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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM
22 July 2002
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UA-31-2002: Burning Dalits with an iron rod and
force-feeding human excreta
INDIA: Human dignity is denied; Cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment against Dalits
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We reproduce this report about an incident that has
enraged Dalits in India. The horrible nature of caste
oppression and the Indian government's unwillingness
to deal decisively with this issue is brought home
shapely by this story. We urge everyone to write to
the newly appointed president of India to take action on
this matter, to punish the perpetrators and to examine the
State's responsibilities to Dalits.
DALITS, "EAT THE HUMAN EXCRETA NOW!"
Among the various reports of terrorism, extremism,
catastrophe, carnage, assaults, attacks and violations
around the globe, the atrocity unleashed on the Dalits
of the village of Tinnium near Tiruchirappalli in the
Indian State of Tamil Nadu is beyond one's imagination
and belief. Heinous, inhuman caste atrocities are
still alive. Perhaps these atrocities are not an
episodic, one-time event but rather represent a resounding state
of affairs in India.
Karupiah, 38, of Tinniyum had paid 2,000 rupees
(US$41) to the former village panchayat president,
Rajalakshmi Subramanian, for providing a group house
to his sister Banumathy. However, Karupiah's sister was never
allowed to occupy the house and despite repeated
requests for the past two years, neither the house nor
the money has been refunded. Thus, Karupiah resorted to
beating the tom-tom to ventilate his grievance.
Murugesan and Ramasami, Dalits as well, accompanied Karupiah
while he beat the drum.
That very same evening all three people were summoned
by Kamraj, the present village panchayat president,
and Subramani, a retired teacher who is the husband of
Rajalakshmi. Subramani, enraged by Karupiah's act of
beating the drum, demanded an apology and slapped him
with slippers and kicked him hard. Next was Murugesan,
37, and Ramasami, who were also subjected to beatings
and were branded on various parts of their body with a
red-hot iron rod. Murugesan and Ramasami had to beat
the drum again, saying that the earlier incident by
Karupiah was false. All of these cruel acts took place
in the presence of the family members of these three
Dalits.
Even after all of this torture and humiliation, the
ire of these barbarous dominant caste fanatics did not
subside. Subramani then ordered Ramasami and Murugesan
to feed each other human excreta. This egregious act
was forced on the Dalits after repeatedly being
branded with a hot iron.
All of these dominant caste brutes involved in this
dehumanising act absconded when the district collector
paid a visit to the village. Efforts had been
initiated by human rights defenders for suitable criminal action
against the culprits. Reports say a sum of 6,650
rupees (US$137) was given by the government to the
victims, in addition to rice and kerosene, as a usual
rehabilitative measure. Various protests and actions
have been launched by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to
expedite actions against the perpetrators.
This incident received widespread publicity in the
newspapers but has been eventually forgotten.
Multifarious actors that are profoundly glorified by
the State to safeguard the interests of Dalits have yet to uphold
justice as they are caught in the clutches of caste
hegemony. Nevertheless, all such assaults and crimes
are done in broad daylight. Though it appears to attract
the State��s attention, no substantial penal action or
remedial measures seem to have been attempted
whatsoever. Yet again, all of this inaction reiterates
the deliberate underpinning of the state machinery that is
visibly anti-Dalit, which protects the interests of
the perpetrators. Legislation and rules are never
sufficiently enforced but rather are administered
superficially. After all, the law itself is at the
dispense of these brutal violators.
The dominant caste ideology and atrocities strike the
Dalits like a mammoth cannibal that seeks to swallows
them. This inhuman episode in Tinnium is yet another
addition to the unending list of socially sanctified
acts of ostracism. These daily occurrences inevitably
damage the fabric of human dignity and the rights of
equality, liberty and justice. In a distance is heard,
"Hail United Nation's Declaration of Human Rights,
viva Indian constitutional fundamental rights, Durban
praises too." But who is the redeemer of the sagging
spirits of the Dalits? Who will wipe their woes,
restore their human dignity and cut the edge that is hard to
blunt?
One of the most remarkable lives of the 20th century,
Nelson Mandela, in his autobiography Long Walk to
Freedom, calls at the freedom fighters by saying, "AT
A CERTAIN POINT, ONE CAN ONLY FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE."
