Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission is extremely concerned that, more than eight months since the mysterious death of a 24-year-old woman, no investigation has been opened, and requests to exhume the body for a post mortem have not been entertained. The young woman’s underprivileged mother has repeatedly appealed to the authorities to have it looked into. A Galle magistrate asked for a report at the beginning of the year but has not since followed up on the case, and no response has been received from the office of the Chief Justice. Please write to urge due judicial attention to the case, noting that the longer it takes, the more compromised any medical evidence will be.
UPDATED DETAILS:
R.G. Malini has repeatedly attempted to have the circumstances of her daughter’s death criminally investigated since September 2009, yet no follow up action has been taken by the relevant court. A court order is necessary for the girl’s body to be exhumed, and the investigation started.
As you can read in our original appeal UAC-174-2010, Malini was told that her daughter died of an unspecified sickness while in the service of her foster family, but she has not been able to find out anything further. She claims that her daughter, Vajira, had been reporting ill treatment at the residence for years.
After the police initially refused to file her complaint, no attempt has been made to look at or preserve the medical evidence. After the urgent appeal was forwarded to the Galle Magistrate’s Court in December 2009, with an exhumation request, a magistrate asked for Malini to file and send an affidavit. This was done within the month, and sent against in March as a reminder, but no further response has been given. The local NGO involved in the case has also written directly to the Chief Justice, and received no reply. It is important to note that any medical evidence will be compromised over time, reducing the likelihood of a successful investigation. The mother, who is a domestic helper with little means or formal education, reports feeling too scared to visit the court at present in an action against her daughter’s former minders; she is being helped by her employer.
There has also been no investigation done into the legal status under which Vajira lived as a minor with her foster family, for whom she reportedly worked. As noted in our appeal, Sri Lanka has obligations under the Conventions of the Rights of the Child which it ratified in 1991. There has also been no action taken against the officers who illegally refused to file the woman’s complaint, denying her right to access the law
Name of victim:
1. Vajira Kumari, 24, deceased
2. Ms. Malini, her mother
Negligent officials:
Officers attached to Galle Police Station, Galle Division, Southern Range
Galle Magistrate
Date of incident: 19 September 2009
Place of incident: Osanagoda, Maha Modara, Galle
I worried to hear that, more than eight months since the mysterious death of a 24-year-old woman, no investigation has been opened, and requests to exhume the body for a post mortem have not been entertained.
I understand that R.G. Malini has repeatedly attempted to have the circumstances of her daughter’s death criminally investigated since September 2009, yet no follow up action has been taken by the relevant court. A court order is currently necessary for the girl’s body to be exhumed, and the investigation started.
In 2009 Ms. Malini was told that her daughter had died of an unspecified sickness while in the service of her foster family, but she has not been able to find out anything further. She claims that her daughter, Vajira, had been reporting ill treatment at the residence for years.
After the police initially and illegally refused to file her complaint, I understand that no attempt has been made to look at or preserve the medical evidence. After the urgent appeal was forwarded to the Galle Magistrate’s Court in December 2009, with an exhumation request, a magistrate asked for Ms. Malini to file and send an affidavit. This was done within the month, and sent against in March as a reminder, but no further response has been given. The local NGO involved in the case has also written directly to the Chief Justice, and received no reply. It is important to note that any medical evidence will be compromised over time, reducing the likelihood of a successful investigation. The mother, who is a domestic helper with little means or formal education, reports feeling too scared to visit the court at present in an action against her daughter’s former minders; she is being helped by her employer.
There has also been no investigation done into the legal status under which Vajira lived as a minor with her foster family, for whom she reportedly worked. As noted in our appeal, Sri Lanka has obligations under the Conventions of the Rights of the Child which it ratified in 1991.
I also request that the negligent actions of Galle police be thoroughly looked into, in a bid to understand the extent to which the Sri Lankan system is inaccessible to those without financial means or formal education.
Yours sincerely,
----------------
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Mahinda Balasuriya
Inspector General of Police (IGP),
New Secretariat,
Colombo 1,
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440
E-mail: igp@police.lk
2. Mr. Mohan Peiris
Attorney General
Attorney General's Department,
Colombo 12,
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
3. Secretary, National Police Commission,
3rd Floor Rotunda Towers,
109 Galle Road,
Colombo 03,
SRI LANKA
Tel/Fax: +94 11 2 395960
E-mail: polcom@sltnet.lk
4. Secretary, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka,
No 108 Barnes Place,
Colombo 07
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
5. The Magistrate
Magistrate Court
Fort
Galle
SRI LANKA
6. Chief Justice,
Office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Superior Courts Complex,
Colombo-12,
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94-11-2437534
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
Visit the blog http://www.srilanka-lawlessness.com
Rule of Law in Sri Lanka: http://www.ruleoflawsrilanka.org/
Monday, June 28, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
'Rape is the result of the lack of dedicated societal attention to the safety, respect, and prosperity of women in peace time as well as in war.'
'Rape in war is deliberate military strategy'
http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100625/890/twl-rape-in-war-is-deliberate-military-s_1.html
Fri, Jun 25 02:23 PM
Washington, June 25 (IANS) Since the Second World War, the use of rape as a weapon of war has assumed strategic importance and is now a deliberate military strategy, argue researchers.
A study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo found that 16,000 rapes occurred in 2008 alone and in South Kivu province, health centres estimate that 40 women were raped in the region daily.
In the UK, 50-70 percent of female asylum applicants were raped, witnessed rape, or have a credible fear of rape.
The effects of rape and sexual violence during war also extend beyond individual victims and are economically, physically, psychologically and culturally devastating for families and communities, say study authors Coleen Kivlahan, volunteer forensic physician for HealthRight International, and Nate Ewigman from the University of Florida.
For example, in recent conflicts, rape has been used as a reward for victory in battle, a boost to troop morale, as punishment and humiliation for both men and women, to incite revenge in opposing troops, to eliminate or 'cleanse' religious or political groups and to destabilise entire communities by creating terror.
Geographical, cultural, religious, political, legal, and behavioural conditions affect the likelihood of the systematic use of rape, explain the authors.
For instance, geographically remote locations allow perpetrators to rape with impunity, while the likelihood that women will be raped, shamed and isolated is increased in cultures with strong traditions regarding virginity, marital fidelity and genital cleanliness.
Religions with strong beliefs about appropriate female clothing and behaviour also increase the risk that women will be falsely accused of adultery and raped as humiliation and punishment, they add.
The international community has mounted a considerable response to the use of rape as a weapon of war, but the authors argue that rape during armed conflict is not simply about military personnel, police or terrorists, said a HealthRight International release.
