BSP MLA shielding murderers of a dalit youth

Published in:
Asian Tribune (Thailand/ Sri Lanka), 1 October 2007
Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 2 October 2007
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BSP MLA shielding murderers of a dalit youth
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Mayawati led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has been trumpeting the welfare of dalits, but in UP state of India where they are in power, one of their own Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) is allegedly shielding the murderers of a dalit youth.
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On the fateful morning of 1 August 2007, a dalit youth Chakrasen was brutally assaulted by two upper-caste men and murdered in Bhadevra village of Pratapgarh district, about 200 kilometres away from the state capital Lucknow.
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Ram Shiromani Shukla, local Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA, has been protecting the accused.
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On 30 September 2007, a fact-finding team went to this village in the morning, led by Magsaysay awardee (2002) and head of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) Dr Sandeep Pandey, retired Inspector General of Police SR Darapuri, and Dynamic Action Group activists Gyan, Sujit and Ram Kumar to strengthen community's voices for justice.
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"Ironically this is yet another blot on BSP's claim to champion dalit's welfare in UP with BSP MLA and party workers shielding the alleged murderers of a talented dalit youth" said Dr Sandeep Pandey.
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The deceased Chakrasen graduated from Allahabad University this year and had qualified for the State-level Engineering Entrance Examination.
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He came to the village a day before he was murdered, to meet his family before joining the Engineering College.
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On the ill-fated day of 1 August 2007, when he went out in the morning, Santosh Mishra and Akash Dubey allegedly started battering him. Chakrasen tried to escape to the nearby village Sudemau but Santosh and Akash followed him shouting 'thief'. In response to the false 'thief' alarm, some people from the Pasi community caught hold of Chakrasen. He was then tied up with a thick rope, beaten mercilessly, dragged, eyes were gouged with needles and beaten with rods and strangulated to death. Chakrasen's eyes held dreams of college and career. They didn't just kill him. They first punished him by smashing the eye that dared to dream of education.
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Santosh Mishra is a BSP party worker and close associate of Ram Shiromani Shukla, the local BSP MLA.
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On 11 August 2007, a fact-finding team of DAG members went to the said-villages, and met the members of the family as well as other villagers. Till then none of the assailants had been arrested.
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Surprisingly the role of BSP MLA was not protective towards the dalit community but instead BSP MLA kept the murderers in his protection and had pressurized the local administration not to arrest them. Dalit family members too were being threatened by BSP members to keep silent.
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The dreams to live with dignity fostered by dalits in the wake of the recent landslide victory for BSP in UP, are being thwarted by such unfortunate incidents.
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Chakrasen's grandfather Shiv Murat was distributing ration and kerosene in the village. Santosh and Akash made illegal demands for ration and kerosene. Chakrasen reportedly didn't allow them to take more ration or kerosene than the allotted quota. "Santosh and Akash often used to fight with bhaiya for this," says his youngest brother Shaktisen. The family says they got even more upset when he got admission to the engineering college.
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One of the two accused, Santosh Mishra had threatened Shiv Murat by life. Shivmurat reported this death-threat to the local police 'thana' 10 months back but police did not pay any heed to it.
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Role of police in this case has been very dubious. When Chakrasen was being beaten brutally, the village pradhan Rammani Vishwakarma tried to call the police three times but all calls fell on deaf ears. Although the murder took place at about 6am on 1 August, the police registered a first information report (FIR) only at 7pm of that evening, due to mounting pressure from outraged villagers. The police first lodged the report under Section 304 i.e. culpable homicide not amounting to murder. It was only two days later, that section 302 was added.
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The police neither allowed the family of Chakrasen nor the villagers to go near the dead body. They took the dead body into their custody after reaching the spot. Panchnama was also not done. The family members of the deceased were called to the police station but the dead body was sent for post mortem before they could reach the police station.
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The family members of Chakrasen allege that the local police is trying to shield the accused and deliberately trying to weaken the case. For instance, police named Matadin as one of the main accused, who had died four years ago!
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The two main accused, Santosh and Akash, were arrested earlier on direct orders of Superintendent of Police, but later released on bail. After coming out on bail they had again beaten up the family members of Chakrasen.
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Let's hope dalit voices for justice are held in the current corridors of power in UP assembly and justice meted out at the earliest!
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Published in:
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Asian Tribune (Thailand/ Sri Lanka), 1 October 2007
Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 2 October 2007

Mayawati govt to expedite justice in Hashimpura case

Published in
The Seoul Times (South Korea), 29 September 2007
Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 30 September 2007

Mayawati govt to expedite justice in Hashimpura case

Mayawati govt in Uttar Pradesh has assured to expedite justice in Hashimpura case recently.

UP’s Principal Secretary (Home) Dr JN Chambers met a delegation in state capital Lucknow and expressed his grave concern at the slow progress of the Hashimpura case, with justice being denied for more than 20 years now.

Dr Chambers assured the delegation to replace the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Mr Surinder Adlakha, whose performance has been reported as ‘very unsatisfactory’. Earlier a petition demanding removal of SPP was submitted signed by senior Journalist and former members of Parliament Kuldip Nayyar and Surendra Mohan, Editor of Communalism Combat Teesta Setalvad, Director of Amnesty International in India Mukul Sharma, senior Journalists Nasiruddin Haider Khan and Shaira Naim, among others.

SPP Mr Adlakha was appointed by the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Government in UP about 3 years ago. The families of more than 40 muslim people who were massacred in Hashimpura twenty years back, and 2 survivors allege that Mr Adlakha has failed to prosecute this case effectively and rigorously. In fact, on 31 July 2006, he was fined Rs 5000 for failure to appear in the court for hearing. On many occasions the presiding judge NP Kaushik had verbally remarked that the SPP was not sufficiently prepared with his brief and was not familiar with documents on the case file.

Dr Chambers further promised that UP government will make sure that justice is done and Hashimpura case is expedited. He also committed to ask Registrar General for expediting this case and look into the CB-CID investigation report. If there are no technical issues in this CB-CID report, then it will be made public, Dr Chambers gave an assurance.

UP Government is yet to respond to another petition demanding dismissal of 16 Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) men who have been accused for the Hashimpura massacre in which more than 40 muslim people died. Information received through RTI applications filed earlier, revealed that no departmental enquiry was ever conducted against the accused PAC men. A Delhi court has framed charges against all the accused PAC men for participating in a criminal conspiracy to commit mass murder and they are being prosecuted for the same in Delhi.

