########################################################################## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
All India Catholic Union Founded 1919, Registered under Societies Registration Act 1860. Representing the Catholic Laity of India through 120 Diocesan, units nation-wide National President: Dr. John Dayal National Vice President: Mr. Dolphy D'Souza Secretary General: Mr. Elias Vas Treasurer: Mr. Eugene Gonsalves AICU President's address for correspondence; 505 Link, 18 IP Extn. Delhi 110092 India email:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [The following is the text of a Resolution and Press Statement adopted at a meeting of Civil Society groups under the Chairmanship of Delhi Catholic Archbishop Vincent Concessao. The meeting was held at the Justice and Peace Commission Centre. Those who spoke and signed the Resolution included Archbishop Concessao, Dr John Dayal, President of the All India Catholic Union and secretary-general, All India Christian Council, Sunil Sardar, President, Satyashodhak Samaj, Jurists Jose Verghese, vice chancellor of the Justice Hidayatullah Law University of Chhatisgarh, Dr MP Joseph and Sr. Mary Scaria, authors and advocates practicing in the Supreme Court, National Federation of Indian Women Secretary Anne Raja and Dr. Freddy D'Souza of the Justice and Peace Commission.] "Human Rights Groups and Civil Society at large is aghast at the repeated attempts to sabotage the process of justice for the victims of the genocide in Gujarat in 2002. Despite path-breaking intervention by the Honourable Supreme Court of India in transferring the trial in the notorious Vadodhara Best Bakery Case to Mumbai to ensure a fair trial, there seems t be a patent conspiracy to alienate eyewitnesses, coerce activists and undermine the historic work of voluntary agencies in the cause of justice. We note the attempt to neutralise and demonise activists Ms. Teesta Setalvad and her colleagues who had so far succeeded in convincing the Supreme Court of the grave miscarriage of justice by the High Court and trial courts in Gujarat. They had also exposed the complicity of the police and the political apparatus in the anti-Muslim violence of February-March 2002. We express our solidarity with Ms. Setalvad, Mr. Rais Khan, Fr Cedric Prakash and Mr. Samson Christian, among others, who have been working for communal amity and against religious bigotry in Gujarat. We note the mysterious circumstances in which the young woman Zaheera Sheikh, an eye witness to the arson and murders at the Best Bakery, was whisked away from Mumbai where she as to depose before the court, and brought to Gujarat. Zaheera too remains a victim, who cannot be entrusted to the custody of the Gujarat police and administration. We call upon the Supreme Court and the Central government that she be given adequate security outside Gujarat. The sorry episode speaks of serious lacunae in the criminal justice system. That this is taking place in the backdrop of communal forces of the Sangh Parivar adopting a more strident divisive agenda, adds to the gravity of the situation. We demand of the Central government comprehensive and early legislation to reform the criminal justice system. These reforms must include protection of witnesses on the lines of existing international practices, and laws against hate crimes. Above all, there must be a law to prevent repeated communal violence which has debilitated this country and diverted national focus, energies and resources from development and the abolition of hunger, illiteracy and disease. Signed by: Archbishop Vincent Concessao, Dr John Dayal, former CAT judge Jose Verghese, Dr MP Raju, Dr Mary Scaria, Rev Sunil Sardar, Mr. Qamar Agha, and Dr. Freddy D'Souza. Disclaimer : This message may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. It should not be used by any one who is not the original intended recipient. If you have erroneously received this message, please delete it immediately and notify the sender. The recipient acknowledges that MOSt is unable to exercise control or ensure or guarantee the integrity of/over the contents of the information contained in e-mail transmission and further acknowledges that any views expressed in this messages are those of the individual sender and does not bind MOSt unless the sender does so expressly with due authority with MOSt. Before Opening any attachment please check them for viruses and defects.
