SACW | 10 Nov. 2003
Harsh Kapoor
aiindex at mnet.fr
Sun Nov 9 19:19:15 CST 2003
SOUTH ASIA CITIZENS WIRE | 10 November, 2003
via South Asia Citizens Web: www.sacw.net
INTERRUPTION NOTICE:
Please note, there will be no SACW dispatches for
the period November 11 - November 15 2003.
_______
[1] Pakistan: With blessings from the Multi Mulla
Alliance in the Frontier, jihadis fund raise,
under Dawa banner
[2] Pakistan-India People's Forum [Pakistan
Chapter] urges Pakistan government to respond
positively to India's 12-point proposals for the
restoration of dialogue between the two countries
[3] India : Tamil Nadu Government out to scuttle
Freedom of Press: 'The Hindu' staff being
harassed (reports)
[4] India: Action Alert - Protest Vindictive
Action Against A Human Rights Defender and Group
by Government in Tamil Nadu
[5] India: In defence of Malika Sarabhai a
prominent danseuse and outspoken defender of
secularism
- Documents: Letters of Support
- Signatures collected in Calcutta
- Statement by Concerned Citizens
- Announcement : A public meeting of writers ,
artists and activists in solidarity with Mallika
Sarabhai (Delhi, 18 November)
- Announcement: Public Meeting Citizens
Committee in solidarity with Mallika Sarabhai
(Bombay 12, November)
[6] India: Citizens For Justice and Peace Press
Release re threats to activists in Gujarat
(November 8)
--------------
[1]
The Daily Times
November 09, 2003
Lashkar men seek donation, under Dawa banner
Staff Report
PESHAWAR: Banned jihadi organisations have begun
to collect donations again but this time to help
families of martyrs and Kashmiri refugees.
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LT) has set up a donation camp
in Fowara Chowk in the cantonment area's main
shopping centre, asking people to donate
handsomely. To raise money for this purpose,
posters, stickers, books and audiocassettes
containing materials on jihad are available for
sale at the stalls set up since the start of
Ramazan.
The Quranic verses written on posters and banners
attract passers-by who either donate in cash or
buy stickers, cassettes and books from the stalls
set up in the name of Al Dawa. "No government
agency has stopped us from setting up the camp
because we have been allowed by the government to
collect donations for Kashmiri refugees and the
families of the martyrs," 16-year-old Naveed at
the stall said. He said the organisation had also
placed donation boxes in shops in the cantonment
area. Women also take an interest in the stalls.
Previously, it was a common practice for jihadi
organisations to place boxes in busy shops
requesting donations for Kashmiri mujahideen
before the government imposed a ban. Even
non-jihadi organisations removed their donation
boxes from shops.
_____
[2]
The Daily Times, November 10, 2003
PIPF urges positive Pakistani response to Indian offers
Staff Report
PESHAWAR: The Pakistan-India People's Forum on
Sunday urged the Pakistan government to respond
positively to India's 12-point proposals for the
restoration of dialogue between the two countries.
Speaking at a meeting of the forum, Afrasiyab
Khattak said the proposals would prove a
milestone in strengthening relations between
Islamabad and New Delhi. Forum's president Khwaja
Muhammad Waseem chaired the meeting.
The meeting regretted the Cantonment Board's
notice to demolish the Bal Mukki Temple, terming
it a dangerous act. "The forum views the act as
an intolerable one, as the temple demolition will
not only be a sad incident for the Hindu minority
but will also a setback to the centuries old
culture of the city," it said. The meeting warned
that any act to raze the temple would prove a
blow to the deteriorating Pakistani-Indian
relations.
The meeting discussed the preparations for the
sixth joint convention of the forum to be held on
December 12 in Karachi.
It formed a three-member committee comprising
Afrasiyab Khattak, Khwaja Waseem and Bakht Zada
to collect donations for the convention.
