Photos and report from Raipur program protesting Binayak Sen’s 2nd year in jail
Dr. Binayak Sen’s continued incarceration, under trumped-up charges of assisting Maoists, is a pointer to the increasing authoritarianism of the Indian state and the worsening conditions of political prisoners in the country. In the on-going struggle for the release of Binayak Sen and to draw attention towards the larger problem of state repression and rights of political prisoners, a satyagraha was held in Raipur on May 14, the day that marks two years of Binayak Sen’s arrest. About 30 organizations from all over the country participated in this satyagraha, with 225 activists courting arrest. This is the ninth round of satyagraha, which began eight weeks ago, in an effort to mobilize public opinion against Dr. Sen’s unjust incarceration.
Raipur: 225 persons from all over the country courted arrest at the Netaji Subhash Hockey Stadium; at the end of a day of protest here to mark two years of the arrest of Dr Binayak Sen. This the 9th round of the satyagraha which began eight weeks ago in an effort to mobilise public opinion against Dr Sen’s unjust incarceration.
The day’s events began with a public meeting at Buda Talab, where activists from varied organisations (from human rights groups, to trade unions, people’s movements, to women’s groups and student bodies) and community health workers from all over India talked about the many reasons and ways in which they were involved with the campaign to free Dr Sen, and the implications of his arrest for democratic politics in this country.
Those who spoke included PUCL-Chhattisgarh’s President Rajendra Sail, PUCL-MP President Shyam Bahadur Namri and President of the Bangalore chapter of PUCL Ramdas Rao. Dr. Meher Engineer from the Bose Institute and K. J. Mukherjee, lecturer from Jawaharlal Nehru University also addressed the gathering. Gautam Bandopadhyay from the Nadi Ghati Morcha and Guu Behen, an activist involved in opposing the Jindal plant in Jashpur spoke about the struggles of displaced persons in Chhattisgarh. CPI(ML) Leader Navrottam Sharma, Dr Satyamala from the Medico-Friends Circle and Advocate Sudha Bhardwaj also addressed the gathering.
Over 600 persons braved the Raipur heat and took out a procession through the streets of Raipur shouting slogans, singing songs and demanding the release of Dr Sen. The rally was a show of strength, determination, diversity and the power of people’s resistance.
People carried posters and banners; distributed calendars and wore coarse cotton jackets with messages demanding the release of Dr. Binayak Sen and in a show of solidarity for the cause from across the country. Cycle rickshaws laden with water and mikes punctuated the procession. Besides the involvement of a wide range of groups, and organisations there was a large and visible media presence –electronic and print.
The protestors burnt an effigy that was to represent the anti-people programme the Salwa Judum and the draconian law – Chattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005 and to signify their outrage and anger at the Chhattisgarh government’s anti- people policies. A large contingent from Karnataka raised slogans and sang songs in Kannada demanding the release of Dr Sen.
The rally ended at the Netaji Subhash stadium, where 135 men and 90 women courted arrest. After this, members of various peoples movements, student groups and NGOs addressed those present- expressing their added resolve to carry on the struggle in solidarity with the various groups.
Similar rallies have been held today in many other cities in India.
The demands that the protesters included:
1. Unconditional and immediate release Dr. Binayak Sen
2. Release all detained under Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005
3. Repeal CSPS Act immediately.
4. End Salwa Judum Now.
5. Bring the culprits of fake encounter and violence against Adivasis to the justice.
6. Stop Salwa Judum Camp and ensure return of displaced people to their homes.
7. The end to unjust detention of human rights defenders and social activists
List of people/organisations who participated include:
1. Dr Meher Engineer, former director of Bose Institute, Kolkata
2. Ramdas Rao, President PUCL Banglore
3. Adv Rajendra Sail, President PUCL CG
4. Sudha Bhardwaj, Mazdoor Karykarta Samiti
5. Com Jhanak lal Thakur, President Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha, Dalli-Rajhara
6. Shyam Bahadur Namra, Poet & PUCL MP
7. Karnataka Sex workers forum
8. Concern - Students from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
9. Dr C. Satyamala, Medico Friends Circle
10. Dr. K. J. Mukherjee, JNU
11. Sandeep, Saptarshi, Renu and others from JNU Student Union.
12. Dalit Adivasi Manch, Chhattisgarh
13. Chattisgarh Bal Shramik Shanghatan
14. Chattisgarh Mahila Jangriti Sanghatan
15. Rajesh Tripathi and Ramesh Agarwal, Janchetna, Raigarh (CG)
16. Bulu Bahan, Jashpur (CG)
17. Com P N Verma, Rajnadgaon Kapda Mill Mazdoor Sangh (CG)
18. Dr Harihar Patel, AMKS, Raigarh (CG)
19. Banshilal Sahu, MKS Bhilai (CG)
20. Suhel, Student Islamic Organisation
21. Bisruddin, Solidarity Youth Movement, Kerala
22. Bhan Sahu & team, Jurmil Morcha (CG)
23. Gautam Bandhopadhyay Nadi Ghati Morcha (CG)
24. Rupantar, Chhattisgarh
25. Saura Yadav, State Secretary, CPI (ML)
26. Narottam Sharma, State Secretary CPI(ML) Liberation
27. Tejram Sahu, Krantikari Naujavan Bharat Sabha
28. Hemant Tandon, Kisan Sabha (CPI ML)
29. Virendra Kurre, Sangrami Shramik Sangh (CG)
30. Arun, NCAS Raipur Desk
31. Dr Anurag Bhargava, JSS, Ganiyari (CG)
32. Mazdoor Sangh, Bhilai
33. Vijendra, Joint Secretary, PUCL CG
34. Alternative Law Forum, Bangalore
35. Sadhane, Karnataka
36. Samara, Karnataka
37. Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum
38. Suraksha, Karnataka
39. National Association of Women’s Organisations
——————
Vijendra, Anwesa, Manohar, Siddharth, Shubha
