What is really disturbing is not the non-stop harassment on the daily life of Chitralekha, but despite several campaigns and initiatives, whatever others do for her is not helping her much to lead a unfearing life... I don't know what to suggest... but I feel rather than limiting the support to financial help, what is required at this moment is more a political mobilization involving intellectuals and activists and force the CPM state leadership to take a stand on the issue...Providing the necessary legal support also help her...
Afthab Ellath On Sun, Jan 24, 2010 at 4:40 PM, sreenivas v.p <[email protected]>wrote: > > i believe that there should be a long term action plan to support them . > > also we need to categorize the support mechanisms into monitory help, > legal help etc. > > and take necessary action in that regard. > > > sreenivas > > > > > > > --- On *Sun, 24/1/10, jenny rowena <[email protected]>* wrote: > > > From: jenny rowena <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [GreenYouth] Re: Urgent Need: Solidarity for Chithra Lekha > To: [email protected] > Date: Sunday, 24 January, 2010, 10:45 AM > > > afthab, i agree with you > there should be sustained action too > maybe we can all think aloud what that should be > > jenny > > On Sat, Jan 23, 2010 at 4:40 PM, Afthab Ellath > <[email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> > > wrote: > >> There should be some actions that is not only urgent, but sustained as >> well, as the physical violence in this particular case has been continuous, >> making the daily lives of those subjected to it unbearable... >> >> But it shouldn't regarded as a pathology limited to Kannur-Payyannur, but >> an insensitivity of the public sphere of Kerala on issues of caste >> violence... Despite several similar physical attacks, how many people in >> Kerala know about Chitra Lekha case... Compare it with the outrage happened >> against attack on Zakariya and the Manglore Pub attack... >> >> The difference was that one was an attack on liberal values affecting >> "us", and the other is some thing outside of the realm of "our" concern... >> >> Afthab Ellath >> >> >> >> On Sat, Jan 23, 2010 at 2:17 PM, venukm >> <[email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> >> > wrote: >> >>> Because this can be a moment of taking some urgent steps to support >>> the victims ; >>> I believe that their plight of total neglect by the Kannur - Payyanur >>> human rights activists could rather be remedied by concrete action, >>> fully inspired by a constitutional mechanism, rather than by the >>> social dynamism seen in Kannur with a 'Left' ambiance but much lacking >>> in sensitivity to the grievances of the marginalized. >>> >>> On Jan 23, 10:18 am, chandra kumar >>> <[email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]>> >>> wrote: >>> > ''I would have shared many things about Kannur activism; but not now.'' >>> > -----why? >>> > >>> > On Sat, Jan 23, 2010 at 1:52 AM, gk31.vinod gk31.vinod < >>> [email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> >>> > >>> > > wrote: >>> > > Unbelievable ! >>> > > Does this happen in kerala, that too in KANNUR, the marxist's own >>> land ! >>> > >>> > > On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 7:47 PM, jenny rowena < >>> [email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> >>> >wrote: >>> > >>> > >> Dear Friends, Most of you must be aware of Chithra Lekha *(please >>> see >>> > >> details of her case below)* and her brave struggle to make a living >>> as an >>> > >> auto rickshaw driver in Kannur, Kerala. Many of us had contributed >>> to help >>> > >> her procure an auto rickshaw after it was burned, allegedly by CITU >>> > >> activists. >>> > >>> > >> Recently, Chithra Lekha was trapped in what she says is a false case >>> and >>> > >> taken to the police station and beaten up. Though she has been let >>> off now, >>> > >> she has many injuries and has no way to question the violence that >>> has >>> > >> happened to her. *(A detailed report of the incident by Venugopal >>> who >>> > >> visited Chithra Lekha and talked to her, is given below).* >>> > >>> > >> Though a few people have been trying for a whole day, we are >>> finding it >>> > >> difficult to get many people at the local level to intervene >>> actively in >>> > >> this case. There are not many who are ready to stand against the CPM >>> or >>> > >> CITU. And some of those who raised their voices are penalised for >>> the same. >>> > >> Chithra finds herself alone in many ways and is so distressed that >>> she is >>> > >> even thinking of surrendering the auto rickshaw that she has >>> procured with >>> > >> all our help and going back to the life of exile as before If this >>> happens >>> > >> then it would be like the local goons have succeeded in driving out >>> a Dalit >>> > >> woman from her village and stopped her from doing the work that she >>> had >>> > >> wanted and chosen to do. >>> > >>> > >> Friends if we do not do anything now soon it might be too late. It >>> would >>> > >> be like we are standing and watching while a woman who has put up >>> such a >>> > >> brave struggle is ostracized and thrown out of her own native place. >>> Let us >>> > >> please all stand in solidarity with Chithra Lekha at this juncture. >>> > >> Please respond to this issue as soon as possible. >>> > >>> > >> We are thinking of a fact finding commission and also making the >>> issue >>> > >> publicly known. Whoever is interested in joining the commission >>> please write >>> > >> to us. >>> > >>> > >> Please make this issue known widely and let as many people as >>> possible >>> > >> decide to intervene. >>> > >>> > >> Also please call up Chithra Lekha and extend your moral support to >>> her at >>> > >> this point. >>> > >>> > >> Here are her numbers: *9526128764* and *9744361941* >>> > >>> > >> Any other help and suggestion is also welcome >>> > >>> > >> Anil Tharayath Varghese – 009971170738 >>> > >>> > >> K M Venugopal - 9447488215 >>> > >>> > >> Jenny Rowena P - 09868216719 >>> > >>> > >> Carmel Christy – 09958500931 >>> > >>> > >> *Given below is a Report of what happened recently by K M Venugopal, >>> who >>> > >> was a member of the 2008, Chithra Lekha rehabilitation committee:* >>> > >>> > >> The Payyanur Auto Workers, CITU is again continuing its policy of >>> hatred >>> > >> toward the couple, one of whom is a dalit woman whose auto rickshaw >>> had >>> > >> been set fire and destroyed in 2005 December, following a series of >>> incidents >>> > >> of harassment at work place. The incident narrated by Chithralekha >>> and her >>> > >> husband Sreeshkanth, is >>> > >> as follows: >>> > >>> > >> This morning, Chithralekha was about to park her auto rikshaw in >>> front of >>> > >> a medical shop to buy medicine for their son who had received a >>> sting by >>> > >> honey bee. She was also accompanied by Sreeshkanth, her husband. One >>> Mr >>> > >> Ramachandran who is an office bearer of the Autorikhaw Union of >>> Payyanur >>> > >> menacingly asked her to move her auto away from the parking spot. >>> She >>> > >> replied that she had the lawful permit to park and had every right >>> to do so. >>> > >>> > >> An altercation followed between the couple and a few auto workers. >>> After >>> > >> a few moments, a police jeep arrived and bundled the couple to the >>> vehicle. >>> > >> They got severely beatings by the autoworkers even as they got into >>> the jeep >>> > >> and in presence of the police. When Chithralekha told the Inspector >>> that her >>> > >> valuables and cash were inside the auto rickshaw, the officer >>> assured them >>> > >> that that would be taken care of. >>> > >>> > >> After reaching the Police Station, the couple were severely beaten. >>> A >>> > >> woman police Officer beat Chithralekha black and blue and her sari >>> was >>> > >> almost pulled off. Later, Sreeshkanth was taken to the hospital for >>> a check >>> > >> for intoxication; though Chithralekha also was compelled to get >>> examined, >>> > >> she protested and resisted the move, sensing that the police were >>> > >> acting in a biased manner and they would get her booked for driving >>> > >> inebriated under a false testimony by some doctor. >>> > >>> > >> Chithralekha was later released but had to go to the hospital due to >>> her >>> > >> injuries. She has injuries all over the body and also in the lower >>> stomach. >>> > >> She is not only in great pain, but is also left almost alone without >>> no help >>> > >> from any one in questioning the actions of the union workers and the >>> police. >>> > >>> > >> *The Chithra Lekha Case* >>> > >>> > >> * * >>> > >>> > >> Chithra Lekha was born into a Pulaya family, which is an >>> ex-untouchable >>> > >> caste in Keralam. After her marriage to Shreeshanth a Thiyya (an OBC >>> caste) >>> > >> auto driver, she went on to buy an auto rickshaw - KL 13L 8527 in >>> Chitra >>> > >> Lekha’s name under the PMRY loan scheme. >>> > >>> > >> The auto stand in Payyannur in which Chithra Lekha wanted to drive >>> her >>> > >> auto was controlled by the CITU, the trade union that belongs to the >>> > >> Communist Party of India, Marxist (CPI (M)). In order to drive her >>> auto, >>> > >> Chithra Lekha had to be granted a membership card from the CITU. >>> This card >>> > >> was delayed for more than 2 months as the party was already angry >>> with >>> > >> Chithra Lekha for having married above her caste. >>> > >>> > >> In spite of such harassment Chithra Lekha turned out to be a >>> competent >>> > >> driver and became very popular with her customers, especially women. >>> When >>> > >> she started her career there had been a coin operated phone at the >>> auto >>> > >> stand where the customers would call for drivers. Soon, Chithra >>> Lekha >>> > >> started getting