Citizen’s Statement Against Terrorism and Communal Violence

‘No Double Standards in the Fight Against Terrorism’

In recent months the country has witnessed a spate of terrorist attacks in different cities as well as organised communal violence against religious minorities in several states.

We the undersigned strongly condemn all these acts of violence that have resulted in loss of life and grievous injury to scores of innocent people. It is clear that whoever is responsible for such violence should be severely punished under Indian law and all measures be taken to protect the lives of ordinary citizens under threat from their activities.

We find it deeply disturbing however that the Indian government as well as concerned state governments have adopted double standards in dealing with the two equally deadly phenomenon of terrorist bombings and communal violence.

On one hand throughout the country Muslim youth are being targeted, without any or little evidence, as responsible for terrorist attacks. In our view there is a concerted attempt by the Indian police, sections of the media and certain political parties to portray all members of the Muslim community as ‘terrorists and extremists’ - to be arbitrarily arrested, tortured and killed in fake encounters.

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October 4, 2008 | Filed Under announcements | Leave a Comment 

Chennai:A song and dance protest

Saturday May 31 2008 17:52 IST
The new Indian Express
G Babu Jayakumar

AS the band of drummers danced their way into the hall, the motley crowd waiting outside, followed them to join those already seated in the gallery, kickstarting the two-hour cultural extravaganza organised to protest the arrest of Dr Binayak Sen, a human rights activist in Chhattisgarh and also to coincide with the presentation of the Jonathan Mann Award to him at Washington on Thursday.

Organised by the committee for the release of Dr Binayak Sen in Chennai, the event, at the Chandralekha Centre in Besant Nagar, saw several groups of artistes from the marginalised sections of the society highlighting the atrocities committed on the common people by the establishment through folk songs, dance and a skit.

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May 31, 2008 | Filed Under Press Reports, Protests | Leave a Comment 

Chennai: Dramatic display of their protest : The Hindu

Special Correspondent
The Hindu
Tamilnadu-Chennai

Children protest incarceration of Dr. Binayak Sen

Drumming up support: Members of Kanchi Makkal Mandram performing in Chennai on Thursday as part of a protest to seek the release of Dr. Binayak Sen.

Drumming up support: Members of Kanchi Makkal Mandram performing in Chennai on Thursday as part of a protest to seek the release of Dr. Binayak Sen.

CHENNAI: Protests from artists are often brushed under the carpet. But when a group of children decided to protest the continued incarceration of Dr. Binayak Sen in a Chhattisgarh prison, the ‘Q’ Branch of the police showed up at the skit they performed.

Organised by the Corporate Accountability Desk, a protest programme was conducted at Elliot’s Beach Road on Thursday, in honour of Dr. Sen’s being conferred the prestigious Dr. Jonathan Mann Award. Played to a small and appreciative audience, the programme started with a ‘Parai’ performance by the Kanchi Makkal Mandram.

Venkat, one of the organisers, referred to ‘parai’ as the “voice of the oppressed.” This was followed by a series of songs against mindless consumerism by the Chennai Kalai Kuzhu.

The grand finale was a skit by children from ’Pudiyador,’ a non-governmental organisation dealing with children’s education on the state of Adivasis in Chhattisgarh.

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May 31, 2008 | Filed Under Protests | Leave a Comment 

Chennai: Artists for Human Rights

Through

an Evening of Cultural Program,
(ATTAM, PATTAM and KUTHU)
‘Artist for Human Rights’

Voice Out Against
THE UNJUST DETENTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

When: 29th May, 2008, 6 pm
Where: Chandralekha Center (junction of 5th avenue and 6th avenue)
No. 1, Elliots Beach road, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 90
Performances by: Chennai Kalai Kuzhu, Kanchi Makkal Mandram, and Pudhiya Thor

Dr. Binayak Sen is being conferred the prestigious Johnathan Mann award on the 29th of May for his dedicated service in providing medical care to indigenous people of chattisgarh and his committed struggle against Human Rights violations. But Dr. Sen would not be personally receiving the award because the STATE has IMPRISONED HIM. The government of Chattisgarh has imprisoned human rights defenders like Binayak Sen, Ajay T.G and others for voicing against the government sponsored armed militias and the serious violations of human rights in the state. Human Rights defenders across the country have been targets of the STATE and are being imprisoned under draconian laws that allow for detention without trial. It is imperative that we raise our voices against the state of human rights in our country.

Let us on the 29th of May join together

For further information contact Rakhal 9940246089, Venkat: 9884706531

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE FOR THE RELEASE OF Dr. BINAYAK SEN

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May 27, 2008 | Filed Under Protests, announcements | Leave a Comment 

Protest held in Chennai for Dr. Binayak Sen’s release

From Indian Health Front


A well-attended public protest was held outside Chennai’s Memorial Hall, opposite the Madras Medical College demanding the unconditional release of Dr. Binayak Sen. The meeting was attended by people from various walks of life, including unorganised workers, lawyers, doctors, journalists and civil rights campaigners. The protest, held along with other similar events worldwide, marked the first year of Dr. Sen’s incarceration by the BJP government in Chhatisgarh. Read more

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May 15, 2008 | Filed Under Global day of protest, Protests | Leave a Comment 

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