The meeting also nominated Aimal Khattak for
membership of the forum for the non-governmental
organisations, Hashim Raza for lawyers, Dr Riffat
Sarfraz for doctors, Prof Minhajul Hassan for
University of Peshawar and Muhammad Adnan Jalil
for business community.
_____
[3]
[The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in India,
'Amma' and her legislators go beserk; out to gag
the press and now also hounding human rights
defenders speaking up against the Hindu right.
See reports below]
o o o
[Blatant attack on Freedom of Press in India: Reports]
The Hindu, Nov 09, 2003
Immediate withdrawal of sentence sought
By Our Staff Reporter
Veteran journalists in New Delhi protesting
against the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker's order
sentencing The Hindu editors and journalists on
Saturday. From left are: S,N, Sinha, Kuldip
Nayar, H.K. Dua, K.K. Katyal, Sanjay Roy, Nihal
Singh and S.K. Pandey. - Photo: Anu Pushkarna
NEW DELHI NOV. 8. An anguished and agitated media
fraternity held a vociferous demonstration today
outside the Press Club of India here in protest
against the Tamil Nadu Assembly's action against
the Publisher, the Editor, the Executive Editor
and two journalists of The Hindu and the editor
of Murasoli for "breach of privilege".
Demanding immediate revocation of the warrants,
they burnt an effigy of the Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister, Jayalalithaa, and blocked traffic on
the busy Raisina Road.
Holding aloft banners and placards, the
journalists assembled inside the PCI lawns in the
afternoon and then marched outside raising
slogans against Ms. Jayalalithaa. Terming it as a
"direct assault" on the freedom of the press and
"an infringement on the fundamental right to
freedom of expression" as enshrined in the
Constitution, they demanded immediate withdrawal
of the sentence. Among the protesters were
eminent and senior journalists, including Kuldip
Nayar, H.K.Dua, S. Nihal Singh, K.K. Katyal, Alok
Mehta and Mrinal Pande.
After burning the effigy, the journalists
squatted on the road, blocking vehicular movement
on the busy thoroughfare for a brief while.
The scene then shifted to inside the PCI premises
where a protest meeting was held. Addressing the
large gathering, veteran journalist and former
High Commissioner to Britain, Kuldip Nayar,
termed it as a "direct attack" on the press of
the country. "We should not keep quite.
Today it is The Hindu and tomorrow it could be
anyone else," he said. Mr. Nayar informed the
meeting that the former Delhi High Court Chief
Justice, Rajinder Sachar, today filed a habeas
corpus petition on his behalf seeking protection
for the journalists against whom arrest warrants
have been issued. The petition was filed at the
residence of the Chief Justice, V. N. Khare.
Mr. Nayar wondered why leaders of the Central
Government had remained silent. "At least those
who were victims of the Emergency should speak
out against this action."
Describing it as "autocratic", the
Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune, H. K. Dua, said:
"It is not an attack on The Hindu alone. It is an
attack on the entire press. We all should unite
to defeat this." Calling for immediate action to
protect the freedom of press, the Editor of Hindi
Hindustan, Mrinal Pande, said: "We never expected
such a behaviour from a woman in power. If the
Government could attack a respected newspaper
like The Hindu, one wonders what kind of time we
are heading for."
Among others who spoke included the Consulting
Editor of The Hindu, K.K.Katyal, veteran
journalist, S. Nihal Singh, and the Outlook
(Hindi) Editor, Alok Mehta.
The meeting passed a resolution expressing
outrage at the Tamil Nadu Assembly's decision and
described it as a "gross abuse of legislative
power".
It called upon the Assembly to immediately
"withdraw the draconian convictions". Also, it
demanded stern action against the police
officials responsible for intimidating the family
members of the journalists.
A copy of the resolution was then sent to the
Tamil Nadu Resident Commissioner in Delhi.
Pledging not to keep quiet till freedom of the
press in the State was restored, journalists at
the meeting also decided to hold a protest march
to Tamil Nadu House here on Monday as part of the
sustained campaign against the sentence.
