Take a look at Two Years  too Much!! Page for a list of actions happening around May 14th, 2nd anniversary of Dr. Binayak Sen’s unjust imprisonment

On 14th May, 2009, Dr. Binayak Sen – paediatrician and one of India’s finest human rights activist – will be completing two years in jail. Dr. Sen is in jail because he raised his voice against Salwa Judum – an illegal private army created by the Chattisgarh state government which now even the Supreme Court has criticised, because he was protesting the forcible displacement of lakhs of tribals in the state in the name of development, because he exposed fake encounter killings by the police. To silence his tireless and fearless voice, the government has incarcerated him under the draconian CSPSA and UAPA – undemocratic laws which give almost unlimited powers to the police to arrest and put behind bars for years ordinary people!

It is a part of the general attack on democratic rights taking place all over the country. It is related to the kind of development taking place all over the country in the name of globalization:

The politicians, bureaucracy, police have launched a ferocious offensive on the lands, water and forests of the poor. They want to seize control of these means of livelihoods of the common people and transfer them to giant corporations – Indian and foreign – so that they can set up mining projects, mega industrial projects, SEZs, tourism projects, residential projects for the rich, and so on, and earn super profits.

It has led to massive displacement of people and loss of their livelihoods. The people are obviously fighting back. And so, under all kinds of pretexts like fighting terrorism, the criminals and murderers who dominate the Indian Parliament are passing the most draconian laws which give almost unlimited powers to the police to arrest and put behind bars for years ordinary people!

To raise awareness among the people about the kind of development in the country and the attack on human rights, Lokayat is organising a documentary festival on this Saturday.

Dr. Binayak Sen Film Festival
Date: May 9, 2009
Time: 5 – 8 pm
Venue: Lokayat Hall, opp. Syndicate Bank, Law College Road, Near Nal Stop, Pune
Entry is free.

Films being screened:

1. Tales from the margins: 23 mins Director: Kavita Joshi
   On state repression in Manipur, and the struggle of Sharmila Irom, who has been on hunger strike for the past nine years.
2. TATA landmines Adivasis: 20 mins Director: A. K. Pankaj
   On police firing in Kalinganagar on adivasis protesting against acquisition of their lands by the TATAs, which led to the death of 13 tribals.
3. Pachuwara: 20 mins Director: A. K. Pankaj
   On the heroic struggle of the Santhals of Jharkhand against government attempts to evict them for coal mining.
4. Road to Shanghai: 34 mins Made By NCAS, Pune.
   On illegal demolition of slums of Mumbai in 2004-05, as the government attempts to take over slum lands to transform Mumbai into Shanghai.

Do join us for this screening.

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Dear friends,

I feel greatly privileged and suitably humbled to be with all of you today and to inaugurate the fourth edition of the Vibgyor International documentary film festival. We have all worked and waited for this day; personally for me this represents a recognition of the work of Binayak Sen and his comrades in Chhattisgarh to be able to build a better world for the tribals and toiling people of the region. I am grateful to the human rights activists in Kerala who have agreed to step up the campaign for Binayak’s release.

Binayak Sen has today become an icon for the right of people to hold dissenting political and public opinion, to have the right to chose the kind of development model they want for themselves, and for the rights of all to basic legal safeguards in accordance with the constitution. He is in jail now for over 20 months because he was a vocal opponent of the Salwa Judum, a state sponsored vigilante militia let loose on the people of South Bastar in the name of curbing Naxalites. The fact that he visited a Maoist prisoner in jail has been used to fabricate a case alleging that he was involved in anti national and seditious activity. While we strive for the freedom of Binayak, it is important to remember that he is not the only one imprisoned in this way under the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act. Over one thousand persons are languishing in the various jails of Chhattisgarh, labelled as threats to Public Security, under this Act. It is symptomatic of the malaise of our system that the first arrest under the act was of a class 12 girl student, whose male friend is supposed to have had unsuitable political views. These large number of arrests and the general repression has driven much of the public dissent underground, and many people live in fear of speaking their minds. However, whatever is happening to the intelligentsia is being felt and lived many times over by the tribal people of our state.