For example, before 2004, rape assailants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were primarily affiliated with the military; however, after 2004, civilian rapes increased 17-fold while rapes by armed combatants decreased by 77 percent. 'This pattern suggests a disturbing acceptance of rape among civilians,' they conclude.
'Rape is the result of the lack of dedicated societal attention to the safety, respect, and prosperity of women in peace time as well as in war.'
http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100625/890/twl-rape-in-war-is-deliberate-military-s_1.html
Fri, Jun 25 02:23 PM
Washington, June 25 (IANS) Since the Second World War, the use of rape as a weapon of war has assumed strategic importance and is now a deliberate military strategy, argue researchers.
A study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo found that 16,000 rapes occurred in 2008 alone and in South Kivu province, health centres estimate that 40 women were raped in the region daily.
In the UK, 50-70 percent of female asylum applicants were raped, witnessed rape, or have a credible fear of rape.
The effects of rape and sexual violence during war also extend beyond individual victims and are economically, physically, psychologically and culturally devastating for families and communities, say study authors Coleen Kivlahan, volunteer forensic physician for HealthRight International, and Nate Ewigman from the University of Florida.
For example, in recent conflicts, rape has been used as a reward for victory in battle, a boost to troop morale, as punishment and humiliation for both men and women, to incite revenge in opposing troops, to eliminate or 'cleanse' religious or political groups and to destabilise entire communities by creating terror.
Geographical, cultural, religious, political, legal, and behavioural conditions affect the likelihood of the systematic use of rape, explain the authors.
For instance, geographically remote locations allow perpetrators to rape with impunity, while the likelihood that women will be raped, shamed and isolated is increased in cultures with strong traditions regarding virginity, marital fidelity and genital cleanliness.
Religions with strong beliefs about appropriate female clothing and behaviour also increase the risk that women will be falsely accused of adultery and raped as humiliation and punishment, they add.
The international community has mounted a considerable response to the use of rape as a weapon of war, but the authors argue that rape during armed conflict is not simply about military personnel, police or terrorists, said a HealthRight International release.
For example, before 2004, rape assailants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were primarily affiliated with the military; however, after 2004, civilian rapes increased 17-fold while rapes by armed combatants decreased by 77 percent. 'This pattern suggests a disturbing acceptance of rape among civilians,' they conclude.
'Rape is the result of the lack of dedicated societal attention to the safety, respect, and prosperity of women in peace time as well as in war.'
Khap Panchayats dictate your choice of life partner. Beware!
http://silverscreening.blogspot.com/2010/06/khap-panchayats-dictate-your-choice-of.html
Khap Panchayats dictate your choice of life partner. Beware!
Are you married? Or are you planning to marry? Did you know your girlfriend just might be your sister?! Yes, if the Khap Panchayats are to be believed then an astonishing number of married couples have figured in their list of an unnatural marriage between a brother and sister.
Background
A little background, before we get into it: The Khap Panchayats were formed in ancient times as an administration system. To simplify things villages around one geographical area became one Khap. It was like a democratic electorate that tried to resolve problems and provide constructive ideas for the development of their people.
In today’s times however things have deteriorated. The Khap Panchayat is now a self-proclaimed justice system, with a set of ‘rules’ and ‘acceptable behavioural norms’ based on certain people’s perception/ interpretation of tradition and the morally just. It now decides who can be given their personal version of a ‘fatwa’ and killed in the name of religion and morals.
What’s Gotra?
The main issue is the ‘gotra’ – which is essentially lineage defined usually by tracing the male line of descent.
One interpretation on the web, which talks of the gotra as part of the Vedic period is: “In general, gotra denotes all persons who trace descent in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as ' apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram' (IV. 1. 162), which means 'the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son. When a person says ' I am Kashypasa-gotra' he means that he traces his descent from the ancient sage Kashyapa by unbroken male descent.” Source: http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html.
Just to clarify, the concept of gotra does not apply only to Brahmins; this meaning is for your understanding of the concept of gotra / lineage.
So, the issue is?
So, now if you have a couple that can trace back their lineage to same fore-father, then by that concept the Khap Panchayat makes you siblings. Marriage, they say, will be a violation of societal norms. And, if you go against them, they will have your life taken! These are “socially justifiable” ‘Honour Killings’. (for god knows whose honour!)
Now the issue is, the gotra started in the Rig Veda era, which means a gazzilion years ago, and to be honest we are all descendents of a few humans who started life on the Earth. The Bible calls them Adam and Eve. So yeah, by that standard we are all related! Of course, we do not know, or care. If we did, one we wouldn’t have multiplied at this amazing rate and second, we pretty much wouldn’t be warring and bombing our own siblings. Ok, digressing here. But you get the picture.
What logic, boss!
The concept of now murdering innocent loved ones is stupid. And what is worse is that many a time, the parents, brothers and other family members are involved in the actual act of violence! Then they come on the news at nine and proudly say, “Poor us, we had to kill them. We cannot expose our future generation to such morally vicious acts committed in the name of love.” Yes guys, but telling your kids that murder is ok in the name of religion, is perfectly fine. Yes, yes, sir such amazing logic! Why did we not think of this earlier? Bush Junior could have used that excuse, instead of lying about invisible WMDs (weapons of mass destruction)!
The fact is that the Khap Panchayat has disrespected even the Supreme Court’s recent guilty verdict on the murder of a young couple ordered by these ‘vigilantes’. They say the Constitution needs to change to accommodate their views: Change the Hindu Marriage Act, and add the gotra bit to make a million marriages impossble. Kill love. Yahoo!
It is shocking their logic has influenced people in a modern city like Delhi, India, to commit such crimes. What has happened to the law? We can’t seem to give justice to anyone. Not to the Bhopalis, not to the 26/11 victims, not to the innocent couples…. GOI needs to declare the organisation illegal and not only arrest, but punish the offenders. Enough of this buffoonery.
Further reading
Just for further reading this is National Human Rights Commission’s take on the subject from their website http://nhrc.nic.in/dispArchive.asp?fno=2064:
NHRC's statement on the alleged diktats of Khap Panchayats
New Delhi, May 13th, 2010
The National Human Rights Commission has taken note of media reports alleging that the Khap (Caste) Panchayats in Haryana are indulging in acts of violence against the Hindu couples marrying in the same gotra. It has also taken note of their alleged demand of an amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act, banning the marriages in the same gotra on the ground that such marriages will amount to marriage between a brother and a sister unacceptable among Hindus as per tradition.
The Commission is of the view that no one has the right to take law in his hand by violating an individual's right to life in the name of tradition.
The Commission has issued notices to the public authorities wherein complaints or media reports have alleged violence against the couples married in the same gotra or inter-caste in parts of Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, and has asked them to take action against those responsible for such acts violating the human rights of the people.