Meanwhile, a large number of activists of the
Youth Congress today staged a dharna at Tamil
Nadu House.
In a release it said that "this is a direct attack on the freedom of press".
o o o
The Hindu, November 9, 2003
T.N. policemen intercept N. Ram's car
By K.V. Subramanya
The Joint Managing Director of the The Hindu, N.
Murali, explaining to the Bangalore Police
Commissioner, S. Mariswamy, about the incident
that took place while they were on their way to
the hotel where a reception had been arranged in
connection with the 125th anniversary celebration
of the paper on Saturday. The Editor-in-Chief, N.
Ram, looks on. The driver of the vehicle is seen
at right. - Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash
BANGALORE NOV. 8. A day after a police team
virtually invaded the offices of The Hindu in
Chennai, a carload of policemen, identified by
the Bangalore police as personnel from Tamil
Nadu, intercepted the car in which N. Ram, the
Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, N. Murali, the
Joint Managing Director, and their wives were
travelling in the heart of Bangalore on Saturday
night.
The police team, comprising six plainclothes
personnel, sought to search the car, presumably
for those against whom the Tamil Nadu Assembly
Speaker, K. Kalimuthu, had passed orders
sentencing them to 15 days simple imprisonment
for "breach of privilege" of the Assembly.
According to the Bangalore City Commissioner of
Police, S. Mariswamy, the car was intercepted
near ITC Windsor Sheraton & Towers, the venue of
the reception, on Sankey Road around 8.40 p.m. by
the Chennai police team which came in an
Ambassador car. The vehicle veered in front and
blocked the car in which Mr. Ram and others were
travelling. The policemen, one of them wearing a
safari suit, forced open the door of the car and
looked inside. One of the intruders snatched the
car keys. Challenged, one of the intruders was
heard saying in Tamil, "vittudungo''(let them
go). After confirming that those for whom they
were looking were not in the vehicle, they left
the place, Mr. Mariswamy said.
Mr. Ram and the others were on their way to
attend a reception hosted by The Hindu at the
hotel after participating in the 125th
anniversary celebrations of the newspaper held at
the B.R. Ambedkar Bhavan.
The Bangalore police tonight registered a case of
wrongful restraint and unlawful assembly under
Sections 143 and 147 of the Indian Penal Code.
The case has been registered at the High Grounds
police station. As the identity of the intruders
was not known, nobody had been named in the case
so far, police said.
Earlier in the day, a Deputy Commissioner of
Police from Chennai had met Mr. Mariswamy and
sought the assistance of the Bangalore police to
arrest the people against whom warrants had been
issued.
Mr. Mariswamy had told presspersons in the
morning that a small police team from Chennai had
accompanied the DCP, who was carrying with him a
copy of the warrants. However, no one had been
arrested in Bangalore. Sources said, the Chennai
police had come here anticipating that the
Publisher, the Editor, the Executive Editor, the
Chief of Bureau (Tamil Nadu) and a Special
Correspondent of The Hindu, against whom warrants
had been issued, might participate in the
celebrations.
o o o
The Hindu, Nov.9, 2003
This misadventure will blow up in their face: N. Ram
By Our Special Correspondent
http://www.thehindu.com/2003/11/09/stories/2003110906490800.htm
o o o
Business Line, November 9, 2003
`An attack on the freedom of the press'
Our Bureau
PHOTO: Journalists and media employees under the
banner of the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working
Journalists protesting in Hyderabad on Saturday
against the Tamil Nadu Assembly's order to arrest
the Publisher, the Editor, the Executive Editor
and two other journalists of The Hindu. - A. Roy
Chowdhury
Chennai , Nov. 8
THE Tamil Nadu Assembly's order to arrest the
Publisher, the Editor, the Executive Editor and
two other senior journalists of The Hindu and the
Editor of the Tamil newspaper, Murasoli, for
alleged breach of privilege has been condemned by
journalists from across the State and editors
from other parts of the country.