The Adivasi people of Chhattisgarh are the inheritors of great natural resources and a rich cultural life. However, with the creation of the new state and its push to ‘develop’ the mineral resources and open them up to world markets, a saga of loot and plunder has begun. Lands are being acquired for ‘projects’ in total circumvention of constitutional safeguards like the mandatory consent of the gram sabhas under the fifth schedule operative in these areas. Once again it is symptomatic of the malaise that it was the now ill reputed firm of Price Waterhouse Cooper which was invited to draw up the Vision Plan for the state of Chhattisgarh, and not the spokespersons of peoples’ organizations in the state. Our government showcases adivasi culture through its presentations of tribal music and dance at the Republic Day Parade; however, this will not by itself save the adivasis from extinction, which the salwa judum and the policies of the government seem determined to achieve.

I want to end with saying that the situation I am describing is not only limited to Chhattisgarh. Many indigenous areas, in India and all over the world, are facing a similar situation. Documentary film makers have in the past played an important role in sharing the stories of these areas with the world. The challenge for them to continue to do so, and to remain the keepers of our conscience remains.I am sure the challenge will be accepted frontally not only by the established documentary film makers, but also by the younger generation waiting to grow with the times.

Ilina Sen, Thrissur, 04.02.09.

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Two and a half months have passed. Ajay TG, journalist, filmmaker and human rights activist remains behind bars in a Chhattisgarh prison. His crime? He made a film about and attended the trial of Dr. Binayak Sen. Dr. Binayak’s crime? He worked for decades as a doctor amongst adivasis in an area where no doctor dared to tread. Their joint crime? Both Binayak and Ajay worked with the People’s Union for Civil Liberties and questioned the state-sponsored “Salwa Judum” under which vigilantes in Chhattisgarh are trained and armed to fight Naxalites and end up terrorizing the entire local populace.

Dr. Binayak has already been held as a suspected “Naxalite” without bail and without evidence for two years. His case is now internationally known after 22 Nobel laureates wrote a letter to the PM and President of India asking for his unconditional release. Dr. Binayak has deservedly won several national and international awards from the medical fraternity. Amnesty has spoken up for him. Yet there is no response from Chhattisgarh or from the Government of India and the gross injustice continues. The Supreme Court rejected his bail application without ascribing a single reason to defend
their denial.

Ajay’s case is in some ways even more heartrending if only because he is less well known. A 35 year old from a modest Kerala family, Ajay settled in Chhattisgarh, worked with the youth wing of CPI and with the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties and later learned to make films with “Jan Darshan” a voluntary video training group. Since then Ajay has made several valuable human rights and development films including one on the arrest of Dr. Binayak Sen.

It is abundantly clear that the State has no case against Ajay whatsoever. Three months ago as Ajay entered the court room to attend the trial of Dr. Binayak, a tiny pen knife was “found” in his rucksack and the media was told that it was a deadly modern weapon! But after almost 3 months in prison he has yet to be charged!

An unforeseen tragedy struck when his brother who worked in the Middle East came down to India to help their family following Ajay’s arrest. He was killed in a traffic accident.

Slowly but surely the world is beginning to take notice of Ajay’s unlawful arrest. At the recent Osian Film Festival in Delhi people like Mrinal Sen, Adoor Gopalkrishnan and Shyam Benegal spoke out in support of Ajay. His films are beginning to circulate across the country.

Vikalp@Prithvi will screen a selection of his films on 28th July 2008 at 7 pm & 9.30 pm.
Venue: Prithvi Theatre.

SCHEDULE AND OTHER DETAILS

The registration desk will be open between 6 pm to 6:45 pm and 8:30 pm to 9:15 pm only at Prithvi House on 28th July. For more information, log on to www.prithvitheatre.com or write to us at vikalp.prithvi@gmail.com .

VIKALP @ PRITHVI 7 pm & 9:30 pm
Prithvi House 28th July, 2008
Opposite Prithvi Theatre
Janki Kutir, Juhu

RELEASE AJAY TG FILM FESTIVAL

releaseajaytg@gmail.com
www.releaseajaytg.in
No Entry Fee. Limited Seating.

FILM SCREENING SCHEDULE

1900 hrs
New State; Old Problems
10 mins 43 sec / 2008 / English narration

A compilation from Chhattisgarhi films made by Margaret Dickinson to introduce Ajay TG’s Anjam. It gives some of the background to Ajay’s arrest, including brief introductions to the State of Chhattisgarh, the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha, the Naxalites and Salwa Judum.

Anjam / Original Language
20 mins 41 sec / 2007-08
Directed by Ajay TG

Documentary about Binayak Sen

The Other Side of the Mirror
7 mins 26 sec

Extract of unfinished film which links a critique of Indian chauvinism with the contrast between the education of rich and poor children and then introduces the bal angan which Ajay started.

