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Tag: Stan Swamy

Concern over Arnab’s Health in Jail. What about Activists Like Varavara Rao and Stan Swamy?

Concern over Arnab’s Health in Jail. What about Activists Like Varavara Rao and Stan Swamy?

Concern over Arnab’s Health in Jail. What about Activists Like Varavara Rao and Stan Swamy?

09/11/2020

ARRÉ / by ARRÉ BENCH

Jailed poet Varavara Rao is suspected to have dementia; he also suffers from multiple ailments including neurological disorders. Activist Stan Swamy, also in jail, has Parkinsons. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari is concerned about the health of Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami.
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Was it freedom of expression when Arnab Goswami called activists anti-national?

06/11/2020

Counterview / by Vidya Bhushan Rawat

India’s prime time ‘hyper entertainer’, Arnab Goswami, was arrested by the Maharashtra police for charges of ‘abetment of suicide’ of an architect and his mother, who has worked for the so-called ‘number one’ channel, but did not get paid …
In fact, Fadnavis should face an independent commission for upturning the entire Bhima Koregaon violence case into a conspiracy theory and then putting so many intellectuals in jail.
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Arnab Goswami arrest does not set India down a slippery slope – it’s been sliding down one for years

05/11/2020

Scroll.in / by Shoaib Daniyal

Dramatic scenes flashed on India’s TV screens on Wednesday morning as Arnab Goswami, the editor-in-chief of the Republic TV network, was arrested from his home in Mumbai.
Goswami has played a big part in changing India’s media landscape, pioneering a loud, jingoistic brand of journalism that does not shy away from flaunting its leanings towards the Bharatiya Janata Party…
Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, has explicitly blamed Goswami for making “false, malicious and defamatory allegations” against her by sharing a “fabricated letter”.
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The Maharashtra Police Is Getting Dangerously Politicised and Partisan

05/11/2020

The Wire / by Ashish Khetan

The police has shown no compunctions in going after the critics of the political outfit in power – be it the left-leaning academics under the BJP’s rule or a rightwing media head under the present Shiv Sena-led coalition…
Param Bir Singh, the current police commissioner, has a troubling track record of leading investigations that suit the political party in power. In August 2018, while he was serving as the additional director general of police (law and order) under the BJP-Shiv Sena government, Singh held the infamous press conference in which he released the ‘conclusive evidence’ against the human rights activists and academics accused in the Bhima Koregaon case of waging war against the nation, even as the matter was being heard by the Supreme Court.
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From Kashmir to Gujarat, Journalists Continue to Get Arrested. But It Hasn’t Angered Our Netas Like Arnab’s Arrest

04/11/2020

ARRÉ / by ARRÉ BENCH

The arrest of Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami has been condemned by ministers, many calling it an attack of press freedom. But will they continue their outrage when the next journalist is assaulted in Delhi or arrested in Gujarat?
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Guwahati candlelight vigil for Stan Swamy aborted

Guwahati candlelight vigil for Stan Swamy aborted

The Telegraph / by Umanand Jaiswal

A candlelight vigil in the city on Sunday seeking the release of Father Stan Swamy and the 15 other rights activists arrested in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case had to be called off after the police denied permission.
Northeast Solidarity (NES) had on Thursday sought permission to hold the vigil at Dighali Pukhuri from 4.30pm to 5.30pm on Sunday, demanding the release of the 16 accused “falsely implicated under the UAPA” in the Bhima Koregaon case.
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Father Stan Swamy has to go to court for a straw – NIA Asks 20 Days To Respond

Father Stan Swamy has to go to court for a straw – NIA Asks 20 Days To Respond

Father Stan Swamy has to go to court for a straw

08/11/2020

The Telegraph / by Pheroze L. Vincent, Sanjay K. Jha

The court, whose permission is required for materials to be sent in from outside jail premises, set the next hearing for November 26.
When Father Stan Swamy, the 83-year-old tribal rights activist, was arrested in haste in Ranchi in the Bhima Koregaon case and taken to Mumbai last month, he had carried a bag with him.
In the bag was a sipper with a straw, which he needs to consume liquids. Father Stan suffers from several age-related ailments apart from Parkinson’s, which has left him unable to hold any open liquid container like a cup or a mug without spilling the contents.
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Arrested Activist, 83, Requests Straw Citing Parkinson’s. NIA Wants Time

07/11/2020

NDTV / by Arvind Gunasekar

Father Stan Swamy, the 83-year-old tribal rights activist arrested last month over his alleged involvement in the Bhima-Koregaon case, has moved the special court in Mumbai for permission to use a straw and sipper cup while drinking.
The NIA (National Investigation Agency), which arrested Mr Swamy – who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease – from his residence in Ranchi on October 8, has sought 20 days time to respond.
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Stan Swamy files plea to allow use of straw, sipper in Taloja jail

