[PUCL] Appeal to All activist of Gujarat - Join us for Dharna and CANDLE LIGHT VIGILin support of our dear Dr. Binayak Sen

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Trupti Shah & Rohit Prajapati <rohit.trupti@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 12:24 PM

*Appeal to All activist of Gujarat
Join us for
Dharna and CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL on 4th January 2011, Tuesday between 5.30 p.m.
to 7.00 p.m. in support of our dear Dr. Binayak Sen.
*

While the most corrupt, criminal and convicted “leaders” move around
scot-free, a well-known human right activist like Dr. Binayak Sen, Vice
President of PUCL is sentenced to life imprisonment by the lower court of
Chattisgarh Court. This is assassination of democracy and nothing but
mockery of justice. This is one of the saddest day in our history.

We all should start agitation in protest of the conviction of Dr. Binayak
Sen.

Kindly join us in *Dharna* and *CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL* on 4th January 2011,
Tuesday between *5.30 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.* in support of our dear Dr. Binayak
Sen.


*DHARNA and CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL in support of Dr. Binayak Sen

Date: 4th January 2011, Tuesday, 5.30 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.

SARDAR PATEL STATUE, SAYAJIGUNJ, VADODARA
*

*Dr.* *J*. *S*. *B*andukwala          *R*enu *K*hanna
*R*ohit *P*rajapati         *B*harti *P*armar           *T*rupti
*S*hah
*T*apan *D*asgupta
*P*eople’s *U*nion for *C*ivil *L*iberties

 *Binayak Sen *is a paediatrician, public health specialist and activist
found guilty of sedition. He is the national Vice-President of the People's
Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).

Binayak Sen originally started working as a doctor extending health care to
poor people in the rural-tribal areas of the Chhattisgarh state, doubling up
as a human rights activist. While he has worked with the state government on
health sector reform, Binayak Sen has also strongly criticized the
government on human rights violations during the anti-Naxalite operations,
while advocating nonviolent political engagement.

Binayak Sen and Illina, his wife played key roles in the foundation of the
set up the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha's Shaheed Hospital, which is owned and
operated by a workers' organization and a community-based NGO called
Rupantar. As the National Vice-President of the People's Union for Civil
Liberties (PUCL) and General Secretary of its Chhattisgarh unit, Binayak Sen
helped organize numerous investigations into human rights violations carried
out during anti-Naxalite operations. These violations included the murder of
unarmed and innocent civilians by the anti-Naxalite movement Salwa Judum.

In May 2007, he was detained for allegedly supporting the outlawed
Naxalites, thereby violating the provisions of the Chhattisgarh Special
Public Security Act 2005 (CSPSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Act 1967. The evidence presented against him included his meetings with the
jailed Naxalite leader Narayan Sanyal and certain documents allegedly
supporting his links with the Naxalites. Binayak Sen first applied for bail
before the Raipur Sessions Court and then the Chhattisgarh High Court in
July 2007, soon after his arrest, but was granted bail by the Supreme Court
of India only on 25 May 2009.

In repeated statements, Binayak Sen has stated that he doesn't condone the
Naxalites, doesn't approve of their violent methods, and has spoken strongly
against them several times. But, he also expressed his opposition to the
violent activities carried out by Salwa Judum, which he believes, have
created a split in the tribal community. Binayak Sen advocates peaceful
methods such as negotiations to solve the Naxalite problem.

Binayak Sen was the recipient in 2004 of the Paul Harrison award for a
lifetime of service to the rural poor. This award is given annually by the
Christian Medical College in Vellore, India to its alumni. Binayak Sen was
awarded the R.R. Keithan Gold Medal by The Indian Academy of Social Sciences
(ISSA) on 31 December 2007. The citation describes him as "one of the most
eminent scientists" of India. "The award is for his outstanding contribution
to the advancement of science of Nature-Man-Society and his honest and
sincere application for the improvement of quality of life of the poor, the
downtrodden and the oppressed people of Chhattisgarh." In 2008 he was
awarded the Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights. The
Global Health Council issued a public statement, "Dr. Binayak Sen's
accomplishments speak volumes about what can be achieved in very poor areas
when health practitioners are also committed community leaders. He staffed a
hospital created by and funded by impoverished mine workers, and he has
spent his lifetime educating people about health practices and civil
liberties­providing information that has saved lives and improved conditions
for thousands of people. His good works need to be recognized as a major
contribution to India and to global health; they are certainly not a threat
to state security."

On 24 December 2010, the Raipur Sessions' Court found him guilty of helping
the Naxalites, charged him with connections with a banned organization
(though widely but incorrectly the charge is reported as treason) and
sentenced him to life term.

We believe that this conviction is politically motivated and based on bogus
evidence. We condemn the unlawful act of the state in shutting up the
whistleblowers’ voices against the structural injustices. This construes to
us as a throttling of the spirit of democracy. We urge all right thinking
persons/progressive forces to raise their voices in protest and an effort to
FREE BINAYAK, FREE DEMOCRACY.



 ___________________________________________________________________
*         * Rohit *P* rajapati & *T* rupti *S* hah
       37, Patrakar Colony, Tandalja Road,
        Post-Akota, Vadodara - 390 020
       GUJARAT, INDIA
       Phone No. *+ 91 - 265 - 2320399
*         Email No: *rohit.prajapati@gmail.com
* ____________________________________________________________________

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*"Nobody is giving up violence. Neither the state nor the Maoists are giving
up violence. I am interested in furthering my cause, which is the cause of
peace with justice.- DR BINAYAK SEN *
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