It has also asked the concerned State Authorities in Uttar Pradesh in a particular case of this nature to inform the Commission about the steps taken by them to deal with such issues for preventing interference by the Khap Panchayat in the Criminal Justice System (Case No. 16755/24/2005-06-WC).
The issue of amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act, banning same gotra marriages is a subject matter of wider debate keeping in view the national perspective on the social, cultural and traditional aspects, as well as an individual's right to liberty as enshrined in the Constitution.
Khap Panchayats dictate your choice of life partner. Beware!
Are you married? Or are you planning to marry? Did you know your girlfriend just might be your sister?! Yes, if the Khap Panchayats are to be believed then an astonishing number of married couples have figured in their list of an unnatural marriage between a brother and sister.
Background
A little background, before we get into it: The Khap Panchayats were formed in ancient times as an administration system. To simplify things villages around one geographical area became one Khap. It was like a democratic electorate that tried to resolve problems and provide constructive ideas for the development of their people.
In today’s times however things have deteriorated. The Khap Panchayat is now a self-proclaimed justice system, with a set of ‘rules’ and ‘acceptable behavioural norms’ based on certain people’s perception/ interpretation of tradition and the morally just. It now decides who can be given their personal version of a ‘fatwa’ and killed in the name of religion and morals.
What’s Gotra?
The main issue is the ‘gotra’ – which is essentially lineage defined usually by tracing the male line of descent.
One interpretation on the web, which talks of the gotra as part of the Vedic period is: “In general, gotra denotes all persons who trace descent in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as ' apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram' (IV. 1. 162), which means 'the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son. When a person says ' I am Kashypasa-gotra' he means that he traces his descent from the ancient sage Kashyapa by unbroken male descent.” Source: http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html.
Just to clarify, the concept of gotra does not apply only to Brahmins; this meaning is for your understanding of the concept of gotra / lineage.
So, the issue is?
So, now if you have a couple that can trace back their lineage to same fore-father, then by that concept the Khap Panchayat makes you siblings. Marriage, they say, will be a violation of societal norms. And, if you go against them, they will have your life taken! These are “socially justifiable” ‘Honour Killings’. (for god knows whose honour!)
Now the issue is, the gotra started in the Rig Veda era, which means a gazzilion years ago, and to be honest we are all descendents of a few humans who started life on the Earth. The Bible calls them Adam and Eve. So yeah, by that standard we are all related! Of course, we do not know, or care. If we did, one we wouldn’t have multiplied at this amazing rate and second, we pretty much wouldn’t be warring and bombing our own siblings. Ok, digressing here. But you get the picture.
What logic, boss!
The concept of now murdering innocent loved ones is stupid. And what is worse is that many a time, the parents, brothers and other family members are involved in the actual act of violence! Then they come on the news at nine and proudly say, “Poor us, we had to kill them. We cannot expose our future generation to such morally vicious acts committed in the name of love.” Yes guys, but telling your kids that murder is ok in the name of religion, is perfectly fine. Yes, yes, sir such amazing logic! Why did we not think of this earlier? Bush Junior could have used that excuse, instead of lying about invisible WMDs (weapons of mass destruction)!
The fact is that the Khap Panchayat has disrespected even the Supreme Court’s recent guilty verdict on the murder of a young couple ordered by these ‘vigilantes’. They say the Constitution needs to change to accommodate their views: Change the Hindu Marriage Act, and add the gotra bit to make a million marriages impossble. Kill love. Yahoo!
It is shocking their logic has influenced people in a modern city like Delhi, India, to commit such crimes. What has happened to the law? We can’t seem to give justice to anyone. Not to the Bhopalis, not to the 26/11 victims, not to the innocent couples…. GOI needs to declare the organisation illegal and not only arrest, but punish the offenders. Enough of this buffoonery.
Further reading
Just for further reading this is National Human Rights Commission’s take on the subject from their website http://nhrc.nic.in/dispArchive.asp?fno=2064:
NHRC's statement on the alleged diktats of Khap Panchayats
New Delhi, May 13th, 2010
The National Human Rights Commission has taken note of media reports alleging that the Khap (Caste) Panchayats in Haryana are indulging in acts of violence against the Hindu couples marrying in the same gotra. It has also taken note of their alleged demand of an amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act, banning the marriages in the same gotra on the ground that such marriages will amount to marriage between a brother and a sister unacceptable among Hindus as per tradition.
The Commission is of the view that no one has the right to take law in his hand by violating an individual's right to life in the name of tradition.
The Commission has issued notices to the public authorities wherein complaints or media reports have alleged violence against the couples married in the same gotra or inter-caste in parts of Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, and has asked them to take action against those responsible for such acts violating the human rights of the people.
It has also asked the concerned State Authorities in Uttar Pradesh in a particular case of this nature to inform the Commission about the steps taken by them to deal with such issues for preventing interference by the Khap Panchayat in the Criminal Justice System (Case No. 16755/24/2005-06-WC).
The issue of amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act, banning same gotra marriages is a subject matter of wider debate keeping in view the national perspective on the social, cultural and traditional aspects, as well as an individual's right to liberty as enshrined in the Constitution.
India’s relations with Myanmar fail to address human rights concerns in run up to elections
http://amnesty.org
India’s relations with Myanmar fail to address human rights concerns in run up to elections
Amnesty International calls on the Government of India as a regional leader, to use its influence to improve the human rights situation in Myanmar in advance of the upcoming elections.
With Myanmar’s first elections in two decades approaching, the three freedoms - of expression, association and peaceful assembly - essential for people to freely participate in the political process, are increasingly being denied. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is one of some 2,200 political prisoners in Myanmar. None of them will be able to participate in this year’s elections under new election laws - laws that the Indian government has failed to condemn.
The Government of India claims to follow a ‘constructive’ approach in promoting human rights
improvements in Myanmar. However, its response to the dire state of human rights in the country has been increasingly inadequate.
By disassociating itself from the recent critical resolution on Myanmar’s terrible human rights
record at the United Nations Human Rights Council, while issuing the anodyne call for elections to be ‘inclusive and broad based’, the Government of India has ignored the reality on the ground the resolution looked to address.
Political repression is also occurring against a backdrop of widespread and systematic violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by the Myanmar army in its campaign against ethnic minorities.
While India suspended most shipments of military hardware to Myanmar in late 2006, it is
reportedly considering a resumption of its arms sales. Its opposition to a global arms embargo on Myanmar makes its reluctance to support wider sanctions, supposedly based on the harm they would do to the wider population, disingenuous. Amnesty International calls on the Government of India to maintain its current suspension of military transfers to Myanmar.
