This week's headlines in The SouthAsian
Details at : http://www.thesouthasian.org

Muslim Minorities: Continuities, Changes, Challenges
Yogi Sikand explores the changing representation and voices of
gender, caste, class and region within the Indian Mulsim community
in the context of the Sachar report
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/muslim_minorities_continui
ties.html

Islam and Science
Maulana Shihabuddin Nadwi's 'Scientific' Approach to the Quran - an
article by Yogi Sikand
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/islam_and_science.html

Costs of Capital Inflows
Large capital inflows  in last few years have posed extraordinary
challenges for the conduct of  monetary policy for the Reserve Bank
of India (RBI). Appreciating rupee, increasing sterilization cost,
overheated asset markets, increased potential of crisis are some of
the direct consequences of these flows. An article by Rahul Lahoti
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/costs_of_capital_inflows_1
.html

New Models of Islamic Education in Kerala
The religious education system of  Mappila Muslims, who make up
almost a quarter of Kerala population, needs a  separate and
profound study that will shed light on various unique features of
the system and on how it differs from the Islamic education system
prevalent  elsewhere in India. A note by Zubair Hudawi.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/new_models_of_islamic_educ
atio.html

Ten Years of Pathshala
Shahidul Alam describes the journey of a unique adventure in
learning photography at Pathshala.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/ten_years_of_pathshala.htm
l

An Unequal Share of the Scraps
On 23 January 2008, India's Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh
reviewed the implementation of recommendations made by the
Roundtable Conference on Jammu and Kashmir. A relief package for
Kashmiri Pandits has been proposed and is expected to be
implemented. Asian Center for Human Rights on the state of
internally displaced people in India.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/an_unequal_share_of_the_sc
raps_1.html

Listening To Grasshoppers
This is an  abridged version of a lecture delivered by Arundhati Roy
in Istanbul on January  18, 2008, to commemorate the first
anniversary of the assassination of Hrant  Dink, editor of the
Turkish-Armenian paper, Agos.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/listening_to_grasshoppers.
html

The Dalits' own April Fool
Chandrabhan Prasad is probably the only Dalit voice in mainstream
English Press. His articles are also published at www.ambedkar.org.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/the_dalits_own_april_fool.
html

Bangladeshi Government Memo on Ethnic Minorities
The military-controlled  interim government's recent move to curb
the democratic rights of indigenous  communities, as reported in New
Age on Saturday, comes as yet another  distressing sign of the heavy
handed and chauvinistic attitude this government espouses in
relation to rights of ethnic minorities. From the editorial in New
Age.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/bangladeshi_government_mem
o_on.html

Mushy Mouse and the Pakistani Governance
The smile would warm the cockles of your heart. Especially if you
were a CIA agent. This was exactly what was wanted. Happy obedient
leaders. Democracy simply got in the way. Karzai, Musharraf,
Fakhruddin. The new alliance. One new poodle.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/mushy_mouse_and_the_pakist
ani.html

State Repression at Kakinada SEZ
The state machinery of Andhra Pradesh is using all avenues to put
down opposition of local farming communities and acquire land for
the proposed SEZ in Kakinada.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/state_repression_at_kakina
da_s.html

South Asian Groups Boycott ADB Consultations
A joint statement by a large number of South Asian groups working on
human rights and justice have called to boycott a consultation
initiated by the Asian Development Bank to mitigate adverse impacts
of its investments on people.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/south_asian_groups_boycott
_adb_1.html

Reviving a Tradition: Muslim Women as Religious Authorities
Separate madrasas for Muslim girls are a relatively recent
phenomenon in  India. Although the number of such madrasas is still
small, there is a  distinct trend towards setting up more such
institutions, both that provide  only religious education, as well
as those that combine both Islamic and  modern subjects.An article
by Yogi Sikand.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/reviving_a_tradition_musli
m_wo.html

Karbala: The Symbol of Non-violent Resistance
Black was the colour of pathos, and I  was submerged in it. Women
dressed in black sarees and salwar kameez were  beating their chests
to the chant of ‘Ya Hussain’. The chorus rose to a
fevered  pitch followed by a sudden silence. In that momentary
silence was crystallized  generations of mourning. The place –
a Shia Muslim neighbourhood in Lucknow; the  time – the tenth
of Moharrum. If grief has different shades, on can see it  during
Moharrum.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/karbala_the_symbol_of_nonv
iole_1.html

To subscribe to this list: thesouthasian_headlines-
subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To unsubscribe to this list: thesouthasian_headlines-
unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

(to read this petition in hindi language, click here)
..............................