PAC men had allegedly gunned down over 40 people on 22 May 1987 (all muslim). The Hashimpura massacre occurred during the communal riots that broke out in Meerut in May 1987. Apparently, the immediate provocation was the Rajiv Gandhi-led Central government's decision to open the Babri Masjid for worship by Hindus.

The struggle of survivors and family members of those killed in Hashimpura massacre, has undoubtedly intensified over the past 20 years, despite of all disappointments and multi-prong attempts to wash-it off.

UP government has indeed given a ray of hope to those waiting for justice for more than two decades now.

Published in:
The Seoul Times (South Korea), 29 September 2007
Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 30 September 2007

Who has the right to Water?

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View Point: Who has the right to water?
28 September 2007
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has been considering declaring drought in some parts of Varanasi. As a safeguard to protect declining groundwater levels, the government is contemplating to stop farmers from pumping any more water from their wells. Yet the Coca Cola bottling plant in Raja Talab, Mehndiganj village of Varanasi, has not been restricted from reportedly drawing lakhs of litres of water every day!
"Water levels in 9 out of 13 stations in Varanasi district have fallen below drought conditions", said a report from the Hydrology department of Government of India, released on 15 September 2007, in response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act by Nandlal Master, the leader of the Lok Samiti in Mehndiganj.
A recently released report from a regional hydrologist shows that the water-level conditions have actually gone worse. In 2006, 5 stations in Varanasi were reported to have drought or drought like conditions based on the water table. This year, 9 stations have reported such conditions in Varanasi.
The government feels that they need to act - and act by declaring that water from deeper levels cannot be pumped out for irrigation. "Ironically UP Government is considering banning farmers from taking out water for irrigation. It is also the question of who has the right to water - is it the local communities or private corporations?", asks a Varanasi-based social activist Vallabhacharya Pandey who represents Asha-Parivar. Equity and rights, cultural and ethical issues are essential to be addressed when dealing with limited water resources. "Imbalances between availability and demand, the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, inter-sectoral competition, interregional and international disputes, all centre around the question of how to cope with scarce water resources" commented Nandlal.
It is yet to be seen whether Government will also consider stopping Coca Cola bottling plant from taking out groundwater for commercial purposes apart from Government's present move to consider stopping farmers from using groundwater for irrigation in these areas reporting water scarcity at alarming levels.
As natural rights, water rights are usufructuary rights (water can be used but not owned). People have a right to life and the resources that sustain it, such as water. The necessity of water to life is why, under customary laws, the right to water has been accepted as a natural, social fact.
That is why governments and corporations cannot alienate people of their water rights. Water rights come from nature and creation. They flow from the laws of nature, not from the rules of the market.

Light the Lamp of Democracy

Light the Lamp of Democracy

Tiamerenla Monalisa Changkija
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Published in:
Central Chronicle, India - 29 September 2007
The Seoul Times, South Korea - 29 September 2007
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand - 30 September 2007
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It is with bated breath and great expectations the entire world is looking at current events in Myanmar and Pakistan. And the expectations are for change and democracy in these two countries, close neighbours of India.
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Now, because Myanmar and Pakistan are close neighbours of India, the world’s largest democracy, and because Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent methods to overthrown undemocratic colonial regimes have inspired countries in all continents in the post-World war period, India today shoulders the great responsibility to hold higher the lamp of democracy in this region. For the past nine days Buddhist Monks of Myanmar have launched a quiet and non-violent protest asking the military junta of that country to restore democracy and eradicate poverty.

As the media reports, the general public has also joined the Monks, meanwhile President George Bush of USA has announced sanctions against Myanmar’s military junta. Several other countries have also pitched in, in support of the monks-led public protest and Australia has already stated that violence would be unacceptable. Indubitably ASEAN countries are also very vigilant about events in Myanmar, mainly because any violent crushing of the pro-democratic movement and continuance of the military junta in that country would now have greater repercussions across the region, much more than it did in 1988.

The repercussions would be probably perceived from economic perspectives, what with East Asian countries forging closer economic and cultural ties, a necessity in today’s globalized context but the most important issue here is the fundamental and human rights of the people of Myanmar. Once this is put in place, healthy economics would be a natural corollary --- this obviously must be seen from the perspective of the military junta in Myanmar having had appropriated complete control over the country’s political, social and economic activities, as also its natural resources for over four decades.



People of Myanmar have been totally alienated and marginalized from ownership of their own country and India should not ignore its legacy of democracy, which Gandhi bequeathed to Independent India, and abdicate the responsibility of providing leadership in the sub-continent by helping the people of Myanmar light the lamp of democracy in their countries. China reportedly has advised ‘restrain’ to Myanmar’s military junta ostensibly in China’s own interest.

Myanmar is China’s trading partner and in its pursuit to be the next Asian economic giant, it certainly doesn’t want its economic apple cart to be upset by events in Myanmar. And then there is the Olympics 2008 at Beijing for which China has invested heavily and not just financially.

Myanmar is also India’s supplier of gas and any move on its part to help usher in change and democracy in Myanmar would also upset a portion of India’s own economic interests. But as reports of deaths and injury of Myanmarese protesters flow in we must acknowledge that the time has come to look beyond economic interests and economic means and methods to help people across the globe live with dignity. In fact, not prioritizing economic interests and methods to light the lamp of democracy would enhance economic benefits.

In any case, economic sanctions have never overthrown dictatorial regimes and resorting to them is simply an eye-wash, which doesn’t wash any eyes. But this is definitely NOT a covert suggestion for any military option. Of all nations, India cannot sit and watch a dictatorial military regime violently crush the people of Myanmar; if we do so, we lose the moral ground to call ourselves a democracy.

So our help must be non-violent and democratic. Citizens of India, particularly in Manipur and Nagaland, have family and friends across the Myanmarese borders as much as the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab have family and friends in Pakistan. It would be in India’s interest to also focus on the close emotional and cultural ties its citizens have with both the countries. If there is a time to build borders, there is also the time to destroy borders, the kind that deny and deprive people of dignity and fundamental rights, dictatorship being the most iniquitous.

