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
Sunday, April 26, 2009
2009 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award Announcement
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
India Government must ratify CAT
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Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
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
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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
Monday, November 17, 2008
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
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
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
Monday, September 22, 2008
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.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
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)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
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
Friday, August 15, 2008
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
www.ashoka.org/fellows/viewprofile3.cfm?reid=96985
www.southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/72270/1/1809
www.foodjustice.net/ha/mainfile.php/ha2004/32
www.sabrang.com/news/oct5.htm
www.thesouthasian.org/archives/000271.html
www.ased.org/artman/publish/printer_678.shtml
india.indymedia.org/en/2003/03/3929.shtml
www.changemakers.net/pointofview/pov3.cfm
www.dailynews.lk/2004/06/21/letters.html
trishna.foodjustice.net/mainfile.php/0106/32/
www.infochangeindia.org/changemakers.jsp
www.hrw.org/reports/2003/india/India0103-02.htm
www.indianngos.com/issue/child/ overall/people/uttarpradesh/ngosvaranasi.htm
www.un.or.th/ohchr/SR/News/2005/ DailyNewsBulletin/6/10%20June%202005.doc
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1533/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1561/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/2128/
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2005statements/351/
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
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.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
28th May 2007: Program at Mechi bridge
28th May 2007: Program at Mechi bridge
In protest of the general mock election on 28th May 2007 in Bhutan, National Front for Democracy-Bhutan (NFD-Bhutan) organized a mass Long march to Bhutan. The Bhutanese refugees numbering about 4000 while trying to march to Bhutan where 8 parties alliance/senior citizens/Human rights activist of Nepal were stopped by the Indian security forces at Indo-Nepal border on the Mechi Bridge. NFD chairman Mr. Thinley Penjore, Vice Presidents, Balaram Poudyal, D.B.Rana Sampang and Gup Khilla. led the march. The Indian forces resorted to lathi charge to the leading persons and marchers when they tried to force their way. The scene turned worse when refugee forcefully tried to march forward where the Indian forces started lathi charge and tear gas was thrown on the refugee mass. Mr. Thinley Penjore, Balaram Poudyal, D.B.Rana Sampang and Mr. D.P.Kafley (a Bhutanese refugee Human Rights activist) along with many refugees were injured seriously. A team of supporters led including MP and MLA who came from Delhi to express solidarity was stopped at Panitanki by the Indian forces and without meeting, the refugees were returned back. The forces also arrested around 28 refugee women (who were released next day) and man. Those injured were treated in Kanchanjunga hospital in Birtamod/ Dhulabari Health Post and Mechi Zonal Hospital in Bhadrapur. The bullet injuries were taken to BP Koiralla Hospital in Dharan. Rest of the refugees was in Dharna in the middle of the bridge. The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS), Jhapa branch had provided the first aid treatment to the wounded and injured. 80 persons had the First Aid treatment and 249 had the basic First Aid treatment. International Council of Red Cross (ICRC) later purchased the medicine and handed over to Mechi Zonal Hospital for distribution to the injured and referral cases since the UNHCR have denied providing the medical treatment through its Implementing Partner AMDA Nepal. The local people provided food and water. 29th May 2007Indian Security forces first lathi charge and later opened fire at Mechi Bridge. More enforcement of refugees poured in from various camps although there was strike and no movement of vehicles in Jhapa. Again, the refugees tried to push their way. Seeing the uncontrollable mob, state government of west Bengal imposed 144 Section of IPC. The forces resorted to firing and throwing tear gas. In retaliation, refugees also threw stones at the forces. In the firing 9 refugees were bullet injured and one a student Saha Bahadur Sewa died on the way to the hospital. 39 activists were sent to Mechi Zonal Hospital, Bhadrapur.
Reportedly, many Indian security forces were also injured. The situation remained very tense. Inspector General of Police (North Bengal), superintendent of police Darjeeling, DIG of SSB, District Magistrate of west Bengal visited Panitanki, had talk with National Front for Democracy, Bhutan leaders and requested to lead the Peaceful program than throwing stones and harassing the administration and to lift the barricade of International boarder. They also agreed to release arrested 2 females and 14 boys and spokes person of NFD, Mr. Narad Adhikari. 2 Nepali supporters and two Bhutanese boys will not be released as allegedly violated the law. Most of the participants are youths. To day also refugees decided to spend the night on the bridge. This is not the first time that Indian government prevented Bhutanese refugees going back to Bhutan through India, as it is the only route but had thwarted numerous such attempts in the past too.
The people of Nepal and the local Nepali Organizations have provided the food, accommodation and Ambulance services to the agitating refugees. Refugees pay their gratitude to all those who were directly and indirectly involved in making this program (Long March Home) successful.
Dignitaries from India like Member of Parliament: Mr. Brigbhusan Tiwari, MLA Dr. Sunilam and other few members were not allowed to reach the program place by the Indian security forces, so they sat for Dharna in Panitanki where they were stopped. The Indian guests came from Delhi and MadhyaPardesh, organize press conference in Bagdogra.
30th May 2007.
A meeting was held at Panitanki, India, between the Indian team lead by District Magistrate of Darjeeling District, Nepalese team lead by the Chief District Officer of Jhapa, 8 parties District representatives of Jhapa, Nepal and the Bhutanese Refugee agitating leaders of National Front for Democracy (NFD) Bhutan on the Long March to Bhutan by the Bhutanese Refugees.
The Indian team has agreed to create the environment of the talk with Bhutan to resolve the Bhutanese Refugee problem within 15 days.
15 activists including Mr. Narad Adhikari, General Secretary of Druk national Congress, are released un-conditionally by 4 pm.
The Appeal to Honorable Prime Minister of India shall be submitted by the District Magistrate.
The agitation shall be suspended for 15 days with immediate effect, 30th May 2007
May 31, 2007
Outcome of the Tripartite meeting at SSB (Sima Surakthsa Bal) camp at Panitanki, Indian Check-post Indo-Nepal border convened on May 30, 2007:
After the three days' struggle for long march movement of the Bhutanese refugees residing in Nepal to Bhutan, clashes erupted between the participants of the movement and the Indian security forces on the Mechi Bridge at the Indo-Nepal border Checkpoint, which commenced on May 28, 2007. As the situation became tense following curfew at the border a proposal for a tripartite dialogue was proposed by the Indian side to the CDO Jhapa, Shri Jaya Mukunda Khanal along with NID SSP Mr. Min Bahadur KC and Nepal Police SP, Mr. Yogendra Katwal. As a result, the Refugee Concern Committee Jhapa, NFD-Bhutan leaders, eight party delegates of Jhapa District led by the CDO, was held at the Indian side of the SSB camp.
Outcome of the dialogue:
The Indian side felt the Bhutanese peaceful program having gone beyond control, which had compelled SSB to take up action to charge battens and later tear gas extending to firing to disburse the peaceful marchers citing their responsibility on duty. The peace marchers were described as violent by the SSB and as many as 15 people were detained under charges of 144 Indian Penal Code during the operation.
We feel that it is a successful program and hope for India's involvement in this process. The refugees have respected the leaders decision to suspend the agitation for 15 days. The "Long March Home" has crossed the Mechi Bridge and is halted at Darjeeling for 15 days.
Deeply pay our condolences to the family of the deceased activist and pray for the speedy recovery of all the injured and wounded.
PFHRB request all the sympathizers and well-wishers of Bhutanese movement to pressurize the Indian Prime minister and foreign minister of government of India, New Delhi to allow the Bhutanese refugees to go back home as they came to Nepal to seek asylum through India.
Thanks,
D.P.Kafley,
General Secretary, PFHRB.
