Pattern of Human Right Violation through Torture and other form of organized violence

http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=18205

Pattern of Human Right Violation through Torture and other form of organized violence Dr.Lenin Raghuvanshi                                                                                                                                                    2/5/2009 10:52:59 AM(IST) India is the world's largest democracy with one of the best constitutions and is equipped with domestic mechanisms to fulfil the constitutional guarantees to protect human rights and dignity. However, theory is very different from practice. Internationally accepted human rights institutions are reporting continuously on severe human rights violations in India. Primary concerns are torture, caste discrimination, cases of starvation as a direct consequence of caste discrimination as well as abuse and discrimination of women. There is a widespread use of custodial torture in India. In the context of crime investigation suspects are tortured through beating, sensory deprivation, simulated drowning, electricity shocks, shooting, mental torture etc. to enforce confessions. Due to the absence of an independent agency to investigate cases, complaints are often not properly proofed and perpetrators are not prosecuted and punished. A blatant lack in human rights protection in India is the fact that the government has refused to ratify the UN-Convention against torture. Torture is integral part of criminal investigation in India and considered as cheap and easy method in investigation. Brutal practices and the misuse of force is very common in the operation of the police across the country.  It is tool of oppression used by those in the position of authority to threaten and intimidate detainees.  The police and other security forces are given legal immunity from act of torture and extra-judicial killings under various legal provisions of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) and section 197 of Cr.P.C.  These immunities play significant role in the prevalence of torture and violence. However majority of the cases are seldom reported and inquired. TOV and caste:  Elitism is deeply rooted in culture and the police are deliberately made to function in ways that support the interest of the elite class and caste, in the name of order. Caste based discrimination still affects the life of a high percentage of Indian population and is practiced in the educational system, in places of work, villages and towns and even in courts of justice. The refusal of the police to investigate a case of caste discrimination is common. Schedule caste known as dalit are continuously facing atrocities and discrimination in all sphere of life, while accountability for the violation of dalit right was seldom established. The most heinous impacts of caste based discriminations are starvation and malnutrition. Acute poverty and cases of starvation occur especially in marginalized groups in the Indian society like minority communities, tribes and Dalits. Untouchability is still practiced across India and the dalit are continuously denied to access public place. From the very beginning the dalits are continuously deprived of land in-spite of many laws relating land.  Abuses against dalits are numerous and take many different forms; they include (but are not limited to): ·        Socioeconomic discrimination ·        Beating, slashing, and other forms of torture ·        Arson -- the burning of Dalit communities Demoralizing the lower caste is very common with a view to make them silence, so that they can not raise their voice. When a person from upper caste commits crime, after the trial the person is punished. However when it comes to the lower caste the entire community is punished. This punishment is not from court, but form the upper caste and the police provide its sound support in implementing punishment to upper caste. Indian Police learnt from practice of caste system of demoralization and community punishment and on the other hand most of the custodial torture, violence and death is committed against marginalized and deprived caste. Many dalit are tortured and subjected to humiliation and degrading treatment in public like garlanded with chappel and sandal, blackening face, riding over ass etc. TOV and patriarchy  The discriminatory organized violence against women is one of the most relevant human rights issues in India. Experts report on severe gender based violence which includes domestic violence, dowry linked violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and sex-selective abortion. Though dalit are considered untouchable, yet rape of dalit women is very common by upper caste.  Dalit women bear a triple burden; they are exploited by caste, class and gender. Discrimination of women is evident among others in the educational system, in political and public life and in the law. Violence against women is increasing rapidly. Apart from above violence, the women are victim of violence by securities forces and armed opposition groups, traditional justice delivered by panchayat and cruel cultural practices like sati, honor killing and witch hunting. State terror through Anti-terrorism legislation In response to independence movements in the north-east of India, special emergency laws were enacted (e.g. The Armed Forces (Special Power) Act of 1958). The implementation of this law is limited to areas declared as 'disturbed' by the central government in Delhi. However similar laws are also implemented at the state level by various state governments in India. The Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2006, the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act 1999, the Madhya Pradesh Special Areas Security Act 2001 and the Uttar Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Bill 2007 are a few examples. These state/province-made laws have resulted in the militarisation of a large part of India. The militarisations in these areas are sponsored by the local state government by deploying 'special armed forces' recruited from the state police.   Communal violence and caste India is secular state and person is free to adopt any religion and act according to the rituals of that religion. However concept of secularism is being disturbed many times by extremist group, which outcome is Sikh massacres(1984), Mumbai rioting(1992-93), Gujarat genocide (2002), Dargah rioting (2006) etc. The irony is that the police supporting the extremists by targeting innocent people and the politician are playing game in the name of showing sympathy. There is lack of political will to prosecute the perpetrators of the violence. Apart from this many innocent people charged under POTA. So the minorities are facing from three fold like: attack by majority community, attack by police and charging innocent under POTA.   New discourse in anti-TOV initiative: In the colonial era the feudal system existed and it was based on "rule of lord" instead of "rule of law". The unjust and undemocratic system is governed through colonial Police law made in that era so the police is still acting according to "rule of lord" and clearly denying the concept of welfare state. Now a day, Indian society is still remains in semi-feudal and semi-capitalist mode of production and caste system serves this perfectly. The danger faced by the caste dictatorship created a new link in communal Hinduism fascism and imperialism.  There is need that all the progressive power must join hand to crush Brahmanism from its roots so that Manu's patriarchal dictatorship may not persist and flourish.

2009 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award Announcement

The situation regarding democracy and human rights in Myanmar/Burma remains dire. At this very moment, many pro-democracy activists are locked up in freezing cold cells. The international community has put pressure on Burma’s military junta, taking consistent interest in the nation’s pro-democracy movement. Despite its efforts, some countries around the world have turned a deaf ear to the issue due to conflicts of interest. After the military junta crushed the “Saffron Revolution” with brutal force, the UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari visited Burma, meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, a democratic leader of the country, in 2008. However, such efforts to demonstrate the international community’s commitment to the region have been to no avail, and have only led to further disappointment with Burma.

Born in the Burmese capital of Yangon in 1962, Min Ko Naing organized the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), a nationwide student union, in 1988. Later, he was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for triggering the “8888 Uprising”. After being imprisoned for 15 years, he was released from prison and continued his pro-democracy resistance. Finally he was re-arrested and sentenced to 65 years imprisonment for organizing a demonstration which gave rise to the Saffron Uprising. He is currently serving this sentence.

According to an international human rights watchdog, the number of prisoners of conscience who, like Min Ko Naing, have been arrested and imprisoned for engaging in protests and anti-government activities, amounts to about 2,000. In the aftermath of the devastating natural disaster which hit Burma in May, 2007, the international community tried to reach out to the afflicted country. Burma’s military junta, however, decided to reject this helping hand. To make matters worse, the authoritarian regime arrested and detained protesters, killing at least several hundred people, including foreign journalists, involved in the nationwide demonstration driven by saffron-robed Buddhist monks.

