PVCHR: 2009

Friday, December 25, 2009

PVCHR 3 video clips| Free Arabic Music Video Clips | فيديو كليب عربي,

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Happy New Year 2010 from PVCHR team as a year for psychological support for survivors of TOV

Dear All

Greetings from PVCHR.

Please find the enclosed news published in Times of India, Varanasi edition "Therapeutic approach to help torture victims" and "Police role in custodial torture under cloud". It highlight the case of Mr. Ram Lal, who was tortured in the police custody. Mr. Upendra Kumar took his testimony and provide psychological support. The testimony was used in the meta-legal process. The case is under the consideration of NHRC, New Delhi and its also sent a copy to PVCHR for inviting its comment.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2010 from PVCHR team as a year for psychological support for survivors of TOV(Torture and Organizaed Violence).

With Warm Regards

Lenin,Shabana,Shruti,Jai Kumar,Ajai,Siddique Hasan,Mangala,Upendra,Umesh,Anup

Note: Please see the link:

http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/12/times-of-india-varanasi-edition.html

http://www.pvchr.blogspot.com/

Please visit:

http://www.universalrights.net/heroes/display.php3?id=101
www.pvchr.org

www.youtube.com/pvchrindia
www.pvchr.blogspot.com
www.sapf.blogspot.com
www.antiwto.blogspot.com
www.dalitwomen.blogspot.com
www.lenin-shruti.blogspot.com

My final words of advice to you are educate, agitate and organize; have faith in yourself. With justice on our side I do not see how we can loose our battle.. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is battle for freedom. It is the battle of reclamation of human personality….
Dr. B.R.Ambedkar
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." (Desmond Tutu)

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Voice of voiceless: Times of India, Varanasi edition "Therapeutic approach to help torture victims" and "Police role in custodial torture under cloud".

Monday, December 21, 2009

Pvchr.org SEO, Social Media and PR Analysis

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Varanasi:Towards the realization of scheme at grass root level …

TED | Profile | Bio

Ghasia tribe live in acute misery - Varanasi - City - The Times of India

Ghasia tribe live in acute misery - Varanasi - City - The Times of India
Raup at TOI

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Voice of voiceless: An impact - story from RCT-PVCHR initiative on testimonial therapy in India

Articles of/on/by Lenin & Shruti: acknowledging the Ghasia’s tribal and great Karma artiest honored by Janab rahul Gandhis' parent.

Voice of voiceless: Glimpse of Peoples’ Tribunal on the situation of Muslim minority on 18th December, 09 at Paradkar Smriti Bhawan, Varanasi

Friday, December 18, 2009

acknowledging the Ghasia’s tribal and great Karma artiest honored by Janab rahul Gandhis' parent.

To,
Mr. Rahul Gandhi
M.P & General Secretary Congress (I)
New Delhi.

Dear Rahul ji,

I want to draw your attention the Ghasia's tribal and the great artiest of Karma from Sonbhadra of India dine with your father Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India and later with various political leaders. They perform their art in various part of country and did theatrical performances on stage, radio and television. Tear jerking and shocking reality for them as the culturally enrich indigenous people lost the life of 18 children in few months after consuming wild and poisonous grasses like "Chakwar"(botanical name not known), wild mushrooms and extremely poor quality of rice.
On 4th December, 09 I sent open letter to Prime Minister of India “to provide basic amenities to preserve the culturally enrich people and develop Raup as sanskriti gaon (Cultural Village) to preserve the culture”. Please see the URL for open letter http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/12/open-letter-to-provide-basic-amenities_04.html.
The daily Hindi newspaper “Dainik Jagran” highlighted on 18th December, 09. http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/epaper/index.php?location=40&edition=2009-12-18&pageno=12#
Please see the link of the testimony of Mrs. Rukhmaniya at youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99kWO4-a5F8
Therefore it is kind request please consider the given below demands to prevent further hunger death:
1. The allotment of land on the name of Ghasia tribes under 122 (4 BF) of Zamindari Abolition Act and Land Reform Act. The ghasia tribal are living on this land since 2000. District Magistrate of Sonbhadra district gave interview in NDTV the land belongs to the Forest Department (FD) http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_player.php?id=1173492 but SDM responded in the RTI shows the land belong to the playground and it is already constructed in another place. Please see the given below URL of the answer given by SDM of Sonbhadra district on the RTI to Mr. Mahesh. http://www.scribd.com/doc/23652504/Response-by-SDM-on-RTI
2. Immediate run school in Sushil Tripathi School and community center to educate children of 72 families and provide Mid Day Meal to prevent hunger and Malnutrition.
3. To activate ICDS centre.
4. High level investigation of the police beating by independent agency.
5. To include the name of ghasias as voters in the panchayat election. They receive voter ID card after intervention of Chief Election Commissioner of India.
6. To develop Raup as a Sankriti Gaon (cultural village) to preserve and promotion of culture and link with the livelihood.