The people of Myanmar need us now --- should we abuse the freedom and the strength, which democracy has empowered us with, by ignoring the plight of our neighbours? Of all countries, India must now shoulder the responsibility, nay the moral obligation, to avert a human tragedy and a human crisis in the sub-continent. Doing so would strengthen India’s position as the tallest defender and deliverer of democracy.
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Tiamerenla Monalisa Changkija
Editor, Nagaland Page
Email: tmchangkija@rediffmail.com
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Published in:
Central Chronicle, India 29 September 2007
The Seoul Times, South Korea 29 September 2007
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand 30 September 2007

HC reprimands State Govt

View Point: HC reprimands State Govt

Central Chronicle

Madhya Pradesh

27 September 2007

The Jabalpur High Court reprimanded the Madhya Pradesh State Government on 25 September 2007, for illegally arresting and detaining 91 people in jail, who were peacefully demonstrating for their land rights at Taloon on 25 July 2007.

The court orders the State Government to pay Rs 10,000 to each of the above 91 people as compensation for violating their fundamental rights on the basis of Article 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. A total of Rs 9,10,000 should be paid to the anti-dam agitators.

The 25 page above order of the court states that the State government may recover the total compensation from officials found responsible, after conducting a special enquiry, or pay the amount directly. The bench consisted of Chief Justice AK Patnaik and Justice Ajit Singh.

Earlier on the evening of 25 July 2007, a huge police force came down on the adivasis, fishworkers and farmers who were peacefully agitating as part of the "Zameen Hak Satyagraha", demanding land-for-land rehabilitation instead of cash compensation. "Today's verdict is yet another victory for the Narmada Bachao Andolan and people's movements at large. The verdict affirms the rights of the affected people to agitate peacefully and assert their right to land and livelihood. The peaceful and legitimate agitation by the Sardar Sarovar Dam affected people of the Narmada valley, for right to life and livelihood, continues irrespective of efforts by the authorities to sabotage and suppress the movement of the people" said frontline leader of NBA Medha Patkar.

"The Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award, The Supreme Court orders, Constitutional rights of citizens, all stand violated as submergence without rehabilitation continue to happen in the valley, year after year. 22 years of persistent struggle by NBA has achieved much in terms of rehabilitation and without struggle, the remaining populations will not get their due, especially in MP" stressed Arundhati Dhuru, another senior NBA activist.

MP Government had stated earlier that not enough appropriate land is available for land-to-land rehabilitation of every eligible displaced person. Therefore the movement continues to gain ground with water level rising in the valley.

http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070927/2709303.htm

Court reprimands MP Government for arresting anti-dam protestors

Court reprimands MP Government for arresting anti-dam protestors

The Jabalpur High Court reprimanded the Madhya Pradesh State Government on 25 September 2007, for illegally arresting and detaining 91 people in jail, who were peacefully demonstrating for their land rights at Taloon on 25 July 2007.

The court orders the state Government to pay Rs 10,000 to each of the above 91 people as compensation for violating their fundamental rights on the basis of Article 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. A total of Rs 9,10,000 should be paid to the anti-dam agitators.

The 25 page above order of the Court states that the State government may recover the total compensation from officials found responsible, after conducting a special enquiry, or pay the amount directly. The bench consisted of the Chief Justice AK Patnaik and Justice Ajit Singh.

Earlier on the evening of 25 July 2007, a huge police force came down on the adivasis, fishworkers and farmers who were peacefully agitating as part of the “Zameen Hak Satyagraha”, demanding land-for-land rehabilitation instead of cash compensation.

“Today's verdict is yet another victory for the Narmada Bachao Andolan and people's movements at large. The verdict affirms the rights of the affected people to agitate peacefully and assert their right to land and livelihood. The peaceful and legitimate agitation by the Sardar Sarovar Dam affected people of the Narmada valley, for right to life and livelihood, continues irrespective of efforts by the authorities to sabotage and suppress the movement of the people” said frontline leader of Narmada Bachao Andolan Medha Patkar.

“The Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award, The Supreme Court orders, Constitutional rights of citizens, all stand violated as submergence without rehabilitation continue to happen in the valley, year after year. 22 years of persistent struggle by NBA has achieved much in terms of rehabilitation and without struggle, the remaining populations will not get their due, especially in Madhya Pradesh” stressed Arundhati Dhuru, another senior NBA activist.

MP Government had stated earlier that not enough appropriate land is available for land-to-land rehabilitation of every eligible displaced person.

Therefore the movement continues to gain ground with water level rising in the valley. The main demands include:

- Land-based rehabilitation for the dam-affected families. More than 2 lakhs people still remain in the submergence area

- Adivasis already affected at 122 meters of the dam, should be immediately given land-based rehabilitation

- Height of the Dam should be stayed at 122 meters and not built any further till rehabilitation work is completed

- Cancellation of Special Rehabilitation Package as it is grossly inadequate

- Action against officials involved in corruption while distributing land and cash

- Action against violation of law (NWDTA and SC orders), contempt of Court through false affidavits

It's obvious that in spite of Special Rehabilitation Package (SRP), land for 11,000 families, 90 resettlement sites, right to 5 acres of land for each major son of affected family, which SSP (Sardar Sarovar Project)-affected could seek through long struggle of past 22 years, much remains to be done and attained.

Published in:
27 September 2007: The Seoul Times (South Korea)
28 September 2007: The Scoop Independent News (New Zealand)

Coke siphons groundwater while GoI may declare drought

COKE siphons groundwater while GoI may declare drought

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has been considering declaring drought in some parts of Varanasi. As a safeguard to protect declining groundwater levels, the government might even ask farmers to stop pumping water from their wells. Yet the Coca Cola bottling plant in Raja Talab, Mehndiganj village of Varanasi, has not been restricted from drawing lakhs of litres of water every day!

“Water levels in 9 out of 13 stations in Varanasi district have fallen below drought conditions” said a report from the Hydrology department of Government of India, released on 15 September 2007, in response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act by Nandlal Master, the leader of the Lok Samiti in Mehndiganj.


A recently released report from a regional hydrologist shows that the water-level conditions have actually gone worse. In 2006, 5 stations in Varanasi were reported to have drought or drought like conditions based on the water table. This year, 9 stations have reported such conditions in Varanasi.

“While local farmers are finding it difficult to access water with many hand-pumps running dry, and the government considering whether it should 'declare' the area as drought-striken (which might provide for some relief programmes), the Coca Cola plant at Rajatalab in Mehndiganj continues to pump hundreds of thousands of litres of water everyday. Their deep boring infrastructure and the drive for profit-making remains unaffected by the conditions of their neighbours” remarks Nandlal.

At the same time, the government feels that they need to act - and act by declaring that water from deeper levels cannot be pumped out for irrigation.