Sign the petition:
Pictorial warnings on tobacco products protect public health

These petitions will go to every member of the Group of Ministers in India reviewing pictorial warning provision of The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (2003)
...............................................................

Sign the petition here
...............................................................

The Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act 2003 in India has a good provision to put pictorial warnings on tobacco products. But it hasn't been enforced, rather has been postponed many times by Government, owing to tobacco industry lobbying to delay its enactment.

Civil society activists have strongly condemned the repeated postponement and eventual dilution of the provisions of The Cigarette and other Tobacco products Act 2003, on displaying pictorial warnings on tobacco products

The Supreme Court of India (25 January 2008) asked the Government of India to implement tobacco control rules mentioning pictorial warnings and possible tobacco industry interference as well.

Pictorial warnings on tobacco products were deferred from June 1, 2007 and postponed four times thereafter.

A group of ministers (GOM) is currently reviewing should or should not India make all tobacco products to have pictorial warnings.

This is the time to make the difference - write to these individual ministers who are members of GOM and let them know why it is a good public health policy to have pictorial warnings on tobacco products. Take action, now!

Tobacco claims around 1 Million lives per year in India. The tall is likely to exceed to 2 Million per year in the next 20 years.

This warnings will communicate the toxic effects of these products to all Indian populations, including those that cannot read the old text warnings, or the over 35% of adult Indian who cannot read at all

Let these ministers know why it is a good public health policy to have pictorial warnings on tobacco products!

Sign the petition here

======================
(to read this petition in hindi language, click here)

Call for Jattha

From Nandigram to Narmada to Gorai :

Linking People & Struggles

The Nandigram struggle has created history. The adverse impact of imperialist globalization and the primacy of capital and market on India's polity is clearly visible not only in Nandigram struggle but also from the struggle by farmers, workers, Dalits, Adivasis across the country. The illusory development slogans churned out by this process facilitates assault not only on our natural resources and cultural heritage but also destroys the ethos of equity, simplicity, democracy and sovereignty.

Women, farmers, workers are engaged in major struggles to protect their lands, livelihoods, water resources and lifestyles all over the country. The struggles sprung up all over the country to fight for sustainable development, for employment-generating village-industries , self-reliant agriculture and decentralised democratic development-planning alternatives. But the arrogant and indifferent governments are hell bent on crushing this people-centric development by approving over 600 SEZs across the country. Innumerable SEZs are devouring not only pristine agriculture, natural wealth but are also destroying people's lives and livelihoods without providing any rehabilitation.

We have been left with no choice but to challenge the whole process of globalization resulting in suicides of farmers (over one lakh now) which in no way could be called suicides-in fact they are being murdered in the name of developmental economic fundamentalism, by all those who are forgetting their socialist commitments and the sanctity of the Indian Constitution. The present mainstream political parties are not ready to admit the above, since the majority of the mainstream political party leaders have compromised with imperialism, capitalism and western consumerist ideology.

Democratic socialism, sustainable development with people's participation in decision making are our fundamental commitments, which we all want to uphold. People are questioning and seeking solutions, as they very well know that they can survive only when they are able to save human relationships, sustainable environment, democracy and socialism .

Under such circumstances, we need to relate& link not only with different struggles and organizations seeking solutions not only in India but also beyond.

We have received a fresh lease of inspiration from struggles in Nandigram, Maharashtra, Goa and Orissa etc..

Keeping this in mind, the Comrades of NAPM and Action- 2007, Nandigram, Jangal Bachao Andolan, Samajwadi Jan Parishad, are to march through various states, where they will join the local struggles.

We seek co-operation of one and all who could join in this Jattha. This is the way to take a break through from the present injustice and create the positive polity for a wider collaboration of all concerned.

Nandigram , which has now achieved the status not only of the protest against the economic domination and state repression, but a symbol of martyrdom, will be the starting point of our Jattha to start on 26th Jan 2008 and will pass through Jharkhand, Chattisgarh , Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and will conclude on 4th February 2008 in Gorai, Mumbai .

