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Telangana turns into experimental theatre to misuse suppressive laws: CASR meet

Telangana turns into experimental theatre to misuse suppressive laws: CASR meet

Counterview / by Our Representative 

Speakers at a media conference, organised by the civil rights network Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), even as discussing “suppression of democratic voices” using suppressive laws in the light of the Tadwai case, where 152 activists of Andhra-Telangana were named under the anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), have demanded repeal of the “draconian” law.
Read more


Also read:
Blatant use of UAPA by Telangana Police to suppress dissenting voices (Countercurrents / June 2023)
● Telangana Govt to ‘Drop’ UAPA Case Against Prof Haragopal, Sudha Bharadwaj, 150 Others (The Wire / June 2023)
The Govt is out to silence Dissenters through Arrests: Justice Hosbet Suresh (Sabrangindia / Oct 2018)

Will India care for human rights by releasing undertrial activists ahead of G20 summit?

Will India care for human rights by releasing undertrial activists ahead of G20 summit?

Counterview / by Bharat Dogra

India has a very rich tradition of opposing wrongly arrested persons, going back to the days of the freedom movement…
Hence, ahead of the Independence Day, it would be a much appreciated gesture on the part of the government if it releases several dissenting activists, including distinguished scholars and lawyers, who are widely believed to have been wrongfully arrested or implicated in wrong cases. To give one often discussed example of what is widely believed to be a case of wrongful arrests, we may mention here the Elgar Parishad case.
Read more


Also read:
The Burgeoning Share of Undertrial Prisoners in India’s Jails (The Wire / Oct 2022)
Punished without trial: How India’s political prisoners are being denied basic rights in jail (Scroll.in / Aug 2022)
Even after Stan Swamy’s death, the fight to get justice for Jharkhand undertrials is still alive (Scroll.in / Dec 2021)

Various statements to commemorate Stan Swamy’s death anniversary / Justice for the BK16!

Various statements to commemorate Stan Swamy’s death anniversary / Justice for the BK16!


Father Stan Swamy Died As A UAPA Martyr; But Political Prisoners Continue To Suffer Without Bail

08/07/2023

Live Law / by Awstika Das

Two years ago, on July 5, Father Stan Swamy died as an undertrial prisoner in the Bhima Koregaon case after 270 days of incarceration. The 84-year-old Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist – arrested over alleged links to Naxals – was the country’s oldest inmate charged under the anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. “But we still sing in chorus. A caged bird can still sing,” he famously wrote in a letter from jail. But a storied life – of fighting injustice and defending human rights – came to a poor, undignified end, as Swamy battled not only with advanced Parkinson’s disease and coronavirus while awaiting trial, but also the apathy of the State that denied him basic amenities like socks, a sweater, and a blanket to stave off the cold of his jail cell, and a a straw and a sipper to drink water.
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Father Stan Swamy remembered in Bengaluru on second death anniversary

07/07/2023

The indian Express / by Express News Service

Father Frazer Mascarenhas, the former principal of St Xaviers College in Mumbai, in whose care Fr Swamy was in his last days, termed the Jharkhand-based activist as a committed Jesuit and scholar and recalled his activism towards the welfare of the tribal communities.
Father Stan Swamy, the Jesuit priest who died while in judicial custody in connection with Elgaar Parishad case, was remembered on his second death anniversary at an event held in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
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Panel discussion on civic literacy held to commemorate Father Stan Swamy’s second death anniversary

06/07/2023

The Telegraph / by Pheroze L. Vincent

Swamy, an 84-year-old Jesuit activist from Jharkhand, died of post-Covid complications while in judicial custody in Mumbai
The second death anniversary of Father Stan Swamy, who died in custody while awaiting trial in the Elgaar Parishad-Maoist links case, was commemorated with a panel discussion on “Civic Literacy and Political Participation” at the Jawahar Bhawan auditorium in the capital on Wednesday.
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‘Withdraw Bhima Koregaon case’: Activists demand after 2 yrs of Stan Swamy’s death

06/07/2023

The Siasat Daily / by News Desk

84-year-old Jharkhand-based tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy passed away while in custody for his alleged role in the Bhima Koregaon case.
Shaheed Father Stan Swamy Nyay Morcha, an umbrella organisation of various social outfits in Jharkhand, on Wednesday called for the withdrawal of the Bhima Koregaon case and the immediate release of the arrested.
Read more


Pic shared by Abhinay Lakshman / @al_lakshman

Jharkhand social activists demand action against culprits of Stan Swamy’s death in judicial custody

05/07/2023

Lagatar News / by  Raj Kumar

Ranchi, July 5: Shaheed Father Stan Swamy Nyay Morcha today organized a tribute-cum- resolution meeting in front of Raj Bhawan on the occasion of second martyrdom day of the father, whom the NIA had arrested on October 8, 2020 from Ranchi for delivering a hate speech. Later, he died on July 5, 2021 while going for treatment to a Mumbai hospital in judicial custody.
Many social workers and representatives of various organizations and political parties from different districts, including Ranchi participated in it. They demanded action against the culprits of Stan’s death in judicial custody.
Read more