Aisa Kyon?
1 min 51sec / 2007 / Original Language

Short drama devised and shot by girls at the school run by Ajay TG. The brief was to focus on an issue which affects them. In this film they chose discrimination in education. It was to have been the first of a series of such short dramas on various issues but the project has been interrupted by Ajay’s imprisonment.

Photographs
5 mins 57 sec / 2007

A sequence of stills taken by girls in the school Ajay runs, put in order and set to music.

Hathaure Wala (Man with the Hammer)
5 mins 46 sec / 1999 / Original Language

Directed by Ajay TG

A portrait of an 80-year old lohar (blacksmith) who works in the shadow of the Bhilai Steel Plant in Chhattisgarh. This is Ajay’s first film and one from the first trio of films made at Jandarshan.

Jandarshan Video Diary Part 1
10 mins 32 sec / 1999

A Jandarshan student group project to document the course. Part 1 covers the first four months and is a mixture of material shot at the time by teachers with students as crew covering class visits to various events and material shot by the students towards the end of the period, mainly interviews about their earlier experiences. It includes a short interview with Ajay.

The Journey (Safar)
15 mins 7 sec / 2001 / English subtitles
Directed by Reeta Chandel and Ajay TG

A Jandarshan student film about Reeta’s father, a porter in the hospital of the Bhilai Steel Plant. This film is a development of Reeta’s 5 minute film, Papa Says, shot by Ajay, as part of an earlier student exercise. The Journey was made because Ajay felt that they should explore questions about marriage and gender which had come up by chance during the shooting of the earlier film.

Heads and Tales
20 mins 54 sec / 2002 / English subititles
Directed by Alpa Shah and Ajay TG
Research and Script by Alpa Shah

A Jandarshan student film about the relationship between tradition and politics. Parha Mela, a festival in Jharkhand, was initiated to symbolise tribal unity and the tribal system of socio-political governance. From 1990 it became two separate events, held two kilometres away from one another on the same day, each supported by a politician of a different party. The film explores this dichotomy.

2130 hrs

Women Builders / English Version
49 mins 40 sec / 2004
Directed by Kamlesh Kumar Sahu
Produced by Margaret Dickinson / Chhattisgarh
Research by Ajay TG

A Jandarshan Production for the International Labour Organisation

This film introduces four women construction workers living in Bhilai, then focuses on two organisations in Gujarat which try to help women construction workers, visits a conference on the topic and comments on new laws which, if enforced, would address key problems to do with safety, health and welfare.

There is a connection with Ajay beyond his role in research and also, distantly, with Dr Binayak Sen. One of the Rejas Ajay got to know at the time had a daughter who was ill. She had been misdiagnosed and charged fees for the wrong treatment by local doctors. Ajay took her to Ganyari, the hospital near Bisaspur set up by doctors who had worked with Dr Binayak Sen and are dedicated to treating the poor. There, the young woman was diagnosed with terminal leukaemia. Ajay’s school was begun in her memory.

Gurgaon: Daman aur Pratirod
45 mins / 2005 / Hindi
Editing and Graphics by Ajay TG

This film is a collage of clips obtained from television news about the brutal baton-charge on workers of Honda Motors in Gurgaon. The film tries to show the response of the police and administration, political parties, the Labour Court and the Companies towards this incident.

******
More information on the campaign as well as Ajay’s work is available on
http://www.releaseajaytg.in/ajaytg.html

*******

This screening is brought to you by Vikalp: Films for Freedom in association with Prithvi Theatre.
For more information on Vikalp@Prithvi activities contact
Anand Patwardhan 9819882244 Lynne Henry 9820896425
Or log onto www.prithvitheatre.org
Please send us your comments and feedback at vikalp.prithvi@gmail.com

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On 15th June around 32 people attended a six hour long series of films on topics that Binayak is involved with (around 15 to 20 together at a any given time). The films were from INSAF and from a friend. There was a short NDTV clip of his arrest as well as the film “Development Flows” by Biju Toppo and Meghnath.

Binayak is seen in this film examining the X-ray of a villager displaced by a development project in Chattisgarh. The film had won a prize for Environmental Films in India about two years ago. Have seen it many times, but not registered the fact that he was shown.

A film on Rational drugs (In the Name of Medicine with many of the older AIDAN and MFC members) and “Kora Rajee” on the crisis in tea gardens (relevant in Jalpaiguri and related to malnutrition and illness) were also shown as well that refers to migration of tribals (Garee Lohardaga Mail, which is about a small train that was phased out).

