Stop Harassment to
Activists in Gujarat
~ INDIA ~
21
June 2004
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Action Requested || Sample Letter || Background
Please
respond before 25 June 2004
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Summary
Since the
landmark judgment of the Supreme Court, shifting the Best
Bakery Case out of Gujarat in April 2004, Ms. Teesta
Setalvad and Fr. Cedric Prakash, of Citizens for Justice
and Peace (CJP), a co-petitioner in the Best Bakery Case,
had received personal threats.
Although security provided to Ms. Teesta has been
strengthened, it is alleged that the Gujarat government
has been misusing state apparatus, such as the police,
the Charity Commissioner and other bodies to interrogate
and harass human rights activists.
In view of the situation, local human rights activists
have rallied with Fr. Prakash on 11 June 2004 and have
planned a major demonstration on 25 June 2004 in the city
of Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
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Action Requested
Please
write polite letters requesting the Indian government to
take appropriate actions to safeguard the safety of human
right activists in Gujarat. Urge them to investigate the
alleged abuse of the local government and take adequate
actions to penalize the perpetrators to prevent further
threats and abuse.
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letters to: |
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Dr.
A.P.J.Abdul Kalam
President of India
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi, INDIA
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Fax: |
(91)
11 2301 7290 /
(91) 11 2301 7824 |
Dr. Manmohan Singh,
Prime Minister
Government of India,
South Block,
New Delhi-110001, INDIA
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(91) 11 23016857 |
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copies to: |
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Mr
Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat
Block No. 1,New Sachivalay,
Gandhinagar 382010,
Gujarat, INDIA
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Fax
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Email |
(91)
2712 - 22101
mail@gujaratindia.com |
Chairperson of National Human Rights
Commission - Justice Anand
Sardar Patel Bhavan,
Sansad Marg,
New Delhi 110001, INDIA
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Email |
covdnhrc@hub.nic.in
chairnhrc@nic.in |
| Diplomatic
Representatives of India in your country. |
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Sample
Letter
We are gravely concerned for the safety
of human rights activists in Gujarat, who have
been defending the secular character of the
Indian Constitution. Particularly, we are
concerned about the threats to Fr Cedric Prakash
and Ms. Teesta Setalvad, who have actively helped
in the recent landmark judgment of the Supreme
Court on the Best Bakery. It is also disturbing
to hear that the Gujarat government has been
alleged to be misusing various government bodies
like the police and the Charity Commissioner to
harass human rights defenders and organizations.
With the new United Alliance government, we hope
it can cast new light on the rights of the
people, especially in troubled states like
Gujarat. We understand that human rights
organisations are helping the government to
uphold rights and to bring justice in all the
riot-related cases of the Gujarat carnage.
However, it is these very organisations and
activists who are being targeted now.
As a member state of the United Nations, India
has agreed to uphold the "Declaration on
Human Rights Defenders". It states "the
state shall conduct prompt and impartial
investigation or ensure that an inquiry takes
place whenever there is reasonable ground to
believe that a violation of human rights and
fundamental freedoms has occurred in any
territory under its jurisdiction".
Therefore, we kindly request your government to:
1) Take appropriate actions to safeguard the
safety of human right activists in Gujarat.
2) Investigate the alleged abuse of the local
government and take adequate actions to penalize
the perpetrators to prevent further threats and
abuse.. |
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Background
After
receiving an e-mail by Mr. Vishal Sharman, who have links
with right wing organizations (conservative groups that
prefers the status quo of the state) alleging he was
defaming Gujarat's name abroad, Fr Cedric Prakash has
been interrogated by the Criminal Investigation
Directorate (CID) Crime Branch, Gandhinagar three times
repeatedly between 12 and 14 June 2004. Enquires are
being conducted to prove that he is anti-national and
attempts have been made to impound his passport.
The activists believe Fr Prakash is being targeted
because it was his organization, Prashant, which met on 1
June and drafted a charter of demands to the United
Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government in connection with
Godhra incident in the Gujarat riot.
While the police could not come up with clear reasons for
the interrogation, Minister of State for Home, Mr. Amit
Shah could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
Such harassment has been considered as a general manner
of the government towards activists. According to Ms
Shabnam Hashmi, a noted activist, "We are shocked at
the way human rights continue to be violated and trampled
upon by the Gujarat through misuse of the state apparatus
like the police, the Charity Commissioner and other
bodies. For the last couple of years human rights
activists, intellectuals, NGOs and others who have stood
up to defend truth and justice have made efforts to work
for communal harmony and peace and to defend the secular
character of the Constitution have been subjected to
constant harassment by the State authorities."
Various government departments have been visiting several
NGOs including Christian and Muslim institutions across
the State and making all kinds of enquiries about the
receipt of foreign funds, activities of the
organizations, etc. Sources said they have also been
receiving notices from the Charity Commissioner. In a
latest example of the harassment, police officials have
made inquiries on Mr. Raees Khan Pathan, a representative
of the Citizens for Peace and Justice. He is believed to
be interrogated due to his connections with Fr Prakash.
For further background on Gujarat and Best Bakery Case
please refer to:
SUA020328(5) http://www.acpp.org/uappeals/2002/020328s5.html,
"Support Action and Campaign: Court Decision - India"
http://www.acpp.org/jpc/campaigns/sa040423.html and
"Backgrounder on the Gujarat Carnage 2002 &
Aftermath" http://www.acpp.org/uappeals/bground/gujarat.html.
Source:
Deccan Herald: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Jun132004/n11.asp
Hotline India- Mumbai
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