Solidarity – Page 58 – free them all

PUCL and opposition political parties demand release of Father Stan Swamy and repeal of UAPA

22/10/2020

Frontline / by Anupama Katakam

A multi-party press conference organised by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) condemned the arrest of Father Stan Swamy, a tribal rights activist and social worker based in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Swamy is the latest victim of the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) mission to hunt down people reportedly linked to the Bhima Koregaon incident, which the agency says was orchestrated by Maoist groups…
Leaders from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren have demanded Swamy’s release and said a movement to repeal the archaic and dangerous Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), under which activists, intellectuals and lawyers have been arrested, must gain momentum.
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‘Today it was Stan Swamy, tomorrow it will be us’: Opposition leaders call for repeal of UAPA

21/10/2020

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

Hemant Soren, MPs Shashi Tharoor, Supriya Sule and Kanimozhi urged the people to speak up against the Centre’s attempts to ‘chip away at the rights of people’.
Opposition leaders on Wednesday expressed solidarity with 83-year-old Jesuit priest and human rights activist Stan Swamy, who has been detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case along with several other activists.
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Opposition leaders condemn arrest of activist Stan Swamy, demand repeal of UAPA

21/10/2020

The New Indian Express / by Express News Service

Leaders from the Congress, Left and DMK slammed the arrest of octogenarian Stan Swamy over alleged links with the Bhima Koregaon case.
NEW DELHI: Leaders from across the political spectrum called for the repeal of UAPA and said there was an urgent need for Opposition parties to unite to fight the ruling party in order to protect the country’s constitutional values.
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Hyderabad actvist asks NHRC to look into Varavara Rao’s case

21/10/2020 Rani

The New Indian Express / by Express News Service

He requested the commission to take steps to provide medical care to Saibaba.
Hyderabad: MA Satyanarayana Rao, a city-based activist, has approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), requesting it to look into the alleged human rights violations to jailed Delhi University professor GN Saibaba and revolutionary poet Varavara Rao. He requested the commission to take steps to provide medical care to Saibaba.
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Report and Videos of the PUCL Press Conference: The Bhima Koregaon Conspiracy Case

21/10/2020 Rani

Drawing by Arun Ferreira

By People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL)

Report of the Virtual Press Conference held on 21st October, 2020 organised by the PUCL

Opposition Leaders, Civil Society denounce arrest of Stan Swamy and other activists in Bhima Koregaon case;
Call for repeal of UAPA!

► The videos of speeches of speakers are available here
► The documents are available here

Introduction
PUCL organised a virtual Press Conference on 21st October, 2020 to condemn the illegal arrest of Fr. Stan Swamy of Jharkhand and 15 other activists in the Bhima Koregaon case. The Press Conference was to create a platform for different civil society groups and political parties to jointly condemn the brazen abuse of UAPA by the Central Government against dissenters and demand repeal of draconian anti-human rights laws like UAPA and anti-sedition law. The following is a summary of the speeches made by different speakers.
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Music videos: Wake Up Call – Bhima Koregaon / Stan Swamy – Not a Silent Spectator

21/10/2020 Rani

By Bombay Jesuits

The not so justified proceedings of the Bhima Koregaon case have been highlighted in this song. The recent arrest of Fr. Stan Swamy in this case who claims that he has never been to Bhima Koregaon has caused an uproar in the society. The arrest of lawyers, poets, activists and the like, who question the authorities is a WAKE UP CALL to stand with them, to stand for freedom and to stand for justice.
Watch music video

Fr. Stan Swamy SJ – Not a Silent Spectator (Ekla Chalo Re)

By Bombay Jesuits

Fr. Stan Swamy SJ, who fought for the Adivasi rights in central India, has been arrested under UAPA by the NIA. He stood for the Adivasis even when many others dared not to. He spoke for them even when many chose to keep quiet. Living up to this prophetic calling Fr. Stan stands as a beacon for many religious and lay activists. At a time when he, along with others arrested in their fight for justice, are tried by various forces, we stand with them in solidarity and pride.
Watch music video

UN High Commissioner Bachelet dismayed at restrictions on NGOs and arrests of activists in India

20/10/2020 Rani

By United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner

News Release
GENEVA: – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday appealed to the Government of India to safeguard the rights of human rights defenders and NGOs, and their ability to carry out their crucial work on behalf of the many groups they represent…
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DMK adds voice to Swamy release plea / Press Release by MP Chidambaram

20/10/2020 Rani

Pic: Ranchi, Oct 2020

The Telegraph / by Animesh Bisoee

MP and former Union minister Kanimozhi Karunanidhi condemned the arrest of the Father, who was born in Tamil Nadu.
Support continues to pour in from Opposition MPs along with social outfits and tribal activists for the release of octogenarian Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy, arrested by the NIA earlier this month near Ranchi for alleged Maoist link and involvement in the Bhima Koregaon case.
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Press Release by MP Karti Chidambaram

19/10/2020
Click to enlarge

Stan Swamy: Tamil Nadu Catholics observe day of solidarity

19/10/2020 Rani

Madurai, Oct 19, 2020

Matters India / by Arockiasamy Santhanam

Madurai: Catholic churches across Tamil Nadu October 18 expressed solidarity with Jesuit Father Stan Swamy, a native of the southern Indian state now who is in a Mumbai jail for alleged Maoists links.
During the Sunday Mass, Catholics prayed for the good health and immediate release of Father Stan. They also organized parish level-programs in front of the churches condemning the priest’s arrest and demanded his immediate release.
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Other brothers behind Stan Swamy / Activists Under Detention for Their Words: Tharoor

