Solidarity – Page 34 – free them all

Former Civil Servants Say UAPA’s ‘Flaws and Loopholes’ Allow Abuse, Call For Replacement

17/08/2021 Asha

Former Civil Servants Say UAPA’s ‘Flaws and Loopholes’ Allow Abuse, Call For Replacement

17/08/2021

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

The Constitutional Conduct Group said that the “harsh amendments” that the anti-terror law has gone through in recent years has made it “draconian, repressive, and amenable to gross misuse”.
Over 100 former civil servants have endorsed an open letter by the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG) which calls for the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to be amended, saying as it stands today, the law has “many flaws and loopholes making it amenable to large scale abuse and misuse by some politicians and overzealous policemen”.
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Government must replace the UAPA, safeguarding personal liberties

16/08/2021

By Constitutional Conduct Group

Open Letter: Government of India must replace the UAPA with legislation that fights terrorism while safeguarding personal liberties

Dear Citizens of India,
We are a group of retired officers of the All India and Central Services who have worked with the Central and State Governments in the course of our careers. As members of the Constitutional Conduct Group, we believe in impartiality, neutrality and commitment to the Indian Constitution and in safeguarding its values.
We are writing this in the matter of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) that violates the Constitutional guarantees of citizens’ fundamental rights…
The most shocking of the arrests under the UAPA have been of persons accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case. Several well regarded activists who have fought throughout their lives for the rights of tribal people and other oppressed groups have been arrested as terrorists and, even today, languish in jail.
Read full statement

Tributes to Stan Swamy / Daily wage earners vow to follow Father Stan Swamy’s ideals

17/08/2021 Asha

Bilaspur, Aug 14

Daily wage earners vow to follow Father Stan Swamy’s ideals

17/08/2021

The Telegraph / by Animesh Bisoee

The spontaneous decision was taken during a resolution meeting organised by Jharkhand Krantikari Mazdoor Union at Adivasi Basti in Kadma
Daily wage earners in one of the urban slums in the steel city took a resolve to follow the ideals of Father Stan Swamy on the country’s 75th Independence Day on Sunday.
The spontaneous decision was taken during a resolution meeting organised by Jharkhand Krantikari Mazdoor Union (JKMU) at Adivasi Basti in Green Park, Kadma.
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TN Assembly condoles demise of Stan Swamy, Aadheenam

17/08/2021

The New Indian Express / by Express News Service

The members of the House observed silence as a mark of respect for the departed souls.
The State Assembly on Monday condoled the demise of human rights activist Stan Swamy, Periyarist V Anaimuthu, Madurai Aadheenam Arunagirinathar, Tamil scholar Ilankumaranar, Dr S Kameswaran and nine former MLAs including Tindivanam K Ramamurthi and E Madhusudanan.
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An artistic tribute to tribal activist Father Stan Swamy

16/08/2021

The Times of India / By The Times of India

A collection of artists came together on Independence Day in a virtual performance to honour Father Stan Swamy, the 84-year-old Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist who passed away in a Mumbai hospital on July 5 after being jailed in the Elgar Parishad case.
‘Kelvi Koothu’ or Dirge for Democracy, a two-hour event, had a line-up which included gaana artist G Isaivani of the Casteless Collective who was included in the BBC’s top 100 women list of 2020 and others like Gana Muthu, Muniammal, Kachha (Dholak), Citizens’ Choir, Kattiyakaari, Kalaimamani Muthuchandran’s Tholpaavai troupe, Rithvik Raja and Praveen Sparsh.
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Video: A dirge for Democracy (Justice Rocks)

tamil | 1h 58min | 2021

By Vettiver Collective

The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. Happy Independence Day is a greeting, a celebration, an opportunity to renew our commitment to safeguarding the Constitution of India and a reminder that democracy survives only if citizens actively thwart moves to curtail freedom. #Kelvi Koothu or Dirge for Democracy is that satirical, artistic reminder that a passive citizenry will herald the death of democracy. #FatherStan #IndependenceDay #August15 Catch the fantastic artist line up of Gana Muthu, Muniammal, G. Isaivani, Kachha (Dholak), Citizens’ Choir, Kattiyakaari, Muthuchandran’s Tholpaavai troupe, Rithvik Raja and Praveen Sparsh at #KelviKoothu.
Watch video

Happy Birthday Prof. Hany Babu (poster)

16/08/2021 Asha

by Dalit Camera

+++ Happy Birthday Prof. Hany Babu
Arrested on July 28, 2020, Hany Babu is an anti-caste activist, spending his second birthday in jail for a crime he did not commit.
+++ He and his co-accused are fighting “planted evidence”, the brutal UAPA, Covid in prison conditions and the “institutional murder” of Fr. Stan Swamy.
Stand with Prof. Hany Babu.
Demand for the freedom of BK-15.

Also read: If you are in a university and oppose state policy, you can be targeted: Hany Babu, DU professor (The Caravan, Nov 2019)

Independence Day / Resign Modi: Banner dropped from London’s Westminster Bridge

15/08/2021 Asha

“Resign Modi”: Independence Day banner dropped from London’s Westminster Bridge

15/08/2021

The Caravan / by Diaspora Members and Friends of India in the UK

On the occasion of Indian Independence Day, a group of diaspora Indian activists in the United Kingdom dropped a banner from London’s Westminster Bridge, demanding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation…

Press release issued by the group:
… The Modi regime has imprisoned thousands of people whose only ‘crime’ has been to dissent, to advocate for the most marginalised and oppressed groups, or to take part in nonviolent protests, under draconian laws like the UAPA. Elderly and vulnerable academics and lawyers, students and young activists, including thousands of Adivasi youth, are locked up in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions in the middle of a pandemic.
Read full statement