People and people's representatives who are struggling against commercilisation, globalization, fundamentalism, communalism will join this Jattha.

A detailed schedule is enclosed alongwith to give you an idea of the route.

We request many of you all to join the Jattha from Nandigram itself during the launch of the yatra. Please confirm your arrival to Nandigram soon . Please reach Kolkatta by 25^th Jan 2008 late evening or 26th Morning .

Venue : will be shortly intimated

Contact: Saktiman Ghosh- 033-22196688, Sudipto 09433972662 for Logistics

Sincerely Yours,

• Krishi Jami Raksha Committee
• Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee
• ACTION 2007
• National Hawkers Federation
• Narmada Bachao Andolan
• National Alliance of People's Movements
• National Fish Workers Forum
• Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Madhya Pradesh
• Ekvira Jamin Bachao Sangharsh Samiti , Lonavala , Maharashtra
• Tata Dhran Grasth Sangharsh Samiti, Lonavala , Maharashtra
• Dharavi, Peth Bachao Samiti , Gorai, Mumbai
• Jharkhand Krantikari Majdoor Union, Bokaro
• Jangal Bachao Andolan, Jharkhand
• Nagri Haq Surasha Samiti, Pimpari Chinchawat, Maharashtra
• Ulgulan Manch , Jharkhand

Mukta Srivastava
National Alliance of People's Movements

From Nadigram to Narmda to Gorai: Linking People & Struggles

26th  Jan 2008

Yatra launch from Nandigram

Programme at Nandigram

 Debjit, Sawapan Da , Saktiman Ghosh

 By road

26th  Jan 2008

Start form

Nandigram

Reach Singur

Stay over night

 in Singur

27^th January

Programme at Singur

In the morning

Leave for purulia in the afternoon 

Reach Purulia

Programme at purulia in the evening

Start for Bokaro in the night

Anuradh Talwar

28^th January

-

Reach bokaro in the morning

A full day programme at Bokaro

Stay over night in Bokaro

DC Gohain , Vishwanath Bagi

29^th January

Start for Ranchi Early morning

Reach Ranchi late morning

A day prgramme in Ranchi

Go to Jamshedpur (90 km) by road and take a train for Raigarh

2810 HWH MUMBAI MAIL at 23.45

Sanjay Basu Malik

and  Ghanshyam

30 January

Reach Raigarh at 4.59 in the morning

Programme at Raigarh

One can also take a train from Raigarh at 16.50 and reach Bilaspur at 20.15 ( train no- 3275)

Take a train from Bilaspur at 22.20 to Satana at by

88201 DURG GKP EXPRES

 Gautam and others

By  Train

31st January

Reach Satna at 6.15 and start for Rewa (50 Km) by road

Programme at in Rewa

Take a train from Satna at 23.15 to Khandawa by

9048 BGP SURAT EXP

Sunil Bhai and Subrat 

By  road / train

1st February

Reach Khandawa at 9.45 and start for Badwani from Khndawa

Reach Badwani

 Meeting at Badwani and stay over night

 Stay over  Night

 Medha Patkar

2nd February

 reach  Narmada Valley

Programme at Narmada Valley

Leave for Pune in the night

 Medha Patkar and others

3rd February

Reach Pune in the morning

Programme at Pimpari , Chinchawat Pune

Leave for Gorai and stay overnight at Gorai

Maruti Bhapkar , Palekar ji and Prasad Bagve

By Road

4th February

Programme at Gorai

The Yatra Concludes

Chandrashekhar and Ulka mahajan

(To read this posting in hindi language , please click here )

-----------------------------------

Bangla-Bangla border march

From 1st February to 12 February 2008

from North 24 Parganas to Koch Bihar

............................................

(To read this posting in hindi language , please click here )

Dear Friends,

You are invited to attend the Bangla - Bangla border march from 1st February to 12th February 2008 in West Bengal, Bharat (India).

March will start from Ghojadanga of District North 24 Parganas and will end at Chyangrabandha of District Koch Bihar, West Bengal. Route of March will be closed to the border of Bangladesh and Bharat.

On 11th February a tri-national Conference and on 12th February a grand mass rally will be held at enclave (a land of India surrounded by the land of Bangladesh).

