the release of Dr. Binayak Sen
Satyagrah by Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan, Narmada Bachao Andolan, and National Alliance of People’s Movements
Photo from Raipur Satyagraha Week 8
The incarceration of Dr. Binayak Sen for the last 23 months is a shameful episode for those who consider India to be a democratic nation. By abusing rather then using the law, he has been arrested ostensibly as a ‘supporter of naxalites’ and his bail has been denied. Well known as a creative doctor, a progressive scientist, a human rights defender and a sensitive personality, Binayakji has been the victim of a political conspiracy only because of his social commitment and ideological clarity.
We, the supporters of People’s Movements from all over the country condemn the Chattisgarh government and administration for this immoral act. Without any concrete and legally admissible evidence, without proper judicial processes, to deny bail is to deny the right of life and liberty to such a senior activist. We perceive this as a violation of the rights of all of us and as an insult to our citizenship.
Photo From Raipur Satyagraha Week 8
‘Salwa Judum’ is no peace march. We the supporters of non-violent people’s movements believe that dealing with any violence and anyone’s violence with violence is not only illegal but also impossible. When the state itself uses violence openly, then it looses the moral authority to oppose its opponents – whether they be violent terrorists or people’s movements. So, to consider a person who was working on the basis of non violence and compassion, who was involved in alleviating these suffering of the adivasis of Bastar district, and who was the General Secretary of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties to be a supporter of violence is a distorted understanding, which the Chattisgarh government must correct at the earliest.
The deprivation of adivasis from their rights over water, land and forest; the transfer of natural resources to companies – to our mind, this is not development but rather in reality a destruction which is going to increase inequalities. In the name of ‘development’ in countless ways the lands of adivasis are being looted from us. They want to displace us from the lands of our ancestors, from our traditions ; they want to tie down our rivers, pollute them and divert all water towards themselves. It is a person like Binayakji who stood in solid support with us against these processes, whom the state today holds prisoner.
At a time when many murderers, terrorist and goondas are roaming scot-free in this country, when corrupt and cruel politicians are called “social workers”; at such a time the crime of Binayak Sen is only that he didn’t support the acts of anti-social forces but chose to stand with the poor the exploited, dalits and adivasis. Despite giving an irrefutably violent speech Varun Gandhi is released on bail, but Binayak Sen is considered more ‘dangerous’ by the state, perhaps this is his strength.
Jagrit Dalit Adivasi Sangathan (Madhya Pradesh)
We, Jagrit Dalit Adivasi Sangathan (Madhya Pradesh), Narmada Bachao Andolan (Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra) and Ghar Bachao, Ghar Banao Andolan (Mumbai) which are all part of the National Alliance of People’s Movements condemn the Chattisgarh Government and urge that Dr. Binayak Sen be released. We vow that we are prepared to go to jail and stay with Binayakji. We share with Binayak Sen his values, organizational process, theoretical role and the non electoral politics of the people’s movements.. so why should the Chattisgarh government not take courage and put us also in jail with him? Resolute in our commitment to the release of Dr. Binayak Sen we are
Medha Patkar, Tukaram, Butibai, Dharam Singh, Bhilu Yadav, Durga behen, Noorjahan, Himanshu Kumar, Ramesh Agrawal, Alok Shukla, Banshilal etc.
Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan, Narmada Bachao Andolan, Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, National Alliance of People’s Movements.
Dated 4th May, 2009
Raipur.
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WE WANT IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF DR. BINAYAK SEN