Brief report of public meeting with Ajay TG in Pune
A brief report of the public meeting with Ajay TG in Pune, organised the day before yesterday.
Public meeting with Ajay TG in Pune on 20th September
Yesterday (20th September 08) the ‘Release Dr. Binayak Sen committee’ in Pune organized a well attended public meeting and also a separate smaller discussion with activists, with Ajay TG as the main speaker. As we all know, Ajay TG is a film maker and PUCL activist from Bhilai who was imprisoned for three months by the Chhattisgarh government, and was released recently since there was no evidence and the police could not even file a chargesheet against him.
The public meeting was attended by over a hundred citizens of Pune and was presided over by Justice PB Sawant, retired Supreme court judge. Besides Ajay, the meeting was also addressed by the noted film maker Anand Patwardhan and the human rights lawyer, Asim Sarode, and was moderated by Anant Phadke. The meeting started with screening of the films ‘New State, Old Problems’ and ‘Anjaam’ (directed by Ajay TG) which graphically depicted the growing repression in Chhattisgarh, the problematic nature of Salwa Judum and of course the background to Binayak’s arrest.
In his address, Ajay TG brought home to the audience very effectively the almost surreal circumstances of his arrest and imprisonment. With no charges, no evidence and no basis to even suspect his doing anything illegal, he was picked up on 4th May and put in jail, without even allowing him to meet his lawyer or family. He described the sub-human circumstances in the jail, the tremendous demonisation by media of himself and his family leading to cutting off all forms of social support, and the highly biased nature of the entire law and order machinery in the state. His only ‘crime’ was that he was persistently attending Binayak’s trial hearings and as a PUCL activist he dared to not be cowed down despite the widespread repression.
When the police finally realized that they had nothing that could be held against Ajay, and he would have to be released, in a last-ditch attempt the police tried to make him sign on a document indicting Binayak of having links with Maoists, which Ajay bravely refused to comply with. Delivered in a simple and straightforward style, Ajay’s story was really chilling since it gave a glimpse of the kind of ‘undeclared Emergency’ that today prevails in Chhattisgarh, and seems to be rapidly developing in many other parts of the country.
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Kochi: One-day fast for Binayak sen’s release
KOCHI: The National Alliance for Peoples Movement organised a oneday fast in front of the Ernakulam Telephone Exchange demanding the release of human rights activist Binayak Sen. Inaugurating the fast, NAPM state coordinator Geojose said that the Union and state governments should refrain from the tendency to name human rights activists terrorists. Democracy should be retained in Chhattisgarh, he added.
Representing various organisation N P Johnson (Plachimada Solidarity Council), Suresh George (Jandhikara Rashtreeya Samithi), V D Majeendran, Eldo, Purushan Eloor and N M Giri spoke.
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Karnataka: Groups seek release of Binayak Sen
The Hindu
Karnataka - Mysore
Special Correspondent
MYSORE: Activists of progressive organisations, including People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), staged a demonstration here on Wednesday seeking the release of Binayak Sen, paediatrician, who has been arrested by the Chhattisgarh Government on the charge of sedition.
The activists of Pragatipara Sanghatanegala Okkuta, Karnataka Rajya Cooliekara Sangha, Samata Vedike and other groups participated in the demonstration.
They said the arrest of Dr. Sen, who is the vice-president of PUCL, indicated that the democratic forces, which took up social causes, were being harassed.
The activists pointed out that Dr. Sen treated the poor adivasis and exposed the Government’s alleged role in the killing of the tribal people on the pretext of eliminating the Maoists. He also exposed other atrocities, which earned the wrath of the Government, and hence, was arrested. They sought his immediate release along with other PUCL activist T.G. Ajyay, who was arrested recently.
Read more
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district administration dumping garbage near the venue of group fasting
In a statement issued today, PUCL has also strongly condemned the DistrictAdministration’s insensitivity in locating the fasting and protesting groups and individuals inBurha Talab at Raipur, which is also the dumping ground for garbage and dust collectedfrom the capital city by contractors and civil administration. In spite of repeated requests, theRaipur Municipal Corporation has failed to clear the vicinity from such foul-smelling garbagethat is the breeding ground for mosquitoes and more likely cause for epidemics like choleraand gastroenteritis. The PUCL and other participating organisations are deciding to makethis an issue, and get the ground cleared for all times. According to the PUCL, the scantregard for the democratic and peaceful protest demonstrates BJP Government’sauthoritarian tendencies.
The PUCL has also expressed concern that the District Administration has not yetconducted any medical check-up on the fasting individuals. It has also not provided anyprotection to the protestors although written information has been provided to the DistrictAdministration about the Group Fasting.
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state government demonstrates total indifference & apathy towards democratic & peceful protest
Dr. Sandeep Pandey (Activist on Fast for 10 Days)
While the morale of those fasting for the past six days (Dr. Sandeep Pandey, ComPrem Narain Verma, Ram Prakash & Faizal Khan) was very high and hopeful, the BJPGovernment in the State demonstrated its total indifference and apathy towards democratic& peaceful method of protesting through Fasting. Expressing concern at the growing ruthlesscharacter of the State, Dr. Sandeep Pandey (Magsaysay Award Winner) said that the failureof the state to listen to the voices of peaceful protest and respond to the people’s cries arethe major reasons for resorting to extra-parliamentary means by the victims of injustice andviolence.
Dr. Sandeep Pandey also referred to an article entitled “Gandhi! Tum Nikal BhagoChadm Gandhivadiyon ke beech se” (Gandhi! You must escape from the midst of pseudo-Gandhians!) by Sri Vishwaranjan, Director General of Police of Chhattisgarh appearing inthe Hari Bhoomi daily published from Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh. In this article,the DGP has poked fun at the Group Fasting and those participating in it.
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Gallery
From freebinayaksen.org- Updates from Google News
- Dr Binayak Sen: An unfortunate achiever - Merinews
- Jailed human-rights activist works for peace - Ode Magazine
- Q&A: 'Rights activism uses space within the Constitution' - Times of India
- DIFFERENT KINDS OF SILENCE - Calcutta Telegraph
- Vote War 2008: Chhattisgarh - Tehelka
- National Convention on Countering Fascist Forces: Defending the ... - NewsBlaze (press release)
- Reports From Indian Media
- Different kinds of silence - Telegraph: Opinion
- Whither democracy? - Oheraldo
- Q&A: 'Rights activism uses space within the Constitution' - TOI: Editorial
- The Shootin' Sheriffs - Outlook
- Videos - Rediff: Top Stories (India)
- India must be reclaimed - Hindustan Times: Views
- A law and its victim - Frontline
- An appeal for peace in South Bastar - Hindu: Opinion
- NGOs demand severe action against attackers - The Navhind Times