06/11/2020

The Hindu / by Sonam Saigal

83-year-old accused in Bhima-Koregaon case, suffers from Parkinson’s.
Father Stan Swamy, 83, on Friday filed an application before the special court seeking that he be allowed the use of a straw and sipper in Taloja Central Jail where he has been lodged as he cannot hold a glass due to Parkinson’s disease.
The prosecution has sought time 20 days to file a reply to this application and the matter will be heard on November 26.
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NIA gears up to fight left wing terror harder

NIA gears up to fight left wing terror harder


Solidarity poster, Nov 2020

Oneindia / by Vicky Nanjappa

On Thursday, the National Investigation Agency set up a new office in Ranchi, Jharkhand. This was an important move considering the rising number of cases in the state, which is hit by naxalites in particular…
Very recently the NIA arrested Stan Swamy a Jesuit said to be close to the naxalites.
Officials tell OneIndia that Stan Swamy is a member of the CPI (Maoist). He is actively involved in its activities. He is the convenor of the PPSC, which is a frontal organisation of the CPI (Maoist). He is alleged to have received funds through an associate to further the activities of the CPI (Maoist).
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United Forum for Adivasi Rights protest demanding immediate release of Father Stan Swamy

United Forum for Adivasi Rights protest demanding immediate release of Father Stan Swamy

United Forum for Adivasi Rights protest demanding immediate release of Father Stan Swamy

06/11/2020

Siliguri Times / by Silguri Times

The Adivasi Samaj staged a movement to demand the immediate release of Father Stan Swamy. Furthermore, United Forum for Adivasi Rights staged a rally on Friday.
The members of the organization said that the rights of the Adivasi community are being curtailed. Father Stan Swamy is said to be the one who constantly fought for the rights of the Adivasi community. And the people condemned the central government for putting him behind the bars.
A protest rally was staged today demanding his immediate release. Also, a memorandum was handed over to the SDO addressing the CM mentioning the same.

An Adivasi Crusader Under Trial: A Blot On Indian Democracy – OpEd

05/11/2020

Eurasia Review / by Dr. Paul Newman

The state of Jharkhand is one of the most backward states of India… The three resources that are close to the heart of any tribal in the area is Jal (Water), Jungle (forest) an Jameen (Land), which they own but often lose to the vested interest aided by the state forces… This is an area where a number of missionaries have contributed a great deal to the development of the place in terms of providing quality education, health care and other basis necessities… It is in this context that an eighty three years old, Fr. Stanislaus Lourduswamy, popularly called as Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest from Jamshedpur Jesuit Province was arrested by the National Investigation Agency on the 8th of October 2020 at 7.30 P.M under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
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Asian Bishops back Jailed Jesuit / Forum demands release of activist Fr. Stan Swamy

Asian Bishops back Jailed Jesuit / Forum demands release of activist Fr. Stan Swamy

Asian Bishops back Jailed Jesuit

05/11/2020

Church Militant / by Fabian Gomes

Asia’s bishops are calling for the release of an 83-year-old Jesuit priest jailed in India.
The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) is supporting Fr. Stan Swamy S.J., the oldest person to ever be accused of terrorism in India. The president of FABC, Cdl. Charles Bo of Yangon, Myanmar, condemned the arrest in a statement issued on Monday.
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Forum demands release of activist Fr. Stan Swamy

05/11/2020

The Hindu / by Staff Reporter

Condemning the arrest of 83-year-old priest Fr. Stan Swamy in Jharkhand, members of the Karnataka United Christian Forum and Human Rights sought the Union government’s intervention to ensure the immediate release of the activist.
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A Defender Of The Deprived Faces Terror Charges / Swamy’s Arrest Stirs Unprecedented Protests

A Defender Of The Deprived Faces Terror Charges / Swamy’s Arrest Stirs Unprecedented Protests

Why An Aged Defender Of The Deprived Faces Terror Charges

04/11/2020

Article 14 / by Chitrangada Coudhury

After more than half a century of deploying constitutional rights to assist Adivasis, Dalits and undertrials, 83-year-old Jharkhand Jesuit activist and former director of the Indian Social Institute Stan Swamy is the NIA’s 16th, and oldest, arrest in the Bhima-Koregaon case.
On 24 June 2008, Damodar Turi, a Jharkhand land-rights activist and a Dalit was arrested by the Ranchi police and accused of sedition and waging war against India… While he faced these allegations, Turi recalled, among the people who stood by him were Father Stan Swamy, an 83-year-old Jesuit priest and one of Jharkhand’s most prominent human-rights activists.
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Elderly Priest’s Arrest Stirs Unprecedented Protests in India