Sincerely Yours

Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi
Convener

a protest letter from a pucca idiot in support of Varaansis' weavers

Janab Amir Khan saheb,

Greetings and Adab from your fan ship.

I am Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, Convener, Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), a membership organization based in Varanasi. Thanks for visiting your maternal house in weavers dominated Telia Nala in Varanasi and highlighting the predicament of Chanderi Saree in Madhya Pradesh. I publish thanks giving on my blog http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/12/thanks-amir-khan-for-support-to-weaving.html and also comment & feedback on your blog www.aamirkhan.com

However the lakhs of weavers of Varanasi are miffed, as he did not sympathize about their abysmal condition. As many as 142 weavers and their children have either committed suicide or died due to malnourishment or poverty in various handloom weaver community dominated areas.

Please see URL article published on the condition of weavers of Varanasi:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/05/AR2007060502858_pf.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/04/business/worldbusiness/04iht-sari.1.6482277.html?_r=1
http://varanasisilk.org/
http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fline/fl2406/stories/20070406002911100.htm
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2228801.cms
http://www.tgsc.ru/redirect/weavers%2BPVCHR%2BVaranasi.html
http://www.foodjustice.net/ahrc-archive/upi-columns-and-articles-in-ahrc-publications/the-spread-of-tuberculosis-amongst-varanasi2019s-out-of-work-weavers
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8947031/Report-on-Weaver-of-VaranasiIndia
http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/12/study-on-suicide-and-malnutriton.html

Therefore it is kind request please contribute to the weaver’s of Varanasi to save the world wide famous Banarasi saree and life of the lakhs of weavers.

Sincerely Yours
Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi
A Pucca Idoit
SA 4/A Daulatpur, Varanasi
Email: pvchr.india@gmail.com

Please see the link:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/24266395/Weavers-Miffed-With-Amir-Khan

Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development - INDIA - Promote "natural & renewable energy", not nuclear one!

Dainik Jagran E- Paper - city. Local news from 37 locations on Dainik Jagran Yahoo! India E-paper

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Article published on torture and testimonial therapy in volume 19 of Torture Journal

Please find the enclosed article "Testimonial therapy -A pilot project to improve psychological wellbeing among survivors of torture of India" published in the volume 19 of the torture Journal.

Please see the article on: http://www.irct.org/library/torture-journal/latest-issue.aspx
Please use given below URL to download the pdf file: http://www.irct.org/Admin/Public/DWSDownload.aspx?File=%2fFiles%2fFiler%2fTortureJournal%2f19_03_2009%2fTestimonial+therapy+p204-217.pdf

http://www.scribd.com/doc/24223211/Testimonial-therapy-A-pilot-project-to-improve-psychological-wellbeing-among-survivors-of-torture-of-India

A merry christmas and happy new year 2010 as a year for psychological support for survivors of TOV(Torture and Organizaed Violence).

