Amnesty slams India on Nandigram

Hindustan Times

Global human rights watchdog Amnesty International has lambasted India for failure to book those responsible for the disappearance of hundreds in Kashmir, unlawful killing and evictions in Nandigram and police action against peaceful protestors against land acquisition for Special Economic Zones in Orissa.

“There have been atrocities against protests in Nandigram, Singur and Kalinganagar in Orissa. People’s rights over natural resources have been denied. Dr Binayak Sen is still in illegal custody,” said Mukul Sharma, director Amnesty International, India, releasing the body human rights report for 2008.

Pointing to the displacement of tribals, the report said, about 50,000 adivasis continue to be displaced

from Dantewada areas and no effort has been made to ensure their voluntary return. Civil rights activists like Saroj Mohanty and Roma were being hounded by government authorities.

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July 4, 2008 | Filed Under Press Reports | Leave a Comment 

India: Serious concerns over fair trial : Amnesty International Australia

Amnesty International Australia
Published on 27/06/2008

Delay in the trial process of jailed and award-winning human rights defender Dr. Binayak Sen followed by arrest of T.G. Ajay, also a human rights defender who attended his trial heightens serious doubts about Dr. Sen getting a fair trial at a Raipur district court in India, Amnesty International said on 25 June 2008.

Detained since 14 May 2007 Dr. Sen is facing numerous charges including under the Chhattisgarh State Public Security Act, 2005 (CSPSA), which criminalises “unlawful activities” and being a member of banned “terrorist organizations”. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life imprisonment.

Dr. Sen is a pioneer in providing accessible health care for adivasis (indigenous communities) and mine workers in remote villages of Chhattisgarh. He is recipient of several awards in recognition of his work for more than two decades. As vice-president of India’s leading human rights organisation, the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Dr. Sen had highlighted unlawful killings and other human rights abuses in the armed confrontations in Chhattisgarh between the security forces and the Salwa Judum, a private militia widely held to be supported by the state authorities, on the one hand, and armed guerrillas of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) on the other.

Amnesty International called for Dr. Sen’s release soon after his arrest unless he was charged with a recognisably criminal offence - India: Chattisgarh government detains human rights defender, refuses to arrest police officials suspected of involvement in unlawful killings of adivasis. There are sufficient reasons to believe that the charges against him appear to be politically motivated. There has been no investigation so far into the allegations of unlawful killings of adivasis by Salwa Judum and the state police in Santoshpur which he had highlighted prior to his arrest. The authorities held him for seven months without proper filing of charges; in the meantime, he was denied bail; and was kept in solitary confinement for three weeks in March-April 2008; many of the charges against him stem from laws that contravene international standards. His trial, which commenced on 30 April, is now adjourned to 1 July.

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June 28, 2008 | Filed Under Press Reports, statements | Leave a Comment 

The statesman Cover Story: THE EVIL WITHIN

The Binayak Sen story is more than just about the violation of individual rights, says Shoma A Chatterji

THE Binayak Sen story is much more than one of a gross violation of human rights. It goes far beyond the international appeals to release him from the unlawful detention he has been subjected to for more than one year. Beginning 16 June, a 10-day fast has been organised at Raipur in Chhattisgarh to express solidarity with him and Ajay TG (a film-maker) — both members of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, and others detained under the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (1967) amended in 2004 to include key sections of the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act, 2002. Pota was itself repealed in 2004 following widespread criticism of abuse and human rights violations. The CSPSA allows for arbitrary detention of persons suspected of belonging to an unlawful organisation or participating in its activities or giving protection to any member of such an organisation, and human rights
organisations have demanded its repeal.

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June 25, 2008 | Filed Under Press Reports | 1 Comment 

Weak states make bad laws and kill the messenger

by Maja Daruwala
TRIBUNE INDIA

And the award goes to….. oops he is not here tonight ladies and gentlemen because he is in jail in India held under an infamously bad law. Human rights activist and public health specialist Dr Binayak Sen was not there in Washington on May 29 to collect his 2008 Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights.

He could not shake hands with the international jury of public health professionals who chose him for this singular honour. He could not hear the fine citation spoken in appreciation of his exemplary services to the poor and tribal communities and for his unwavering commitment to civil liberties and human rights.

Twenty-two Nobel Prize winning scientists and economists from across the globe had appealed to the Indian government that Dr Sen be allowed to receive the award in person in Washington DC. But Dr Sen remained in Raipur Jail, Chattisgarh. He has been there for over a year. Read more

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June 12, 2008 | Filed Under Press Reports | Leave a Comment 

Ajay TG: Hauled up for no fault : Combat Law

Combatlaw

For over three months, an innocent film-maker and people’s rights defender Ajay TG is being targeted by Chhattisgarh police and administration to the extent of being virtually robbed of his livelihood since his computer and other belongings have been seized after a police raid at his house on the pretext that these may have “incriminating material” that can help in prosecuting naxal activists. The sordid tale of State vendetta that Ajay TG wrote before his arrest on May 5 this year

It is a short account of the seizure of my property by the police on January 22, 2008 from my residence at Pradeep Nivas, 48 Ayyappa Nagar, Bhilai. Though they (police) have offered no evidence of any kind against me, the police and the courts have still not returned the items taken from my home on that day. Since this includes film equipment and other materials on which I rely for my work, my family and I are effectively deprived of our source of livelihood.

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June 7, 2008 | Filed Under Press Reports | Leave a Comment 

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