*Sudhir Dhawale, a Dalit activist, writer, journalist, and editor of a Marathi magazine “Vidrohi”, was arrested by police personnel of Durgapur Police Station (district Gondia) on 2**nd** January, while he was returning to Mumbai after attending ‘Dalit Yuva Sahitya Sammelan’ and a meeting on Dalit Atrocities in Vardha. He was charged with sedition (Sec 124) and under Sections 17, 20 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Sudhir Dhawale was an active ember of the Committee for Release of Dr Binayak Sen, Mumbai.*
* * ** *Some of the important writers, journalists, film makers, human rights and civil liberties activists in Mumbai have condemned Dalit Activist Sudhir Dhawale’s arrest as an attack on Dalit Struggle for justice as well as the constitutional right to freedom of speech and have demanded his immediate and unconditional release.* * * ** *From 1995 Sudhir Dhawale has been actively working to resist atrocities against Dalits and for effective implementation of the Prevention of Atrocities against SCs/STs Act (POA). He has tirelessly worked, within the democratic framework, towards ensuring justice in cases of Dalit atrocities such as Ramabai nagar Dalit Hatyakand (massacre) in Ghatkopar in Mumbai in which 10 Dalits agitating against desecration of Dr. Ambedkar’s Statue were gunned down by police (11 July, 1997), the infamous Khairlanji massacre of Dalit family in 2006 and many cases such as Rohidas Tupe hatyakand in Palgaon near Aurangabad, Baban Misal massacre in Ahemadnagar district, Sadashive Slave Guruji Hatyakand in Beed distrct, the Manoram Kamble gang rape and murder case in Nagpur, the brutal murder of Sahebrao Jondhale in Marathwada, and many more cases of Dalit atrocities in Maharashtra in recent times. As a writer, poet, playwright, free lance journalist and editor of Marathi magazine ‘Vidrohi’, Sudhir Dhawale has tried to bring the issues of injustice and atrocities against Dalits in the public domain so as to make democracy a substantive force and movement in the country. It is necessary to point out that he engaged in these activities not as a smartly paid cultural worker of NGO based civil society initiatives, but his efforts were supported by funds drawn from small donations from fellow activists, concerned citizens, and the poor and oppressed masses themselves. He lives a simple life with limited needs which were looked after by his wife Darshana (who was an activist in women’s movement before their marriage). Dharshana looks after the Dawale family of four through her work as a nurse and supports her husband’s efforts Ambedkarian movement for justice and freedom from oppression.* *The activists of Phule-Ambedkarite movement, the leaders of the toiling masses, the people in literary and creative fields, journalists, film producers, as well former home minister Bhai Vaidya, activist of left movements such as Com. Govind Pansare, documentary film producers such as Anand Patwardhan have strongly condemned arrest of Sudhir Dhawale as an attempt by the police to curb Dalit activists efforts to seek justice in cases of atrocities against Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes. They have demanded that Dalit activists Sudhir Dhawale be released immediately and unconditionally and all cases against him be abolished immediately; that organizations and activists, journalists, literary and creative citizens working and struggling against atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis should not be subjected to clauses of sedition. Their efforts and struggle for justice should not be viewed as against nation, but as efforts towards making democracy more meaningful and substantive. That the state should work vigorously to end and arrest the atrocities against Dalits and Advasis and toward effective implementation of the 1989 POA Act and speedy justice to the victims of atrocities, strict and harsh punishment to the perpetrators of violence against dalits within the purview of the POA Act; and to stop harassment and curtailing the activities of Dalit activists such as Sudhir Dhawale, who are engaged in Ambedkarian struggle for justice within constitutional framework. Any attempt to curb the activities of Dalit activists such as Sudhir Dhawale, they point out, is an attempt to curb Dalit struggle for justice and dignity as an attempt to curb the constitutional right to freedom of speech. Furthermore, the above civil society actors also consider that subjecting Dalit activists to acts such as Sedition is to follow the path of oppressive British colonial rule and its ACT of 1860 and its clauses 121 and 121 (a) through which the colonialist attempted to crush activists of India’s freedom struggle; using such legal machinery to curb Dalit activists would amount to subjecting Dalit activist to injustice , which would be detrimental to democratic framework and commitment of our country. * -- Adv Kamayani Bali Mahabal +919820749204 skype-lawyercumactivist * * *"Nobody is giving up violence. Neither the state nor the Maoists are giving up violence. I am interested in furthering my cause, which is the cause of peace with justice.- DR BINAYAK SEN * *www.binayaksen.net* *PL SIGN ONLINE PETITION: * http://www.petitiononline.com/sen2010/petition.html *DO JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP * *http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14205312918* *JOIN THE FACEBOOK EVENT: ONE MILLION FACES http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179177728772740* * * * * -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "humanrights movement" group. To post to this group, send 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/humanrights-movement?hl=en.