Two of Shankar Guha Neogy’s cousins were present and the audience was much enthused by the fact that Binayak had worked with Neogy, who was brought up in Jalpaiguri town.

Dr Punya Gun, who has worked in Shaheed Hospital starting when Binayak was there, spoke to the audience. He felt the need for more involvement of the common people of Chattisgarh in the movement to release Binayak. Sharmistha Ray, a dental surgeon, who works at Shramajibi (Workers’) Hospital also spoke- on the causes of poverty, of malnutrition and the crisis we face.

Posters on Binayak and on the less well known Lachit Bordoloi (who was mediating for the government in Assam before he was arrested) were distributed. Also Bengali leaflets on Binayak and Hindi and English posters.

Two days later I saw one of the APDR (Association for Protection of Democratic Rights) posters on Binayak in front of the bank in Alipurduar town (over 70km away).

Have also heard from APDR Siliguri that IMA (Indian Medical Association) Siliguri has passed a resolution calling for Binayak’s release. Am trying to get this confirmed.

Another film Iron Is Hot (on the pollution caused by sponge iron factories) is going to be shown on 25th June at the PUCL convention in Raipur. As you all know Sandeep Pandey (Magsaysay Award winner) and others are on fast for Binayak’s release in Raipur since 16th June.

Prabir Chattergee

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Cinemela Collectives
presents
Free Binayak Sen Film Festival
May 14, 2008/10am onwards
SAA auditorium, JNU, New Delhi

• Prof Arun Kumar
• Prof Kamal M Chenoy
• Prof Ajay Patnaik
• Prof Mohan Rao
• Dr Rohan D’Souza

and many other teachers, activists and friends of Dr Sen will speak on the man, his contributions and the situation which led to his arrest.

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Thanks for your passionate response to our earlier appeal to mark the first year of imprisonment of Dr. Binayak Sen, an activist with a lifelong commitment to the issues of community health and human rights. So far 39 international organizations have endorsed our appeal and 2600 people have signed the petition demanding the release of Dr. Binayak Sen.

Vigils and rallies are being organized in different cities around the world. Please find the closest city in the list below to join the actions and strengthen the voice against injustice.

Alternate Actions:
If you are not able to join the actions and still want to make your voice heard, please consider following:

1. Sending a FREE fax & emails to elected Government officials – http://petitions.aidindia.org/binayaksen/index.php

2. Make a Phone call to Indian Prime Minister or Chattisgarh Chief Minister to demand release of Dr. Sen
Phone numbers here: http://petitions.aidindia.org/binayaksen/index.php

3. Call your local embassy/consulate and convey your concerns or send a post card to Indian Government.

We hope you will participate in the global day of action to fight not only Dr. Sen’s unjust arrest but the larger issue of silencing public dissent and human rights activists by Indian Government by using black laws such UPSA, AFSPA.

Actions are taking place in the following cities in different countries and we hope you will join in your closest action and make your voices heard. US | UK | Canada | France | Sweden

* US Day of Protest for Dr. Binayak Sen: May 13, 2008.

You can attend a local event in your city for the one year anniversary of the unjust detension of Dr. Binayak Sen.

Baltimore/JHU: Talk on Dr. Binayak Sen followed by signature campaign. May 13th, 2008 (1:30 to 2:30 pm) School of Public Health [Contact Email : Manjunath - mshankar at jhsph.edu or 952-201-8679]

Boston: Vigil @ Harvard Square on May 13, 2008 (7pm) [Event Poster - JPG; PDF] [Contact Email: freebsen at gmail.com]

Houston/Dallas: Candlelight Vigil, film screening and signing of petition – [Contact Srinadh @ srinadhm at gmail.com

In Solidarity,
‘Free Binayak Sen’ US Campaign.

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To mark the first anniversary of the arrest of Dr Binayak Sen, on 14 May 2008 and to call for his immediate release a series of Free Binayak Sen Film Festivals are being organised by concerned citizens and groups around the country. Dr Sen was arrested on false charges of ‘assisting’ the Maoist insurgency in Chattisgarh.

The first such Free Binayak Sen Film Festival will be held at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 10 May from 7-12 PM. Other similar festivals are being held in the month of May in Bangalore, Chennai, Shimoga, Nagercoil, Gorakhpur and Imphal.