Four journalists' bodies in Chennai - the Madras
Union of Journalists, the Chennai Press Club, the
Journalists' Action Group and the Network of
Women in Media, Chennai - decided at a meeting
today to protest the action, which they viewed as
an infringement on the freedom of speech and
expression.
The journalists' associations resolved to
undertake a day-long fast on Sunday to protest
the move and file supporting affidavit along with
the petition moved by The Hindu and Murasoli to
have the arrest order struck down by appropriate
courts. They also decided to write to the Tamil
Nadu Assembly Speaker to revoke the arrest order
and also the 15-day ban on entry to the House. If
the order were executed, the journalists would
court arrest and boycott the proceedings.
In a statement, Mr Vinod Mehta, Editor-in-Chief,
the Outlook Group, described the move to arrest
the journalists as a direct assault on the
freedom of the press and one that must be
resisted by those who value democracy and the
Constitution. "We urge the Tamil Nadu Assembly to
revoke the arrest order and find some mutually
acceptable route to resolve the issue," he said.
Mr M.J. Akbar, Editor-in-Chief, Asian Age, said,
"Any attempt to use the legislature to suppress
the media is as reprehensible as any form of
censorship. The actions of the Tamil Nadu
Assembly cannot find any support among those who
value a civilised democracy."
Mr Aroon Purie, Editor-in-Chief, India Today,
said, "I think this is a very serious attack on
the freedom of the press and I strongly condemn
it. I believe the whole media should be
supporting a well-respected publication like The
Hindu in its fight against such arbitrary action."
The All India Lawyers' Union, Tamil Nadu State
Committee, described the order to arrest by the
Assembly as "most shocking and revolting to our
democratic polity." A "gag on the press is a gag
on the people themselves." The right of privilege
of the Legislature ought to be confined to cases
where its members are prevented from discharging
their function. No such threat can emanate from
criticism of the legislators or the proceedings,
it said.
The Network of Women in Media, Chennai, expressed
support in the struggle against the threat to the
freedom of expression of the media, while the
Chennai Press Club condemned the decision as a
"brutal assault on the freedom of the press." The
Madras Union of Journalists urged the Government
to give up its persecution of journalists and
conform to a democratic system of functioning.
The DMK said it would organise a State-wide human
chain on November 12 to protest the move. The
MLAs and MPs of the opposition parties will leave
for Delhi to meet with the Prime Minister and
Deputy Prime Minister to apprise them of the
situation.
Protests all across
HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Union of Working
Journalists (APUWJ) took out a rally from Press
Club Hyderabad to Raj Bhavan here on Saturday in
protest against the Tamil Nadu Assembly's order.
Holding placards and raising slogans, a large
group of journalists proceeded to the Raj Bhavan
and submitted a memorandum to the Governor's
office (in the absence of the Governor) seeking
an end to the assault on press freedom by the
Jayalalithaa Government. The memorandum urged the
Governor to use his good offices to stop the
harassment of the media.
Earlier, addressing the journalists, editors of
various newspapers and APUWJ leaders condemned
the unprecedented attack on the press by the TN
Government.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Trivandrum Press Club has
protested against the Tamil Nadu Assembly's
order. A meeting convened by the club and
attended by journalists and several prominent
political and cultural leaders passed a
resolution condemning the incident.
Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, Opposition Leader in the
Kerala Assembly, in his address to the gathering
said the orders issued by the Tamil Nadu Assembly
and the subsequent police action posed a major
challenge to the freedom of expression.
The Tamil Nadu Speaker's orders had no
justification said Mr V.M. Sudheeran, Member of
Parliament and a former Speaker of the Assembly.
Speaking on the occasion he said the privileges
of the legislature are to be used with propriety.
Mr Panniayan Raveendran, Assistant Secretary of
the CPI and Mr M.S. Kumar, State General
Secretary of the BJP were also among those who
spoke on the occasion.