Activists urge Indian president to clear Stan Swamy’s name

06/07/2023

UCA News / by UCA News reporter

Tributes flow on the second death anniversary of the late Jesuit priest, who was falsely charged with terror-related laws
A group of rights activists in India have urged President Droupadi Murmu to withdraw terror-related cases against late Jesuit Father Stan Swamy and 15 other accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case.
“It is a false case registered against Father Swamy and others and it should be withdrawn,” said Father Antony P.M, a social activist at a gathering to mark the second death anniversary of the priest, on July 5 in the eastern Jharkhand state. Tributes were paid to the Swamy across the country.
Read more


Bring legislation against custodial torture, activists urge TN government

05/07/2023

The New Indian Express / by By Palanivel Rajan C

“Leaders’ rhetoric against custodial tortures will do no good on the ground, where plausible changes ought to be done in the police stations where the most number of such incidents take place.”
TIRUCHY:  On the second death anniversary of tribal rights activist Stan Swamy who died in jail after being arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case and after being consistently denied bail, activists and outfits in the state have called out for an Act called ‘Tamil Nadu Prevention of Custodial Torture Act’.
Read more


Also read/watch:
Stan Swamy’s second death anniversary: Stand Up for What Is Right, demand Co-Accused  (July 5, 2023)

● Remembering Father Stan and demand justice for the BK-16! (July 5, 2023/ PUCL)

en / hindi | 2:49:57 | 2023
Watch recording

Video: Remembering Father Stan and demand justice for the BK-16!

Video: Remembering Father Stan and demand justice for the BK-16!

Remembering Father Stan and demand justice for the BK-16!

05/07/2023

By People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) / fb Videos

Announcement
Join us to remember Father Stan Swamy, and demand justice for his institutional murder.
We will have family members and friends of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, speak about the experience of the prison conditions and this unjust prolonged arrest.
We will also be joined by political leaders, international human rights organisations and lawyers, to help take the campaign forward to defend democracy!
Repeal UAPA!
Release all political prisoners!

en / hindi | 2:49:57 | 2023
Watch recording


Let’s Not Forget Father Stan Swamy!

08/07/2023

Rediff.com / by Jyoti Punwani

The tributes to Father Stan by his associates and his co-accused (which were read out) provided a clue to why his death continues to touch so many.
“We don’t want this to be forgotten or forgiven.” — senior advocate Mihir Desai.
“Do not forget, do not forgive.” This theme ran through the Zoom meeting organised by the National Campaign to Defend Democracy, a coalition of human rights groups, on the second anniversary of Father Stan Swamy’s death.
Read more


Ashirvad and PUCL Karnataka – Remembering Father Stan Swamy

05/07/2023

People’s Union for Civil Liberties fb Videos / by Ashirvad and PUCL Karnataka

Ashirvad and PUCL Karnataka – Remembering Father Stan Swamy
Fr. Frazer, Dr. V Suresh and Maitreyi

en | 18:19min | 2023
Watch recording Part 1

en | 1:07:37 | 2023
Watch recording Part 2

I Am Not A Mute Spectator – Conversation with four Jesuit priests

I Am Not A Mute Spectator – Conversation with four Jesuit priests

Asianspeaks / by Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek 

… Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek had a conversation with four Jesuit priests, Fr. Cedric Prakash, Fr. Joseph Xavier, Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas, and Fr. Martin Puthussery, who were known to Stan and were outspoken against his extra judicial murder.

Rejaz: Several Christian clergymen were executed for opposing fascism during Hitler’s regime in Nazi Germany. Can we equate those institutional murders with Fr. Stan Swamy’s who was killed in India during Narendra Modi’s RSS led Brahmanic hindutva fascist regime because he was working for the liberation of the oppressed?

Fr. Cedric Prakash: Yes, we certainly regard the death of Fr. Stan Swamy as an institutional murder. Fr. Stan we all know accompanied the poorest of the poor, the excluded, and the exploited, the Adivasis and the Dalits in their struggle for a more humane, just, dignified, and equitable life. In doing so he had to take on the most powerful of the land like the politicians, the crony capitalists, the mining mafia, and other vested interests. Because of their illegal unconstitutional and nefarious deeds, Fr Stan was a thorn in their side. He was arrested on absolutely fabricated charges.
Read more

Let us remember Father Stan Swamy and take forward his legacy! Justice for the BK16!