Myanmar’s other neighbours have in some crucial instances taken a stronger stance than India. Singaporean Foreign Minister, George Yeo, in a statement after the ASEAN Summit on 9 April 2010, complained of the obstacles ASEAN faces in acting on Myanmar due to the stances of both India and China. In October 2007 during the popular protests against the Myanmar government, ASEAN - chaired then by Singapore - expressed “revulsion” at the brutal crackdown. India expressed only “concern”.
In May 2008 after the devastating Cyclone Nargis, many in the international community, including China and ASEAN, raised the Myanmar government’s failure to assist the 2.5 million survivors. India instead ‘saluted’ the people and government for their resilience and called for the aid process to be ‘apolitical’, ignoring the fact that Myanmar’s leaders had already politicised aid by blocking much-needed assistance.
India’s role in the “Group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Myanmar” at the UN is a small step in the right direction but much more is needed. To participate in the group but to be silent unilaterally at best weakens India’s ability to help effect positive change in Myanmar, and at worst sends a mixed message that could be interpreted as tacit endorsement of the human rights violations taking place.
The numerous human rights violations documented by Amnesty International and many others during periods of heightened political dissent in Myanmar indicate the need to focus on upholding human rights during the upcoming election period.
As the Myanmar elections approach Amnesty International urges the Government of India to
publicly call for the three freedoms - of expression, association and peaceful assembly - to be
guaranteed throughout the election period. This is the time to show true human rights leadership as befits a key regional player – and not the time for silence.
India’s relations with Myanmar fail to address human rights concerns in run up to elections
Amnesty International calls on the Government of India as a regional leader, to use its influence to improve the human rights situation in Myanmar in advance of the upcoming elections.
With Myanmar’s first elections in two decades approaching, the three freedoms - of expression, association and peaceful assembly - essential for people to freely participate in the political process, are increasingly being denied. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is one of some 2,200 political prisoners in Myanmar. None of them will be able to participate in this year’s elections under new election laws - laws that the Indian government has failed to condemn.
The Government of India claims to follow a ‘constructive’ approach in promoting human rights
improvements in Myanmar. However, its response to the dire state of human rights in the country has been increasingly inadequate.
By disassociating itself from the recent critical resolution on Myanmar’s terrible human rights
record at the United Nations Human Rights Council, while issuing the anodyne call for elections to be ‘inclusive and broad based’, the Government of India has ignored the reality on the ground the resolution looked to address.
Political repression is also occurring against a backdrop of widespread and systematic violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by the Myanmar army in its campaign against ethnic minorities.
While India suspended most shipments of military hardware to Myanmar in late 2006, it is
reportedly considering a resumption of its arms sales. Its opposition to a global arms embargo on Myanmar makes its reluctance to support wider sanctions, supposedly based on the harm they would do to the wider population, disingenuous. Amnesty International calls on the Government of India to maintain its current suspension of military transfers to Myanmar.
Myanmar’s other neighbours have in some crucial instances taken a stronger stance than India. Singaporean Foreign Minister, George Yeo, in a statement after the ASEAN Summit on 9 April 2010, complained of the obstacles ASEAN faces in acting on Myanmar due to the stances of both India and China. In October 2007 during the popular protests against the Myanmar government, ASEAN - chaired then by Singapore - expressed “revulsion” at the brutal crackdown. India expressed only “concern”.
In May 2008 after the devastating Cyclone Nargis, many in the international community, including China and ASEAN, raised the Myanmar government’s failure to assist the 2.5 million survivors. India instead ‘saluted’ the people and government for their resilience and called for the aid process to be ‘apolitical’, ignoring the fact that Myanmar’s leaders had already politicised aid by blocking much-needed assistance.
India’s role in the “Group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Myanmar” at the UN is a small step in the right direction but much more is needed. To participate in the group but to be silent unilaterally at best weakens India’s ability to help effect positive change in Myanmar, and at worst sends a mixed message that could be interpreted as tacit endorsement of the human rights violations taking place.
The numerous human rights violations documented by Amnesty International and many others during periods of heightened political dissent in Myanmar indicate the need to focus on upholding human rights during the upcoming election period.
As the Myanmar elections approach Amnesty International urges the Government of India to
publicly call for the three freedoms - of expression, association and peaceful assembly - to be
guaranteed throughout the election period. This is the time to show true human rights leadership as befits a key regional player – and not the time for silence.
How $37.68 a day could have saved Bhopal
http://news.rediff.com/special/2010/jun/25/how-37-dollars-a-day-could-have-saved-bhopal.htm
The entire Bhopal saga was witnessed from close quarters by Rajkumar Keswani, an outstanding journalist who had in fact foreseen this catastrophe. His work proves that the tragedy of Bhopal started much before December 3, 1984.
Two years before the Union Carbide factory leaked killer gas, he wrote in a weekly magazine called Rapat (news): Bhopal jwalamukhi ki kagaar par (Bhopal on the edge of a volcano).
Keswani witnessed the entire saga of deception of the victims of Bhopal by the Indian and American governments and multinational corporations. He narrates how Union Carbide Corporation's fatal cost-cutting measures sealed Bhopal's fate.
Who did what to cause the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster? A question that has been answered a million times -- Union Carbide's cost cutting mission. The same question has been denied a million times as well. Also, who denies it is a million dollar question. Union Carbide Corporation of the US denies it based on its propounded theory that Union Carbide India [ Images ] Limited was 'miraculously' an independent subsidiary.
Damning documentary evidence, in possession of the author since the past 26 years, would never tally with UCC's statement. Obviously, it is too much of a discomfort for UCC and Dow Chemicals, the new owner of the killer company.
It has never been a secret that the company's Indian subsidiary UCIL was given birth, nurtured and operated through remote control by UCC via its Eastern wing at Hong Kong, Union Carbide (Eastern). And logically so, since UCC held the majority stake in that subsidiary too.
What remote control, could be a question. One glaring example of how the Bhopal plant was operated in consultation with UCC on a day-to-day basis would be the answer. The exchange of telex messages in August-September 1984, a few months ahead of the disaster, between UCIL and UCC officials speaks volumes on this count.
The issue in question is the use of 'gasket filler materials' for the Bhopal plant.
On August 27, 1984, Works Manager J Mukund -- one of the seven sentenced to two years in jail for the criminal negligence in causing the disaster -- sent a telex message to C D Miller of the UCC at the Institute plant in the US.