You are welcome to take part all along the march fully or partly and join the trinatioanl conference, publish the program in such a manner so that people living nearer to the border of both Countries can join the Jatha where ever and whoever possible.

Please Confirm and publish.

Manik Samajdar Debabrata Biswas (M.P.)

Convener. (Chairman)

B.B.P.P.F. (Bharat) B.B.P.P.F. (Bharat)

***********************

ROUTE OF THE MARCH

From 1st February to 12 February 2008

from North 24 Parganas to Koch Bihar

1.02.08. [24 PARGANA (N)]

Ghojadanga , Taki, Basirhat, Swarup Nagar, Bongaon*,

2.02.08 - Bagdah, Halencha, Sindhrani.

3.02.08 - NADIA

Duttapulia*, Hanskhali, Bhajan Ghata, Kristnganj, Mazdia, Krishnanagar (May be avoided), Chapra, Tehatta, Karimpur*, Shikarpur.

4.02.08 - MURSHIDABAD

Jalangi, Sheikh Para, Rani Nagar, Bhagabangola, Lalgola, Dhulian, Farrakka*,

5.02.08 – MALDAH

Kaliachak, Maldah, Gajol, Habibpur*, 6.01.08. Bulbulchandi, Bamongola, Amtulighat, Bhikahar, Pardaha, Tapan,

6.02.08 - DINAJPUR (S)

Laskarbalapur, Jalghar, Balurghat, Kamarpara, Teor, Primohini, Hilly*,

7,01,08 - (Back to) Primohini, Khapur, Patiram, Gopalganj (2), Gopalganj, Phulbari, Gangarampur, Buniadpur, Kushmundi/ Kaliaganj, Haldibari.

7.02.08 – DINAJPUR (N)

Hemtabad, Raiganj, Rashkoa, Sahapur, Islampur*.

8.02.08 – Siliguri*

9.02.08 - JALPAIGURY

Fansideoa, Rajganj border, Jalpaigury Sadar Simanta*.

10.02.08 - Koch Bihar

Manik Ganj, Chyanrgabandha*,

11.02.08, Sitai, Sitaldah, Gukarur Kuthi, Chowdhury Hat, Sahebganj, Nazirhat, Shalghara,

12.02.08 – Try national Conference and Open Mass Rally at Mekhliganj*

All [*] spots are scheduled to be halt at night.

****************************************

Contacts:

Manik Samajdar: 9339317761,Haripada Biswas: 9433062233,Hafij Alam Sairani: 9433007086,Rabindranath Chakraborty: 9331903152,Dibkakar Bhattacharya: 9433097336,Subodh Mitra: 9434177197,Samir Pututunda: 9433084644,Sahadat Ali: 931958638,Pradip Singh Thakur: 9836784768

Bangladesh – Bharat - Pakistan People's Forum

(Bharat Chapter)

28.Gurudwara Road, new Delhi 110 001

bbp_peoples_forum@...

Phones: (+91) 011 23714131, 011 23352273,033 2528 0427

--------------------------------------------------------------

(To read this posting in hindi language , please click here )

PM's Indian subsidiary removes tobacco advertisements in Goa

 

Activists to go to court for legal action against Godfrey Phillips

 

(To read this posting in hindi language , please click here)

------------

To download:

- The Cigarette and other tobacco products Act 2003 , click here 

- the rulings on point-of-sale tobacco advertising , click here 

- to see the advertisements, click here

---------------

The point-of-sale tobacco advertisements that were violating the Indian tobacco control Act in Goa, India, were removed by the evening of 16 January 2008.

 

In the lead up to the removal of these advertisements, activists and media had reported that the advertisements of a cigarette brand of world's largest tobacco company - Philip Morris' Indian subsidiary were blatantly violating `The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003' and the rulings for the point-of-sale tobacco advertising.

 

Clearly due to the mounting pressure, these tobacco advertisements were removed by last evening.

 

"I'm extremely happy that the advertisement boards were removed! But we cannot take these violations lying down! I'm moving the local court against the Godfrey Phillips [Indian subsidiary of Philip Morris], the dealers and the kiosk owners" said

Dr Shekhar Salkar, General Secretary of National Organization for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE India). "All the activists must watch for any violation and book these irresponsible industrialists".