"Testimonial therapy -A pilot project to improve psychological wellbeing among survivors of torture of India"

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Allvoices.com - Jan Mitra Award to the muslim weavers of Bazardiha

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

BHOPAL: TRAGÉDIA CONTINUA

To empower and to built pro-people, pro-victim human rights institution of India.

Thanks Amir Khan for support to weaving industry of India

http://idiotsacademy.zapak.com/arg/gallery.php#gid_4

Voice of voiceless: Jan Mitra Award to the muslim weavers of Bazardiha

PVCHR Five-Year Strategic Plan

http://www.scribd.com/doc/24112423/PVCHR-Five-Year-Strategic-Plan

PVCHR Five-Year Strategic Plan

Monday, December 14, 2009

INDIA - DIRITTI UMANI Diritti umani in India calpestati da estremismo, discriminazione religiosa e sociale - Asia News

INDIA – HUMAN RIGHTS Human rights violated by extremism as well as religious and social discrimination - Asia News

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

An appeal on Human Rights day to empower and to built pro-people, pro-victim human rights institution of India.

To,

H.E President of India,

New Delhi.

Respected Madam,

Greetings from PVCHR on the eve of International Human Rights day,10 December 2009.

Now the aspiration of common people of India has increased towards the human rights institutions, but the institutions don't fall on the genuine touchstone. As NHRC receive lots of cases and many cases are closed without intimating about the action taken to the complaint. Therefore, Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) demands to built pro-people, pro-victim, and independent and empower human rights institution.

PVCHR advocates the cases of human rights violation from decades and experienced the consequences. On one hand after the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission in around 10 cases survivors received 51 lakhs rupees compensation. Most of the cases were related to the police firing, Custodial torture and bonded labour for e.g. deceased Hira Lal Sonkar wife received compensation of 2 lakhs, The family of deceased three student in police firing during the student protest in year 1997, Rakesh Viz, a survivor of custodial torture received 10 lakhs Rupees and 25 bonded labour received the 20 thousand each for the rehabilitation etc.

The accomplishment of NHRC long term intervention was Constable Piyush Kant Rai guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 Rupees in an old case of police firing. http://www.scribd.com/doc/23761413/National-Human-Rights-Commissions-intervention-in-case-of-police-firing

But now-a-day, NHRCs' performance is not up to the mark of peoples' aspiration such as ignorance of NHRC guideline on the extra –judicial killing, as in the Sanjay Singh encounter case FIR was lodged against the 14 police official on the decision of honorable high court and three years of continuous advocacy. Please visit

Recently in the Bazardiha police firing case FIR was immediately lodge after two days against alleged police officer with the pressure of media and political –social stakeholders. Please visit URL http://www.scribd.com/doc/22246779/FIR-in-the-case-of-Bazardiha-police-firing for complete case http://http//pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/11/regarding-implementation-of-section-d_23.html

In the both above mentioned cases, there is no impartial investigation by independent agency other than police and appropriate compensation according the NHRC guideline on extra-judicial killing and police firing.

On other hand National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) failed to provide adequate remedy to me, I filed complained to an attempted assassination on my life by the police. Instead of conducting proper investigation NHRC informed me of a report provided by the police regarding his complaint. The police report stated "[A]nd feels that no further action is called for the complaint and the same may be treated as closed". The police report also alleged that "Dr. Lenin was himself providing shelter to the criminals for his selfish motives … that it would be better to write about his removal from his post of convener of Manava Adhikar Jananigrani Samiti (PVCHR)". http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2007/2187/

However State Human Rights Commission instead of investigating the hunger deaths, acute starvation and fabrication of cases against human rights defenders the allegations the officer tried to have the complainants reconcile with the respondents unconditionally. http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2006statements/690/

Therefore we demand for the

Ratification of UNCAT & enactment of domestic law,
Strengthening of Human Rights Institutions as pro-victims with full accountability.
Proper compensation policy for the torture victim & Psychological support.