I reproduce both the telex copies here, as they are:
BHOPAL TLX 1588
27 AUGUST 1984
TO: MR CD MILLER, BLDG 507, INSTITUTE PLANT UCAPCO
PIPING SPECIFICATIONS IN CHLORINE/PHOSGENE/MIC AREAS CALL FOR FILLED SPIRAL WOUND FLEXITALLIC TYPE GASKETS
FILLER MATERIAL SPECIFIED IS TEFLON IN SOME CASES AND ASBESTOS IN OTHERS
WE WOULD LIKE TO STANDARDISE ON ASBESTOS AS FILLER TO REDUCE VARIETIES STOCKED AND COST
HAVE ALREADY SUBSTITUTED ASBESTOS FOR TEFLON IN SOME CASES DUE TO STOCKOUTS AND SEE NO ILL EFFECTS
WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR VIEWS ON THIS
REGARDS
J MUKUND BHOPAL
PLS RD XXXX
SECOND LAST PARA PLS READ AS TEFLON IN SOME CASES
Before moving ahead for the response to this telex message, seeking a change in certain specifications made by UCC earlier for the Bhopal plant, one has to note the occurrence of two words 'COST' and 'EXPENSIVE' in the two telex copies.
Strangely enough, UCC took 15 days to respond to this query -- a well thought out response. The response telex is not from Miller, to whom the original query was sent, but C S Tyson. Miller happened to be one of the three persons at UCC to whom the copy had been marked.
Now the response telex:
ING0007 ING00003 4808Z) 09/12 0858/0903
TELEX TO MR. J. MUKUND UCIL BHOPAL PLANT(BOM)
In response to your telex, dated August 27,1984, regarding spiral wound gasket filler materials, we at the Institute plant have in the past substituted asbestos as a filler materials for spiral would gaskets for the following UCC pipe specifications, 1E13, 6E1, 7C1 and 41E1. We have not had a recordable incident attributed to substituting asbestos for Teflon as a gasket filler.
The best gasket filler material we have tested to date, for sealability and temperature jis(is) Grafoil. I would expect spiral wound Grafoil filled gaskets to be too expensive and too difficult for you to acquire.
The piping specifications for your location can be revised to reflect your decision.
C.S.Tyson
Cc: C.D.Miller
H.J.Karwan
B.D.Mollohan
So the 'independent' Indian subsidiary of UCC had to consult the 'sovereign' parent company at each and every level, on a day-to-day basis. Even in case of replacing one material to other in the plant.
What is more important in this case is not just the role of UCC in daily operations, it is the role of UCC in cost-cutting measures, which finally led to disaster. UCIL had started making losses in those years in the '80s. In an attempt to go from red to black, a heavy cost-cutting drive was launched in the plant -- a drive, conceived and led under the leadership of UCC.
A document dated February 24, 1984, marked as 'confidential', is an exchange between R Natrajan and J B Law, vice-president and chairman respectively for Union Carbide Eastern (Hong Kong) discussing the prevailing severe financial crisis at UCIL and the measures to overcome that.
The document says: 'A major OIP (Operation Improvement Programme) effort, including reduction of 335 men, resulted in $1.25m annual cost saving in 1983 but future savings will not be easy.'
It also has a question: 'What is UCC going to do to resolve this problem?'
The answer to this question was 'more cost-cutting' -- this time compromising its already slack safety systems and risking the lives of an entire city population. One such measure to save money was putting off the refrigeration system, which was supposed to keep the volatile MIC gas cool.
The Methyl Isocyanate plant operation manual clearly states: '…keep circulation of storage contents continuously 'ON' through the refrigeration unit and maintain tank temperature below 5 degrees C (Celsius). Set temperature to sound an alarm at 11 degrees C.'
But the temperature in the MIC tank on that fateful night did rise to over 200 degrees Celsius, converting its contents into a death cloud over the town of Bhopal.
And yes, for record's sake, the cost saved by the Union Carbide on the Freon gas required for running the refrigeration system was $37.68 per day. That $37.68 spent on that particular night could have, perhaps, saved several thousand lives.
The entire Bhopal saga was witnessed from close quarters by Rajkumar Keswani, an outstanding journalist who had in fact foreseen this catastrophe. His work proves that the tragedy of Bhopal started much before December 3, 1984.
Two years before the Union Carbide factory leaked killer gas, he wrote in a weekly magazine called Rapat (news): Bhopal jwalamukhi ki kagaar par (Bhopal on the edge of a volcano).
Keswani witnessed the entire saga of deception of the victims of Bhopal by the Indian and American governments and multinational corporations. He narrates how Union Carbide Corporation's fatal cost-cutting measures sealed Bhopal's fate.
Who did what to cause the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster? A question that has been answered a million times -- Union Carbide's cost cutting mission. The same question has been denied a million times as well. Also, who denies it is a million dollar question. Union Carbide Corporation of the US denies it based on its propounded theory that Union Carbide India [ Images ] Limited was 'miraculously' an independent subsidiary.
Damning documentary evidence, in possession of the author since the past 26 years, would never tally with UCC's statement. Obviously, it is too much of a discomfort for UCC and Dow Chemicals, the new owner of the killer company.
It has never been a secret that the company's Indian subsidiary UCIL was given birth, nurtured and operated through remote control by UCC via its Eastern wing at Hong Kong, Union Carbide (Eastern). And logically so, since UCC held the majority stake in that subsidiary too.
What remote control, could be a question. One glaring example of how the Bhopal plant was operated in consultation with UCC on a day-to-day basis would be the answer. The exchange of telex messages in August-September 1984, a few months ahead of the disaster, between UCIL and UCC officials speaks volumes on this count.
The issue in question is the use of 'gasket filler materials' for the Bhopal plant.
On August 27, 1984, Works Manager J Mukund -- one of the seven sentenced to two years in jail for the criminal negligence in causing the disaster -- sent a telex message to C D Miller of the UCC at the Institute plant in the US.
I reproduce both the telex copies here, as they are:
BHOPAL TLX 1588
27 AUGUST 1984
TO: MR CD MILLER, BLDG 507, INSTITUTE PLANT UCAPCO
PIPING SPECIFICATIONS IN CHLORINE/PHOSGENE/MIC AREAS CALL FOR FILLED SPIRAL WOUND FLEXITALLIC TYPE GASKETS
FILLER MATERIAL SPECIFIED IS TEFLON IN SOME CASES AND ASBESTOS IN OTHERS
WE WOULD LIKE TO STANDARDISE ON ASBESTOS AS FILLER TO REDUCE VARIETIES STOCKED AND COST
HAVE ALREADY SUBSTITUTED ASBESTOS FOR TEFLON IN SOME CASES DUE TO STOCKOUTS AND SEE NO ILL EFFECTS
WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR VIEWS ON THIS
REGARDS
J MUKUND BHOPAL
PLS RD XXXX
SECOND LAST PARA PLS READ AS TEFLON IN SOME CASES
Before moving ahead for the response to this telex message, seeking a change in certain specifications made by UCC earlier for the Bhopal plant, one has to note the occurrence of two words 'COST' and 'EXPENSIVE' in the two telex copies.
Strangely enough, UCC took 15 days to respond to this query -- a well thought out response. The response telex is not from Miller, to whom the original query was sent, but C S Tyson. Miller happened to be one of the three persons at UCC to whom the copy had been marked.