 

The rulings for point-of-sale tobacco advertising in accordance with `The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003', envisage stringent and immediate action by the State Government against advertisement of smoking and other tobacco products.

 

The rules clearly mention that on point-of-sale of tobacco products, only the kind of tobacco product being sold should be mentioned, and no brand name, or any other promotional message or picture is permitted under the Indian law.

 

But the tobacco advertisements boards in Goa were violating this law. "This advertisement is, at the onset, reckless contempt of the law" had said Dr Salkar, in a letter addressed to the Indian subsidiary of Philip Morris demanding an unconditional apology for this gross violation and disregard to public health.

 

"The Act does not allow display of pictures at the point of sale of tobacco products, which has been done [pictures were displayed earlier] in the advertising board placed at a kiosk in Panaji near Hotel Lucky, opposite Municipal garden and kiosk below D. V. talaulikar hospital, Khalap Mension, Vasco,Goa. The law states that, at a point of sale of cigarettes, the boards shall contain only the words: - `Cigarettes are sold here'" had reported Dr Salkar.

 

Although the rulings of the tobacco control Act mentions stringent and immediate action by the state government against such violations, it is yet to be seen how urgently and stringently will the government act to protect public health from the tobacco industry interference.

 

---------

The relevant part of the rulings on point-of-sale tobacco advertising, in accordance with The Cigarette and Other Tobacco products Act 2003 is given below:

 

(a) All the existing points of sale advertisement boards for cigarettes and other tobacco products will have to be removed.

 

(b) The point of sale advertisement boards that is permitted under the Rules shall not exceed 60 cm x 45 cm. Each of these boards should contain the specified health warning occupying the top edge of the board measuring 20 cm x 15 cm and the display boards shall only list the type of tobacco product at the point of sale, without any mention of the board name or other promotional message or picture.

 

(c) There shall be no display of cigarette and other tobacco products at the point of sale.

--------

 

Visit:

Tambakoo Kills web-blog (hindi and english)

Tambakoo Kills electronic group home-page

 

GUWAHATI: The United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for South Asia, New Delhi, is planning to organise a one day media sensitization workshop in Guwahati on 22 nd January 2008 for journalists of Assam and Meghalaya.

The objective of this workshop is to share facts and information about drug abuse & HIV/AIDS and the role media can play in mitigating this problem. The workshop will also discuss the issue of glamorization of drugs in popular medium.

UNODC works with member states to combat issues such as drugs, HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, corruption and terrorism.

Participation from mid-career journalist, who have a keen interest in development issue are welcome at the one day workshop. Preference will be given to women participants and journalist from rural areas and vernacular media.

The workshop is being organised with active support from bodies such as Guwahati Press Club, Journalist Forum, Assam   and senior journalists from the North East media. Mr. Gary Lewis, Representative, UNODC ROSA will chair the workshop apart from other UNODC officials and resource persons from Assam.

Interested reporter-journalists are requested to contact UNODC office, New Delhi for registration.   The registration will close by the evening of 20 th January.

For further information, please contact the following:

Pinky Pradhan,

Project  Associate,

Regional Office for South Asia, UNODC,

New Delhi -21

(M-9899355203/9810920777,

Email: Pinky.PRADHAN@...)

and

Nava Thakuria

senior Journalist

Guwahati, Assam

(Ph. 0361 2630963, E-mail: navathakuria@...).

------------------
(To read this invitation in Hindi  language, please click here )

Democracy in Bhutan is not for 108,000 refugees

Nava Thakuriya

On 1 January 2008, Bhutan, a kingdom of nearly seven hundred thousand people, got its first elected National Council.

When Pakistan, Burma and Nepal are bleeding on their ways to achieve a democratic regime in their countries, the `Shangri-la' has shown a different picture, where a monarch comes out for a democratic set up in his kingdom. The initiative is depicted as a path-breaking attempt for the Buddhist kingdom to transform Bhutan from a hundred years old absolute monarchy to a multi-party democracy.

But the challenges of the new democratic regime in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, will lie in dealing with various national concerns, more precisely resolving the Bhutanese refugee issue that is haunting the government for the last 17 years, even though many western countries including the US had stepped in to support those Nepali speaking refugees.