With Kind Regards

Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi

Convener

Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)

SA 4/2 A Daulatpur, Varanasi

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

INDIAN CATHOLIC : The scourge of Bhopal is still alive after 25 years

Sunday, December 06, 2009

NHRC response in case of beating of Lenin by drug mafia

See attachment.Please see link:

http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/10/fwd-regarding-security-of-human-rights.html

http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/10/india-drug-mafias-don-assaults-dr-lenin.html

http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/11/again-death-threat-to-lenin-and-legal.html

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Right bodies write PM, Parliamentarians to repeal APSFA - Hueiyen Lanpao

Friday, December 04, 2009

An open letter to provide basic amenities to preserve the culturally enrich people and develop Raup as sanskriti gaon (Cultural Village) to preserve the culture.

To,

Prime Minister,

Government of India

New Delhi.

Subject: an open letter to provide basic amenities to preserve the culturally enrich people and develop Raup as sanskriti gaon (Cultural Village) to preserve the culture.

Sir,

Greetings from PVCHR.

The Ghasia's tribal and the great artiest of Karma from Sonbhadra of India dine with Mr. Rajiv Gandhi former Prime Minister of India and later with various political leaders. They perform their art in various part of country and did theatrical performances on stage, radio and television.

Please see the above invitation to Mrs. Rukhmaniya of Ghasia's tribal ghetto to have lunch with Prime Minister of India and Srimati Soniya Gandhi at Teen Murti Bhawan, New Delhi on 24^th November, 09.

Please see the link of the testimony of Mrs. Rukhmaniya at Utube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99kWO4-a5F8

Tear jerking and shocking reality for them as the culturally enrich indigenous people lost the life of 18 children in few months after consuming wild and poisonous grasses like "Chakwar"(botanical name not known), wild mushrooms and extremely poor quality of rice. The adults some how manage to survive the ill effects of the poisonous intake but the little children are unable to tolerate the poison and succumb to death due to the worst impact of police torture. Phool Chand, a Ghasia tribes recalled the incidence after his migration that, "In 2001 some policemen asked me to arrange two girls to satiate their carnal desire. When I showed my inability to fulfill their desire, they thrashed me so hard that my bone broke. All the men and women were beaten mercilessly by the people in Khakhi."

Not only Phool Chand but the entire group of over 55 families has to face ire of the police. Hanshu, another youth of the group showed his deformed leg and said "he has know become dependent on others for the rest of his life. We would not afford to get expensive medical treatment. He added, "a number of people were living with deformed limb due to police atrocities."

On 27^th August, 03 Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, Convener of PVCHR sent petition to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). On 29^th October, 09 NHRC forwarded the petition case no. 21997/24/2003-2004/FC to Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow stating "if the allegations are true the matter required urgent attention by the authorities". After the NHRC's intervention the district administration distributed food grain to the affected families for their survival and issued red card to them.

Please see given below URL for the response from NHRC on the petition of PVCHR http://www.scribd.com/doc/21435051/Response-From-NHRC

PVCHR supported the Ghasia's tribals with the help of the individual donor as Ms. Parul Sharma of Sweden and funding organizations as DIG, In-Went and Misereor. In 2006-2007 4 rickshaws and 100 goats were distributed for their livelihood and musical items and construct play ground and also distributed school bags and stationary to adjoin Ghasia's children with the education.

The 72 families' ghasia's are marginalized from land, water, electricity, and health and school system as internally displaced person. Several times they protested in front of district head quarter, Sonbhadra for their basic amenities. Even after several months of inauguration school has not being activated in the community center (Sushil Tripathi School and community center) by the administration.