COIMBATORE: Journalists from various media
organisations staged a demonstration in
Coimbatore on Saturday to protest against the
decision of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Gathering near the Red Cross building, the
journalists wearing black badges raised slogans
against attempts to trample upon the freedom of
the press. The journalists demonstrated wearing
black ribbons around their mouths and plastic
ropes tying their hands to symbolise attempts to
gag the press.
The State BJP President, Mr C.P. Radhakrishnan,
who is the Coimbatore Lok Sabha member, met the
agitating journalists to express solidarity with
them.
Lauding the role played by the media in
protecting democracy, he said people should take
criticism with equanimity. As part of the
State-wide agitation by journalists, the
Coimbatore Press Club will be holding a day long
fast here on Sunday.
o o o
Business Standard,
November 10, 2003
Assault on freedom
Every newspaper and everyone who values democracy
in India will stand by The Hindu and Murasoli as
they fight the attack launched on the freedom of
the press by the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly.
It must be hoped that the Supreme Court, which is
hearing the case this morning, will offer quick
relief and prevent the wholly unwarranted arrest
of The Hindu's publisher, editor, executive
editor and two other journalists, and of
Murasoli's editor.
But even if it orders a stay, there will arise
the question of which is the superior order, the
assembly's or the court's, and it will then
remain to be seen what the Tamil Nadu police will
do in such a situation, answerable as it is to
the state's combative chief minister.
Ms Jayalalithaa must realise that she has
political and public opinion ranged solidly
against her, and if the court orders restraint,
she would be well advised to seize the
opportunity to end a needless and artificial
confrontation that does her no good.
The Hindu is probably the country's single most
respected newspaper, it takes its editorial work
seriously, and the editorial comment that it
published and which (among other things) has
provoked the state assembly is in fact an
excellent piece of journalism, marshalling
arguments in a reasoned tone in order to make
eminently sensible points.
Indeed, the rights and wrongs of this case are so
clear that it is hard to conceive of any outcome
other than victory for the Constitution, which
protects press freedom as one of its essential
features, and defeat for the ill-advised people
who have chosen this path of persecution.
The harder questions must be posed, therefore, to
all those politicians who have expressed sympathy
and support for The Hindu in its hour of
challenge.
The Prime Minister, the deputy prime minister,
the leader of the Opposition, the chief ministers
of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and other states,
and various other political leaders must explain
to the country why they have not as yet addressed
the source of this mischief, which is the failure
to codify the legislature's privileges.
There has been plenty of opportunity to do so,
for there have been past occasions when
legislatures have overstepped the line, and there
have consequently been reminders from the courts,
but neither Parliament nor the state legislatures
have chosen to take any action.
Any such codification would in all probability
have endorsed the position that The Hindu has
adopted in this case, that no legislative
privilege can be violated by accurate reporting
and fair comment in the press, until and unless
the assembly's functioning itself has been
affected or prevented by some other action of the
press.
It is this failure to codify its privileges which
has made it possible now for the Tamil Nadu
assembly to order the punitive arrest of entirely
innocent journalists who were merely doing their
duty by the reading public.
In other words, political leaders across the
spectrum bear the primary responsibility for
making possible today's avoidable confrontation
between press and legislature. And the sooner
they make good this lapse, the better it will be
for Indian democracy.
_____
[3]
November 8, 2003
ACTION ALERT
Protest Vindictive Action Against
Human Rights Defender and Group by Jayalalitha's Vindictive Government
Illegal "Search" of premises of People's Watch
Group was at the Forefront in Securing a Ban Against Togadia's Entry
Stand Up and Be Counted !
[...]
The undersigned citizens, groups and
organisations strongly protest the vindictive
action of the Jayalalitha government against a
dynamic and vibrant human rights' group People's
Watch¸ headed by Henri Tiphagne who is at the
forefront of human rights struggles and human
rights education all over India, especially South
India.