The 2009 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Committee has therefore chosen Min Ko Naing to be this year’s prizewinner. Min Ko Naing and his colleagues have devoted themselves to Burma’s democratization, and it is their devotion that we hope to remember and share as we commemorate the May 18 Gwangju Uprising. The committee sincerely desires that Min Ko Naing and other political prisoners be released as soon as possible, and hopes that democracy will truly take root in this country.


2009 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Committee

Chairperson:
Moon Young-hee, Vice President of Korea Democracy Foundation

Committee Members:
Kim Chil-jun, Secretary-General of National Human Rights Commission
Yoon Gwang-jang, Chairman of the May 18 Memorial Foundation
Lee Jung-hyun, Korea National Assembly
Cha Sung-hwan, Director of Pusan Democratic Memorial Association

India Government must ratify CAT

India Government must ratify CAT Jan Ole Haagensen                                                                                                                                                    18/4/2009 10:03:28 AM(IST) First and foremost I would like to use the opportunity to address the  People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights and give my heartiest congratulations on organizing a National Consultation on "Testimony to improve psychosocial wellbeing and promote advocacy for survivor of torture and organized violence". Both as an individual and official representative for RCT I can say that I am truly grateful to be a part of this event.   The background for this event is in fact sinister because it relates to the practice of torture. If there were no torture then we could attend to other businesses. But torture exist also in India and we are today getting a fuller view – thanks to among others the Study funded by the EU and Frederich Neuman Foundation undertaken by Indian organizations under the leadership of Peoples Watch - and the view is in fact disturbing. Torture and organized violence in India is many-sided and used in different settings and by different social actors. A rough categorization could be to differentiate between the uses of torture in relation to open ongoing violence in contested geographical areas and communal violence -  but what is – perhaps – most disturbing is the sad fact that within the police force, torture appears to be looked upon as a standard operating procedure in investigations of crime. Yet there are no excuses for torture. It is a barbaric practice not permitted according to UN HR Declaration nor as a rule of customary international law, and the recognition of the prohibition of torture as a peremptory norm of general international law, binding on all states whether or not they are parties to treaties which contain the prohibition. And the results of using torture are poor vis-à-vis other more humane police techniques which in Europe sometimes comes under the heading Good policing. Finally, one could question whether these colonial practices are befitting a country with a long democratic history and on the path of rapid modernization.   Torture is considered so common that it even is depicted in the world famous movie 'Slum Dog Millionaire' showing scenes from a police station in Mumbai. Even though this is merely fiction the storyline is sadly enough not far from reality. This reality will have to alter.   India signed the UN Convention Against Torture in 1997 yet more than 10 years later the same is still to be ratified and this is despite the fact that India is a member of UN Human Rights Council. In its UNHRC pledge letter India made no specific references to UNCAT or the critical issue on how to reduce torture in India. According to a source in the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs the reason for not ratifying UNCAT is – and I quote 'due to the extra burden of reporting'!   At the domestic level, there is no legislative definition of torture, nor is there a law identifying torture as a crime in India. There is neither a system for victim and witness protection.   The only statutory remedy in India is to raise a complaint with the Human Rights Commission; however the national Human Rights Commissions are being criticized for often being politically biased and inefficient. The fact remains that India does not have the appropriate mechanism in place to deal with the problem of torture.   India is a country with a population of more than .1.2 billion people that is finding its due role in the world, and in this new role torture does not tally. USA another big democracy is these days going through a painful exercise of cleaning up after torture practices permitted by the past president. The practices have cost US a lot morally in the country itself and in the world. The practices have to be stopped and removed at once – otherwise history shows they will spread like cancer to the whole society.   Throughout my time working and researching in India I have had the privilege of meeting many organizations that do an amazing piece of work in relation to advocacy and rehabilitation. Even though the many challenges and barriers in India, I would like to say that seeing the great work these organizations I fell comfortable that things will improve and the decision makers will give the area a higher priority. I feel honored to have gotten to know more about these organizations and I truly hope that we will have the opportunity to work more closely together in the future.   Let me share with you a bit of the organization where I come from.   RCT   RCT has since 1982 worked for freedom from torture through treatment, training and prevention. We are Danish non-profit, private organization independent of party politics which treats refugees exposed to torture and subsequently and been granted asylum in Denmark (among these there have been several Indians as well). Furthermore, RCT accompany with technical and financial support national organizations in areas where people suffer from torture and organized violence. Most often, the working relationships are partnerships that stretch over several years. It is a long struggle.   The development activities of RCT are currently being implemented in 14 countries covering Africa (Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zimbabwe), Asia (India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Cambodia), Latin America (Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala), the Middle East (Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Areas) and Europe (Albania). In its development programme RCT works through local partner organizations using a rights-based approach in relation to rehabilitation and prevention. This includes capacity development, and support to advocacy and service delivery.   The international fight against torture is a key priority in the Danish foreign policy since torture is one of the gravest human rights violations. Therefore, RCT gets funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its international work including research and knowledge generation. Much more knowledge is needed to fight torture and rehabilitate torture survivors. Nevertheless, in the Danish context we undertake advocacy as well to ensure that Denmark constantly is in the forefront in relation to the prevention of torture and not sidelined due to other political motives. Torture does not fit to the values and standards of the modern world.   Testimonial therapy   Any attempt to prevent such gross violations of Human Rights and to promote and improve psychosocial wellbeing and promote advocacy for survivor of torture and organized violence, is a great service to humanity. In the cooperation with PVCHR psychotherapeutic treatment to survivors of torture is provided. One of the methods being used is testimonial therapy, which has been rather successful in other countries. For instance victims treated with testimonial therapy demonstrated significant improvements in World Health Organization indicators for human well being (WHO 5). All of them expressed their satisfaction with the process, especially the public delivery ceremony. Survivors treated that by recording their stories and externalizing their private pain, survivors reframed their experiences to take on a social meaning within the context of human rights affirmation, and thereby regained their self-esteem and dignity. Therefore, what makes this method particularly interesting for human rights organizations is the fact that it integrates the preventive aspect with the therapy –it is healing, empowering, and it advocates for justice. .Together with PVCHR and Indian version has been developed.   At this meeting several organizations will present their experiences with testimonies both as advocacy and healing. And I look forward to hear more about these and the following discussions.   I sincerely hope that this national consultation can contribute to the grand efforts that organizations around in India are doing, and I believe many positive things will come out of this consultation and new connections will be made.   Once more I am grateful to be here and see you all here. Thank you.   Dr. Jan Ole Haagensen, Ph.D. Director, International Department Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) Denmark http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=17747#

Nation building can not be just done by speeches

Dr. Mohan Lal Panda is well known and renowened development professional in India

How was your experience in working in a liberal foundation?
All ideologies had its own interpretations of the social and economic dimensions of the society. And believers of those specific ideologies formulate policies accordingly. You do not have to agree with everything that organizations preach. But you have to agree with the certain common values. In this case, liberals lean heavily towards free market where I have my reservations. But liberals also preach for strong democracy, human rights and religious tolerance.