Demand Justice India: International protest

en | 10:34min | 2021

By International Coalition for Justice in India

They stood by the marginalised. They protected lands, hills and forests from mining companies. They stood up to protect minorities. They did not trust the Indian government”s false promises. They are students, academics, lawyers, journalists and social activists, in thousands, are imprisoned in over-crowded prisons. An 84-year old Jesuit priest and human rights defender, Father Stan Swamy, has passed away while waiting for trail.
Watch video

August 15: Zurich – Lotika for release of BK-16 – Berlin – Dundee

All-India campaign by civil society, labour and farmers’ organisations / Popular actions

14/08/2021 Asha

Read Call: OPEN NATIONAL CALL: DEFEND RIGHT TO DISSENT, REPEAL SEDITION LAW, UAPA AND REPRESSIVE STATE LAWS (July 27, 2021)

Bilaspur, Aug 14

Chennai based group to honour Stan Swamy on Independence day

14/08/2021

The Telegraph / by Pheroze L. Vincent

A Chennai-based group is hosting a series of discussions and cultural events that will culminate in music and satire webcast on Independence Day in honour of Father Stan Swamy.
The event, titled “Kelvi Koothu” in Tamil and “Dirge for Democracy” in English, has been organised by the Vettiver Collective, a group that agitates on social and environment issues by conducting unsponsored cultural events.
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Proposed popular actions to resonate Tilak’s Swaraj is My Birthright, Gandhi’s Do or Die?

14/08/2021

Counterview / by Fr Cedric Prakash SJ

The institutional murder of 84-year-old Jesuit priest Fr Stan Swamy, who died on July 5, 2021 while still in judicial custody, has shaken the very foundations of democracy in India. The importance and the urgency to defend democracy and all that is precious in the Constitution of India against repressive and anti-people laws, is perhaps felt today, as never before…
On August 9, the National Campaign to Defend Democracy gained added momentum when 165 movements, platforms and organisations, representing thousands of citizens, gave a call for a country wide action to save our democracy
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All-India campaign by civil society, labour and farmers’ organisations on Independence Day

12/08/2021

The Telegraph / by Animesh Bisoee

The National Campaign to Defend Democracy will take a pledge to to fight draconian laws, and uphold the right to question and show dissent
Over 160 civil society, labour and farmers’ organisations will as part of a nationwide campaign on Independence Day take a pledge to fight draconian laws, uphold the right to question and show dissent and oppose State actions that “deprive us of the freedoms of speech and opinion”.
The movement, named National Campaign to Defend Democracy and spearheaded by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (a conglomeration of human rights organisations) and trade unions, will also seek justice for Father Stan Swamy.
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Mary Lawlor: Inhumane prison conditions for Bhima Koregaon Human Rights Defenders

12/08/2021 Asha

By Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders

On 11 June 2021, I wrote a letter jointly with two other UN experts on the alleged inhumane prison conditions and deteriorating condition of 15 human rights defenders, as well as Varavara Rao who was granted medical bail.
Of pressing concern was the inhumane prison conditions and deteriorating health of the human rights defenders. The death of Fr. Stan Swamy shortly after this communication was written demonstrate the severity of the conditions in which the human rights defenders are being held. It is haunting to now read how Fr. Swamy’s requests to be transferred to hospital to receive treatment were initially denied repeatedly.
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Joint Statement: Freedom for Varavara Rao

11/08/2021 Asha

By PEN International

As PEN Centres we wish to highlight the case of renowned Indian poet, Varavara Rao, to all those who care about the defense of freedom of expression for writers. We call for all charges to be dropped against Rao, and hope that you will join our campaign to ensure his freedom.
Varavara Rao is an 82-year-old poet and activist who was arrested in 2018 along with several other activists in India on charges of inciting violence under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
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Video: Justice for Mahesh Raut / New website launched: Justice for Mahesh

08/08/2021 Asha

hindi │ 1h 17min │2021

Video: Justice for Mahesh Raut

08/08/2021

By family and friends of Mahesh

Our friend Mahesh, is spending his fourth year in jail. Without trial! Who is Mahesh though? Why is his story important? And why is he a threat to the powers that are?
Join us for an evening where we will discuss all this and more. Friends, family, colleagues and journalists will talk about Mahesh and why he is still in jail.
We will also be launching a website which documents much of Mahesh’s story through this event.
We miss our friend and we really hope we will see #JusticeForMahesh very soon!
Watch video
Twitter: @justice4mahesh

New website launched: Justice for Mahesh

Visit Justice for Mahesh website

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is a blot on the nation

06/08/2021 Asha

The Telegraph / by Prabhat Patnaik

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is a blot on the nation. In no nation reputed to be civilized is there a law that allows the State to pick up literally anybody and keep the person in jail for years, without trial and without bail; and, if, at the end of the trial, whenever it occurs, the person is found innocent, then there is no question of the State being obliged to pay any compensation for the lost years in the person’s life. But this is exactly what the UAPA does.
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PUDR report: Framed to Die – The Case of Stan Swamy

06/08/2021 Asha

By Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR)

Marking a month since Stan Swamy passed away in judicial custody in a private hospital, a month in which no official inquiry, even the mandated magisterial inquest, has not been initiated, Framed to die: The case of Stan Swamy documents the manner in which Stan Swamy was framed, fettered, and finally forced towards a fatal illness under due process of law called Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Framed to Die argues that Stan’s experiences of persecution provide an understanding of many others, including the 15 accused in the Bhima Koregaon case. Beyond chronicling Stan’s persecution under law, Framed to Die documents why Comrade Stan was a dissenter and a true patriot and why the state feared and criminalized his dissent under the UAPA.

Download full report (45 pages) here