I endorse Johnson Joseph KOCHI, On 28/01/2010, venukm <[email protected]> wrote: > Endorsing the petition > K M Venugopalan, > (Writer) > Kerala > > On Jan 26, 6:35 pm, Rohit Shetti <[email protected]> wrote: >> 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. >> >> Signed >> >> __._,_.___ >> Reply to >> sender<[email protected]?subject=pls+endorse:+Statement+condemning+TN+Police+for+quashing+free+speech,+%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0+arrest+of+rights'+activist+Piyush+Sethia>| >> Reply >> to >> group<[email protected]?subject=pls+endorse:+Statement+condemning+TN+Police+for+quashing+free+speech,+%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0+arrest+of+rights'+activist+Piyush+Sethia> >> Messages in this >> topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/css2009/message/949;_ylc=X3oDMTMzcjg0Yj...>( >> 1) >> Recent Activity: >> >> Visit Your >> Group<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/css2009;_ylc=X3oDMTJmczhrZmRkBF9TAzk3Mz...> >> Start >> a New >> Topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/css2009/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJmcm9qcHFiBF9TA...> >> [image: Yahoo! >> Groups]<http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNHJ1Z2FkBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycEl...> >> Switch to: >> Text-Only<[email protected]?subject=change+delivery+format:+Traditional>, >> Daily Digest >> <[email protected]?subject=email+delivery:+Digest>• >> Unsubscribe <[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe> • >> Terms >> of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> >> . >> >> __,_._,___ > > -- > 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]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB. > >
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