What do you think about the human rights situation in India after implementing the Project on “Preventing Torture”?
Bad, very bad. People in this country have not been taught to protect their rights. In fact very few people know about their rights. Constitution in this country is seen as a technical book only to be referred by the legislature and sometime by the media. If you are poor, women, and children or belong to the minority communities then the chances of being at the receiving end of the state atrocities are very high. Approximately 125 human rights institutions created in this country are performing below expectations. These institutions have failed to generate confidence among the common victims that they are approachable and can provide immediate relief. In this project we have established that torture exists and police enjoys impunity. Base on our data we project 1.5million cases of police torture in India per year. This figure is unacceptable in a civilized country that is aspiring for a seat in the Security Council.

Where is the problem?
The problem lies in failure of governance. Nation building can not be just done by speeches. People representing certain sections of the society can not be excluded from the development process. We have to rethink our understanding about democracy, development and dignity.

Which sections?
Be it Muslims, Dalits or Women. All of them are fighting for their self respect. You can not have growth by excluding people in the name of religion, caste or gender. We misuse our human capital. Unfortunately our politics need to change. Look at the way people reacted to Sachar Commission Report. What is wrong with that Report? Is it not true that Muslims do not have access to basic as well as quality education and as a consequence to the job? The same with the dalits. Even these people do not have access to resources? Law must change and there has to be process reform in favour of the deprived section of the society.

You have played an important part in implementing role in the successful completion of the project on Preventing Torture in India. At the end of the three years project how does feel?

The project was an absolute challenge. It was the biggest funding by EU on human rights in India. The same with Friedrich Naumann Stiftung(FNF). Creating physical and human infrastructure in nine states covering forty seven districts in India considering the diversity, providing common training to staff coming from seven linguistic backgrounds and motivating the local staff to document police torture were the three most important challenges we had to confront. No one in this country likes to document cases of police torture.
On the basis of collected data we established that torture exists and it happens everywhere. Police enjoys impunity. Through our limited lobby initiatives we took the findings to the policy makers in the Indian Parliament.

Every project has its limitation. We hope someone initiates a mass movement to take forward the political objective of the project to the next level. It is also necessary to consider the importance of witness protection and rehabilitation of the victims of torture.

I am a proud Pakistani Lahori in love with Bombay! Shahvar A. Khan, World Press

ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNAL HARMONY IN ASIA (ACHA)
www.asiapeace.org & www.indiapakistanpeace.org
4410 Verda Lane NE, Keizer, OR 97303, USA
asiapeace@comcast.net

Jan 15, 2009: Peace & Harmony News From India and Pakistan & Other Parts of S. Asia
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndiaPakistanPeaceDay
&
http://groups.google.com/group/peace--harmony-news-from-south-asia