District Magistrate of Sonbhadra, Mr. Pandhari Yadav inaugurated the school on 16^th February, 09 and on same day it was officially handed over to district administration. In his speech D.M address education is the fundamental rights and he also emphasis on the appointment of teachers in the remote area. He also appealed ghasia's to avail the Government beneficiary program. But one villager said "we are not getting all the benefit of the Government facilities"

Please see the given below URL:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/23650791/In-Aug-Ration-of-School-in-Raup-3

http://www.scribd.com/doc/23650648/In-Aug-Ration-of-School-in-Raup-2

http://www.scribd.com/doc/23650313/In-Aug-Ration-of-School-in-Raup-1

http://www.scribd.com/doc/23650182/In-Aug-Ration-of-School-in-Raup

Please see given below URL for the wishes from Commissioner of Mirzapur region, he was unable to be chief guest of the program due to his physical illness. http://www.scribd.com/doc/21436400/Wishes-From-Commissioner

On 10^th December, 09 Ms. Shruti Nagvanshi, Core Group Member, PVCHR wrote letter to District Magistrate of Sonbhadra and again on 15^th December, 09 to Basic Siksha Adhikari (BSA) Sonbhadra and Secretary Education Lucknow.

Please the given below URL of letter sent to Secretary Education of Uttar Pradesh: http://www.scribd.com/doc/10913997/Application-to-Secretary-Education-in-Relation-to-ala

Ghasia's decided to erect Martyrdom stone in the memory of those martyrs against hunger together with PVCHR. Mr. Basil Fernando, Executive Director of Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and a child poet inaugurated the martyrdom stone on 20^th January 2007 at Raup Village of Sonbhadra.

Please see the paper clipping: http://www.scribd.com/doc/23652623/on-of-Martyr

The protest monument of martyrs

The Ghasia pledged at martyrs' monument that in future this incidence will not occur- labour being their rights- they would work hard and make the area hunger free zone. However without schools, health services and employment today, 43 children are malnourished, women are suffering from anemia (lack of blood) highlighted by BBC and even covered by the various media. Please see the given below URL:

Ø http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_player.php?id=1173492

Ø http://khabar.josh18.com/news/10970/8 http://ninicf.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/raup-village-volume-2/ http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/03/blog-post.html

Ø http://khabar.josh18.com/news/10970/8

Ø http://khabar.josh18.com/videos/10970/03_2009/cjlenin1_0330

Ø http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=20070406002911100.htm&date=fl2406/&prd=fline

Ø http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2113/44/

Therefore it is kind requests kindly fulfill the given below demands to prevent further hunger death:

1. The allotment of land on the name of Ghasia tribes under 122 (4 BF) of Zamindari Abolition Act and Land Reform Act. The ghasia tribal are living on this land since 2000. District Magistrate of Sonbhadra district gave interview in NDTV the land belongs to the Forest Department (FD) http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_player.php?id=1173492 but SDM responded in the RTI shows the land belong to the playground and it is already constructed in another place. Please see the given below URL of the answer given by SDM of Sonbhadra district on the RTI to Mr. Mahesh. http://www.scribd.com/doc/23652504/Response-by-SDM-on-RTI

2. Immediate run school in Sushil Tripathi School and community center to educate children of 72 families and provide Mid Day Meal to prevent hunger and Malnutrition.

3. To activate ICDS centre.

4. High level investigation of the police beating by independent agnecy.

5. To include the name of ghasias as voters in the panchayat election. They receive voter ID card after intervention of Chief Election Commissioner of India.

6. To develop Raup as a Sankriti Gaon (cultural village) to preserve and promotion of culture and link with the livelihood.

With Warm Regards

Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi

Convener

Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)

SA 4/2 A Daulatpur, Varanasi

India

--
Dr. Lenin
Ashoka Fellow
2007 Gwanju Human Rights Awardee
Convenor-PVCHR
Mobile:+91-9935599333
Please visit:
http://www.universalrights.net/heroes/display.php3?id=101
www.pvchr.org
www.youtube.com/pvchrindia
www.pvchr.blogspot.com
www.sapf.blogspot.com
www.antiwto.blogspot.com
www.dalitwomen.blogspot.com
www.lenin-shruti.blogspot.com

My final words of advice to you are educate, agitate and organize; have faith in yourself. With justice on our side I do not see how we can loose our battle.. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is battle for freedom. It is the battle of reclamation of human personality….
Dr. B.R.Ambedkar
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." (Desmond Tutu)

This message contains information which may be confidential and privileged. Unless you are the addressee or authorised to receive for the addressee, you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail to pvchr.india@gmail.com and delete the message. Thank you.