Now the response telex:
ING0007 ING00003 4808Z) 09/12 0858/0903
TELEX TO MR. J. MUKUND UCIL BHOPAL PLANT(BOM)
In response to your telex, dated August 27,1984, regarding spiral wound gasket filler materials, we at the Institute plant have in the past substituted asbestos as a filler materials for spiral would gaskets for the following UCC pipe specifications, 1E13, 6E1, 7C1 and 41E1. We have not had a recordable incident attributed to substituting asbestos for Teflon as a gasket filler.
The best gasket filler material we have tested to date, for sealability and temperature jis(is) Grafoil. I would expect spiral wound Grafoil filled gaskets to be too expensive and too difficult for you to acquire.
The piping specifications for your location can be revised to reflect your decision.
C.S.Tyson
Cc: C.D.Miller
H.J.Karwan
B.D.Mollohan
So the 'independent' Indian subsidiary of UCC had to consult the 'sovereign' parent company at each and every level, on a day-to-day basis. Even in case of replacing one material to other in the plant.
What is more important in this case is not just the role of UCC in daily operations, it is the role of UCC in cost-cutting measures, which finally led to disaster. UCIL had started making losses in those years in the '80s. In an attempt to go from red to black, a heavy cost-cutting drive was launched in the plant -- a drive, conceived and led under the leadership of UCC.
A document dated February 24, 1984, marked as 'confidential', is an exchange between R Natrajan and J B Law, vice-president and chairman respectively for Union Carbide Eastern (Hong Kong) discussing the prevailing severe financial crisis at UCIL and the measures to overcome that.
The document says: 'A major OIP (Operation Improvement Programme) effort, including reduction of 335 men, resulted in $1.25m annual cost saving in 1983 but future savings will not be easy.'
It also has a question: 'What is UCC going to do to resolve this problem?'
The answer to this question was 'more cost-cutting' -- this time compromising its already slack safety systems and risking the lives of an entire city population. One such measure to save money was putting off the refrigeration system, which was supposed to keep the volatile MIC gas cool.
The Methyl Isocyanate plant operation manual clearly states: '…keep circulation of storage contents continuously 'ON' through the refrigeration unit and maintain tank temperature below 5 degrees C (Celsius). Set temperature to sound an alarm at 11 degrees C.'
But the temperature in the MIC tank on that fateful night did rise to over 200 degrees Celsius, converting its contents into a death cloud over the town of Bhopal.
And yes, for record's sake, the cost saved by the Union Carbide on the Freon gas required for running the refrigeration system was $37.68 per day. That $37.68 spent on that particular night could have, perhaps, saved several thousand lives.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster
The Bhopal disaster or Bhopal Gas Tragedy is the world's worst ever industrial catastrophe and occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. At that time, UCIL was the Indian subsidiary of the U.S. company Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), which is now a subsidiary of Dow Chemical Company. Around midnight on December 2–3, 1984, there was a leak of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas and other toxins from the plant, resulting in the exposure of over 500,000 people. Estimates vary on the death toll. The official immediate death toll was 2,259 and the government of Madhya Pradesh has confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related to the gas release.[1] Other government agencies estimate 15,000 deaths.[2] Others estimate that 8,000 died within the first weeks and that another 8,000 have since died from gas-related diseases.[3][4]
Some 25 years after the gas leak, 390 tons of toxic chemicals abandoned at the UCIL plant continue to leak and pollute the groundwater in the region and affect thousands of Bhopal residents who depend on it,[5][6][7] though there is some dispute as to whether the chemicals still stored at the site pose any continuing health hazard.[2]
Over two decades since the tragedy, certain civil and criminal cases remain pending in the United States District Court, Manhattan and the District Court of Bhopal, India, against Union Carbide, (now owned by Dow Chemical Company), with an Indian arrest warrant also pending against Warren Anderson, CEO of Union Carbide at the time of the disaster.[8][9] Greenpeace asserts that as the Union Carbide CEO, Anderson knew about a 1982 safety audit of the Bhopal plant, which identified 30 major hazards and that they were not fixed in Bhopal but were fixed at the company's identical plant in the US. In June 2010, seven ex-employees, including the former chairman of UCIL, were convicted in Bhopal of causing death by negligence and sentenced to two years imprisonment and a fine of about $2,000 each, the maximum punishment allowed by law. An eighth former employee was also convicted but had died before judgment was passed.[10]
The Bhopal disaster or Bhopal Gas Tragedy is the world's worst ever industrial catastrophe and occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. At that time, UCIL was the Indian subsidiary of the U.S. company Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), which is now a subsidiary of Dow Chemical Company. Around midnight on December 2–3, 1984, there was a leak of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas and other toxins from the plant, resulting in the exposure of over 500,000 people. Estimates vary on the death toll. The official immediate death toll was 2,259 and the government of Madhya Pradesh has confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related to the gas release.[1] Other government agencies estimate 15,000 deaths.[2] Others estimate that 8,000 died within the first weeks and that another 8,000 have since died from gas-related diseases.[3][4]
Some 25 years after the gas leak, 390 tons of toxic chemicals abandoned at the UCIL plant continue to leak and pollute the groundwater in the region and affect thousands of Bhopal residents who depend on it,[5][6][7] though there is some dispute as to whether the chemicals still stored at the site pose any continuing health hazard.[2]
Over two decades since the tragedy, certain civil and criminal cases remain pending in the United States District Court, Manhattan and the District Court of Bhopal, India, against Union Carbide, (now owned by Dow Chemical Company), with an Indian arrest warrant also pending against Warren Anderson, CEO of Union Carbide at the time of the disaster.[8][9] Greenpeace asserts that as the Union Carbide CEO, Anderson knew about a 1982 safety audit of the Bhopal plant, which identified 30 major hazards and that they were not fixed in Bhopal but were fixed at the company's identical plant in the US. In June 2010, seven ex-employees, including the former chairman of UCIL, were convicted in Bhopal of causing death by negligence and sentenced to two years imprisonment and a fine of about $2,000 each, the maximum punishment allowed by law. An eighth former employee was also convicted but had died before judgment was passed.[10]
Monday, June 21, 2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/journalismcompetition/killing-india-poor-with-impunity Killing India's Poor With Impunity
http://www.guardian.co.uk/journalismcompetition/killing-india-poor-with-impunity
Killing India's Poor With Impunity
"You can beat me with 10 lathis (sticks) or I can give you 10,000 rupees but please don't involve me in fake cases," begged Pahallu Musahar to the police as he burst into tears.
The police from one of the stations in Uttar Pradesh had come to Pahallu's house to enquire about his absconding brother Umesh. Umesh was allegedly involved in criminal activities, but unable to find him, the police decided to target his family for information. They were unrelenting in their brutality.