“Ironically UP Government is considering banning farmers from taking out water for irrigation but not stopping Coca Cola from taking out huge amounts of water for commercial purposes. It is also the question of who has the right to water – is it the local communities or private corporations?” asks a Varanasi-based social activist Vallabhacharya Pandey who represents Asha-Parivar.

Equity and rights, cultural and ethical issues are essential to be addressed when dealing with limited water resources. “Imbalances between availability and demand, the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, inter-sectoral competition, interregional and international disputes, all centre around the question of how to cope with scarce water resources” commented Nandlal.

It is yet to be seen whether Government will also consider stopping Coca Cola bottling plant from taking out groundwater for commercial purposes apart from Government’s present move to consider stopping farmers from using groundwater for irrigation in these areas reporting water scarcity at alarming levels.

As natural rights, water rights are usufructuary rights (water can be used but not owned). People have a right to life and the resources that sustain it, such as water. The necessity of water to life is why, under customary laws, the right to water has been accepted as a natural, social fact.

That is why governments and corporations cannot alienate people of their water rights. Water rights come from nature and creation. They flow from the laws of nature, not from the rules of the market.

IIT-Kanpur hushed up three workers' death, says activist

IIT-Kanpur hushed up three workers' death, says activist

23 September 2007

At least three daily-wage workers died on the IIT-Kanpur campus recently--a fact that the premier institute's authorities tried to hush up. That is what social activist and Magsaysay award-winner Sandeep Pandey, national convenor, National Alliance of People's Movements, says.

All the deaths, he said, could have been avoided had the IIT provided better living conditions for the labourers on the campus.Activists alleged that IIT-Kanpur's director had banned staff and students from speaking to the media about the alleged deaths.

Pandey, who is also a former IIT faculty, said 12-year-old Rohit died on August 26 2006 after being bitten by a snake on the campus. Rohit was reportedly denied life-saving medical intervention at the institute's hospital. The activist said one Udayvir Yadav, 24, died of electric shock four days later.

Again the authorities allegedly tried hushing up the matter.Pandey said another person--Mohammad Rustam, resident of Malda, West Bengal, aged between 50-55 years--died on 26 July 2007 due to snake bite. He alleged the IIT director tried his best to silence the news.Rustam worked at the core lab construction site near Wind Tunnel and SIDBI Centre on the campus.

His body was allegedly sent out of the campus in a tractor and buried in a graveyard near a mosque in Naramau."Like the IIT director, some IIT professors, too, feel indignant that the stories of deaths have been revealed to the outside world. They are not concerned about the families of the dead or the working conditions of the workers. The insensitive attitude of the IIT community and the shoddy manner in which they dealt with such issues should be condemned," said Pandey, who won the Magsaysay Award for emergent leadership in 2002.

Activists now want the staff at the IIT medical centre to be punished for not delivering timely medical aid for Rahul. Besides, the deceased's kin must be immediately compensated, they demanded.

News of three deaths at IIT campus confirmed

News of three deaths at IIT Kanpur confirmed



Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 24 September
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00443.htm

The Seoul Times (South Korea), 27 September 2007



Despite of all attempts by IIT Kanpur administration to stifle news related to three unfortunate deaths that happened on the campus recently, the news finally got confirmed on Saturday 22 September.

IIT Kanpur (Indian Institute of Technology) is a globally acclaimed engineering institute.

Director of IIT Kanpur had imposed a blanket ban on everyone at IIT to prevent them from speaking to media about these alleged deaths on campus, but his attempts failed with the sad and gory news finally leaking out and a growing concern from human rights organizations and IIT alumni across the world.

The prestigious and world renowned Institute of IIT Kanpur, seems to have a practice of suppressing information about untimely deaths of daily wage workers on the campus.

All these three deaths were preventable – only if IIT administration had provided better living conditions for the daily-wage workers. Two of these deaths happened due to fatal snake/ scorpion bites and one because of electric shock owing to the dangerous wiring of a welding machine. Ironically IIT which is the launching pad for people to have access to world-class living conditions globally, provides such shameful treatment and unfortunate living conditions to daily-wage workers.

News of first death that came out recently was of 12 years old Rohit who was bitten by a snake/scorpion followed by refusal by IIT Medical Centre to treat him on the pretext that he was not an employee’s son. Being denied life-saving medical intervention, Rohit succumbed to the fatal bites on 26 August 2007.

Second death was of 24 years old Udayvir Yadav who died due to the electric shock he got from his own welding machine on 30 August 2007. IIT administration was reluctant to provide any information about Udayvir’s death, till the news became public knowledge and IIT administration began getting the heat.

There were continuous murmurs about a third death and IIT Director was fervently trying to block all information with an order on everyone at IIT to not to speak to media!

Now it is confirmed that Mohammad Rustam, resident of Malda, West Bengal, aged between 50-55 years, died around 26 July 2007, due to snake/scorpion bite in the early hours like Rohit. He is survived by 3 sons and 3 daughters. He used to work at the Core Lab construction site near Wind Tunnel and SIDBI Centre on IIT campus. His dead body was shipped out silently of the campus in a tractor trolley and buried in a graveyard near a Mosque in Naramau. The Mukhiya of this village was summoned and the matter was settled, till it was finally unearthed by others concerned much to their surprise and shock!

“Like IIT Director, some IIT professors too feel indignant that the stories of deaths have been revealed to the outside world. They are not so much concerned about the families of the dead or the poor working conditions of the daily-wage-workers who have made it possible for IITians to enjoy world class material facilities on the campus. The insensitive and cold attitude of IIT community to the deaths of daily wage workers and shoddy manner in which they are dealt must by strongly condemned” retorted an ex-IIT Kanpur faculty member Dr Sandeep Pandey, who also later won Magsaysay Award for emergent leadership in 2002 and is a senior frontline social activist in India today.

Interestingly, Dr Pandey, who was earlier an academician and joined IIT Kanpur faculty after completing Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley in late 1980s, left IIT Kanpur to plunge in full-time development activism in 1991 when he was irked by the plight of daily-wage workers and their families and the criminal apathy of then IIT Director to their welfare. Old-timers at IIT Kanpur reminisce that Dr Pandey was so perturbed and frustrated with IIT administration’s apathy that he finally resorted to a fast lasting many days to draw attention of IIT administration to the cause. Although more than 15 years have passed by since then, IIT’s apathy to the welfare of people who work on-campus hasn’t changed. Dr Pandey after leaving IIT, established alternative education centres for the children of these daily-wage workers and have been involved in strengthening people’s rights movements across the country.

