Hello all, TN Activist Piyush Sethia was arrested today in Salem and charged with sedition against the state before the commencement of a peaceful cycle rally across Tamil Nadu to bring about awareness of the State and central Governments war and atrocities against tribals in Chattisgarh.
The rally in Tamil Nadu was of particular significance since it passed through Home Minister P. Chidambaram's constituency - Sivangangai. However, even before a single pamphlet was distributed, the arrest was made and charges of sedition under section 124A have been filed. The pamphlet containing 'seditious' material asks why the State is denying the guarantees under the Constitution by the Republic of India to adivasis, and why the State Government has refused to obey the Supreme Court order directing them to rehabilitate the 644 evicted villages, and their 3 lac residents. The pamphlet ends by stating that we won't remain silent and will take a cycle rally through the villages of Tamilnadu to build public opinion (hardly a non-democratic means). Lawyers and friends are helping out, but a condemnation of the State's high-handedness and the atrocious attempt to curb freedom of speech is definitely called for. *Please endorse the draft statement below in your personal and organizational capacities, so that the statement along with the names of the endorsers can be sent to Commissioner of Police, Salem City, Tamilnadu: Phone/Fax: +91 (0)427 2410217* Please also use your channels and contacts to write opinion pieces, articles in defence of free speech, etc in all forms of print and electronic media, discussion forums. Contact for more information: Campaign for Justice and Peace. 14A, 5th Avenue, Besant Nagar, Chennai 600 090, Phone: 9443248582 *DRAFT STATEMENT FOR ENDORSEMENT:* ** *We have a Right to Dissent and We will uphold it * ** *Shame on Tamilnadu Police for Quashing Free Speech * Piyush (Sethia) Manush, a human rights and environmental justice defender from Salem, was arrested today and charged with Sedition. His “crime”: To attempt to circulate a pamphlet, in his capacity of a representative of a much-wider Campaign for Peace and Dignity at a Republic Day function in Salem. The pamphlet expresses outrage at the Central and State Government-sponsored atrocities against adivasi people in Dantewada, Chattisgarh. It questions the State-Corporate collusion to violently evict adivasis from their homeland, and asks why the state is acting in contempt of the Supreme Court order directing the Governments to facilitate the return of more than 300,000 adivasis to their 644 home villages in Chattisgarh. By charging Piyush for sedition under the IPC, the Tamilnadu Police and Tamilnadu Government has exposed their ignorance of the law, and disrespect and disregard for the Constitution of India that guarantees to every citizen the right to free speech and expression. It is an irony and a sign of our times in that this arbitrary curb on free speech should happen on the 26th of January, the day our Constitution came into effect. Campaign for Justice and Peace's pamphlets announced that people will undertake a cycle yatra across Tamilnadu to highlight the Indian and Chattisgarh government’s brutal and inhuman treatment of the adivasis. Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and other parts of central and east India have been long subjected to plunder by Indian and International corporations. The indigenous people have suffered heavily, losing their lands, livelihoods and lives because they resist this invasion. There is absolute lawlessness and blatant violations of human rights. Journalist and common citizens are intimidated and barred from entering these areas lest the word spreads and the truth be revealed. Even peaceful gatherings are targeted by State police, para military forces, and state sponsored and state-armed militia such as the Salwa Judum. Leaders and others are threatened so that there is no voice of dissent. With Home Minister P.Chidambaram's Operation “Green Hunt” which is styled along the recent genocide sponsored by the Sri Lankan Government, the situation in Chattisgarh has worsened. The present act of Tamilnadu Government shows that no challenge to the nexus between corporations and the State will be tolerated, and that the State is prepared to even violate the constitution to curb any criticism against its actions. It also marks the generalized war against free speech and dissent launched by the present governing elite in New Delhi and Chennai. We, the people of this country, resolve not be quelled by this intimidation. We resolve to keep our voices of dissent and resistance loud and clear. We stand with our comrade Piyush in this struggle for a democratic and free India where justice and peace can reign. We call upon all the freedom loving people of this country to join us in this struggle. We condemn the actions of the Tamilnadu Police in Salem, and demand that the outrageous charges of sedition against Piyush be revoked. 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