The police ignored Pahallu's pleas that the family had lost touch with Umesh. Instead, Pahallu was beaten, tortured and then thrown into prison for a month and seven days. He now faces charges in two fake cases – one for possessing drugs and another for making cartridges for guns.
During the last decade when India's status as an emerging power and a vibrant democracy have been heralded around the world, the poor in India have experienced a much greater degree of police violence and a serious erosion of their civil and political rights.
For the poor in India, Pahallu's story is all too commonplace - the midnight knock, the brutality at the police station, the long, Kafkaesque slog in a court of law or increasingly now, simply a gun-shot. Pahallu could have ended up in an "encounter" with the police, a sinister euphemism in India for extra-judicial killings.
Since the year 2000, across India, from Kashmir in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south there has been a 41.66% rise in the number of custodial killings according to statistics released by the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) in New Delhi.
"It is the aam aadmi (common man) who are (sic) the majority victims of torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment. However, the UPA government has failed to address the issue of torture and other human rights violations," said Suhas Chakma, Director, ACHR.
The statistics on poverty in India vary, but the figure hovers anywhere between 26% – 42% of a population of 1.1bn. For a majority of these people Indian democracy offers no freedom and the Indian constitution offers no equality. Already experiencing the structural violence of caste prejudice, poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition, the police compound their misery by offering little or no access to justice.
The spread of the Naxal insurgency through district after district in rural India is a testimony to the failure of state institutions and the police in particular.
A report submitted by an Expert Group to the Planning Commission of India, titled 'Development Challenges in Extremist Affected Areas' discusses how current police practices have made the Naxal movement attractive for people in rural areas. "The movement does provide protection to the weak against the powerful" something the police have failed hopelessly to do. The report adds that the weaker sections of society, "have no faith that justice will be done to them against the powerful."
Yet there is a deafening silence from the middle class about such police brutality against the poor. "There is so much crime that the middle class conscience also approves of such "encounters". What do you do?" asks Sudha Ramalingam, National Vice-President of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).
In militarised states like Kashmir and Manipur the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has given the military sweeping powers to kill people with complete impunity. But even in states like Tamil Nadu which have a relatively better law and order situation, police behaviour has become more and more brazen. Henry Tiphagne, Executive Director of NGO People's Watch, in an affidavit filed before the Madras High Court, says, "Most of those killed in "encounters" are persons with a history of criminal involvement who were not convicted. Police thus act as vigilantes, bypassing the criminal justice system and Courts of law, to exact their brand of justice."
"I thought the police would kill me in an encounter," Pahallu Musahar later told the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR). He and his family live like pariahs in their community today because people look at them suspiciously, but just being alive has been a fate more fortunate than that of many others.
Killing India's Poor With Impunity
"You can beat me with 10 lathis (sticks) or I can give you 10,000 rupees but please don't involve me in fake cases," begged Pahallu Musahar to the police as he burst into tears.
The police from one of the stations in Uttar Pradesh had come to Pahallu's house to enquire about his absconding brother Umesh. Umesh was allegedly involved in criminal activities, but unable to find him, the police decided to target his family for information. They were unrelenting in their brutality.
The police ignored Pahallu's pleas that the family had lost touch with Umesh. Instead, Pahallu was beaten, tortured and then thrown into prison for a month and seven days. He now faces charges in two fake cases – one for possessing drugs and another for making cartridges for guns.
During the last decade when India's status as an emerging power and a vibrant democracy have been heralded around the world, the poor in India have experienced a much greater degree of police violence and a serious erosion of their civil and political rights.
For the poor in India, Pahallu's story is all too commonplace - the midnight knock, the brutality at the police station, the long, Kafkaesque slog in a court of law or increasingly now, simply a gun-shot. Pahallu could have ended up in an "encounter" with the police, a sinister euphemism in India for extra-judicial killings.
Since the year 2000, across India, from Kashmir in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south there has been a 41.66% rise in the number of custodial killings according to statistics released by the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) in New Delhi.
"It is the aam aadmi (common man) who are (sic) the majority victims of torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment. However, the UPA government has failed to address the issue of torture and other human rights violations," said Suhas Chakma, Director, ACHR.
The statistics on poverty in India vary, but the figure hovers anywhere between 26% – 42% of a population of 1.1bn. For a majority of these people Indian democracy offers no freedom and the Indian constitution offers no equality. Already experiencing the structural violence of caste prejudice, poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition, the police compound their misery by offering little or no access to justice.
The spread of the Naxal insurgency through district after district in rural India is a testimony to the failure of state institutions and the police in particular.
A report submitted by an Expert Group to the Planning Commission of India, titled 'Development Challenges in Extremist Affected Areas' discusses how current police practices have made the Naxal movement attractive for people in rural areas. "The movement does provide protection to the weak against the powerful" something the police have failed hopelessly to do. The report adds that the weaker sections of society, "have no faith that justice will be done to them against the powerful."
Yet there is a deafening silence from the middle class about such police brutality against the poor. "There is so much crime that the middle class conscience also approves of such "encounters". What do you do?" asks Sudha Ramalingam, National Vice-President of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).
In militarised states like Kashmir and Manipur the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has given the military sweeping powers to kill people with complete impunity. But even in states like Tamil Nadu which have a relatively better law and order situation, police behaviour has become more and more brazen. Henry Tiphagne, Executive Director of NGO People's Watch, in an affidavit filed before the Madras High Court, says, "Most of those killed in "encounters" are persons with a history of criminal involvement who were not convicted. Police thus act as vigilantes, bypassing the criminal justice system and Courts of law, to exact their brand of justice."
"I thought the police would kill me in an encounter," Pahallu Musahar later told the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR). He and his family live like pariahs in their community today because people look at them suspiciously, but just being alive has been a fate more fortunate than that of many others.