On November 5, a whole posse of policement armed
with a search warrant raided the premises of the
office of People's Watch and raided it on
fictitious charges. Over 150 policemen present
from all ranks upto the rank of ADGP, came on
November 5, 2003, this "search" took place in
their office. The whole "search" of the building
was accompanied by very intensive Intense
"videography" involving 2 police videographers
who were more interested in capturing everything
in the office through their videographic
expedition. The whole process was witnessed by
one Mr. Mohan, Tahsildar, Madurai South Taluk who
is known to Mr Tiphagne and who categorically
informed him that he was not informed that he was
coming to these premises.
The fact that nothing was proved in this 'search'
is self-explanatory. What needs to be stated
however is the backdrop against which this
'search' which is nothing short of an attempt to
intimidate a right's group and it's leading
activist -took place.
Most significantly, Mr Tiphagne and People's
Watch were directly and actively involved in
securing a ban from the Collector, Madurai
against VHP International General Secretary,
Praveen Togadia for distribution of tridents. The
grounds for securing the ban was that Mr
Togadia's track record of delivering hateful and
venomous speeches was detrimental to peace and
public tranquillity. This move resulted in strong
political protests against Togadia;s proposed
entry from October 27-30, 2003 in Madurai.
PW, has been at the forefront of human rights'
struggles of various dimensions. It's director
also serves as a member of the National Core
Group on NGOs constituted by the NHRC two years
ago. The group works in the State of Tamil Nadu
in the field of Human Rights Monitoring,
Intervention and Education. Its activities often
demands it to deal with a number of cases
involving police excesses. On 27th and 28th
October 2003 the organisation was instrumental in
processing several cases indicating very serious
human rights violations and gross negligence of
duty on the part of the Tamil Nadu Police in 2 of
the 3 historic public hearings conducted under
the aegis of the National Commission for Women
and the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women -
on 27th October 2003 at Virudhunagar and on 28th
October 2003 at Madurai
For all this committed work PW and Henri Tiphagne
are being targeted. In the backdrop is also the
action of the TN Assembly against journalists of
The Hindu. At a national level, the Gujarat
government's targeting of Ms Mallika Sarabhai in
a false case and before that Ms Nafisa Ali in a
defamation case speaks of the increasingly harsh
and vindictive conducts of governments in India
against outspoken persons devoted to humane
values and human rights. It appears that India is
functioning less and less like a democracy and
more like a banana republic where the rule of law
has no place.
We appeal to you to immediately add your name to
this appeal for an immediate stop to such
vindictive tactics by the State of Tamil Nadu
against a Human Rights Group and its director, Mr
Henri Tiphagne.
Justice Hosbet Suresh (retired) Aruna Roy (MKSSS)
Teesta Setalvad (Communalism Combat) Javed Anand (Communalism Combat)
Kumar Saptarshi, Yuvakrand Varsha Deshpande, Yuvakrand
Anoop Singh, Chhatisgarh Mukti Morcha-CMM)
Mohamed Jawahirullah (TMMK, Chennai) Farooque
Shaikh (cine artiste,
Mumbai)
Rajendra Prasad (SAHMAT, Delhi)
Dolphy D'Souza (AICU/VOTE, Mumbai)
Nikhil Wagle (editor, Mahanagar, Mumbai) Anand
Patwardhan (film maker,Mumbai)) Ram Rehman
(eminent photographer) Kamal Mitra Chenoy, JNU
Anuradha Chenoy, JNU Alyque Padamsee (Communications)
L.S.Hardeniya, EKTA and National Integration Committee, BHOPAL
Agneya, Senior Journalist, BHOPAL Advocate Rajani, PUHR
Advocate Amala. PUHR Satya S., Mangalore
Peer Badshah, Shimoga Murali, Centre for World Solidarity
Dr Roop Rekha Verma, Lucknow Dr Swati, Varanasi
_____
[4]
In Defence of Malika Sarabhai: Documents, news reports and letters
http://www.sacw.net/FreeExpAndFundos/index.html
Examples of Letters of Support in Defence of Malika Sarabhai
http://www.sacw.net/Alerts/MalikaSarabhai/lettersofsupport.html
Signatures collected in Calcutta in support of Malika Sarabhai
http://www.sacw.net/Alerts/MalikaSarabhai/CalSignatures.JPG
Statement by Concerned Citizens in Defence of Malika Sarabhai
http://www.sacw.net/Alerts/MalikaSarabhai/citzensStatement.html
o o o
Dear Friends,
This meeting is being called by a number of
individuals and not any organisation- please
circulate and do come.