The Bhutanese refugees (mostly Nepali-speaking) are taking shelter in western Nepal and still craving to go back to their native villages in Bhutan. They were driven out after they protested the passage of a law in the 1980s that arbitrarily cancelled their citizenship. As many as a sixth of the Bhutanese population, most of them living in the south of the country, fled Bhutan in 1990. They have been living in refugee camps in Nepal since then.

The Nepal government raised the issue with Bhutanese authorities in 15 rounds of unsuccessful and inconclusive diplomatic-talks. Not a single refugee has returned to Bhutan so far. India, being the friendliest neighbour and biggest aid donor to Bhutan, has kept out of the dispute, arguing that it was a bilateral matter between Nepal and Bhutan.

The landlocked kingdom of Bhutan, surrounded by Tibet (now under Chinese territory) and Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, went for its first polls on 31 December 2007 to form the upper house of Parliament.

The chief election commissioner Dasho Kunzang Wangdi called a successful attempt to transform their kingdom to a democracy.

Unlike India, there were no election posters or noisy public rallies in the constituencies before the election.

The security was a major concern for the kingdom during the polls. The Bhutan government sealed the border with India for 36 hours to prevent unwanted elements from outside. The Electronic Voting Machines, supported by India, were used in the poll process and observers from India, the US and few other countries including a team of UNDP (based in Thimphu) monitored the election.

Currently there are two political parties in the fray. The People's Democratic Party, headed by the former agriculture minister, Sangay Ngedup, and the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, led by the former home minister, Jigmi Y Thinley.

Significant enough, the offer of transformation from monarchy to democracy came form the Dragon King Jigme Singye Wangchuk himself and that too not because of any popular uprising.

After the general election paves way for an elected Prime Minister (with a council of ministers) in 2008, the Bhutan king would become the ceremonial head of state, where the parliament will possess the power to impeach even the king by the support of two-thirds majority in the Assembly.

"But the new Druk democracy will find it difficult to resolve the 100,000 Bhutanese refugees issue, who have been denied to access the poll process," argued a Thimphu based journalist.

Even the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres admitted that 'it was difficult to see any immediate solution' to the Bhutanese refugee issue. The UNHCR Representative in Nepal said that 'UNHCR prefers to help refugees go back to their home countries when they can do so in safety and dignity, however, in this case, the only option currently available is that for resettlement in a third country for those refugees who wish to make this choice'.

Meanwhile, the US government has shown interest to resettle approximately 60,000 refugees from the camps. Similarly, Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway have also come forward expressing their wish to take a share of refugees for resettlement.

Suhas Chakma, the Director of the Asian Human Rights Centre, stressed that the international community must be mindful of the implications of any resettlement process without any written commitment from Bhutan. It would be tantamount to supporting ethnic cleansing policies by the Bhutan government. He warned that if Bhutan can get away with 108,000 refugees, the situation of the remaining ethnic Nepalis in southern Bhutan could be untenable as they might also be forced to renounce their citizenship or leave Bhutan.

Kuldeep Nayar, a senior Indian journalist expressed his concern over the apathy towards the Bhutanese refugees. He had a word for the King of Bhutan: 'he is really taking honest steps for a democratic system in Bhutan, he should call all those citizens of Bhutan who are staying in refugee camps since last 17 years, back to the country before the scheduled election in 2008'.

In a time, when the international communities are crying against the tyrannical rule under the present regimes in Burma, Pakistan and the pro-democratic activists have stepped up their voices in Thailand, Nepal, Tibet and also in Bangladesh, the development in Bhutan came  as a positive reassurance for various democratic organizations and political analysts of the globe.

(Nava Thakuria is a senior journalist based in Assam, India)

Pressure mounts up against detention of Binayak Sen in Chattisgarh

Pressure has been mounting against the detention of Dr Binayak Sen in Chattisgarh with swelling number of people demanding unconditional and immediate release of Sen. Petitions addressed to the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Chattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, and others are swelling with numbers of people signing up from not only India but from expatriate community globally.

Association for India's Development activists expressed their grave disappointment at the rejection of Dr Sen's bail by the Supreme Court of India. Dr Sen was arrested on 14 May 2007 under the draconian law - Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA) 2006, which gives the state sweeping powers to act against those allegedly in contact with a naxalite leader in jail. Dr Sen maintains that these meetings occurred with due written permission of the state.