Uncensor voice of weaver about corruption in ICICI Lombard health insurance scheme

Riyasuddin,20 year old a muslim weaver and bread earner of his family lived at C 15/382,Lallapura,Varanasi,India.It is one of the grave type of corruption which created hunger situation for marginalized weaver of India.
Please send the protest letter to Prime Minister of India at:pmosb@pmo.nic.in

We put the complain at:
http://www.consumercomplaints.in/complaints/icici-lombard-health-insurance-scheme-c298547.html

http://www.icicilombard.com/app/ilom-en/Media/pressreleases.aspx?rssID=62521

http://www.textiles.kar.nic.in/health_insurance.htm

Thursday, December 03, 2009

INDIA The scourge of Bhopal is still alive after 25 years - Asia News

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Open letter to Prime Minister of India and Member of Parliament in India

Greetings from PVCHR and Wide Angel.

The Government of India has been actively considering amendments to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). In this regard, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Amendment Bill 2009 has been listed for discussion during the ongoing winter session of the Parliament.

Pertinently the proposed amendments have not been placed in the public domain for a discussion on the same. Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and NATT alliance member Wide angle from Manipur would like to urge that AFSPA should be repealed in totality and no part of it should be inserted in any other legislation of the country.

The AFSPA grants special powers to the armed forces of the union to operate in the States of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura,Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh since 1958, and in Jammu Kashmir since 1990. Once an area is declared 'disturbed' under this Act, the armed forces of the union can arrest and detain citizens without warrant, search and destroy properties without warrant, and even use force to the extent of killing citizens on mere suspicion.

Civil society groups in these regions as well as human rights groups outside the regions have documented gross violations of human rights under this Act and have been demanding its repeal. Ms. Irom Sharmila, a Manipuri poet, has created history as she enters the tenth year of her indefinite hunger strike against the Act, despite several attempts by the state to forcibly feed her. She has been uncompromisingly demanding the repeal of this draconian law.

· India: Please take immediate action to save the life of the Female Human Rights Defender in Manipur, India.

http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/08/india-please-take-immediate-action-to_19.html

· Thanks from the mothers of Manipur to you

http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/08/thanks-from-mothers-of-manipur-to-you.html
· PVCHR actions against torture in Manipur
http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/08/pvchr-actions-against- torture-in.html

· Open letter in the matter of Manipur
http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/08/open-letter-in-matter-of-manipur_02.html

http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/08/petition-in-murder-in-plain-sight-at.html

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main42.asp?filename=Ne080809murder_in.asp

We wrote the open letter to Shri Rahul Gandhi for repeal of AFSA on 2 August 2009.Please visit:

http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/08/open-letter-in-matter-of-manipur_02.html

My personal experience in two times visits to Manipur, I gaze the behaviour of the military and the police with the common people and I also witnessed the frustration of the Manipurian people for the main land Indian. Torture and corruption by law enforcement agencies and violence by underground forces are eliminating the democratic space for democratic processes, which is converting in collapse of rule of law in Manipur fueled by the frustration and anxiety of common Manipurians.

I met the Irom Chanu Sharmila, co-awardees of Gwangju Human Rights Award from Manipur, a Northeastern province of India. Burning the fire of non-violence in the land of insurgents, Sharmila has made the extraordinary protest against a black law. She started 'fast unto death' six years back, demanding repeal of the draconian law 'Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958' (AFSPA). The Guinness Book of World Records has already recognized Sharmila as the longest surviving fasting individual in the world. According to the Guinness Book, it is the longest protest on a social cause by a single individual anywhere in the world. Sharmila was also one of the '1000 Peace Women', who were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, 2005.

