National Vigil for Constitution & Human Rights Defenders/ Defending Constitutional Rights
By Indian Social Institute, Delhi
By Indian Social Institute, Bangaluru / By Bombay Catholic Sabha
Musical Event: Here to Stay – Ideas Cannot be Arrested
mid-day / by Shunashir Sen
A musical event this weekend will highlight the plight of political activists locked behind bars
Justice delayed is justice denied. That’s the maxim that some people have brought up in connection to political activists who have been imprisoned without their bail pleas being heard, some for years on end. The country’s criminal justice system is in the spotlight at a time when people are voicing their concern about the pending cases of activists Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj, Shoma Sen and hundreds of others like them who have been spending their nights in jail cells.
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Father Stan Swamy’s Jesuit Associates Condemn ‘Fabricated’ Charges Against Him
The Wire / by Abhish K. Bose
“The NIA knows that he was voicing views against the government and corporate groups, and hence he was framed in the case.”
Kottayam: The Jesuit congregation is hopeful that the case against 83-year-old priest Father Stan Swamy, a member of the Jamshedpur province of the Society of Jesus congregation, arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), will be shattered in the court, as there is no evidence to establish that he was in some way connected with the violence against Dalits at Bhima Koregaon. The imprisoned priest’s close associate, Father Joseph Xavier, alleges that Swamy hasn’t visited Pune for the last 15 years.
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+++ Tweet by Indian Social Institute: On 23 Oct’20, ISIB UTC, Archdiocese of Bengaluru, PUCL-K, CRI, NGOs and CSOs jointly organized a program on Stand in Solidarity with Fr. Stan Swamy SJ.120 people participated representing various religious congregations, NGOs, CSOs, Teachers, Students and Activists. +++
Report and Videos of the PUCL Press Conference: The Bhima Koregaon Conspiracy Case
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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Stan Swamy: Tamil Nadu Catholics observe day of solidarity
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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Stand With Stan – National Day of Solidarity (video + pictures)
Video: Stand With Stan – National Day of Solidarity
By Jesuit Conference of South Asia
en | 1h | 2020
In response to the arrest of HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS across the country including Fr. Stan Swamy, we are unitedly organized a National Solidarity Day Today (12 October).
Watch video
Panaji, Goa: Over 200 Goans converged at the Azad Maidan on Monday evening despite the inclement weather in solidarity and to demand the release of 83-year-old Jesuit priest Fr Stan Swamy, incarcerated in the infamous Bhima Koregao case. Read more
Bangalore, Karnataka: 3 km Human Chain In Bengaluru:A lot of protestors fashioned a human chain in Bengaluru at present towards what they described as “the unlawful therapy and arrest of Father Stan Swamy from his residence in Jharkhand by the Nationwide Investigation Company (NIA), falsely implicating him within the Bhima Koregaon case.” Read more
Chennai
Ranchi: Over 60 representatives of public organisations and tribal activists staged a hunger strike near tribal icon Birsa Munda’s memorial in Ranchi on Monday to protest against the arrest of 83-year-old Jesuit priest and rights activist Father Stan Swamy while national Opposition leaders condemned the NIA’s October 8 action. Read more
Delhi
Kerala
Father Stan Swamy’s Arrest Is ‘Unfortunate’: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan
The Wire / by pti
“It’s against the principles of Indian Constitution to arrest those who raise their voice against the butchering of democratic rights of the tribals,” he said.
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday termed as “unfortunate” the arrest of tribal rights activist and Jesuit priest Father Stan Swamy for his alleged involvement in inciting a mob to violence in Bhima Koregaon near Pune on January 1, 2018.
Read more
Rome, Italy
Oct 10 webinar: Descent From Democracy – Political Prisoners and the Stifling of Dissent
The ever-increasing list of political prisoners put into jail for their acts of dissent is deeply alarming. Join us in this webinar on political prisoners and the undemocratic stifling of dissent with Advocate Bela Bhatia & Senior Advocate Colin Gonzalves
Oct 10, 2020
6 p.m. IST
Webinar video:`Vilifying Democratic Warriors – from Bhima Koregaon to Delhi Pogrom’
By Sunni Students’ Federation India – SSF
en | 1h 05min | 2020
A Talk on ‘Vilifying Democratic Warriors – from Bhima Koregaon to Delhi Pogrom’
Adv. P V Surendranath (Senior Advocate-Supreme Court & Gen Secretary, All India Lawyers Union)
Watch video
Podcast: The Life of Varavara Rao: Indian Poet, Revolutionary, and Political Prisoner
Revolutionary Left Radio / by Revolutionary Left Radio
Venugopal Nellutla, the nephew of Indian poet and revolutionary VV Rao, joins Breht to discuss the life, poetry, and politics of his uncle, comrade, and friend.
Videos: With Hany Babu: Political Voices for Social Justice / Free All BK Human Rights Defenders
Video: With Prof. Hany Babu – Political Voices for Social Justice
Webinar: With Prof. Hany Babu – Political Voices for Social Justice
To watch video recording (english) via fb click:
Dalit Camera
Speakers include:
Dr. Udit Raj, Ex-MP, National Spokesperson, AICC
T.K.S. Elangovan, MP Rajya Sabha, DMK
Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha, MP Rajya Sabha, RJD
K. Ambujakshan, Welfare Party of India
Anoop V.R, Indian Youth Congress
Rajkumar Saini, ex MP, Loktantra Suraksha Party
P. Rajeev, ex MP, CPI(M)
Annie Raja, CPI
K.K. Ragesh, MP Sabha CPI (M)
E.T. Mohammed Basheer, MP, Lok Sabha, IUML
Coordinator: Vinayakala Korvi
Chair: Premjish Achari
Curator and Art Critic
Concluding Remarks: N Sachin
Video: Free All Bhima Koregaon Human rights Defenders and Repeal Draconian UAPA
11/09/2020
Webinar: Free All Bhima Koregaon Human rights Defenders and Repeal Draconian UAPA!
To watch video recording (hindi) via fb click:
Bahujan Sanvad (select videos)