"More than 7 months since his arrest on vague and unsubstantiated charges under a draconian law, the State of Chhattisgarh is yet to produce any evidence against Dr Sen and continues to drag its feet at every opportunity" said AID activists.

Even as the State holds Dr Sen with no credible case or evidence against him, the actual naxalite problem has only worsened over the past months. The recent escalation of violence and rise in death toll as well as the security breach in Dantewada prison are just few dark indicators.

Dr Binayak Sen, who studied medicine at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, is the General Secretary of the state's People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and a paediatrician and public health/social activist of repute. He has been working in Chhattisgarh on health, social and human rights issues for over 25 years. He is responsible for stellar contributions to the cause of healthcare for all in Chhattisgarh including setting up the Shaheed Hospital for Mine Workers in Dalli Rajahara and the establishment of the Mitaneen program, a pioneering model putting the Village Health Worker at the forefront of rural healthcare.

Dr. Sen during his PUCL work brought to light the human rights situation in Bastar and Dantewada districts of the state, where a civil war like situation has been prevailing, even as the state propped up by providing money and arms, an organization called the Salwa Judum to supposedly counter the attendant naxalism.

Growing list of people from India and abroad are petitioning for:

- Dr Sen be immediately released and all cases against him be dropped

- Chhattisgarh Government takes immediate steps to restore peace and end the violence by the naxalites as well as the Salwa Judum

- State government ends its support to the Salwa Judum immediately

- State government looks after the interests of all citizens of Chhattisgarh including understanding the underlying reasons why the naxalite movement is gaining strength

"Dr Binayak Sen should be immediately released unconditionally by the state" said noted social activist and Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey, who leads National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM). "Binayak Sen has made commendable contribution in responding to healthcare needs of the most underserved communities over decades now, and has brought hope and empowerment to tribal communities of Chattisgarh by strengthening people's voices to safeguard their rights and civil liberties" remarked Dr Pandey.

The state had earlier failed to save the life of a dedicated frontline activist Shankar Guha Niyogi years ago. People around the world are outraged by the continued detention of Dr Sen since more than 7 months now. It also puts a question mark on our democracy where voices of pro-poor activists are stifled by the state in one of the most outrageous manner. Hope the vanguards of justice are listening.

To sign the petition click here

------------

To read this posting in Hindi, please click here  

MEDIA-ALERT: Ensure safety of Christians in Orissa


Over 30 churches, Institutions destroyed in Christmas violence,
many injured as Hindutva extremists go on the rampage, fire on people
in tribal belt

Christmas 2007, 25-26 December 26, 2007


To
Dr Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
New Delhi

Re: Appeal for immediate action to prevent massacre of Christians in
the Tribal Phulbani region of Orissa, and desecration of Churches in
the state. There must be no repeat of Gujarat's Dangs area violence on
Christmas 1998.

Dear Prime Minister

I bring to you and your government Greetings of Christmas from the All
India Catholic Union, representing the 1.6 crore [16 million] Catholic
laity in the country, and the All India Christian Council, whose
membership includes 3,000 Independent churches, Human rights
organisations and Insitutions.

It is, however, with a heavy heart that I also bring to you our
collective apprehensions and fear that the current atrocities against
Christians in the tribal area of Phoolbani in the State of Orissa is
fast exploding into the type of violence we saw in the Dangs district
of Gujarat during Christmas 1998. The official apathy, the police
indifference and the freedom allowed to marauding bands of Hindutva
fanatics and armed thugs in Gujarat has been repeated in Orissa in
what is a planned conspiracy against the Church and our faith.

Spokesman of communal groups are coming on television and in the Print
media to announce they will not tolerate the presence of Christians in
the trial areas of Orissa. The threat of continuing and escalating
violence, the targeting of Church leaders and the concerted attack on
institution prove that the conspiracy has been planned over a period
of time, with meticulous mobilisation. This would not have been
possible without the complicity of the official machinery, and the
backing of powerful political groups.

Unless immediate and urgent action is taken, we fear that the
situation in Orissa will deteriorate and will lead to much suffering
for our people, as also for the common men, women and children of the
tribal areas, the poorest of the poor.