In fact, the curly-haired, fair complexioned Sharmila has changed the face of protest in the insurgency torn Manipur. Located nearly 2400 km away from the national capital, the Myanmar (Burma) bordering state is home to 30 ethnic groups. Moreover Manipur nurtures near about 25 armed outfits, who are fighting New Delhi with demands ranging from sovereignty to self-determination. Sharmila completes six years of her non-violent protest on November 2. She started hunger strike immediately after the Malom massacre of November 2, 2000 in which the security personnel (of Assam Rifles) killed 10 innocent people.

During her fasting days in Manipur, Sharmila was kept in a well-guarded ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Imphal. On November 20, 2004, Prime Minster Dr Manmohan Singh assured Sharmila that the government would review the controversial law to fight insurgents in the region. Later, a review committee was constituted by the central government to review the imposition of AFPSA. However, Sharmila remained unmoved. "I will continue my non-violent agitation until my demand is fulfilled," she told government representatives.

In August 2004, Chief Minister of Manipur, Okram Ibobi Singh, tried to persuade her to give up her fast as the state government had lifted the 'Disturbed Area Act' (this act is preliminary essential to impose AFSPA somewhere) from the Imphal municipal areas. But she refused to entertain the request of the chief minister, as the decision of the cabinet was 'not up to her expectations'.
It may be mentioned that, AFSPA that is applied only in Kashmir and Northeast empowers the security forces to arrest people and enter property without warrant, and to use excessive force (including shooting or killing, even if the lives of the members of the security force are not at imminent risk). The Act facilitates impunity because no person can initiate legal action against any member of the armed forces for anything done under the Act, without permission of the central government.

AFSPA was first applied to Assam (now Asom) and Manipur and later amended in 1972 to extend to all Northeastern states (of the country), including Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. Insurgency-torn Manipur was completely placed under AFSPA in 1980. Manipur has witnessed innumerable killings ever since. Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh himself admits, "Over 12,000 security personnel and insurgents, and 8000 innocent people have lost their lives till date."

In the last decade, the armed forces have often been accused of committing brutalities under AFSPA. The brutal July 11 (2004) slaying of weaver Manorama Thangjam, 32, by the men of Assam Rifles sparked off a public outcry. When this failed to elicit any response from the authorities, grief-stricken angry women stripped naked and rattled the gates of Kangla Fort (headquarters of the Assam Rifles), demanding justice.

Born in 1972 to Irom Nanda and Irom Shakhi, Sharmila, the youngest of the 9 children, has always been considered to be very brave and sensitive. On the third day of her fast-unto-death, Sharmila was arrested by the state police and charged of attempting to commit suicide. Sharmila has been under judicial custody ever since.

In 2002, Chief Minister Singh told Sharmila that as the government would not be able to repeal the act, keeping in view the law and order situation of the state, she should withdraw her agitation. Sharmila said in reply, "I love peace very much, but first of all, we must have the right to justice." Later in the year, a frustrated Singh told the Manipur State Assembly that the state government had to spend around Rs 147,000 in two years to keep Sharmila 'alive'.
The legitimate question that may be raised here, that how can India, which prides itself as the largest democracy in the world, ignore the spirit of non-violent movement that was initiated by none other than Mahatma Gandhi?

So in this hostile situation, to provide the psychological support to the survivors of arms conflict area PVCHR – RCT with the support of Wide Angle a local organization of Manipur is organizing training of the trainer on the testimonial therapy from 10th August to 21st August, 2009. In the workshop Manual "Giving Voice" will developed in the context of the North –east region.

The imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, a draconian law pressed to use in several parts of India, in the states of Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir in particular, provides statutory impunity to the state agencies. The vires of this law was repeatedly challenged before the Supreme Court of India. Each time the Court dismissed the petition. Caught between two equally inhuman forces, the underground militants and the state agencies, the people of Manipur live as if they are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Concerns have been expressed about this situation by domestic and international agencies. For example, the National Human Rights Commission of India has repeatedly requested the Government of India and the state administration to deal with the situation of law and order in Manipur on several occasions. The annual reports of the Commission for the past four years consistently reflect this fact.
Justice B. P. Jeeven Reddy Commission, deputed to study and report to the Government of India about the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 has also highlighted this fact, in addition to recommending to the Government of India an immediate withdrawal of the law from the state. The Commission filed its report to the Government in 2005. The Prime Minister of India responded by stating in a press conference that the law will be withdrawn as early as possible. Since then nothing is heard about the governments' plan to withdraw the law. International human rights organizations have also expressed similar concerns.