SPEAK FOR MALLIKA, SPEAK FOR JUSTICE
A public meeting of writers , artists and
activists to express their solidarity with
Mallika Sarabhai who is being hounded and
persecuted by the Gujarat Government for her
stand on Gujarat Genocide is being held on 18
Nov,2003 at 5 in the evening at Triveni Kala
Sangam Garden Theatre,Tansen Marg Near Bengali
Market, New Delhi. Your presence is a must to
make it effective.
Kindly circulate it widely.
Krishna Sobti, Kunwar Narain, Ashok
Vajpeyi,Shubha Mudgal,Vidya Rao, Leela
Samson,Geeta Kapoor, Prerana Shrimali,Urvashi
Butalia,Vivan Sundaram, Shabnam Hashmi, Prakash
Louis,Harsh Mander,Apoorvanand.
o o o
Citizens Committee in solidarity with Dr. Mallika Sarabhai
104, "B"Wing, Accord, Lokhandwala, Andheri (W),
Mumbai - 400 053.
Urgent Press Conference and Protest Meet
Citizens Committee in Solidarity with Dr. Mallika
Sarabhai on 12th November 2003 at Press Club, Mumbai.
Dear Editor/Chief Reporter,
Gujarat Government headed by Narendra Modi did little
to succor for the lakhs of traumatized victims of last
years communal massacre and justice to the victims is
still a distant dream and relief and rehabilitation of
victims has reduced to a mockery. Thousands of people
are living a traumatized life and minority community
is still persecuted, harassed and living under
indirect social, economic boycott. Those who choose to
speak for the victims and expose the misrule of
Narendra Modi Government and pursuing the issue of
communal violence with Indian Government, Judiciary
are facing serious threats and harassments in the
state of Gujarat which includes Dr. Mallika Sarabhai.
We have arranged a Press Conference to highlight this
issue and protest the misrule of Narendra Modi
Government; the fact sheet will be given at the venue.
Press Conference
[In] Solidarity with Dr. Mallika Sarabhai
Venue: Press Club, Near Azad Maidan,
V.T. , Mumbai - 400 001.
Date and Time 12th November 2003, (Wednesday)
Time 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Speakers :
Dr. Mallika Sarabhai - Ahmedabad
Shobhaa De - Columnist, Mumbai
Javed Akhtar - Film Personality
Rohit Prajapati - Civil Rights Activist, Gujarat
Nikhil Wagle - Social Activist, Editor
Mahanagar
Ramesh Pimple of People's Media Initiative
Jatin Desai of Democratic Secular Front
Citizens Committee in solidarity with Dr. Mallika Sarabhai
Subodh More Contact Tel: 9821109295
Shyam Ranjankar 022 - 31055812
_____
[5]
via: http://www.sabrang.com/
Citizens For Justice and Peace
November 8, 2003
Press Release
Two Human Rights Defenders, associated with the
Citizens for Justice and Peace, have been
receiving renewed threats in connection with
their work related to justice for the victims of
the Gujarat carnage, be it the BEST Bakery case
or the victims of the Godhra burning of Coach S-6
of the Sabarmati Express.
Shri Rais Khan Aziz Khan Pathan, the full-time
coordinator of CJP, has received two threats in
the past week on his mobile, details of which
have been sent by CJP to the DGP, Gujarat State,
Mr Chakrovarty, CP Ahmedabad, Mr Kaushik and
other officers of the Gujarat State. On October
23, 2003, Teesta Setalvad, Secretary CJP formally
applied to the Mumbai police for protection after
repeated warnings from the field office of the
CJP in Gujarat. Before this she had been granted
protection only in Gujarat. The Mumbai police
have provided protection since November 6, 2003.