the most number of calls from this phone. This she >>> feels >>> > >> disturbed her fellow male drivers. After a few months she bought a >>> mobile >>> > >> phone and now people started calling for her even more than before. >>> This >>> > >> made the drivers feel even more threatened. >>> > >>> > >> All these problems took a violent turn during the Navami or >>> Saraswathy >>> > >> Pooja days when Chithra Lekha placed her auto in the common Pandal >>> for * >>> > >> pooja*. When she came to take back the auto on the next day, that is >>> on >>> > >> October 11, 2005, she found that the hood of her auto was torn. >>> Ajith, one >>> > >> of the CITU members who had threatened her earlier was standing >>> there and >>> > >> she asked him why did he tore the hood. He retaliated saying that if >>> you >>> > >> don’t keep your limits you will also be torn like this. She >>> complained about >>> > >> the incident to Rameshan, fellow auto driver and the Secretary of >>> the local >>> > >> branch of CITU, but to no avail. Since there was no response from >>> Rameshan >>> > >> or CITU, she lodged a complaint with the police after two days. When >>> she >>> > >> came back to the stand on October 14th Rameshan gave her a two hour >>> > >> punishment of abstention, for having taken the case out of the stand >>> to the >>> > >> police station. Chithra Lekha declined to obey it, at which point an >>> angry >>> > >> Rameshan tried to run over Chithra Lekha with his auto. She moved to >>> the >>> > >> other side of the road and escaped the attack. However she sustained >>> minor >>> > >> injuries and had to be hospitalized. Yet another compliant was >>> lodged >>> > >> against Rameshan and he was arrested. Immediately CITU members >>> unleashed a >>> > >> poster campaign in support of Rameshan. They stuck posters and wrote >>> on the >>> > >> walls of the panchayath that Chithra Lekha and her mother were loose >>> women >>> > >> who were bringing up the issue of caste only to hide their immoral >>> natures. >>> > >> Soon, violence took its worst form when her auto was burned to ashes >>> on the >>> > >> small hours of December 30th 2005. With the help of Ayyappan Master, >>> a >>> > >> Dalit activist and member of the police committee to prevent >>> atrocities >>> > >> against SC/STs, Chithra Lekha lodged a complaint against six CITU >>> members >>> > >> including Ajith and Rameshan. The case was registered under IPC 143, >>> 147, >>> > >> 148, 341, 352, 324, 294 (B), 506 (1), SC/ST S3 (1) XI R/W and 149. >>> An action >>> > >> committee was also formed to protest against what happened and also >>> to >>> > >> rehabilitate Chithra Lekha ** >>> > >>> > >> -- >>> > >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups >>> > >> "Green Youth Movement" group. >>> > >> To post to this group, send an email to >>> > >> [email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> >>> . >>> > >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> > >> [email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=greenyouth%[email protected]> >>> <greenyouth%[email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=greenyouth%[email protected]> >>> > >>> > >> . >>> > >> For more options, visit this group at >>> > >>http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB. >>> > >>> > > -- >>> > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups >>> > > "Green Youth Movement" group. >>> > > To post to this group, send an email to >>> > > [email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> >>> . >>> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> > > [email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=greenyouth%[email protected]> >>> <greenyouth%[email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=greenyouth%[email protected]> >>> > >>> > > . >>> > > For more options, visit this group at >>> > >http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Green Youth Movement" group. >>> To post to this group, send an email to >>> [email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> >>> . >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=greenyouth%[email protected]> >>> . >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB. >>> >>> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Green Youth Movement" group. >> To post to this group, send an email to >> [email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> >> . >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]<http://in.mc84.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=greenyouth%[email protected]> >> . >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Green Youth Movement" group. > To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<greenyouth%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB. > > > ------------------------------ > The INTERNET now has a personality. 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