18/10/2020 Rani

Other brothers behind Stan Swamy

18/10/2020

The Telegraph / by Jhinuk Mazumdar

The priest should be released, otherwise all minorities will come together and agitate in the country, the Imam of Nakhoda Mosque said.
The Centre should release Father Stan Swamy, otherwise all minorities will come together and agitate, an Imam of Nakhoda Mosque said at the end of a silent walk on Park Street expressing solidarity with the 83-year-old Jesuit priest.
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Tweet by Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, Oct 18: Jharkhand: MLA Bandhu Tirkey has written to President, home minister and PM asking for immediate release of Stan Swamy, closure of bhima-koregaon case, repeal of UAPA and amendment in NIA rules to respect federalism.

Click to enlarge

Activists Under Detention for Their Words: Tharoor

17/10/2020

News 18 / by pti

Pune: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said a large number of people, including activists Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj and Anand Teltumbde, are under detention for their words, although none of them is accused of hitting anyone or possessing a gun. He also said that words and ideas may outlast power and authority.
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Massive Ranchi rally demands release of Stan Swamy / Jesuits protest worldwide

17/10/2020 Rani

Massive Ranchi rally demands release of Stan Swamy

17/10/2020

The Hindu / by Satyasundar Barik

All major non-BJP political parties and social activists on Saturday took to the streets in Ranchi, demanding the immediate release of Stan Swamy, the 83-year-old tribal rights activist, who was arrested last week by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with Bhima Koregaon case.
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HUMAN CHAIN LED BY ARCHBISHOP FELIX TOPPO, STOOD WITH FATHER STAN

17/10/2020

By Release the Poet

More than 5,000 people formed a 4km human chain in Ranchi on Friday to express solidarity with octogenarian Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy, arrested and jailed in Mumbai for alleged Maoist links, in Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case.
Many of the protestors, also lit candles, terming it a symbol of hope against the attempts to silence intellectuals and rights activists.
Friday’s congregation, part of ongoing protests by various groups, was led by Archbishop of Ranchi Felix Toppo and auxiliary bishop Theodore Mascarenhas.
Father Toppo’s banner read: “We demand justice”. Among the other slogans printed on posters were “Stop terrorizing activists”, “Stan is a worker for Dalit and Adivasi rights and not a terrorist”, “Everyone has human rights, stop branding them as terrorists” and “Release Stan Swamy—the voice of the oppressed”.
We received an update about a similar human chain in the same cause from Bengaluru as well.

Jesuits worldwide protest against imprisonment of elderly priest

17/10/2020

The Tablet / by Ruth Gledhill

Jesuits worldwide are mobilising in protest after an 84-year-old Jesuit priest and human rights activist was arrested in India accused of terrorist links.
Fr Stan Swamy SJ, a prominent and popular human rights activist, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency for alleged Maoist links on October 8.
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Jharkhand boils in anger because of Stan Swamy’s wrongful arrest

17/10/2020

Gauri Lankesh News / by Rupesh Kumar Singh |Gauri Lankesh News Desk

Human Rights activist and intellectual Father Stan Swamy was arrested in relation to Bhima Koregaon Case, despite never having visited the spot.
Jharkhand capital Ranchi is witnessing large-scale unrest in response to the wrongful arrest of 83 year old Father Stan Swamy- a prominent Human Rights Activist engaged in the Bhima Koregaon case- from “Bagaicha” in Jharkhand on 8th October by the Mumbai NIA.
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Catholics protest in Ranchi against the arrest of Fr Stan Swamy

17/10/2020

National Herald / by VP Sharan

Jharkhand has been witnessing widespread protest against arrest of 82-year old Christian priest Father Stan Swamy by NIA for his alleged involvement in Bhima Koregaon violence.
Members of civil society, Catholics and senior Catholic priests held a silent candle light vigil and protest at the St Mary’s Church in Ranchi on Friday against the arrest of the Jesuit priest, originally from Tamil Nadu.
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Calcutta walk for Stan Swamy / Activists hold protest at district collectorate in Pune

16/10/2020 Rani

Calcutta walk for Stan Swamy

16/10/2020

The Telegraph / by Jhinuk Mazumdar

Solidarity gesture organised by the Mother Teresa International Award Committee.
A march that will not differentiate between religions and political affiliations to show solidarity with Father Stan Swamy and demand his release from jail will be led by St Xavier’s University vice-chancellor Father J. Felix Raj in Calcutta on Saturday afternoon.
The protest organised by the Mother Teresa International Award Committee will start from St Xavier’s College on Park Street and end in front of the statue of Mother Teresa at the Park Street-Camac Street crossing.
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Activists hold protest at district collectorate to demand release of Stan Swamy

15/10/2020

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

The delegation of activists submitted their demands to District Collector Rajendra Deshmukh.
Activists of various organisations held a protest at the Pune district collectorate on Thursday to demand the release of 83-year-old Stan Swamy, the Jesuit priest from Jharkhand who has been arrested by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the Elgaar Parishad case.
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