It shows IIT in very poor light so far its respect for human rights record is concerned.

It is also to be noted that the nexus of IIT administration and contractors first tried to summarily dispose of these three death cases so that neither becomes liable for these deaths.

The guilty at the Medical Centre, at least in the case of Rohit’s death, must be punished and dependents of deceased must be immediately compensated.

The IIT administration must put in place a transparent and verifiable system for ensuring due rights of the daily wage workers under the law of the land.

Health care for families of workers, education for their children and good quality housing (to prevent incidents like snake/scorpion bites) is the minimum basic responsibility of IIT if it is to live up to its reputation of a world class institution.

Published in:

Rediff News: 23 September
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/sep/23iit.htm

Asian Tribune, 24 September
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/7485

Central Chronicle, 24 September
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070924/2409303.htm

Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 24 September
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00443.htm
The Seoul Times (South Korea), 27 September 2007
http://www.theseoultimes.com/ST/db/read.php?idx=5691

3rd death unravelled at IIT Kanpur

PRESS RELEASE

THIRD DEATH UNRAVELED AT IIT KANPUR
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Dated: 22nd September, 2007


More skeletons are falling from the cupboard of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. The prestigious and world renowned Institute seems to have a practice of suppressing information about untimely deaths of daily wage workers on the campus.

Following the revelation of deaths of 12 years old Rohit by snake/scorpion bite followed by refusal by IIT Medical Centre to treat him on the pretext that he was not an employee’s son and 24 years old Udayvir Yadav by electric shock from his own welding machine on 26th and 30th August, 2007, respectively, information about whom IIT administration first tried to suppress, there were murmurs of a third death.

Now it is confirmed that Mohammad Rustam, resident of Malda, W. Bengal, aged between 50-55 years, died around 26th July, 2007, due to snake/scorpion bite in the early hours like Rohit. He is survived by 3 sons and 3 daughters. He used to work at the Core Lab construction site near Wind Tunnel and SIDBI Centre on campus. His dead body was shipped out silently of the campus in a tractor trolley and buried in a graveyard near a Mosque in Naramau. The Mukhiya of his village was summoned and the matter was settled.

The nexus of IIT administration and contractors first tried to summarily dispose of these case so that neither are liable for the deaths. In spite of the best efforts by IIT Director to strangle right to expression by placing a ban on anybody from IIT officially approaching the media, the news about three deaths leaked out.

Some IIT professors also feel indignant that the stories of deaths have been revealed to the outside world. They are not so much concerned about the families of the dead or the poor working conditions of the workers who have made it possible for them to enjoy world class material facilities on the campus. The insensitive and cold attitude of IIT community to the deaths of daily wage workers and shoddy manner in which they are dealt must by strongly condemned.

It shows IIT in very poor light so far its respect for human rights record is concerned. The guilty at the Medical Centre, at least in the case of Rohit’s death, must be punished and dependents of deceased must be immediately compensated. The IIT administration must put in place a transparent and verifiable system for ensuring due rights of the daily wage workers under the law of the land. Health care for families of workers, education for their children and good quality housing (to prevent incidents like snake/scorpion bites) is the minimum basic responsibility of IIT if it is to live up to its reputation of a world class institution.


Sandeep Pandey
National Convenor
National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)

First Indian gets 2007 Rafto Prize for human rights

First Indian gets 2007 Rafto Prize for human rights

This is the first time an Indian has been awarded the prestigious Rafto Prize for Human Rights. The announcement came today morning in Bergen, Norway office of The Rafto Foundation that India's National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) shall get the coveted Rafto Prize. The award ceremony is due this year on 4 November 2007.

The Rafto Prize is a human rights award gaining international status, several past Rafto laureates like Aung San Suu Kyi, Josè Ramos-Horta, Kim Dae-Jung and Shirin Ebadi, have subsequently been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Rafto Prize contributes to a focus on human rights violations and on people and communities which need the attention of the world.

The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) will receive the 2007 Rafto Prize for its brave struggle to promote Dalit rights, and for its efforts to emphasise that the discrimination and oppression resulting from caste prejudice is a serious violation of international human rights.

The NCDHR was established in 1998 by a group of human rights organisations and activists concerned with the status of Dalits' rights in India. NCDHR's efforts include documenting human rights violations, providing legal assistance to victims of discrimination and atrocities, and lobbying national and internationally. The organisation has led a successful campaign to raise awareness of the Dalits' plight and discrimination they suffer. NCDHR's struggle has been instrumental in mobilising international human rights organisations to combat caste-based discrimination both in India and neighbouring South-East Asian countries.

India 's constitution clearly states that discrimination based on religion, sex or caste is prohibited, yet the Dalits continue to face systematic discrimination in all spheres of Indian society. Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar (1891-1956), who was himself a Dalit and the architect behind the Indian Constitution, conceded that, "Rights are protected not by laws, but by the social and moral conscience of society".

India 's efforts to enforce laws that are meant to protect Dalits are severely flawed. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh became the first leader of his country to compare the condition of Dalits with that of black South Africans under apartheid. India must prioritise the fight against the oppression of Dalits and other marginalised groups, and ensure an end to the systematic violation of human rights.

Millions of Indians are born into a social and cultural system which fundamentally conflicts with the notion that all human beings are born free with equal rights. Of India's more than 1 billion citizens, 167 million are labelled as 'impure', 'casteless' or 'untouchable'. These are referred to as Dalits, meaning 'the oppressed'. The identity of the Dalit people, and their struggle for dignity and basic human rights, has been formed through thousands of years of humiliation, discrimination, and exclusion.

Dalits are refused equal access to education and health services, experience harsh discrimination in social and religious life, and are excluded from all but the most menial of jobs. In many areas, Dalits have their property taken away from them, and are forced to relocate to other villages and towns against their will. Every day, the Indian police and the judicial system turn a blind eye while Dalits are subjected to caste-motivated murder, rape, and harassment.

The caste system is an intrinsic part of Hinduism, the world oldest religion, and the dominant faith in India. According to the teachings of Hinduism, all individuals are born into a caste which awards them different status and defines their opportunities in life. Caste discrimination is also a problem within other religions. An example of this is Christian churches discriminating against Christian Dalits through allocating separate mass and burial grounds for them.

The oppression experienced by the Dalits today indicates that respect for human rights cannot be taken for granted, even in democracies such as India, which is a signatory to most international human rights conventions.