Monica Vincent
Advocate, Madras
Commissioner, Commission of the Churches on
International Affairs
World Council of Churches
SUGGESTED ACTION
Please write to the president of India and express
your outrage at this attack on the human dignity of
marginalised people in India. Please also call for the
arrest of the perpetrators and compensation for the
victims in this case. Lastly, ask the president to
ratify
the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. A sample
letter is provided below. You may write similar
letters to
the prime minister and the National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC) of India as well.
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear
Re: The incident of burning Dalits with a hot iron rod
and forcing them to eat human excreta in Tamil Nadu
I am shocked at reading about the cruel and disgusting
story of burning Dalits with a red-hot iron rod and
forcing them to eat human excreta in the village of
Tinnium near Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu. What is
even
more shocking is that, despite the widespread
publicity
given to this case, the State has done nothing to
arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Under
international law, this is a heinous crime, and where
torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment
or punishment is a crime, the perpetrators would have
been subjected to severe punishment. Though the Indian
Constitution recognises the right of a person not to
be subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment, India has not
ratified
the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) nor
has
this been declared a crime as it has in many other
countries. For example, in the neighbouring country of
Sri
Lanka, tortu
re and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment is an offence carrying a mandatory sentence
of seven years in prison.
We urge you to direct the state authorities to bring
the perpetrators of this crime to justice, to give
adequate compensation to the victims and for the State
of
India to ratify the CAT and to enact legislation to
make it a crime punishable with serious consequences.
Your presidency may leave a healthy legacy for India
and
all of its people if you take the necessary steps to
achieve this basic and elementary requirement of human
rights law.
Thank you for your response to this inhuman act.
Sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND FAXES AND EMAILS TO:
1. Shri K.R. Narayanan
H.E. President of India
Office of the President
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi, 110004
INDIA
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fax: +9111 3017290
2. H.E. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Prime Minister
South Block, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi, India-110 011
INDIA
Fax: 91-11-3019545 / 91-11-3016857
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
3. Mr. Justice J.S. Verma
Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission
Sardar Patel Bhavan,
Sansad Marg, New Delhi-110 001
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 3340016, 3366537
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
SEND COPIES TO:
1. Shri Dilip Singh Bhuria
Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled
Castes and
Scheduled Tribes
Floor 5, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi-110003.
INDIA
Tel: +91 11 4623959, 678632
Fax: +91 11 4625378
*** Please send a copy of your letter to AHRC Urgent
Appeals:
Email: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Fax: +(852) - 26986367
Please contact the Urgent Appeals coordinator if you
require more
information or wish to report human rights violations.
===========================================================
AHRC Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
Unit D, 7th Floor, Mongkok Commercial Centre,
16 - 16B Argyle Street, Kowloon, HONGKONG
Tel: +(852) - 2698-6339
Fax: +(852) - 2698-6367
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Please contact the AHRC Urgent Appeals Coordinator if
you require
further information or to make requests for further
appeals.
===========================================================
To
Hon'ble Dr. Abdul Kalam
H.E. President of India
Office of the President
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi, 110004
INDIA
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fax: +9111 3017290
Re: The incident of burning Dalits with a hot iron rod
and forcing them to eat human excreta in Tamil Nadu
Dear Hon'ble President,
I am shocked at reading about the cruel and disgusting
story of burning Dalits with a red-hot iron rod and
forcing them to eat human excreta in the village of
Tinnium near Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu. What is
even more shocking is that, despite the widespread
publicity given to this case, the State has done
nothing to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to
justice.
I would also like to point out that even though the
Indian Constitution recognizes the right of a person
not to be subjected to torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, India
has not ratified the Convention against Torture and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (CAT) nor has this been declared a crime as
it has in many other countries. For example, in the
neighboring country of Sri Lanka, torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is
an offence carrying a mandatory sentence of seven
years in prison.
We urge you to direct the state authorities to bring
the perpetrators of this crime to justice, to give
adequate compensation to the victims and for the State
of India to ratify the CAT and to enact legislation to
make it a crime punishable with serious consequences.
It would bode well for your presidency to start your
tenure by taking necessary steps to redress the human
right problem mentioned above, which is just one of
the innumerable ones against the most downtrodden
segment of our society.
Thanking you very much in anticipation for your kind
attention and humane response to the inhuman acts
mentioned above.
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