Let us remember Father Stan Swamy and take forward his legacy! Justice for the BK16!

by PUCL India / @PUCLindia (July 4, 2023):
The National Campaign to Defend Democracy, a coalition of over 150 organisations, is hosting a discussion tomorrow at 9 PM to remember Father Stan Swamy & talk about the stories of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.
Let’s demand immediate bail and release of all the BK16!


by PUCL India / @PUCLindia (July 4, 2023)
PUCL Karnataka is hosting an event tomorrow at @AshirvadSocial at 5:45 PM!
Join @VSuresh_Rights, Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas and Maitreyi Krishnan (@AilajHq) for a discussion on the work & life of Father Stan Swamy, the abuse of draconian laws like UAPA & the rights of prisoners.


by Jesuit conference of South Asia / @JCSADelhi
On the occasion of the 2nd Death Anniversary of Stan Swamy, you are invited to join a panel discussion on civic literacy and political participation.
#StanSwamy

by Jesuit conference of South Asia / @JCSADelhi (Jul 4, 2023):
We pay tribute to our martyr, Fr. Stan Swamy, on the occasion of the second anniversary of his martyrdom.
#StanSwamy #ReleaseAllPoliticalPrisoners


Stan Swamy Commemorative Convention

by Justice for Father Stan Swamy / @FreeFrStanSwamy (June 23, 2023):
Stan Swamy Commemorative Convention
Children’s Theatre Park, Ernakulam
5th July,
3 p.m. IST


Human rights activists to hold Sankalp Sabhas on July 5

04/07/2023

The Telegraph / by Animesh Bisoee

Activists in Jharkhand have decided to take a pledge to continue their fight for jal, jungle and jameen, along with a demand for punishment to those responsible for ‘murder’ of Stan Swamy.
Human rights activists in Jharkhand have decided to take a pledge to continue their fight for jal (water), jungle (forest) and jameen (land), along with a demand for punishment to those responsible for the “murder” of Stan Swamy, on July 5 which marks the third death anniversary of the Jesuit priest.
Read more


The Challenge to Live Fr. Stan Swamy’s Legacy Today!

04/07/2023

Countercurrents.org / by Cedric Prakash

… Given the grim realities which throttle the nation today, one person whose physical presence is greatly missed today is that of Jesuit Father Stan Swamy. Two years ago on 5 July 2021, he said ‘good-bye’ to us, having completed his pilgrimage here on earth. He was arrested on 8 October 2020 on fabricated charges, incarcerated in the Taloja jail where he suffered very much. His terrible and untimely death is regarded by many as ‘institutional murder’. He has still not been declared ‘innocent’ by the courts. However, Stan (as he was called by all very lovingly) the man, mission and message -lives on in the hearts and lives of thousands everywhere. He has left us with a rich legacy and challenges us to live that legacy today.
Read more


Also read/watch:

Video: Testimony of Stan Swamy, two days before his arrest on 8 October 2020.


en | 7:48 min | Oct 6, 2020
Watch video

I am not a Silent Spectator – Why Truth has become so bitter, Dissent so intolarable, Justice so out of reach

An Autobiographical Fragment, Memory and Reflection


Indian Social Institute, Bangalore | by Stan Swamy | August 2021
Edition: Aug 2021
Publisher: Indian Social Institute, Bangalore
Language: English
Paperback: 149 pages
Access a free PDF copy of the book here

Institutionalisation of injustice the order of the day, says noted journalist-author

Institutionalisation of injustice the order of the day, says noted journalist-author

The Telegraph / by Achintya Ganguly

P. Sainath said this while delivering the second Father Stan Swamy memorial lecture on ‘Governance by gagging and the moral universe of media’
Earlier the media was expected to speak the truth to the power that be but now it also needs to speak the truth about that power.
Magsaysay award-winning journalist-author P. Sainath said this while delivering the second Father Stan Swamy memorial lecture on “Governance by gagging and the moral universe of media” at XISS auditorium in Ranchi on Sunday afternoon.
Read more

PUCL: Five Years of Bhima Koregaon – Release Them All (video)

PUCL: Five Years of Bhima Koregaon – Release Them All (video)


hindi/en | 1h 55min | 2023

By People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL)

Friends,
Join us in remembering the 16 human rights activists who are still charged in the Bhima Koregaon case – many of whom have now spent more than 5 years in jail!

