Protest against police brutality on film activists in Thrissur, Kerala.

Friends, as individuals/collectives please send the mail (below) or draft /change as you like, and send to the email IDs given, with the subject line as suggested or similar.

Date:27.02.2014

Subject: Take Urgent Action: Punish those responsible!

To: chiefminister@kerala.gov.in
min.home@kerala.gov.in
dgp@keralapolice.gov.in

Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala, Home Minister, State Police Chief,

A a concerned citizen I am writing to express my shock and outrage, and asking you to take action against those responsible for the act of hooliganism, intolerance and police violence and attacks on film activists in Thrissur, Kerala. Please act swiftly and effectively to reassure us all that we still have a functioning democracy in this country.

On February 22, 2014, five activists of VIBGYOR International Film Festival were picked up by the police in Trichur and they were brutally beaten up inside the vehicle as well as inside the police station. Young woman cinematographer Neethu was attacked physically by male police and was subjected to sexual verbal abuse as well as physical violence. Five young activists were physically attacked and are detained by police at the Thrissur East Janamaitri Police station. Advocate R. K. Asha who came with her son and daughter to release the activists were also brutally beaten up and the male police kicked her with boots and she was dragged in front of her children. Her son and minor daughter were also subjected to physical violence. Advocate R.K. Asha, her minor daughter, Neethu, and Sruti were hospitalized in Thrissur later. The boys were detained in police custody, denied bail and were remanded for 14 days. They got interim bail next day evening and were released. We came to know that the boys were tortured inside the jail too. We unanimously condemn the brutal violence on women inside the police station and that also a practicing woman advocate and a young woman cinematographer as well as a minor girl. We also demand that the cases on five boys and Neethu, cinematographer be withdrawn immediately.

It is shocking that the police attacks on women activists of VIBGYOR took place soon after the completion of 9 th VIBGYOR which focused on Gender Violence. When the work of internationally famous Eve Einsler, `Vagina Monologues’ was performed, the police tried to initiate physical violence on February15, 2014 right inside the festival ground. On February 13 th , when the Sangh Parivar activists tried to stop the screening of the documentary on Kashmir `Ocean of Tears’, the police facilitated them to enter the campus and destroy the festival office. While the hooligans destroyed the office right in front of the police, no case was registered on any of these communal fascists. The activists of VIBGYOR courageously resisted them in a united and non-violent manner and the fascists were forced to withdraw.

We are shocked at the growing state violence and communal violence on the cultural activists and we demand an immediate action on the guilty police officers. We demand that all the guilty police officers be suspended and legal actions undertaken on them immediately.

Take Urgent Action! Punish those responsible! Restore our faith in democracy!

Debashis
General Secretary, Rationalists’ and Humanists’ Forum of India
On Behalf of all the members.

MAMATA – ANNA ALLIANCE , HOW STRANGE, SELEUCUS !!!

Coming out in support of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, social activist Anna Hazare today (Feb 18, 2014) met her amidst speculation that he will back the West Bengal Chief Minister as the Prime Ministerial candidate.

“Today we discussed together. There are 17 issues on which discussion took place. We discussed and she agreed to implement the 17 issues after coming to power. We will implement some of them earlier,” Hazare said after meeting Mamata.

Lauding Mamata’s simplicity, Hazare said “she is living a simple life. She is not using government’s car, bungalow nor salary. Who does all this these days?”

Mamata welcomed social activist at the TMC party office by touching the Gandhian’s feet.

Anna Ji, this is to you to inform/remind you some recent past which we still hope that you are aware/remember.

1. Mamata Banerjee assumed the post of Chief Minister of West Bengal on 20th May 2011 with huge majority in State Assembly. Thirty-three months have elapsed since then and Mamata Banerjee has taken no steps to appoint a Lokayukta in the State. One and a half month passed since the new Lokpal and Lokayukta Act has been passed in the Parliament. Yet Mamata led West Bengal Government and her party TMC is totally silent on the issue. She has not announced whether she would appoint a Lokayukta, amend the existing State Lokayukta Act or make a new more powerful Lokayukta Act.