The PVCHR and wide angle therefore requests you to:

1) Encourage the Government of India to immediately withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958;

2) Suggest the government to constitute an independent agency to investigate and prosecute cases of human rights violations committed by the state agencies in Manipur;

3) Recommend the government to implement the recommendations made by the Justice B. P. Jeevan Reddy Commission submitted to the government in 2005;

4) Urge the government to simultaneously find a political solution to the problems affecting the rule of law in Manipur though a process of interactive dialogue with the people and their leaders, thereby creating an environment of mutual respect and understanding.

With warm regards,

Dr. Lenin

Ashoka Fellow
2007 Gwanju Human Rights Awardee
Convenor-PVCHR
Mobile:+91-9935599333
Please visit:
http://www.universalrights.net/heroes/display.php3?id=101
www.pvchr.org
www.youtube.com/pvchrindia
www.pvchr.blogspot.com
www.sapf.blogspot.com
www.antiwto.blogspot.com
www.dalitwomen.blogspot.com
www.lenin-shruti.blogspot.com

My final words of advice to you are educate, agitate and organize; have faith in yourself. With justice on our side I do not see how we can loose our battle.. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is battle for freedom. It is the battle of reclamation of human personality….
Dr. B.R.Ambedkar
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." (Desmond Tutu)

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Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Response to NHRC from PVCHR on TB case

To,
    Deputy Registrar (Law)
    Law Division
    National Human Rights Commission
    New Delhi

Taking reference of letter no. 29878/24/72/07-08 UC dated 29^th October, 09 about the complaints from Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in the cases of eight victims of tuberculosis report. Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), a grass root organization working in Varanasi informed to AHRC about the non-hygenic living condition, absence of Public health and a number of person of weaver community in Lohta, District Varanasi are infected with tuberculosis.

Again after follow up visit to Lohta, we came to know Jubeda Begaum resident of Mahmudpur in Lohta area died last year. My mother suffered from TB, said her son Ramjan Ali, a weavers showing the medical prescription of the local microscopic centre. The family lives in a brick house that also hold a handloom unit. Most of the TB patients in Lohta area come from poor handloom weaver families, who find difficult to manage food. Jubeda Begum one of the eight victims mentioned in the petition

Besides non-hygienic living condition and the insufficient healthcare facilities are also increasing the prevalence of TB case in Lohta area was high in comparison to other places, said Dr, Ajay Kumar Gautam, who run a microscopic centre in the area. According to him, 35-50 suspected TB patients goes to the centre everyday for the sputum test and out of them 10-15 are found positive cases of TB. Beside this they are two more such centre in the area to cover over 85 villages of Kashi Vidyapith block.

Jubeda's death is not solitary case. The doctor said that these death can be prevented with the proper care and treatment fact. According to the District TB officer Dr. P.C Sharma presently 4282 patients (from April to November) are under dots in the district. He however also admitted that the number of TB cases were more in weavers dominated area in comparison to other localities.In another mail I am sending news published in Times of India.

Survey Results: AHRC / PVCHR Weaver Tuberculosis Study & Consultation (2008)

Month	# Patients Diagnosed	# With Tuberculosis	Female	Male
March	20	20	7	13
April	20	10	7	3
June	14	14	4	10
July	16	16	7	9
August	16	16	6	10
Total	86	67	31	36

Enclosure:

A copy of paper clipping published in Times of India, Varanasi.
Medical prescription of the local microscopic centre.
A study suicide and malnutrition among weavers in Varanasi.

With warm regards,

Shruti Nagvanshi