The main aggression is from the Kui Janakalyan Samiti. This
organization had declared bandh on 25th and 26th December 2007 in
order to press for their demands. But Christians feel that it was only
ploy used against Christians in order to:
a) Disturb their Christmas celebration, the important feast of
Christians; it is even a National holiday.
b) Instead of conducting bandh they have unleashed a reign of
terror, destroying institutions, intimidating Christians and forcing
them to go out of their homes.
c) Their entire attention is on driving away Christians from the
region.

We narrate for you, in brief, the course of events and the volume of
violence:


INSTITUTIONS ATTACKED SO FAR

PARISH CHURCH VILLAGE CHURCHES
Balliguda
Bodagan-Balliguda

Balliguda town

Kamapada - Balliuda
Pobingia
Mandipanka- Godapur
Baminigam
Jhinjirguda- Bamunigam

Ulipadaro - Bamunigam

Goborkutty-Kattingia

Kulpakia- Nuagam

3 more village church


CONVENTS PRESBYTERY
Balliguda
Balliguda
Pobingia
Pobingia
Phulbani
Bamunigam
Bamunigam

HOSTELS
Pobingia 2
Balliguda 2
Bamunigam 2
Minor Seminary (Balliguda)
Vocational Training Centre (Balliguda)

In addition, offices such as those of World Vision have also been
destroyed.


The course of violence so far is:

24/12/07: Trouble began at Bamunigaon village when a Christmas pandal
was attacked with guns, injuring three persons. On 25th December,
church building at Bamunigaon has been attacked and damaged.
The Catholic Church at Baliguda a sub-divisional headquarters town,
was suddenly attacked by mob and vandalised, ransacked and damaged
very badly. The Computer Institute was attacked and completely
destroyed. Ambulance Van set on fire.

25/12/07: CNI Church attacked and damaged at Baliguda...
World Vision ADP Office at Daringbadi was attacked and vandalised. Two
Jeep and motor bikes set on fire.
Police Station at Tikabali a Block headquarters was surrounded by the
mob and two police jeeps set on fire.
Two churches in Chakapadu area were attacked while church service was
going on and people chased out and beaten up. Meals prepared for
Christmas feast was trampled.
No church service was allowed to conduct in Phulbani the District
headquarters of Kondhmal district, despite the presence of District
Collector and Superintendent of Police. The district administration
said they could go ahead to conduct church service at their own risk.
Chandballi Baptist Church in Balasore district was attacked while
Christmas Service was going on and people were chased out and beaten
up.
Towards evening heavy fighting between Christians and Hindu
fundamentalist group erupted in Barakhama area, near Baliguda town.

Our efforts to get the government of Orissa to expeditiously contain
the violence, arrest the culprits and restore the confidence of the
poor tribal and Dalit Christian community in the have met with a
phlegmatic bureaucratic response.

While the Christian leadership has been appealing for peace and
harmony, aggressive religious fundamentalist elements or local ashrams
and political organisations have a run of field, and are openly
threatening the Church.

We appeal to the Central government to impress on the Government of
Orissa t ensures that there is ample police protection given to the
Christian community, its personnel, and insitutions in the state.

God Bless you
And God Bless India


Dr. John Dayal


--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "JohnDayal" group.
To post to this group, send email to johndayal@...
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
JohnDayal-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.co.in/group/JohnDayal
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

'In a democracy an electoral defeat is always a sobering moment, but it would be doubly counter-productive for the Congress and the other secular forces to feel overawed by Narendra Modi's victory.

…the Sunday win does not necessarily endow any kind of ideological legitimacy to Mr. Modi's voice nor does it provide a licence to communal forces or even political respectability to his message outside of Gujarat.'

Harish Khare, The Hindu December 24, 2007

Dear Friends,

Pasting below a break up of votes from 33 Gujarat constituencies.

While the whole media except a handful of journalists is under the spell of Modi's magic it is important to register the fact that e.g. In Gandhinagar though 81864 people voted for BJP and they won the seat, there are 78116 people who voted against BJP and Modi.  

Not everyone is under his spell in Gujarat. He has won the seats and will have the whole administration in his hand to stifle any dissent but the struggle against the undemocratic, fascist regime will continue.

Sabse Khatarnak woh chand hota hai

Jo har hatyakand ke baad

Veeran huyee aangano main chadhta hai

Par apki aankhon main mirchon ki tarah nahi gadhta

Pash

Shabnam Hashmi

December 24, 2007

New Delhi