Strengthen health systems to control Dengue: WHO

Strengthen health systems to control Dengue: WHO

Published in:

The Statesman (India), 21 September 2007

The Scoop Independent (New Zealand), 20 September 2007
The Seoul Times (South Korea), 6 October 2007


"It is critical for countries to strengthen their health systems for prediction, early detection, preparedness and early response to dengue outbreaks," said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO South-East Asia Regional Director, at a WHO meeting to review and endorse the 'Strategic Framework for the Prevention and Control of Dengue' in the Asia-Pacific region.


In India Dengue is the leading cause of hospitalization and death among children. Increasingly every year, regular outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases across India leave scores of people dead and swamped hospitals and clinics, exposing the country's appalling public health system. Last year in 2006, three members of the Prime Minister's family were taken to hospital suffering with high fever, a dengue symptom, sparking grave concern and media spotlight.

"The fever is not always fatal but in extreme cases patients might need a blood transfusion to replace platelets and stabilise internal organs. When a patient's platelet count drops the blood's clotting property diminishes and this raises the possibility of continuous bleeding and eventual death. The cost of hospitalisation and treatment is high, especially when a blood transfusion is required," said Dr Rishi Sethi, MD, DM, of King George's Medical University.

Dengue fever is an infectious disease, transmitted by mosquitoes and found in hot and humid climates. Dengue transcends international boundaries and is an acute problem, with about 75% of the population in the Asia-Pacific region at risk.

WHO appealed to governments of Asian countries to accelerate key interventions in the control of dengue, which include policy and regulatory support and partnerships within the health sector and with other ministries such as the environment, education, law and tourism.

Several countries in the region are already facing an unprecedented increase in dengue cases this year. Indonesia is reporting over one hundred thousand cases, which is a 10% increase from the numbers reported last year. Myanmar has seen a 33% increase reporting 11,577 cases so far this year and Thailand has 40,258 cases this year, an increase of 27%. Bhutan reported its first case in 2004 and has seen a gradual increase in the numbers; and Nepal reported its first case in 2006.

Countries must implement a national strategy that will eliminate breeding places of the mosquito vector.

Deaths due to dengue hemorrhagic fever can be reduced by seeking early care and the provision of standard case management in health facilities and hospitals.

Dengue is a man-made problem which is linked to globalization, rapid unplanned and unregulated urban development, improper water storage and unsatisfactory sanitary conditions, which provide breeding grounds for the mosquito. Movement of people to and from urban areas is another major factor.

The dengue virus spreads through the bite of the infectious female Aedes mosquito, primarily Aedes aegypti, which breeds in artificial containers and improperly managed garbage where clean or clear water accumulates. Because dengue is an ecological disease, prevention is the key to effective control.

Individuals can take simple steps such as emptying all water containers at least once a week and ridding their surroundings of containers that collect rain water, which will help to prevent the laying of eggs by the mosquitoes that are the dengue vector.

Hall-of-Shame: USA arrests and harasses those who march for peace

Hall-of-Shame:
USA arrests and harasses those who march for peace
Sirish Agarwal, a dedicated peace activist, a member of Asha Parivar (www.ashaparivar.org), who has been living in USA for some time now, and proactively participating in development activism on issues of human rights violations around the world, participated along with 100,000 other people who marched for peace in Washington DC on 15 September 2007.

This march for peace was from the White House [house of USA President] to the Capitol Hill [USA Parliament house] in Washington DC, to demand an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq. The march concluded in a dramatic “die-in” of 5000 people surrounding the Capitol Hill to symbolize death of Iraqi people and US troops. USA police labels this as “one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in recent years.”

Almost 200 people were arrested, including peace activist Sirish Agarwal.

This mass action came on the heels of the pro-war Petraeus report to US Congress and George Bush's wholehearted endorsement of the report. Meanwhile, the war is raging on, destroying Iraqi society.

Nearly 4,000 U.S. solidiers and up to 1 million [1,000,000 people] Iraqis have died since the U.S. invasion in March 2003.

“We are proud of Sirish and each one of the 100,000 people who demonstrated commitment to establishing a just social order in the world, and came out to march for peace” said senior social activist and Magsaysay Awardee Dr Sandeep Pandey.

US Congress as custodian of public aspirations has failed to end Iraq war. It should either resign or exercise its powers under War Powers Resolution 1973 withdraw authorization of Iraq war and cut funding for Iraq war.

The US Supreme Court as custodian of US constitution should play its role under the system of checks and balances to protect the democratic and constitutional rights of American public to end Iraq war at its earliest to save further loss of life, end of misery of Iraqi refugees and help restore peace in the world.

Noted Narmada Bachao Andolan activist and leader of National Alliance of People’s Movements Arundhati Dhuru said that “Peace and mutual co-existence has helped humanity and our history proves that dialogue, not war, has brought results. It is shameful for US government to arrest and penalize people who have done nothing wrong rather come out on their own inner calling to save needless deaths and misery in Iraq. Sirish has made us proud, and so has every person who walked in the march of peace.”


DAY V: Anti-AFSPA Solidarity fast ends on a positive note in Manipur

DAY V: Anti-AFSPA Solidarity fast ends on a positive note in Manipur


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The five day fast in Keishampat, Imphal in support of Irom Sharmila Chanu, who has been on fast for 7 years deamanding repeal of AFSPA, ended on 17th September, 2007 on a positive note. Members of Manipur Forward Youth Front, which played a crucial role in organizing this fast and senior ladies of All Manipur Tammi Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup, who were even spending the nights at the fast site along with people fasting were present during the conclusion.

The women of AMTCANL blessed all the fasters after offering them juices to break their fast. Wangkhemcha Chingtamlen, a writer from Manipur, presented copies of his books ‘A short history of Kangleipak (Manipur)’ to all the fasters.

Faisal Khan is taking a letter from Irom Sharmila, who handed this letter to the visitors when they visited her on 16th September, 2007 in hospital, for Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of UPA.

The fasters when visiting the massacre sites on the evening of Sptember 16th, 2007 were disturbed to see that the monument built by people in Heirangoithong, in the memory of 14 people who were killed on 14th March, 1984 by CRPF, was destroyed by the Army last year.

Faisal Khan speaking at the conclusion offered to raise Rs. 25,000 on behalf of Asha Parivar to rebuild this monument.

Faisal Khan also said that the struggle of people of Northeast and Kashmir was one and would make efforts to work for the unity of people’s movements in these areas.