The details of the threats received by Shri Rais Khan on the mobile are :
1) The first of the recent threats in the last
week was received by Mr RaisKhan on November 4,
2003 at 9.28 a.m. when he was in Viramgam
following the violence that broke out there last
Sunday. The only details that showed up on his
mobile was of the date and time. The male voice
said that, " We know you are in Viramgam; keeping
a track every minute; protection ke saath ghum
rahe ho; pro ke saath hi uda donge; (with
protection we will finish you); Gujarat chod ke
nikal jao;(Leave Gujarat and go); Tum jab se
yahan hon Gujarat ka vatavaran kharab hua hai
(Since you have come to Gujarat atmosphere has
been received)
2) The second threat was received by him on
November 7, 2003 at 17.31 minutes when again only
the date and time showed up on my mobile.
We urge your esteemed publication to give
prominent coverage to the threats received by
representatives of a group committed to justice,
peace and reconciliation in Gujarat.
Teesta Setalvad
Secretary
_____
[6]
MOVEMENT FOR SECULAR DEMOCRACY
C/o Narmad Meghani Library, Opposite Natraj
Railway Crossing, Mithakhali, Ellisbridge
Ahmedabad 380 006 Tel/ Fax : (079) 6404418.
email-dnrad1 at sancharnet.in
In the New Year meet of Movement for Secular
Democracy held on 8th November, 2003, a
resolution was passed condemning the communal
incidents in Viramgam and Ahmedabad , and signed
by the citizens and a memorandum was sent to the
Governor of Gujarat: -
MEMORANDUM
To ,
Shri Kailashpati Mishra
The Honorable Governor of Gujarat
Gandhinagar
We, the peace-loving people & citizens of the
state, would like to inform you that we are
shocked by the incidents which took place in
Viramgam and Shah-e-Alam area of Ahmedabad. A
strong consensus from the entire world has risen
to provide justice to the carnage affected and
security to the witnesses and even the Supreme
Court of India expressed special concern about it
which made us hopeful that the new year will
spread the light of ' Aman, Ekhlaas & Insaaf' in
Gujarat.
But we are sorry to note that the atmosphere of
New Year greetings became bloodstained by the
incidents of Viramgam and those followed it.
These have been done with intention to encash
vote-bank and with shrewd political motives but
we clearly believe that this is not possible
without the direction and support of the State.
So, at this stage, we again request you to see
that the responsible get proper punishment and
the rule of law be maintained in the state.
The Signatories are
Prakash N. Shah (Convenor MSD), Balawantbhai
Shah(senior Journalist),Batuk
Vora(journnlist),Bharat Pathak, Ila Joshi,
Suvarna, Fr.Cedric Prakash, Fr. Francis Parmar,
Vinod Shukla,Ganapat Rathod,Vismay Shah, Damini
Shah,D. N. Vashi, Mehul Trivedi,Ayub Ibrahim,
D.Ramkrishnan,Ramesh. Yadav,N.I. Parmar, Kanu
Khadadiya,Kantibhai Vyas,Ashish Mehata, Beena
Macwan,Himmat Shah,Anil Patel, Rama Vora,Hastimal
Sagara,
Fr.Mangalam,Veronica M. D'souza, Suryabehn
Shah,Daniel Macwan, R.R.Soman, Dr.Hanif
Lakadawala, Janakbhai Dave, Kokilaben Dave,
Jayesh Patel, Bhaveeka Shah, Hemant Mehta,Nayana
Shah,Bhaveek Raja, Dwarika Nath Rath and others
N.B.This text is free translation from Gujarati.
The Memorandum is in Gujarati Language .
Announcement
10th. December- HUMAN RAGHT DAY will be Observed in Ahmedabad
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
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