We have reasons to be apprehensive about her intention over the issue as in the past she denied even to think or comment over Lokpal issue. She once commented “Anna r na” (No more Anna). Once Mamata Banerjee refused to accept prize from CNN-IBN in presence of Anna Hazare, she even refused to share the same frame with Anna Hazare. Her comment on Anna Hazare’s issue on Lokpal Bill was “Joto sob faltu” (All nonsence).

2. West Bengal Human Rights Commission(WBHRC), after the controversial departure of Justice (Rtd) Ashoke Kr Ganguly West Bengal Human Rights Commission is totally defunct. Breaking all norms and convention West Bengal Government appointed an ex-IPS officer as Acting Chairman of WBHRC. Moreover, West Bengal Government is not filling the judicial posts in the Commission and thus WBHRC is now a single member commission with no judicial power. So it is not functioning at all. Government of West Bengal and its Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has brought WBHRC in this position consciously only to make it non-functioning. Even the state Law Minister raised a question in the public fora, “Is there any necessity of having a Human Rights Commission…”. Anna Ji, you know, West Bengal at present tops the list in regard to atrocities on Women? In regard to rape West Bengal is in second position from top. You must have heard the cases of Kamduni, Madhyamgram, Lavpur and all others. The Government ridiculously slaying cases against those protesting peacefully against these atrocities. They even filed charge-sheets against leading civil society members showing them absconders while all were present in normal public life. All these signifies the necessity of a very strong and active Human Rights Commission in the state. But the Government is totally silent over creating a strong and vibrant Human Rights Commission.
Anna Ji, in your website you are introduced as the ‘Man behind RTI Revolution’. But you will definitely be surprised if you know that State Information Commission is almost a non-functioning organization. No Government department bothers to reply RTI applications in time, if they reply at all.

Smt Mamata Banerjee has made all statutory quasi-judicial organizations non-functioning with an ulterior motif that no Watch Dog organization can raise question over her activities. This position of her is in complete contrast with Anna Hazare’s philosophy and activities.

4. Anna Ji, we expect you raise your voice against corruption involved in Saradha case where many top ranking ruling party leaders and ministers are alleged to be involved. We hope you are quite aware how crores of people are cheated in Bengal allegedly by the people close to state power under the umbrella of Saradha Chit fund. We are surprised to see that you received garlands from a Chit Fund owner. We are afraid that your photo in the same frame with some leaders and a Chit fund owner may be used to guard some others misdeeds or will be used as a certificate of their honesty, what actually they may not.

5.From the news papers we are informed that you said that Mamata Banerjee promised to fulfill all conditions of Anna Hazare. But we are sorry to point out that Smt. Mamata Banerjee make promises only to be break. Before the last assembly election she promised withdraw joint forces from Junglemahal as soon as she assumes power. But she did not.
It was her promise that she would release all political prisoners once she comes to power. Surprisingly, she released not a single political prisoner rather several hundred activists are sent to jail afresh during her regime.

So we are apprehensive about Mamata Banerjee’s assurances, verbal or written.

Anna Ji, you have the right campaigning for Mamata Banerjee and for her Party in coming election. It is only your’s and TMC’s prerogatives. But we want you to use your goodwill to make Mamata Banerjee announce in public:

1.The date of appointment of Lokayukta and making of powerful Lokayukta Act in West Bengal.

2.The date of appointment of the Chairman of West Bengal Human Rights Commission along with other judicial member in the commission and to allow it function independently.

3.That she will let State information Commission function properly and will sanction adequate manpower and money to function it properly.
4. That she will curb Chit fund menace in the state and clamp a total ban on Chit Fund and Chit Fund like activities in West Bengal. Refund entire money of all the depositors by selling all the assets of the Chit Funds including Saradha, Rose Valley and all others. Remove all the Chit Fund tainted leaders from the Ministry.

5. That Joint forces will be withdrawn from Junglemahal without any further delay and political prisoners will be released unconditionally.