IN THIS ISSUE
*I am a proud Pakistani Lahori in love with Bombay! Shahvar A. Khan, World Press, Jan 3, http://shahvaaralikhan.wordpress.com/2009/01/03/i-am-a-proud-pakistani-lahori-in-love-with-bombay /
“Haan boss. Mere ko Bandra jaane ka hai…Carter Road.” (Hey boss, I need to go to Bandra…Carter Road) I nonchalantly told our driver, Aslam, after getting out of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai.
My Lahori advertising colleagues who were accompanying me for this particular ad film shoot seemed quite amazed.“Dude, you sound like a local Bombay guy!”
I just reacted with an offhanded smirk, as I was more interested in lighting that cigarette I had desperately wanted to smoke since taking off from Lahore.
This was almost 8 months ago. Today as I watch the catastrophe and the aftermath of the Mumbai mayhem unravel on TV from my home near Model Town, Lahore, I try to grasp the significance of that phrase: “Local Bombay guy!”
What made me switch involuntarily from my usual Punjabized Lahori Urdu to urban colloquial Bambaya Hindi?
Was it that in these past 6 years, since returning from college in the United States, the most time that I had spent in any place, outside of Lahore, was in Bombay?
Or because some of my closest pals during those four unforgettable years at Trinity College, USA were Mumbaikars? They were the bulk of our relatively small, yet diverse South Asian community, where we were enemies, friends and neighbors all at the same time! Despite maintaining our distinctive national and political ethos as Pakistanis, Indians, Nepalis and Bangladeshis, we were a tightly knit composite ‘desi gang.’ Our camaraderie was so solid that we shared anything and everything under the sun; apart from underwears! And yet we had heated debates and fights on issues ranging from Kashmir to majoritarianism to communalism. Ironically, the last memory that I have of Trinity is of an Indian friend wiping tears off his eyes, while I glanced through t he rear view mirror of the cab taking me to the airport.
Or was the root of my Bombay accent an excessive diet of Bollywood? I remember when most kids watched Mickey Mouse cartoons, I was more engrossed in a Deewar or Sholay!
Perhaps all of the above, but something more!
“So, my sweetheart back home writes to me and wants to know what this gal in Bombay’s got that she hasn’t got. So I just write back to her and say, Nothin’, honey. Only she’s got it here!” Alvah Cecil Bessie
Yes. I am a born and bred proud Pakistani Lahori, who is unapologetically and madly in love with Bombay with no qualms in saying that again and again! Unlike my parents’ generation that was born in the midst of the partition hangover, my Pakistaniat (identity as a Pakistani) is beyond being just ‘anti-India’. After Lahore, Mumbai is my second home, where some of my Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian and Parsi friends live with their families; where I have been welcomed unconditionally, in fact often causing a rift between different aunts and uncles!
“Ali, you have to come straight to our place from the airport,” says a friend’s father.
“Okay, then you must stay with us later and leave for the airport from our place,” rebuts another aunt!
Sitting amongst them, in either their living rooms or sports bars, I have also watched and openly supported my Pakistani cricket heroes during the closest of India-Pakistan cricket matches. By the way, it’s the best feeling in the world watching Pakistan beat India when you are surrounded by Indian fans on Indian soil! However, after all the heated sloganeering and patriotic chanting, we usually always made up instantly and went out to party together at one of those bustling hang out spots at Pali Hill. The characteristic Bombay drizzle brought the temperatures further down!
And this is what I admire most about Bombay. Its charm has managed to even permeate through my “Pakistani” reality, but without offsetting it.
Right-wing engineered riots and innate nationalistic biases aside, the avant-garde cosmopolitan Mumbaikar, in essence, is a relativist — culturally, ethnically and religiously accommodative, despite sometimes being very devout in his personal life. He could even be living in his Marathi, Gujrati, or Muslim neighborhood, but works, eats and hangs out in a diverse gang with relative ease. Multi-cultural and secular, at least in spirit, and increasingly testing his threshold to become one in practice as well. Most young Bombayites I have come across are also not in constant denial of the idea and reality of ‘Pakistan’, in contrast to their predecessors.
“Mere jaise ban jaoge , Jab ishq tumhein ho jayega.” Jagjit Singh (You will become like me, when you fall in love)
Bombay is also the city of my dreams; due to my occupation (advertising) and passions (entertainment, film & music). Undeniably, Mumbai is for the egoistically ambitious - the city of the successful, for the successful. Only two types of people live there: strugglers and stars! It’s the desi New York, where competition is sincerely ruthless and opportunities abound. Only aptitude and performance matter at the end. I have personally experienced that on numerous occasions while working there; once we rejected the daughter of a famous producer after a screen test without taking any unwarranted pressure. Another time, after a session with a famous music director, who was giving me feedback on my music, I thanked him for the help. However, his respons e was blunt: “Ali mian! Remember one thing bro. In this city, no one does any favor for anyone. It’s all business.” This is Bombay for you!
Nevertheless, I am not trying to imply in any sense that Bombay is a utopian paradise completely free of bias, nepotism and corruption. It indeed has all these vices of a typical South Asian city in abundance, but genuine talent and perseverance are characteristics highly valued in Bombay. In a nutshell, the place doesn’t discourage dreamers — rather it challenges the extent of their madness! Perhaps, that is also why Bollywood has wholeheartedly, and without prejudice, embraced a Nusrat/Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Ghulam Ali, Atif Aslam, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Ali Zafar, and recently, Javed Sheikh; all Pakistanis, but gifted.
Mumbai is also the stage where many of my mentors from Guru Dutt to Sahir to Rafi to Javed Akhtar to Prasoon Joshi have realized their dreams and I emulate them as a self-obsessed quixotic! Therefore, I have always felt a sense of spiritual belonging and affinity with Bombay, regardless of my Pakistani nationality. It has been as much mine as any Indian’s and in that sense, I feel, I am a “local Bombay guy”!
“Is Dawood living in Karachi? Have you seen any terrorist camps in Pakistan? Arre, haven’t you always stayed at the Taj or Oberoi?”
These days Mumbai has estranged me. Out of the blue, extraneous, irrelevant and alien questions are being asked by some of my Bombay friends. Queries that would have perhaps made more sense had I been the Pakistani President or the army chief! Unfortunately, I am just an ad man or at most a writer-singer.
Justifiably, for the moment, Mumbai seems anguished, traumatized and hurt. So am I. Yet, while most have been cordial, even my heartfelt commiserations have not gone down well with a few.
The newspaper headlines put it very aptly — “26/11” is indeed India’s 9/11. Since then, the “Musalman” and “Pakistan” factor has again taken precedent over all other things I represent. Once again, I am suddenly the “other”; being clubbed with those that I detest equally, if not more, since not only do they threaten my life through their recurrent suicide attacks in Pakistan, but also the identity of the community I belong to in this world.
“Oye lekin bhaijaan. Ye kya bakwaas hai yaar?” (Oh brother. What the hell is this dude?) Sometimes now, I also feel like retorting back at India in my Lahori accent. Jingoism is a trait found in abundance on both sides of the border. But we can all do without it!
However, I know, this moment will pass. Such spiritless attacks cannot threaten or transform my Bombay and its tolerant soul. India’s ‘secularism’ and Pakistan’s nascent ‘democracy’ will have to weather this storm as well. ‘Patriotism’ now will have to find a new meaning and another enemy. Both Karam Din and Karam Chand (Karam Din is a typical Muslim name, while Karam Chand is a Hindu name) will have to recollect and evoke the horror of 1947 — not to slash each other’s throats again, but to learn from our regrettable history and this time unite against maniacs that want to ‘divide & rule’ us again, whether in the name of ‘world freedom’ or ‘religion.’
While I write, Peshawar and Karachi have recently been engulfed with terrorist attacks and shoot outs. The trauma of the Islamabad Marriot carnage that occurred a few months ago is still lingering. Indian air force planes have “inadvertently” entered Pakistani airspace. Swat Taliban have announced ban on female education from Jan 15. The Pakistani masses remember and laud Benazir Bhutto, allegedly assassinated by extremist forces, on her 1st death anniversary. And Shiv Sena burns Pakistani music Taliban-style.
Nevertheless, according to Facebook, a few friends from New York City are attending Pakistanis Hold Vigil for Mumbai Victims, while I am thinking about Marine Drive and the aura it exudes, especially when you have a view from the Oberoi.
Lahore, for now, is standing by Mumbai.
The writer is an ad man, currently working on his solo music album and a film script. He can be reached at khanshahvar@gmail.com

A study on the Varanasi Silk Industry and Weavers' sub -human livilng conditions

http://www.scribd.com/full/9646206?access_key=key-1bnximpo7xojuueo3koa
The Silence of the looms

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Economics Business weaver varanasi leni

Poem of Irom Chanu Sharmila

By Irom Chanu Sharmila :-

Free my feet from the shackles
Like bangles made of thorn
Confined inside a narrow room
My fault lies in
Being incarnated as a bird.

Inside the dark room of the prison
Many voices echo around
Unlike the sound of birds
Not the merry laughter
Not that of a lullaby

A child snatched away from the mother's bosom
The lamentation of a mother
A woman separated from her husband
The cry of anguish of a widow
A cry springing out of a sepoy's hand

A ball of fire is seen
Dooms day follows it
The ball of fire was lit
By the product of science
Because of oral experimentation

Servants of sense organs
Everybody is in trance
Intoxication – the enemy of thinking
Wisdom of thinking is annihilated
No experimentation of thinking

Laughing with smiles on the face
By the traveller of coming beyond the hill ranges
Nothing remains but my laments
Nothing saved by the seeing eyes
Strength cannot show itself

Human life is precious
Before life comes to an end
Let me be light of darkness
Nectar will be sown
A true of immortality will be planted.

Putting on artificial wings
All the corners of the earth will be covered
Near the joining line of life and death
Morning songs will be sung
The chores of the world will be performed.

Let the gate of the prison be flung wide
I will not go on another path
Please remove the shackles of thorn
Let me be not accused
For being incarnated in the life of a bird.

Translated from Manipuri to English by
Wide Angle Social Development Organisation

Ms.Sharmila is 2007 Gwangju Human Rights co-awardee along with Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi

http://518interns.blogspot.com/2008/09/dr-lenin-meeting-with-ms-sharmila.html

Police torture of a doctor and lawyer in Varanasi,India

Dr. Amar Deep Gupta is permanent resident in S 11/24 in Chowkaghat under jurisdiction Jaitpura in Varanasi district. Dr. Amar Deep is living with his joint family in his forefather house he is running "Deep clinics" in one part of the house S 11/23 in chowkaghat since long time.

On 28th December, 2007 anti encroachment expedition came in after noon with out giving prior information start demolished the medical clinic of Dr. Amar Deep in which medicine and surgical instrument of lakhs Rupees were buried in the ground.

On 29th December, 2007 before demolishing Dr. Amar Deep Gupta and his younger brother advocate Ratan Deep Gupta show all original supportive document which prove the property of Dr. Amar Deep Gupta family.