http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-ghasia-tribal-has-full-faith-This Ghasia tribal has full faith in Rahul - Varanasi - City - The Times of India
This Ghasia tribal has full faith in Rahul - Varanasi - City - The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Varanasi/This-Ghasia-tribal-has-full-faith-in-Rahul/articleshow/6033929.cms
http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2010/05/thanks-to-rg-and-further-appeal-in-raup.html
This Ghasia tribal has full faith in Rahul
http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-ghasia-tribal-has-full-faith-in.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Varanasi/This-Ghasia-tribal-has-full-faith-in-Rahul/articleshow/6033929.cms
http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2010/05/thanks-to-rg-and-further-appeal-in-raup.html
This Ghasia tribal has full faith in Rahul
http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-ghasia-tribal-has-full-faith-in.html
Monday, June 14, 2010
This Ghasia tribal has full faith in Rahul - Varanasi - City - The Times of India
http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-ghasia-tribal-has-full-faith-in.html
This Ghasia tribal has full faith in Rahul - Varanasi - City - The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Varanasi/This-Ghasia-tribal-has-full-faith-in-Rahul/articleshow/6033929.cms
http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2010/05/thanks-to-rg-and-further-appeal-in-raup.html
This Ghasia tribal has full faith in Rahul
Posted by People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights
This Ghasia tribal has full faith in Rahul - Varanasi - City - The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Varanasi/This-Ghasia-tribal-has-full-faith-in-Rahul/articleshow/6033929.cms
http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2010/05/thanks-to-rg-and-further-appeal-in-raup.html
This Ghasia tribal has full faith in Rahul
Posted by People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
http://www.facebook.com/notes/lenin-raghuvanshi/92-malnutrition-children-of-weaver-in-kashi-vidyapeeth-block-of-varanasi-in-indi/412360878736
http://www.facebook.com/notes/lenin-raghuvanshi/92-malnutrition-children-of-weaver-in-kashi-vidyapeeth-block-of-varanasi-in-indi/412360878736
92 Malnutrition children of weaver in Kashi Vidyapeeth block of Varanasi in india
http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2010/06/fwd-92-malnutrition-children-of-weaver.html
Dear janab Rahul gandhi ji,
Greetings from PVCHR.
PVCHR associate Mr. Virendra Yadav , political and human rights activist,who recieved a list of 92 children of malnutrition of grade third and fourth grade.He started
Please see the list of 92 malnourished children identified by ICDS worker: http://www.scribd.com/doc/32698758/92-Malnutrition-children-of-weaver-in-Kashi-Vidyapeeth-block-of-Varanasi-in-india
Please see the URL to see the statment of CDPO Mrs. Kusum Tara Rai http://www.youtube.com/pvchrindia#p/u/8/lqnGvbC0mUM
Earlier to this PVCHR has raised the issue of weaver and continously highlight the hunger and malnutrition amongs weavers children in same area but still the condition is not improving, The condition of weaver area become Somalia and Kalahandhi. Please take immediate action to stop the further malnutrition and hunger, to built a healthly future of India.
Please see the given below URL for more information. http://www.foodjustice.net/ahrc-archive/statements/2009-hunger-alerts/update-india-call-for-more-attention-on-handloom-weaver-community-where-five-children-died-of-malnutrition-in-varanasi
http://www.nchro.org/public_html/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7074:varanasi-weavers-facing-starvation-death&catid=9:minorities&Itemid=19
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/26698/Children+of+a+lesser+God.html
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/19809/WEB%20EXCLUSIVE/The+land+of+dying+kids.html
http://www.youtube.com/user/rkodkan#p/a/u/1/TuNkrQ_26Bw
With kind regards,
Dr. Lenin
Ashoka Fellow
2007 Gwanju Human Rights Awardee
Executive Director-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
92 Malnutrition children of weaver in Kashi Vidyapeeth block of Varanasi in india
http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2010/06/fwd-92-malnutrition-children-of-weaver.html
Dear janab Rahul gandhi ji,
Greetings from PVCHR.
PVCHR associate Mr. Virendra Yadav , political and human rights activist,who recieved a list of 92 children of malnutrition of grade third and fourth grade.He started
Please see the list of 92 malnourished children identified by ICDS worker: http://www.scribd.com/doc/32698758/92-Malnutrition-children-of-weaver-in-Kashi-Vidyapeeth-block-of-Varanasi-in-india
Please see the URL to see the statment of CDPO Mrs. Kusum Tara Rai http://www.youtube.com/pvchrindia#p/u/8/lqnGvbC0mUM
Earlier to this PVCHR has raised the issue of weaver and continously highlight the hunger and malnutrition amongs weavers children in same area but still the condition is not improving, The condition of weaver area become Somalia and Kalahandhi. Please take immediate action to stop the further malnutrition and hunger, to built a healthly future of India.
Please see the given below URL for more information. http://www.foodjustice.net/ahrc-archive/statements/2009-hunger-alerts/update-india-call-for-more-attention-on-handloom-weaver-community-where-five-children-died-of-malnutrition-in-varanasi
http://www.nchro.org/public_html/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7074:varanasi-weavers-facing-starvation-death&catid=9:minorities&Itemid=19
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/26698/Children+of+a+lesser+God.html
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/19809/WEB%20EXCLUSIVE/The+land+of+dying+kids.html
http://www.youtube.com/user/rkodkan#p/a/u/1/TuNkrQ_26Bw
With kind regards,
Dr. Lenin
Ashoka Fellow
2007 Gwanju Human Rights Awardee
Executive Director-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
Saturday, June 5, 2010
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/environment-day-inspiring-action
Happy world environment day! Years of neglecting our most precious resource have caused damage all around the world, and it will only get worse if the exploitation continues.
Every step taken to protect our environment is an investment in a better future. The environment can be saved if more and more of us take action to save it.
Check out the video and then join the movement:
Every step taken to protect our environment is an investment in a better future. The environment can be saved if more and more of us take action to save it.
Check out the video and then join the movement:
A dalit young man death in firing by a police constable in Uttar Pradesh-PVCHR
http://www.scribd.com/doc/32566793/A-dalit-young-man-death-in-firing-by-a-police-constable-in-Uttar-Pradesh
Rupees five lakh monetary relief in a case of death in firing by a police constable in Uttar Pradesh, National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), New Delhi- India recommended payment of Rupees to next of his kin and also asked the Government of Uttar Pradesh to inform whether the families of the slain police personnel and the injured have been paid ex-gratia or not. Chief Secretary, Govt. of U.P.shall submit the complianse report with proof of payment witin six month.(Case No. 20712/24/2005-2006) But process of providing compensation in pipeline said Govt. of U.P., Today survivior family faced discrimination in Government social welfare schemes in Tanda Tahsil, Ambedkar Nagar district of U.P., His father aged 65 worked like 35 years old daily wage labour for to fetch the appetite of family members and marriage ceromony of daughter.
Rupees five lakh monetary relief in a case of death in firing by a police constable in Uttar Pradesh, National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), New Delhi- India recommended payment of Rupees to next of his kin and also asked the Government of Uttar Pradesh to inform whether the families of the slain police personnel and the injured have been paid ex-gratia or not. Chief Secretary, Govt. of U.P.shall submit the complianse report with proof of payment witin six month.(Case No. 20712/24/2005-2006) But process of providing compensation in pipeline said Govt. of U.P., Today survivior family faced discrimination in Government social welfare schemes in Tanda Tahsil, Ambedkar Nagar district of U.P., His father aged 65 worked like 35 years old daily wage labour for to fetch the appetite of family members and marriage ceromony of daughter.
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