Let us remember
– the quiet dignity of Fr Stan Swamy, even as he lost his life in jail, incarcerated under false charges;
– the mounting injustice of Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson,  Mahesh Raut, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves  spending 5 years in jail,
– the trials and tribulations of the young Jyoti Jagtap, Ramesh Gaichor and Sagar Gorkhe of KKM,  and Prof Hany Babu, arrested later
– and Sudha Bharadwaj, Varvara Rao, Anand Teltumbde and Gautam Navlakha, who are on bail, but still not free

Watch recording @ PUCL fb

Who are the acclaimed ‘BK-16’? / HRDs and families await justice, five years down

Who are the acclaimed ‘BK-16’? / HRDs and families await justice, five years down

HRDs and families await justice, five years down

22/06/2023

cjp / by Sabah Maharaj

Faulty investigation and severe loopholes in investigation, surrounds the controversial BK-16 case. International outcry has not helped move the trial five years down even while the targeted languish, families await the return of their loved ones
In June 2021, European Union parliamentarians, Nobel Laureates, renowned academics, and internationally known figures wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, the then Chief Justice of India as well as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and other authorities in India, demanding to the release of political prisoners arrested with relation to the Elgar Parishad and Bhima Koregaon incident.
Amidst contested accusations of an anti-India conspiracy, militancy, and violence, five long years have passed since the BK-16 have been imprisoned without trial.
Read more


Who are the acclaimed ‘BK-16’?

22/06/2023

cjp / by CJP Team

Five years have passed, and human rights defenders (HRDs) and their families continue to await justice.

Surendra Gadling
Status: Detained without trial
Charges:Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) since June 2018
Location: Taloja Central Prison, Mumbai

Gadling is a human rights lawyer and a Dalit activist. Over time, Gadling established himself as a keen advocate and a key figure in cases related to extrajudicial killings, police misconduct, false accusations, and injustices against Dalits and Adivasis in the region…
Read more


Also read:
Five years behind bars for five activists – Without bail, without charges being framed, without justice! – Various statements

Fr Stan Swamy – Clear his Name. Silent Vigil in London

Fr Stan Swamy – Clear his Name. Silent Vigil in London

By Jesuits in Britain / @JesuitsBritain

Fr Stan Swamy SJ died after being accused of terrorism and imprisoned in India.
The team @JesuitMissions are marching in London today to raise awareness and clear his name! #standwithstan
Please sign the petition here

Thread by Jesuits in Britain / @JesuitsBritain (June 20, 2023)
While the Indian High Commissioner was practicing yoga in Trafalgar Sq, we were @HCI_London demanding justice for Fr Stan Swamy SJ

The @HCI_London wouldn’t come to the door to speak to a group of priests and lay people, or accept our letter and petition calling for justice for Fr Stan Swamy

The facts are these:
– Fr Stan Swamy was 84 years old and suffering from Parkinson’s; in no position to ‘otherthrow’
@narendramodi
– Fr Stan died of Covid after being mistreated in jail
– We have proof that incriminating evidence was placed on his PC.
– India should clear his name


Vigil for Stan Swamy

20/06/2023

jesuit.org.uk / By Jesuits in Britain

This morning (20th June 2023) staff at the Indian High Commission in London refused to engage with Jesuits priests and laypeople who attempted to hand in a petition calling for justice for a priest who died of Covid whilst in Indian custody.
While the High Commissioner visited Trafalgar Square to view the celebrations marking the International Day of Yoga, British Jesuits and their supporters marched to the Indian High Commission in Aldwych where they held a peaceful vigil and then attempted to hand in a petition containing thousands of signatures calling for justice for Father Stan Swamy SJ.
However, as Met police officers looked on at the peaceful protest, Commission staff went through their own contortions as they refused to answer the door, or accept the petition.
Read more



Fr Stan Swamy – clear his name – silent vigil in London

15/06/2023

By Independent Catholic News

A silent demonstration, prayers and petition in support of Fr Stan Swamy will take place on Tuesday 20th June 2023.

Schedule
8 – 8.30am Parish Mass – Church of the Immaculate Conception
Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Parish Priest
8.30 – 9am Coffee – Arrupe Hall, London Jesuit Centre (location tbc)
Welcome by Paul Chitnis, Director Jesuit Missions
9 – 9.15am Gather in courtyard outside London Jesuit Centre
Collect placards
9.15 – 10am Walk to High Commission of India

Read more


MP raises case of Indian Jesuit priest Fr Stan Swamy SJ in House of Commons

14/06/2023

By The Catholic Network UK

A Conservative Party politician has called on the Foreign Office to ”make representations” to the Indian government over the treatment and death in custody of an Indian Jesuit priest.
Speaking during Foreign, Commonwealth and Development questions in the House of Commons this morning, Simon Fell, Member of Parliament for Barrow in Furness, said that “Fr Stan Swamy, aged 84, died in custody with Parkinsons only a couple of years ago.”
In his lifetime, Fr Stan Swamy SJ stood with the excluded, championing the rights of indigenous people in India.
Read more


Also read:
Fabricating Evidence Against Life and Liberty: Tampering with Fr. Stan Swamy’s computer and its implications for Bhima Koregaon case (Press Release by Mumbai Rises to Save Democracy / Dec 2022)
Hackers Planted Files to Frame an Indian Priest Who Died in Custody (Wired / Dec 2022)
Fight to clear Fr Stan Swamy’s name ‘will continue’ (UCA News / Dec 2022)