When Dr. Amar Deep was showing paper to Circul Officer Chetganj Mr. Ashok Kumar Verma then some anti element throw stone and C.O gets injury on his face in reactionary work Station officer, C.O, city magistrate and other policeman present at that time brutally beat Dr. Amar deep Gupta and Ratan Deep Gupta with stick and but of the gun until both of them faint. Policeman arrest both Dr. Amar Deep and Ratan Gupta.

After of the incidence wife of Dr. Amar Deep (Ms. Mamta) and Ratan Deep Gupta (Ms. Shikha) went to Jaitpura police station to know about her husband. Station in charge Hari Ram Maurya and other police officer start abusing with ugly word to both Mamta and Shikha. Police officer threat and start swinging stick to both women. From print media personnel both women came to know their husband is kept in Jaitpura police station.

Both women in police station saw Dr. Amar Deep Gupta was faint and Ratan Deep Gupta right leg broke and he was drenched with blood. Approximately at 1:30 pm Ratan Deep Gupta condition become critical due to bleeding and he was admitted to District hospital in Varanasi in police custody. Amar Deep Gupta also becomes serious and he was also admitted to District hospital at 9 pm in the night. On 29th December, 2007 this news was aired on the television.

Section that was filed by police officer against Dr. Amar Deep and Ratan Deep Gupta are 147/325/332/333/352/353/504/506 of Indian Penal code and cr. L A .A

Please write to :National Human Rights Commission of India at ionhrc@nic.in

Death of 2.5 year-old child due to malnutrition in India

PVCHR in Times of India

http://frank-hoffmann.blogspot.com/2008/10/pvchr-in-der-times-of-india.html

Free Hug Campaign in Varanasi

http://hiopom.blogspot.com/2008/02/blog-post_24.html

PVCHR involved in free hug campaign

ACHA peace star award to Lenin

Dear ACHA,

I will not be able to attend.

Please give my congratulations to Dr. Lenin, whose commitment and untiring efforts in support of the Dalit movement and other groups surely entitles him to be recognized as an advocate of peace.

Jack Clancey

INVITATION

Sir/Madam,
Association for Communal Harmony (ACHA), United State of America is giving ACHA Peace Price 2008 to Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi of Varanasi (India) along with Mr.Karamat Ali, Mr.BM Kutti, and Mr.Mubashir Mirza of Pakistan.
In this context an award ceremony to present the certificate to Lenin is being organized in Varanasi.
You are cordially invited on this occasion.


Date : 29th October 2008, Day : Wedenesday, Time : 5:30 Pm

Venue : Hotel Kamesh Hut (Street Beside Veer Studio),
Jagatganj, Varanasi,UP,India


Yours sincerely
ACHA
www.asiapeace.org
Contact no. 09542037615,
09935599330

Note: The details of the program are as follows:

Program
1. Welcome
2. Why Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi has been nominated for this peace award?
Tanveer Ahmad Siddique (Advocate)
Founder: Citizen's Front
http://518interns.blogspot.com/2008/10/dr-lenin-raghuvanshi-is-being-nominee.html3.
Peace award to Dr Lenin – by Dr Preetam K Rohila
4. Acceptance speech by Dr Lenin
5. Thanks
6. Moderated by Ashok Anand
To know about People's Vigilance Committee on Human Right log on to:
www.pvchr.org
www.pvchr.blogspot.com
www.lenin_shruti.blogspot.com
www.dalitwomen.blogspot.com
www.518.org
www.ahrchk.net


--
Please visit:
http://www.universalrights.net/heroes/display.php3?id=101
www.pvchr.org
www.youtube.com/pvchrindia
www.pvchr.blogspot.com
www.sapf.blogspot.com
www.antiwto.blogspot.com
www.rtfcup.blogspot.com
www.dalitwomen.blogspot.com
www.lenin-shruti.blogspot.com
http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=51624734

Rohila Peace Pilgrimage to India & Pakistan

2008 PEACE PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA & PAKISTAN
Pritam & Kundan Rohila
4410 Verda Lane NE
Keizer, OR 97303, USA
asiapeace@comcast.net


Pritam and Kundan Rohila will visit India October 23 through October 31, and Pakistan November 24 through December 8, for a personal Peace Pilgrimage. They will visit Bhopal, Varanasi, Allahabad, Lucknow in India, and Karachi, Haiderabad, Sadiqabad, Multan, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi in Pakistan.

Currently, India and Pakistan face more threat from within their borders than from each other. Therefore, during their pilgrimage, at each place, Pritam and Kundan aim to hold conversations with the local peace and harmony activists and supporters, to solicit their views on the best ways to

1. Promote peace in our families and harmony in our neighborhoods; and
2. Help improve the effectiveness of the local peace and harmony organizations.

Pritam, 73, was born at Jagadhari, Haryana. He attended school at Jagadhari, Jamuna Nagar, and Karnal in Haryana, Kalka in Himachal Pradesh, and finally at Rupar in Punjab, where he lived from 1945-54.

After Bachelor of Teaching degree from D. M. College, Moga, in 1957, he moved to Delhi. There he pursued his studies for Master’s degree in Psychology, and Post-graduate Diploma in Educational Guidance, and worked as a secondary school teacher for the Directorate of Education, and as Research Assistant and Counselor/Lecturer for the Department of Psychological Foundations of the National Institute of Education, National Council for Educational Research and Training.

In 1967, he moved to the United States, to assist two University of Oregon professors of psychology with their crosscultural research project involving American, Indian and Dutch adolescents.

After Ph.D. in psychology in 1969, he moved to Washington State, where he worked as a clinical psychologist. In 1979, he moved back to Oregon to work as a clinical neuropsychologist. Before he retired from in 1999, he had worked in a variety of settings, including schools, mental health clinics, mental and general hospitals, prisons, and private practice. Associated with a number of U.S. and international professional organizations, he continues to be a member of the American Psychological Association.

His wife, Kundan, 67, was born and raised in Gujarat. She studied fine arts at M. S. University, Baroda. She moved to USA in 1974. Now retired, she has worked as salesperson and office manager and is a certified fork-lift operator. Also she is an excellent cook.

Since 1984, Pritam and Kundan have lived at Keizer, a small town, bordering Salem, the Capital of Oregon. They have four children and seven grandchildren, who live in Rawanda, Africa and in the U.S. states of California, North Carolina and Washington.

Pritam and Kundan love gardening and have travelled in 51 countries. From time to time, Pritam and Kundan have played a leading role in community organizations relating to arts, cultural, and women.

Pritam was deeply influenced by his personal childhood experiences relating to India’s Partition in 1947. Every night, from the roof of his home at Rupar, he saw flames and smoke rising in the neighboring villages from Muslim homes, which were being torched by some Hindu and Sikh bigots.

One morning he witnessed the area Muslim leaving their homes on foot, for a make-shift camp on the outskirts of the town. Soon hordes of local Hindus and Sikhs ransacked the Muslim homes, and made away with whatever they could carry.

A few days later, as they were walking to Sirhind to board a train to Pakistan, a mob surrounded some of them in a muddy field, and killed them.

