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#1 HUNGER WATCH: Children going blind due to starvation in UP AHRC, September 22, 2004, Wednesday, HA-03-2004 INDIA: Children going blind due to starvation in Uttar Pradesh state The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), India about the case of two young children suffering serious illnesses due to starvation. The AHRC urges you to write to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh to ensure that the two children are restored to full health at state expense, and for an investigation into the circumstances of their starvation and inaction of local authorities. DETAILED INFORMATION: On 27 August 2004, staff of the PVCHR visited Vatsalaya Chikitsalaya children's hospital in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh state, India and saw two Dalit children, Chandan and Malaka suffering from acute illnesses as a result of severe malnutrition. Chandan is eight-years' old, but was found to weigh a mere nine kilograms. His eyes were not opening due to a disease brought on by acute vitamin A deficiency, and the doctors examining him were uncertain about the condition of his eyes. Malaka is six and was found to be weighing eight kilograms. She was suffering from anemia, and also had an eye condition due to vitamin A deficiency. Both children have respiratory infections. The father of Chandan and Malaka, Umashankar Ram, had two years previously lost his income due to the collapse of the local textiles industry in his area. He then worked as a rickshaw puller. Although he was identified as Below Poverty Line, and issued a card by the district authorities that would entitle him to purchase rations at lower cost, he could not even afford to buy them at the discounted rate. In August, he met with his village head, Lalman Pal, and village secretary, but they did not give any help, nor inform the district administration. SUGGESTED ACTION: After visiting the hospital, the PVCHR representatives sent a petition to key persons in government and other agencies. Please support their petition, and the efforts of the doctors to save the lives of these two children, by also sending a letter to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on this case. ---------------------------------------------------------------- #2 MANIPUR WATCH : HC DIRECTS STATE TO RELEASE SHARMILA The Sangai Express, September 22, 2004, Wednesday 1) HC directs State to release Sharmila IMPHAL, Sep 21: In a significant development, the Principal seat of the Gauhati High Court has directed the State Govt to release Irom Chanu Sharmila from the judicial custody. Acting Chief Justice D Biswas and Justice Ranjan Gogoi issued the verdict today following a writ petition filed by lawyers of Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) on behalf of hunger striker Sharmila of Kongpal Kongkham Leikai. Advocate Pukhrambam Rameshkumar of HRLN pleaded in favour of Sharmila. While ordering the State Govt to release Sharmila, unless she is required to be detained for other cases, the Court, however, maintained that the State Government ???is at liberty to take care of her health and nutritional requirements??™. The writ challenged the detention of Sharmila on the State??™s allegation that she has been trying to commit suicide which is a punishable offence under section 309 of IPC. Pleading before the Court, Advocate Ramesh-kumar contended that launching a hunger strike is an exercise of fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution, which relates to freedom of expression. A hunger strike is a peaceful and Constitutionally protected right, he added. Sharmila has no intention of committing suicide, but only wishes to protest peacefully and thus section 309 of IPC is not applicable in her case, the Advocate contended. Rameshkumar further said that Sharmila wants to live but the excesses of the security forces in Manipur do not permit a normal life to do so. In such a circumstances, death might be more welcome to her than living under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the Advocate said. The detention and force feeding of the woman is illegal and amounts to violation of Article 21 of the Constitution and hence she should be released unconditionally, the Advocate pleaded. Sharmila has been fasting after Assam Rifles personnel massacred 10 civilians at Malom in November 2000. Recently she was released by the Court on the ground that the term she served in judicial custody was equated with the offence she ought to serve in prison under section 309 IPC. However, she resumed her fast on the same day she was released. Hence she was rearrested and kept in the judicial custody. http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-02.html 2) NCW for stern action against guilty IMPHAL, Sep 21: Chairperson of National Commission for Women, Dr Poornima Advani has stated that exemplary punishment should be given to those involved in the alleged rape and murder of Thangjam Manorama Devi. (The Sangai Express, September 22, 2004, Wednesday) http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-03.html 3) Apunba Lup takes pot shots at CM IMPHAL, Sep 21 : Continuing its tirade against the Chief Minister, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup today said that the off handed dismissal of the agitation launched by the students is indicative of the fact that the Chief Minister does not really understand the true worth of a text book. (The Sangai Express, September 22, 2004, Wednes.) http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-06.html 4) Elders suggest talk to end impasse IMPHAL, Sep 21: Taking note of the existing stand off between the State Government and the agitation- ists on the question of total revocation of AFSPA from Manipur, Senior Citizens for Society has pointed out that the need of the hour is not confrontation but dialogue to resolve the impasse. (The Sangai Express, September 22, 2004, Wednes.) http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-07.html 5) Supporters of Political parties flogged by gunmen Imphal, September 21 : Unidentified armed persons flogged supporters of two major political parties at Konthoujam last night. At about 10.25 PM three persons armed with AK rifle, and handguns came to the residence of Manipur Peoples Party candidate Konthoujam Ranbir. After asking whereabouts of the candidate, armed persons flogged the election workers assembled there with a stick. About 50 election workers were there during the incident. Assailants also burnt down tables and equipments used for the election campaign. They have carried on scooter from there.(Manipur Today, September 22, 2004, Wednesday) http://www.manipurtoday.com/news/detailtopstory.asp?Key=532 ------------------------------------------------------------------ #3 POTA WATCH: President's nod for ordinance to repeal POTA The Hindu, September 22, 2004, Wednesday President's nod for ordinance to repeal POTA By J. Venkatesan NEW DELHI, SEPT. 21. The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, tonight promulgated an ordinance to repeal the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), just a month before it was to lapse. The POTA came into force from October 24, 2001 and was to have remained in force for three years. The President promulgated another ordinance to amend the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to effectively deal with terrorists, terrorist outfits and other facets of terrorism. It bans 32 terrorist organisations that were banned under POTA. The Central POTA Review Committee has been given one year to review all the pending cases and take a decision whether any prima facie case exists for proceeding under the POTA. If necessary, more such committees would be constituted to ensure that all cases were disposed of within one year. These committees have been vested with powers of civil courts to enable them to summon records and documents from State Governments to review the cases. In the last three years of its existence, 217 cases were being investigated under POTA and 116 of them were being tried by POTA special courts. Now the special courts have been dispensed with The review committees will henceforth review all such cases. http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/22/stories/2004092207420100.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Confederation of Human Rights Organizations (CHRO) 3, Rams' Cottage Ambalathumukku Pettah Thiruvananthapuram-695024 Kerala South India Ph.: 0471-2476262 www.humanrightsindia.com www.humanrightskerala.com |
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