The package of 10 videos, presented in this Festival, highlight the issues of human rights and public health and deal with themes ranging from nutrition, greed of drug companies, environmental pollution and state violation of human rights.

For further information contact:

• Wilfred D’Costa/INSAF willyindia at gmail.com Ph: 011-26517814
• Satya Sivaraman satyasagar at gmail.com Ph: 9818514952
• K.P.Sasi, Bangalore kpsasi36 at gmail.com Ph: 09945282056
• Sarat Chandran, Eranakulam sarat at thirdeyefilms.com Ph: 09446426433
• V.Srinivasan, Chennai srini59 at gmail.com Ph: 09840081114

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You can make a difference.

lease sign a petition to help free Dr. Sen or put a web banner for publicity on your website or blog for highlighting this issue.

You can get a local group in your city to hold a Free Binayak Sen Film Festival to raise awareness about the various issues associated with this campaign.

Aid Boston urging organizations across North America to observe one year of Dr. Binayak Sen’s unjust detention and endorse our appeal.

US Day of Protest for Dr. Binayak Sen: May 13, 2008.

You can attend a local event in your city for the one year anniversary of the unjust detension of Dr. Binayak Sen.

Baltimore/JHU: Talk on Dr. Binayak Sen followed by signature campaign. May 13th, 2008 (1:30 to 2:30 pm) School of Public Health [Contact Email : Manjunath - mshankar at jhsph.edu or 952-201-8679]

Boston: Vigil @ Harvard Square on May 13, 2008 (7pm) [Event Poster - JPG; PDF] [Contact Email: freebsen at gmail.com]

Houston/Dallas: Stay Tuned.

New York: Protest in front of Indian Consulate on May 13, 2008 (12:30pm). [Event Poster - PDF] [Contact Emails: Ashwini: akr7 at columbia.edu or Murli: mnatrajan at yahoo.com]

Pittsburgh: Candlelight Vigil @ Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Avenue on May 13, 2008 (7:30pm) [Event Poster - PDF] [Contact Email: maryganguli at yahoo.com or sparun at gmail.com]

San Francisco: March to the Indian Counsulate on May 13, 2008 (10am) [Event Poster - HTML]

Washington DC: Protest Walk from Indian Embassy to Indian Consulate on May 13, 2008 (4pm) . [Contact: Somu @ 703-728-8987]

Visit AidBoston Website for updates on USA events

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In a nation where increasingly the medical profession is becoming synonymous with unbridled commercial greed Dr Sen dedicated his entire professional life to the free service of people in the remotest villages.

In a country, which has health indicators worse than that of sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Sen passionately worked for setting up low cost models of healthcare accessible to the poor.

And in a land where the problems of public health are deeply intertwined with the gross violations of the Indian Constitution by state agencies themselves Dr Sen fought for ensuring democratic rights of ordinary people.

Dr Sen’s detention as a ‘threat to national security’ stands therefore as a challenge to every Indian who aspires for a humane, democratic and civilized India.

To mark the first anniversary of the arrest of Dr Sen, on 14 May 2008 and to call for his immediate release the Free Binayak Sen Film Festival is being organised by concerned citizens and groups around the country. The package of 10 documentaries, presented in this Festival, highlight the issues of human rights and public health and deal with themes ranging from nutrition, greed of drug companies, environmental pollution and state atrocities.

They are meant to make all those who watch them wake up and more importantly resist the Silent Emergency that is creeping upon us in front of our very eyes.

Given along with this letter is a list of the 10 films along with a brief synopsis. All groups interested in receiving the package of films for organizing the Free Binayak Sen Film Festival in their areas of work are requested to send the name of their organization, postal address and tentative date of screening to – Wilfred Dcosta, INSAF, New Delhi, insaf@vsnl.com, Ph:011-26517814/ 65663958 . The package is meant to be screened mostly in the month of May, particularly around 14 May, the first anniversary of Dr Sen’s arrest.

For further information contact:

• K.P.Sasi, Bangalore kpsasi36 at gmail.com Ph: 09945282056
• Sarat Chandran, Eranakulam sarat at thirdeyefilms.com Ph: 09446426433
• Satya Sivaraman , New Delhi satyasagar at gmail.com ph: 09818514952
• Anivar Aravind, Bangalore anivar at movingrepublic.org Ph: 080-23435606
• V.Srinivasan, Chennai srini59@gmail.com Ph: 09840081114

For Details of the package checkout Film festival Page

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