Also from the Hindu and Sikh refugees, he heard the tragic tales of atrocities inflicted on them by some Muslims in Pakistan.

For a long time, every day, newspapers and radio related heart-rending accounts of carnage, from both sides of the Indo-Pak border. Also, for many years Urdu literature in India carried stories and poetry related to the Partition. “Us ney uska naam poochha, aur chura ghonp diya,” a piece from Saadat Hasan Manto’s Siyah Hashiye (Black Margins), still invades Pritam’s consciousness from time to time.

Destruction of the Babri Masjid in December 1992, and the unfortunate events which followed it in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, were the proverbial last straw, which moved Pritam. Together with Kundan, and some of their Indian and Pakistani friends in Portland area of Oregon, Pritam initiated efforts to found ACHA, the Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (www.asiapeace.org). He served as its first President, and is its Executive Director.

ACHA is dedicated to promoting peace in South Asia and harmony among South Asians everywhere. Asiapeace is its moderated electronic discussion forums. Also ACHA offers four electronic bulletins: Kashmir News, and Peace and Harmony News from India Pakistan every day; Peace and Harmony News from South Asia every week; and ACHA Peace Bulletin every month. Through them ACHA reaches roughly 2,500 individuals and groups, spread across five continents.

For the last few years, ACHA has been spearheading a campaign to promote peace between India and Pakistan (www.indiapakistanpeace.org). The campaign urges people to organize India-Pakistan Peace Day everywhere, any day between Pakistan Independence on August 14 and the International Day of Peace on September 21.

“Peace in My Family, Harmony in My Neighborhood,” is the theme for this year’s India-Pakistan Peace Day celebrations. The following Pledge of Peace & Harmony is the core feature of the celebrations:

I pledge –

I will not use my hands or my words to harm anyone;

I will treat my sisters and daughters with at least as much love and respect as I treat my brothers and sons; and

I will treat all my neighbors as deserving of my respect, regardless of their class, caste, sect or religion.

Also a Virtual Memorial for the Victims of India’s Partition in 1947 has been set up at http://noosphere.typepad.com/virtual_memorial/ Last year’s Petition of Apology to the victims of Partition is also open for signatures and comments at www.indiapakistanpeace.org

In 2004-05, Pritam and Kundan were members of a Peace and Goodwill Mission to India and Pakistan. Twenty-three non-resident Indians and Pakistanis from Canada, U.K., and USA visited Karachi, Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Amritsar, Srinagar, Delhi and Mumbai. They interacted with university students, media persons, bar associations, women and labor leaders, politicians, chambers of commerce and government officials, including Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, and Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi.

Submission of MACR and CCRP on Manipur

To,
Hon’ble Chair person
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
Subject – A memorandum on behalf of the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) and Coalition on Children Right to Protection (CCRP) seeking immediate tangible action for the protection of Child Rights in the State of Manipur.

Hon’ble Madam,
We, the undersigned, on behalf of the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) and Coalition on Children Right to Protection (CCRP) have the honour to lay down the following few line for your kind perusal and urgent action;

Key Demands :-
1. Recommend and pressurize the State Government to constitute its State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in Manipur on priority basis in order to protect and promote the basic rights of the deprived, conflict entangled and HIV/AIDS afflicted children of Manipur.

2. Kindly intervene and take up necessary steps to set up institutions for strengthening juvenile justice delivery system i.e. Special Juvenile Police Units in Manipur which has not been implemented since the introduction of the JJ Act in the state.

3. Kindly look into the pathetic condition of all the Juvenile Justice Boards in 8 districts of the state, which have been already constituted without appointing their respective Judicial Magistrates First Class/ Metropolitan Magistrates. Kindly advise the state government for immediate appointment of Judicial Magistrates First Class/ Metropolitan Magistrates for smooth functioning of the Boards.

4. Earnestly pleaded for your kind recommendation to the state and central government for repeal of Arms Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA), since the provisions of the said Act violates drastically the Right to Life of Children of Manipur who are already entangled with an armed conflict situation. We believe without restoring the right to life all the remaining basic rights of the children can not be protected.

5 That, AFSPA has left many children vulnerable with no adults to protect and guide them. AFSPA had also taken the lives of children like Yumlembam Sanamacha, Neta, the list goes on… The Government of India, who is morally responsible for the safety and welfare of the people of this biggest democracy, are responsible for making many children’s lives end so brutally and abruptly.

Looking forward to your warm and prompt response in the interest of the public.


Submitted by:

Montu Ahanthem S. Sharaju Devi

Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR)
Coalition on Children Right to Protection (CCRP)

May 18 Academy in Belwa village

May 18 Academy visited model village of PVCHR, Belwa in Varanasi

Child soldier in Manipur:Wide Angle

Patriot's Nokia Mobile (Pain of being an Indian Muslim)

Patriot’s Nokia Mobile
By: Omair Anas

Playing cricket in south Asia is a more than sport. It is mix of politics both at home and cross border. So much so that cricket diplomacy is employed when real diplomacy seems to fail. Being a student of International relations, I am always careful about cricket though not about playing. One has to learn when cricket is sport and when it is diplomacy. Beyond diplomacy, cricket is also important in domestic politics. If India and Pakistan are playing, 150 million Indian Muslims are always under suspicion. You can not celebrate your birthday or having baby in your marital life or even you can not enjoy wedding party by fire cracking if India is on loosing side that day against Pakistan. If you dare, you might have to face sedition charges by your majority population fellows.

But my experience is beyond real cricket. I am always careful about my national loyalty. Even I advise my friends not to recite any Islamic song or speak against BJP if your head is toward Pakistan. I think that Muslims should not watch this ICC champion trophy this year; rather, they spend their time watching some Bhakti, Astha channels.

This time my problem is more complicated as I am now a good player of cricket. I use to play 10 to 20 matches daily. You should not be confused; I am talking about virtual cricket on mobile. Mobile companies in south Asia are well aware of cricket mania in south Asia and always careful to exploit it to expand their market. You will find cricket game in most of mobiles sets across the variety.

I always try to win like all ambitious people. No game is always to win. You loose and win according to your preparation and coaching. Technology is always boon but when you use it to be winner like in cricket you might be caught in big mess of nationalism as I fell.

Today, I was playing cricket. I won all matches against Australia, Sri Lanka and many other important and non important teams. But I felt that I could not play well against Pakistan. I was loosing. I thought that my mobile may be Chinese one as China is strategic partner of Pakistan and some says that it is China which is behind Pakistani nuclear bombs. China is also one of the largest producers of mobiles. China is now playing tricks to support Pakistan by its invincible technology. Secondly, I didn’t purchase mobile in India. My brother has sent it from Saudi Arabia. There were no Hindi words printed on my pad. The second suspicious country behind my defeat was now Saudi Arabia. I know that Saudi Arabia is always supporting Pakistan. Even many responsible people in India and political groups and thinkers have been writing and speaking that Saudi Arabia is financing Pakistani terrorism.

My God! I will never use any electronic machine if it is imported from Saudi Arabia. My patriotism is always above all of my requirements.