04/11/2020

The National Catholic Register / by Anto Akkara

Father Stanilaus Lourduswamy, along with 15 others, allegedly conspired with Maoist rebels to destabilize the federal government in what critics have called ‘absurd.’
Few arrests in Indian history have evoked such widespread protests as that of Jesuit Father Stanislaus Lourduswamy on Oct. 8. Better known as Father Stan Swamy, this 83-year-old is a renowned crusader for the exploited and impoverished indigenous people of eastern Jharkhand state.
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‘He’s A Torchbearer Of The Constitution’ Say Father Stan Swamy’s Peers

‘He’s A Torchbearer Of The Constitution’ Say Father Stan Swamy’s Peers

‘He’s A Torchbearer Of The Constitution’ Say Father Stan Swamy’s Peers

01/11/2020

mid-day.com / by Jane Borges

A warrior for Jharkhand’s adivasis, Father Stan Swamy, arrested for his alleged role in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, is remembered by peers as someone who worked to uplift the marginalised despite his struggle with Parkinson’s disease.
For Father Stanislaus Lourduswamy, true religion is standing for justice, humanity and truth. His ideas made many within the Church uncomfortable. To them, he was a radical of sorts. But, this was his life’s mission, and many activists, including myself, were inspired by his journey,” says Tony PM, a freelance researcher and social activist in Ranchi, who has been associated with the 83-year-old Jesuit priest since 1993.
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#StandWithStan: It’s about Constitution, democracy and freedom of expression

31/10/2020

Counterview / by Fr Cedric Prakash SJ

It is more than three weeks now: On the night of October 8, 2020, the 83-year-old Jesuit Fr Stan Swamy was taken into custody by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) from his residence in Ranchi to an undisclosed destination. According to his colleagues, the NIA did not serve a warrant on Fr. Stan and that their behaviour was absolutely arrogant and rude…
We must stand with Fr Stan Swamy now for several significant reasons.
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An Excerpt from the phone call of Stan Swamy from Prison / Stand With Stan – A Musical Video

An Excerpt from the phone call of Stan Swamy from Prison / Stand With Stan – A Musical Video

An Excerpt from the phone call of Stan Swamy from the Prison

31/10/2020

Phone Message by Stan Swamy

Dear Friends,
Greetings from Taloja prison, Mumbai. I hope you are all keeping fine.
I want to share with you that I am keeping good health, despite some ailments.
A few fellow prisoners are very helpful to me. Considering my age and inability to adopt to prison conditions, I am given an assistant to help me to move around. I have been given a private cell with commode facility and simple special diet.
I have access to some journals and magazines.
I spend my time in reading, praying and interacting with fellow prisoners.
I have asked for some warm clothes as it is cold here. I hope the prison authorities will permit me to have them to protect me.
I am languishing in prison for some alleged offences, which I have not committed.
If this is God’s will, so be it.
I hope truth will win and I will be released soon on bail.
I received your greetings and prayers through one of my Jesuit colleagues, whom I called over phone on 25 October, Sunday morning.
I am allowed to make phone calls once in 15 days.
Continue to remember me and all my friends here in the prison.
Fr. Stan Swamy

Stand With Stan – A Musical Video

31/10/2020

By Kerala Jesuits, Jesuits Collaborators


en (subtitles) | 8:53min | 2020

JESUIT COMMUNICATIONS PRESENT
For the immediate release of Fr. Stan Lourde Swamy
SJ Music & Singing: Joy Thankey
Orchestration: Pious Alappuzha
Mixing: Jinto John (Geetham Studio, Kochi) Chorus – Jacob Alwin, Sophy, Aleena
Video editing: Akhil Anto
Lyrics: Fr. Paul Manayampilly, Vicar, Infant Jesus Church, Kidangoor
Special Thanks to Jesuits, Collaborators, and People of Goodwill
#FreeStan #StandwithStan #freestanswamy #BhimaKoregaon
Watch video

Father Swamy: Indian Jesuit priest-activist

Father Swamy: Indian Jesuit priest-activist

The Guardian / by Tony Afejuku

Very recently, I received the sad news of what is happening to a wonderful Jesuit priest who to boot is an activist, a solid defender of human rights in India that has since ceased to be the incredibly incredible India of my then years.
Its politicians especially of now have turned or better stated, are turning that mysteriously ancient country of civilisations into a Soviet/Russian Gulag where agents of the state carry out acts of terror against dissenters who they accuse of terrorism and its negative wonders of blemish.
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