Anna Ji, we are with your mission against corruption.
Let us not think “Mamata – Anna Alliance, How strange Seleucus!”
We wish every success in your drive for a corruption free country.
Thank You,

Debashis
General Secretary, Rationalists’ and Humanists’ Forum of India

What Kejriwal’s govt achieved in its 49 days

In the seven weeks since its stunning victory in the assembly polls, the Kejriwal government has come in for heavy criticism over a series of stand-offs with the authorities — including its law minister’s ‘vigilante’ action against Africans and the CM’s own dharna demanding greater control over the police.

Here is a detailed report card of the AAP government in Delhi — their actions and controversies.

GOVERNMENT
Dec 28: Arvind Kejriwal takes oath as chief minister with six ministers at Ramlila Maidan.
Jan 2: AAP government wins trust vote.
Jan 3: AAP MLA MS Dhir elected Assembly Speaker.
Jan 5: Shoaib Iqbal threatens to withdraw support over Kumar Vishwas’ remarks against minority community.
Jan 17: AAP puts rebel MLA Vinod Kumar Binny on notice.
Jan 24: Cong to carry out referendum on pulling plug on AAP govt after LS polls.
Jan 26: Binny expelled from AAP for anti-party activities.
Jan 27: Binny wraps up dharna against AAP within four hours.
Feb 2: Binny threatens to withdraw support.
Feb 10: Independent MLA Rambir Shokeen withdraws support.

POWER AND WATER

Dec 29: Delhi Jal Board chief transferred.
Dec 30: 700 litres of free water announced for households with regular water connection.
Dec 31: 50% power subsidy for those consuming up to 400 units.
Jan 1: CAG audit of power discoms ordered.
Jan 6: L-G backs CAG audit.
Jan 10: Helpline to report power cuts.
Jan 31: Govt threatens to cancel discom licences over outages.
Feb 3: DERC asked to cancel licences of discoms.

ANTI-CORRUPTION

Jan 6: 800 DJB employees transferred.
Jan 8: Anti-corruption help line announced, launched on Jan 13.
Feb 6: Fresh probe in Commomwealth Games’ street light project.
Feb 7: Probe into fi nancial irregularities in construction of Salimgarh Bypass.
Feb 10: Probe in three DJB ‘scams’.

EDUCATION

Jan 4: Quota for Delhi students in DU colleges promised.
Jan 5: AAP volunteers take rounds of government hospitals to take stock of facilities.
Jan 7: Nursery admission helpline announced.
Jan 8: Infrastructure audit of government schools started.

AUSTERITY DRIVE

Jan 4: Kejriwal refuses to take Duplex house, refuses security.

GOVERNANCE

Dec 28: Nine officials transferred, red beacons banned.
Jan 15: Govt says will remove Millennium Depot from Yamuna riverbed.
Jan 18: CM requests L-G to replace fi ve senior ACB offi cials.
Jan 23: Eight senior Delhi government offi cials transferred.
Jan 28: CAG audit of DIMTS (it operates the BRT in Delhi) ordered.
Jan 29: Govt seeks SIT probe into 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Feb 2: Govt plans to do away with MLA fund.
Feb 3: Cabinet clears Delhi Lokpal Bill.
Feb 4: Kejriwal promises to include Northeast history in school texts.
Feb 9: Govt plans to scrap the Bhagidari scheme.
Feb 12: Cabinet approves decision to hold special assembly session in a stadium.
Feb 13: Govt fails to table Jan Lokpal Bill in assembly, blames BJP and Cong for disruption.

CONTROVERSIES

Jan 7: Law minister Somnath Bharti’s bid to summon HC judges sparks row.
Jan 10: Bill waiver announced for those who took part in power tariff protest.
Jan 11: Chaos at Kejriwal’s janata darbar; scrapped two days later.
Jan 16: Somnath Bharti/ Rakhi Birla late night raids row surfaces.
Jan 18: Kejriwal defends night vigils by ministers.
Jan 19: Delhi police registers criminal case against Bharti and supporters for allegedly misbehaving with African women in Khirki.
Jan 20: Kejriwal sits on a dharna at Rail Bhawan against the Centre, Delhi Police.
Jan 24: Somnath Bharti skips DCW hearing, goes kite fl ying.
Feb 8: Kejriwal reiterates that the Jan Lokpal Bill will not be sent to the Centre for its nod.
Feb 11: Kejriwal orders FIRs against Mukesh Ambani, Veerappa Moily and Milind Deora for increasing the price of natural gas produced in India.