I was assessing every aspect behind my defeat. I tried to check other factors also. Though I am never hopeful to get a prize from Indian state or BCCI if I become champion, I only wanted to get relaxed that I am as Indian as any other person. And to prove it I must had to win. I wanted to get a reason which could satisfy me.
Yes! Match fixing! But it is out of question. Only possible fixing might have happened between China and Pakistan.

I was feeling guilt. Either I shouldn’t play or I must have to win. Only a Hindu has right to loose without suspicion. Like fake currency case, a Hindu fake currency convict is only criminal but his Muslim assistant must be motivated by Islam and ISI. A Hindu thieve is only thieve and will get normal penalty without news coverage. But a Muslim can be thieving only when a Mufti of a Madrasah would have ordered him in the way of Jihad against India. Because A Muslim is never supposed to be thieve, robber, ganger. He is always pious as clerics do speak in Msjid. That is why Police do believe that a Muslim can not involve in any crime except for Al-Qaida, ISI and Jihad factors. Soharbuddin of MP was encountered because he was a criminal of that instinct.

I pledged I will never play cricket. I also decided I would not do any thing in which Pakistan is my competitor. If Pakistan is prospering, I would love to remain poor so that my prosperity couldn’t cause any suspicion for Indian police. If they are going Nepal to see beauty of Mount Everest, I will never like to go to Nepal. If they are going to the US, I would like to die or to be encountered by nationalist police in India. If they are getting higher education, I would love to remain illiterate for the sake of my nation, to protect it from any potential terrorism from educated Muslim youths. That is why Maulana Abul Kalam Azad despite his proven patriotism had not liked to be Prime Minister of India (or would not be allowed by his well wishers in Congress like Nehru). A Muslim can and should be content with only those ministries where a Pakistan is not a factor like Railway, Coal, minority affairs. Even if he is in those ministries, he is supposed to avoid any such event where Pakistanis are likely to attend. Yes, I got. E. Ahmad is always busy attending funerals of Muslim monarchs, parties, Haj groups and all showcase activities for Muslim world. IPI pipeline talks are only meant for Sharma. Wonderful! This is the way we Indian Muslims can prove our nationalism.

Remaining poor, uneducated and weak is now proof of our nationalist loyalty. See how the educated people of Muslim community are being reported by nationalist media that they are involved in writing Urdu letters for Jihadis, having Maps of metro cities, planning bomb blasts etc and thus being detained, encountered and tried by Indian Nationalist Police or the judiciary. You are disloyal if you are educated because you are potential threat to this country as you are trying to copy Pakistanis by getting higher education, demanding your political rights and involving in Indian politics only to mobilize support for Pakistan.

I am really very sad that I lost the match to Pakistani team in my Mobile Game. I didn’t want to tell anybody, but the pain of being a Muslim pushed me to confess my crime, though unintentional. I apologize to all loyal, nationalist people of this country that I lost the Cricket Match in my mobile. I couldn’t win because I was not Hindu. I want my self be arrested by Indian nationalist Police before they encounter me or be hanged by patriots whose loyalty is always guaranteed because they are not born as Muslims. Even they loss every match, even they sell confidential documents, produce fake currency, take refuge in US after long service in RAW or do any crime.

I can’t explain why I lost that match. I could not protect honour of my country against the deadliest enemy of my nation. Crimes of Muslims are not crimes; they are treason, handiworks of ISI, and assignments of Al-Qaida, indoctrinated by Osama bin Laden. I hate Daud Ibrahim because he is terrorist mafia; I love Chhota Rajan as he is nationalist mafia. I wish him to get a Bharat Ratana for his courage to challenge a terrorist. May be some day he leads Anti Terrorist Mafia Morcha of some patriot party. Muslim Mafia like Daud is terrorist, motivated by religion, wants to establish Islamic State, destabilize this nation and so on. A Muslim is either innocent like Christ or Terrorist like Osama. I lost the match to Pakistan; I do not know where I posit myself, with Daud, al-Qaida or like many Hindu losers. Should I deserve any sympathy, love, care of this nation despite my defeat?
Like other big Indian Muslims I preferred not to involve any where Pakistan is going to rival India. I stopped playing cricket or at least I leave the match if there is Pakistani team. Not to play seems me better than playing. I can not put my loyalty in question.

The happiest day came when like many Indians, I lost my mobile. First I thanked God that I got rid of a Saudi imported Chinese product. I wish some non Muslim person would have found it so that he could play the cricket without any sense of guilt in my mobile.

Fortunately one of my close friends, whose patriotism is ever guaranteed because his name is not like Muslims, uses Nokia mobile. I took his mobile for a few minutes and saw the highest score of his cricket. It was really appreciable. He was always winner. I started playing. Bad or good luck, I do not know, in the very first one day match, I had to play against Pakistan. But my wonder that I stroke three six one after the other, even I stood carelessly because of disappointment. I won the match with big margin against Pakistan. I was surprised on my victory. I was feeling good but I didn’t disclose it to my friend.
I was some relaxed but the question now became more complicated. Why not my mobile! Why this Hindu mobile won the match! I can never be a patriot in this country except I am not a Muslim. Can I love truly my country if I become a Hindu; I also want to love this nation. Can my love, patriotism be ever guaranteed and never be suspected if I become Hindu. Is this the only way to love my land, my people and mera Hindustan?
Would you please tell me? justmedia@gmail.com

Omair Anas
M.Phil Student
Center for West Asian Studies
JNU, New Delhi
9868068370

Announcement of 2007 Gwangju Human Right Prize

Announcement of Awardees of the 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights

India is one of Asia's leading nations, boasting a brilliant civilization developed throughout its long history. However, its outdated social class system, the caste system, has long been indicated by the international community as one of the biggest obstacles to national development as well as the advancement of its citizens' basic human rights, since this system still holds sway over the reality of the Indian society through a rigid set of religious practices, despite its prohibition by national law.
In addition, the military powers of India have become the focus of international attention. This concerns the Armed Forces Special Powers Act(AFSPA) enacted in 1958, which is operative at the time of a 'suspected' riot(s) in order to 'maintain public order.' As this law allows killing by shooting, entering and search of property, and arbitrary detention, etc., its abuse is currently spawning grave human rights violations in some parts of India. Still, the practical near-impossibility of indicting the abusive military person(s) concerned is a more serious problem.
The 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Committee came to take a deep interest in the above two problems encountered by the Indian society today.
The caste system is composed mainly of 4 castes, and those who fall outside of this system altogether are often called the "untouchables." As the fifth caste, the untouchables are living across the nation, accounting for around 15% of the total Indian population. Traditionally, they have been engaged in the hardest and most difficult jobs in the Indian society, bearing the brunt of rigid caste-based discrimination in terms of residence, occupation, etc. Although the caste system was banned under the Indian constitution 50 years ago, it persists throughout all aspects of the present-day Indian civil society, proving powerfully effective in some 80% of the total Indian provinces.
Lenin Raghuvanshi and the People's Vigilance Committee On Human Rights, PVCHR) led by him, have put up vehement resistance against the caste system through various social activities, including the supporting of torture victims in 5 northern states with 50,000 members participating, and the operation of education centers in 45 viilages for the numerous number of local children. This organization has developed into a nationwide and worldwide network composed of legal experts, journalists, human rights advocacy groups, etc. Also, its leader has brought hope back to the minds of more than 3,500 bonded child laborers and those suffering human rights infringements prompted by the caste system, especially to the untouchables.