Sampamcha Kanglaipal – (+91-9862096539)
Irom Singhjit Singh – (+91-9863151540)
Radha – (+91-9856164548)
Biju Barbaruah – (+91-9435198562)

Fate of 25,000 families hinge on Sept 20 NCA meet

Fate of 25,000 families hinge on Sept 20 NCA meet


Narmada Control Authority (NCA) is likely to meet on Thursday 20 September in New Delhi to assess the current rehabilitation status of the 25,000 families affected by the Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD) reservoir, and to decide on completing the dam height by installing the gates.

Although the legitimate rehabilitation of more than 25000 families in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat is far from complete, yet the authorities have been pushing strongly to install the remaining 16 meters of gate.

The adivasi, dalit, fisher folk, peasant and farmer families are affected. Filling of the SSD reservoir began in 1994, increasing number of families have been affected, and living conditions worsened since then.

“The height of the dam cannot be increased until the rehabilitation of all the families affected at the full height of the dam (138.68 meters, with back water effect at the Maximum Reservoir Level) are completely rehabilitated, with cultivable lands and other amenities, as per the stipulations of the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award (NWDTA) as well as the repeated orders of the Supreme Court” said senior Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Arundhati Dhuru.

“If a decision is taken in violation of the rights of the affected people, who, as you know, are struggling for more than two decades to ensure their livelihood security and dignity of life, it will be a disaster not only for the Narmada Valley but also affecting the integrity and legitimacy of our democratic polity and governing institutions and its purposes” remarked Arundhati.

A petition letter has been submitted to the Prime Minister’s office and other officials as well.

The petition submitted at PMO, demands as following:

* The rehabilitation of more than 25,000 families should be completed, as per the law i.e. land for land rehabilitation and other amenities to all those who have legal rights for it, in their own state, before the dam is completed

* The height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam should be stayed (as per status quo) until and unless rehabilitation is completed in a just and appropriate manner

* Since the fishing families are loosing their livelihood, they should be provided legal rights for fishing in the reservoir and other amenities

* Illegal cash for land rehabilitation be banned, which is presently known as the Special Rehabilitation Package (SRP)

* The serious issues of land and livelihood of those who are already resettled, but not yet rehabilitated, in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh resettlement sites, should be redressed before the dam is completed

* The Monitoring bodies such as NCA and Grievance Redressal Authorities (GRA) should comprehensively and directly asses the ground realities regarding the implementation of rehabilitation, before coming to any conclusion regarding the status of rehabilitation

September 20 NCA meet will decide how much priority our elected representatives give to rehabilitation, livelihood security and dignity of life of over 25,000 families affected by the Sardar Sarovar dam reservoir.

Magsaysay winner Sandeep Pandey visits fasting Irom Sharmila




Magsaysay winner Sandeep Pandey visits fasting Irom Sharmila
Rediff NEWS
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/sep/17look.htm


September 17, 2007

















Caption: Irom Sharmila with Magsaysay Award winner Sandeep Pandey.

An application under the Right to Information Act was filed on Monday in New Delhi demanding that the Prime Minister's Office provide vital information pertinent to not only the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission, but also the Veerappan Moily Administrative Reforms Committee, which were government-appointed bodies formed to review Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Magsaysay Award winner and social activist Sandeep Pandey rued continued imposition of 'draconian' AFSPA and other 'black laws' in conflict-ridden north-east India and Jammu and Kashmir.

Pandey saluted the guts shown by Manipuri lady Irom Sharmila for her continued lone battle against imposition of AFSPA in the north-east.
"Irom Sharmila has been on fast since December 2002 in protest against continued imposition of AFSPA, but not a single official from the government has gone to meet her over the years to give her assurance that the government is taking note of her protests," Pandey said.


DAY IV: Activists on solidarity fast meet IROM SHARMILA

DAY IV: Activists on solidarity fast meet IROM SHARMILA

















The highlight of the fourth day of solidarity fast in support of Irom Shrmila in Imphal was a meeting in the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital after due permission from the authorities of the people fasting with Sharmila. Sharmila became very emotional in the beginning and she said what she was doing was for all living beings. She said that truth will be victorious in the end and that it was God’s will that she had to undergo this fast. Because of a tube which goes through her nose she has to lift her head while talking. She shared the gist of a 1110 line poem that she has written in her solitary confinement. The visitors spent about 45 minutes with Sharmila. A jailor accompanied them.
At the dharna site today young women of Rabi School of Nursing and R.D.O Lamshang as well as embroidery workers of Ketawn turned out in large numbers to extend support to the solidarity fast and demand repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Representatives of Salei Apunba Nupi Lamjing, Salei Lup Chingamokh, Mahila Shanti Sena and All Manipur Tammi Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup attended the dharna today. Overwhelming presence of women has been a highlight of this dharna all throughout. People who were on fast on the fourth day included Sandeep Pandey, Faisal Khan, Prem Kumar, Biju Borbaruah, Rakesh Naorem, Mahesh Pandey, Rajeshwar Ojha, Manish Kumar, P.H Sakhi, Sapamcha Kangleipal, Romesh Konthoujam and Premjit Kshtrimayum.


In the evening candle light vigils were observed at Malom, Hirongoi Thong and Terabazar, three massacre sites in Imphal to pay tributes to people who have been killed, raped, tortured under the AFSPA. It is noteworthy that Irom Sharmila’s 7 year fast was triggered by killing of 10 innocent people by the Army in 2000 at Malom.


Sampamcha Kanglaipal – (+91-9862096539)
Irom Singhjit Singh – (+91-9863151540)
Radha – (+91-9856164548)
Biju Barbaruah – (+91-9435198562)

Anti-AFSPA activists file RTI application at PMO

Anti-AFSPA activists file RTI application at PMO

Today on Monday 17 September 2007, an application under the Right-to-Information (RTI) Act has been filed by Suchi Pande in New Delhi demanding PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) to provide vital information pertinent to not only Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission but also Veerappan Moily Administrative Reforms Committee, which were Government-appointed bodies formed to review Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

It is understood that these two reports recommended repealing the AFSPA that had led to gross violations of human rights by Indian troops in the conflict ridden region.

In October 2006, Union Home Ministry had endorsed the recommendations of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission to repeal AFSPA (online at: http://www.e-pao.net/epRelatedNews.asp?heading=1&src=071005). The Act is still in force in Manipur, Assam and Nagaland.