Courtesy (information and picture): Hindustan Times

Hashem Shaabani Nejad, Iranian Poet, Executed For ‘Waging War On God’

HASHEM-SHABANI NEJAD

Arab-Iranian poet and human rights activists Hashem Shaabani Nejad was executed in Iran at the end of January on charges including “waging war on god,” the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center reports.

According to IHRDC, Shaabani was executed in an undisclosed prison alongside Hadi Rashedi. Both men were members of the Dialogue Institute, an organization in Iran’s Khuzestan Province that promotes the understanding of Arabic culture and literature in Iran.

Arrested in early 2011, Shaabani appeared with three other men in a documentary on Iran’s Press TV in December 2011 in which they appeared to confess to being part of an armed Arab terrorist group. Shaabani later said the confession was coerced. Even so, the poet was sentenced to death in July 2013 on charges of waging war on god, sowing corruption on earth, producing propaganda against the Islamic Republic and acting against national security.

According to independent watchdog Freedom House, Shaabani’s execution shows that despite promises by Iranian president Hassan Rouhani after his 2013 election to fight discrimination of ethnic minorities, violent repression remains government policy.

Iran’s Arab minority is believed to constitute between 3 and 8 percent of the population and mostly lives in the oil-rich Khuzestan province, which is known as Ahwaz in the Arab community. Amnesty International warned in January 2014 that minority groups, including the Ahwazi Arabs, are subject to discriminatory laws and suffer from restricted social, cultural, linguistic and religious rights.

In addition, the organization says members of the Arab minority disproportionally receive unfair trials, sometimes culminating in the death penalty. According to Amnesty, authorities have remained focused on the Ahwazi since major unrest erupted in the region in 2005.

Courtesy:The World Post. ( A partnership of The Huffington Post and Berggruen Institute on Governance)
( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/10/hasham-shaabani-executed-iran_n_4760679.html)

LONG LIVE HASHEM SHAABANI NEJAD.
Rationalists’ and Humanists’ Forum of India

SP Ankit Garg , Do you have the Balls ? #SoniSori #Rape #Prison

I Dare you

S.P .Ankit Garg,

Rape Me

Do you have the Balls ?

Stripping Soni Sori in Prison.

Inserting stones in her vagina and rectum

Showing off your Manhood in a Prison

You called her a whore, a bitch,

Torturing her with electric currents

In your Torture Haven,

I Dare you ,

S.P .Ankit Garg

Rape Me,

Do you have the Balls ?

You told Soni Sori

You are administration, authority and the Government.

You run the government from the Prison

You told Soni Sori

You have the magic wand for all operations

Slap false cases, and arrest adivasis in the name of ‘ Maoism’

You told Soni Sori

Who will believe an adivasi teacher as against an IPS officer ?

You told Soni Sori

To sign on a blank paper and name human rights activists as Maoists

You told Soni Sori

If she did not listen to you,

she would die beating her head against the prison walls with shame

I Dare you ,

S.P. Ankit Garg

Rape Me,

Do you have the Balls ?

You are a Sadistic Bastard

You made Soni Sori stand naked in front of you

You are a Sadistic Bastard

You verbally abused her and tortured her psychologically.

You are a Sadistic Bastard

You made three men insert stones in her vagina and rectum

You are a Sadistic Bastard

You have risen to the Ranks so fast on the blood and bones of tribals

I Dare you ,

S.P .Ankit Garg

Rape Me,

Do you have the Balls ?

On the 63rd Republic Day on 26th Jan 2012 ,

You were conferred with President’s Police Medal for Gallantry

A Gallantry award for Sexual Violence ?

The Darkest day for the Indian Democracy

I will not rest till the medal is recalled

I will not rest till you are behind bars

I will not rest till women scream in pain from prisons

I will only rest when there is an end to custodial torture and sexual violence

I Dare you ,

S.P .Ankit Garg

Rape Me,

Do you have the Balls ?

By- Kamayani Bali Mahabal- for Justice for Soni Sori Campaign
Courtesy:Kractivism