On November 2nd, 2000, the Indian military opened fire on its own citizens in the state of Manipur. This was one of the many such incidents following the enactment of the AFSPA. Since the incident in Manipur, Irom Sharmila, a resident of the tragic state, has refused to eat and drink anything in resistance to indiscriminate use of the AFSPA against civilians. The response of the Indian government to her resistance has been repetitively evasive: the government has arrested her on a charge of 'attempted suicide', force-fed her and then freed her under applicable law, but, up until now, has failed to provide any fundamental alternative to the law in question. In October 2006, Ms. Sharmila left Manipur for New Delhi, the capital of India, at the peril of her own life, to facilitate the accomplishment of the goal of her 6-year-long struggle, i.e. the abolishment of the AFSPA. However, her daring mission was brought to an abrupt halt when she was arrested by the New Delhi police on her second day in the city. Currently, she is in custody at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital(RMH).
In recognition of their efforts to improve human rights in India, the 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Selection Committee has selected Lenin Raghuvanshi and Irom Sharmila as co-recipients of the award. Regardless of the difference in the methods respectively employed, they both have fought for the same noble cause of the advancement of human rights and social justice, yet they still have a long way to go. The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights will provide boost in their further struggles. It can make the two awardees and their struggles known to a wider audience while offering them the strength and courage required to complete their journey towards their goals. We believe there lies the principal objective of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights. In closing, the 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Committee would like to send an encouraging message to all human rights activists around the world as well as this year's co-awardees.

The 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Committee

Committee Chairman: Lee, Hong-Gil
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the May 18 Memorial Foundation
Committee Members:
Kim, Chil-Jun
Secretary General of the National Human Rights Commission,

Jeong, Ui-Yong
Korean National Assemblyman,

Moon, Guk-Joo
Executive Director of the Korea Democracy Foundation,

Cha, Sung-Hwan
Director of the Pusan Democratic Movement Memorial Association

The same could be found at http://eng.518.org/main.html?TM18MF=B04&bc_table=ENG_NOTICE&form_act=V&bnum=24&page=1
What is Gwangju Prize for Human Rights?

Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award 2007

The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award was established to celebrate the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising by recognizing both individuals, groups or institutions in Korea and abroad that have contributed in promoting and advancing human rights, democracy and peace in their work. The prize is awarded by the citizens of Gwangju in the spirit of solidarity and gratitude from those whom they have received help in their struggle for democratization and search for truth. It is hoped that through this award the spirit and message of the May 18 will be immortalized in the hearts and mind of humankind.

The previous winner of Gwangju Prize for Human Rights are:

1) 2000 : Xanana Gusmao (President of East Timor)
2) 2001 : Basil Fernando (Executive Director of AHRC, Hong Kong)
3) 2002 : Korean Association of Bereaved Families for Democracy (South Korea)
4) 2003 : Dandeniya Gamage Jayanthi (Monument for The Disappeared, Sri Lanka)
5) 2004 : Aung San Suu Kyi (NLD General Secretary, Burma)
6) 2005 : Wardah Hafidz (UPC General Secretary, Indonesia)
7) 2006 : Angkhana Neelaphaijit (Thailand) and Malalai Joya (Member of Parliament, Afghanistan)


To read more about Gwangju Prize for Human Rights 2007, please cut and paste the link below:

http://eng.518.org/main.html?TM18MF=B04&bc_table=ENG_NOTICE&form_act=V&bnum=22&page=1#none

Web linkage about Lenin and PVCHR

http://www.ndtvblogs.com/views/viewblogs.asp?gl_guid=&blogname=pvchr&q_userid=11488


http://www.infochangeindia.org/changemakers14.jsp

http://www.universalrights.net/heroes/display.php3?id=101


http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2007/threat_to_life_of_advocate_for_1.html

http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Interactive-Awardee/transcripts/ts-davide.htm

http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=2632

http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2006/we_beat_our_children_to_sleep.html
http://www.fian.org/live/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=234&Itemid=50
http://trishna.foodjustice.net/mainfile.php/011718/104/
http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/137977/1/2229
http://www.perditahustonaward.com/nominations/2006_finalists.html
http://www.global-sisterhood-network.org/content/view/784/76/
http://floatingsun.net/udai/files/Varanasi_Weavers_Crisis.pdf
www.pvchr.org
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061206/cth1.htm
http://www.thaingo.org/cgi-bin/content/content3/show.pl?0733
http://www.global-sisterhood-network.org/content/view/638/76/
http://s1.iphide.com/perl/nph-a.pl/000110A/http/www.thesouthasian.org/archives/cat_governance.html
http://www.rghr.net/mainfile.php/0842/1185/
http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Industries-envirn-resettlement/2002/kiln.htm
http://www.freeindiamedia.com/human_rights/16_march_human_rights2.htm
http://www.hrea.org/lists/hr-headlines/markup/msg02945.html
http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth/msg/8e725294957979c3
http://india.indymedia.org/en/2003/03/3929.shtml
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/8400021.cms
http://www.craftrevival.org/Varanasi/Discussion/Lenin1.htm

http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1727/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1545/
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2006statements/690/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1884/
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2006statements/840/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2005/1209/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2005/1221/
http://www.ahrchk.net/pr/mainfile.php/2006mr/359/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2007/2205/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/2075/?print=yes
http://www.infochangeindia.org/agenda6_03.jsp
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/930408838?ltl=1173954245
http://www.laborrights.org/press/sweatshops/indiaweaving_dpa_120705.htm
http://www.rghr.net/mainfile.php/0840/1179/?print=yes
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2005/1203/?print=yes
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2006statements/817/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ahrc-in-news/mainfile.php/2006ahrcinnews/596/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/2280/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2005/1270/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1553/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1727/?print=yes
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2007/2255/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/2075/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2005/1421/?print=yes
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1564/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2007/2187/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1481/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2004/800/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1459/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1438/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2005/1252/
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2007statements/901/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1717/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/2086/
www.webspawner.com/users/ pvchr
www.pucl.org/Topics/Human-rights/2002/hr-defenders.htm
www.pucl.org/Topics/ Industries-envirn-resettlement/2002/kiln.htm
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Sarod Maestro of Beneras Gharana on Tantrik Music

Pt. Vikash Maharaj is a very famous sarod maestro and he is living in Benaras and became synonimous to benras Gharana after the death of Pt. Kishan Maharaj,Tabla Maestro.

Pt. Vikash Maharaj :Sarod Maestro