Today also marks the fifth day of solidarity fast going on from September 13 at Keishampat junction, Imphal, Manipur, in support of Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been fasting since past 7 years, demanding to repeal the AFSPA.

The RTI application demands certified copies of the following three vital information related to AFSPA:

* The reports of both the above mentioned commissions on AFSPA and their recommendations

* What action has been taken by the Government of India to comply with the recommendations of the above mentioned two government appointed bodies on AFSPA

The RTI application also makes a note that “If the PIO [Public Information officer of PMO] is of the view that the information or part thereof requested falls under section 8(1) of the RTI Act and is therefore exempt, please note that the PIO must read section 8 (1) and section 10 together and make available relevant portions of both the reports that are not exempt under section 8(1); at the same time as per section 10 provide reasons for the exempted sections”.

The present UPA Government had constituted the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission in 2004 to review AFSPA in response to an intensive campaign led by ‘Apunba Lup’. The ‘Apunba Lup’ in Manipur observed Anti-army Act Day on September 11 to mark the completion of five decades of the act in the North-East.

“It is not only the North-East region but the human rights violations are going on in almost every place of India. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of encounter killings in the country, but there is no draconian law like the AFSPA there. The Government of India is biased against North-East and J&K in this aspect” said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and leader of NAPM (National Alliance of People’s Movements) and Asha Parivar.

The AFSPA which is operative at the time of a 'suspected' riot(s) in order to 'maintain public order', allows killing by shooting, entering and search of property, and arbitrary detention, etc., its abuse is currently spawning grave human rights violations in some parts of India. Under the powers of AFSPA, on 2 November 2000, the Indian military opened fire on its own citizens in the state of Manipur.

Since then, Irom Sharmila, a resident of the tragic state, has refused to eat and drink anything in resistance to indiscriminate use of the AFSPA against civilians.

The response of the Indian government to her resistance has been repetitively evasive: the government has repeatedly arrested her on a charge of 'attempted suicide', confined her in hospitals, and then freed her under applicable law, but, up until now, has failed to provide any fundamental alternative to the law in question.

Now RTI Act gives a beacon of hope to the people demanding AFSPA to be repealed.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE THIRD DAY OF FAST IN SUPPORT OF IROM SHARMILA IN IMPHAL

SOLIDARITY FAST CONTINUES TO GET MASSIVE SUPPORT: DAY III

WOMEN AND CHILDREN CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE THIRD DAY OF FAST IN SUPPORT OF IROM SHARMILA IN IMPHAL

Dated 15th September, 2007

The third day of fast in support of Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been fasting for 7 years demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, was attended by representatives of Manipur Peace Committee, Rashtriya Yuva Sangathan, All Manipur Social Reformation Development Samaj, All Manipur Tammi Chingmi, Apunba Nupi Lup, The Salvage of Distressed North East Region Group, Ukhrul SODNER, Ukhrul, Mahila Shanti Sena, Gandhian Institute of Rural Development, Thoubal and a number of students and teachers from City Montessori Higher Secondary School.
The people who were on fast on the third day included Biju Borbaruah, N. Medhabati Devi, Sandeep Pandey, Rajeshwar Ojha, Prem Kumar, Mahesh Pandey, Faisal Khan, Manish Kumar, Iboyai, Rakesh Naorem, John Groser, Mrinchiui, Jakir, Abdul Kalam, Aku, Indadula, Y. Nabhachandra, Premjit, H. Manglem, B.C Sharma, W. Ingobi, Md. Islammudin and Md. Abdul Jabar Famous Manipuri actor R.K Reiki also paid a visit in the morning to the fast site to express his solidarity to the struggle against AFSPA.
Special mention must be made of Manipur Forward Youth Front which has been the backbone of this struggle taking care of all the logistical support for organization of this fast.

Sapamacha Kangleipal (+91-9862096539)
Irom Singhjit Singh (+91-9863151540)
G. Radha Pyari Devi (+91-9856164548)
Biju Borbaruah (+91-9435198562)

Anti-AFSPA protestors demand "Free Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi"



Anti-AFSPA protestors demand "Free Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi"



The ongoing solidarity fast in support of Irom Chanu Sharmila's struggle to repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has broadened its agenda congruent with the declarations of past New Delhi (2005) and Lahore (2006) Peaceful South Asia Conventions – demand for a Free Burma and Free Aung San Suu Kyi.

Aung San Suu Kyi is imprisoned under the 1975 State Protection Act in Myanmar (Burma), which grants the government the power to imprison persons for up to five years without a trial. She has been intermittently under arrest of one kind or the other since 1990.

Irom Chanu Sharmila – the iron lady of Manipur in India , has been on a continuous fast since 2000 demanding repeal of AFSPA.

Despite the restrictions of house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi continued to campaign for democracy, similar to Irom Sharmila, who has been under confinement and steadfastly protesting against AFSPA since past 7 years now.

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has endorsed this fast along with hundreds of other organizations and individuals globally.

Countless people are fasting for five days (13-17 September) in Keishampat junction, Imphal, Manipur, to lobby more support to the anti-AFSPA campaign.

Significant others from different countries in the world have signed up on www.ashaparivar.org to fast for varying durations from September 13 to support the campaign.

The launch of this five days solidarity fast came two days after the 'Apunba Lup' observed Anti-army Act Day on September 11 here to mark the completion of five decades of the act in the North-East. The present UPA Government had constituted the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission in 2004 to review AFSPA in response to an intensive campaign led by 'Apunba Lup'.

By 1988, Burma was burgeoning with pro-democracy movement, fueled by the energy and idealism among the country's young people. There were demonstrations against the repressive, one-party socialist government. Aung San Suu Kyi was drawn into the pro-democracy movement, which was snuffed out by State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), which seized power on September 18, 1988. Thousands of pro-democracy advocates were killed.

Next came a general election in 1990, which political parties were allowed to contest. Aung San Suu Kyi, who was leading the National League for Democracy (NLD), won a landslide victory, with 80 per cent support. SLORC leaders refused to accept the election results putting the elected pro-democracy leaders under house arrest, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Despite the restrictions of house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi continues to campaign for democracy. She was awarded the Nobel Prize for peace in 1991.

The protests of Sharmila and Aung San Suu Kyi represent the most ideal form of peaceful struggles for a democratic demand.

Their victory is essential for the strengthening of democracy in South Asia and for the respect for human rights around the world.

Their victory will determine whether the voice of common citizen will be heard or the state will continue to trample over people's rights with anti-people laws and policies.
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