Electronic News
Magazine on
human rights from Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
A
Electronic News
Magazine on
human rights from Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
Contents (click below to go on topic)
Rights
Fair
In it’s second year, the
annual human rights fair organised by MASUM, was also a three days’ event.
It opened on the 9th December and continued upto 11th at the open
space of the western side of College Square, Calcutta. A number of
good and rare books on human rights, women issues, child rights, environment
and health issues as well as reports of the human rights abuses, published
by Amnesty International and other human rights organisations were displayed
on the occasion. A collection of photographs by well-known photographers
and posters of different NGOs working in this arena, sometimes capturing
painful moments of human rights abuses on the one hand and images of protest
on the other, attracted a large contingent of viewers. A plaster-cast sculptural
series on the history of human rights violations titled ‘From Jalianwalabag
to Arwal’ was really an eye-opener..
The fair was not devoid of cultural events. Singers like Sri Pratul Mukhopadhyay, Anushree and Bipul Chakraborty, Kallol Dasgupta, Anurup and Deb Chowdhury charmed the audiences with their socially conscious and melodious voices. A live mammoth painting by Pijush, an artist from Shantiniketan continued for three days. Two dramas, one by children organised by Jabala on environmental rights and other by Pathasena against superstitution were performed keeping in tune with the fair’s temperament. The concluding day was marked by recitation of poems by noted poets. On 10th December, Masum felicitated Sri Biren Roy, past president of APDR, and a forerunner of the human rights movement in West Bengal. On his speech, Naba Dutta, organiser of Nagarik Mancha, said, " this novel idea should have started earlier by other leading human rights groups".
The fair was possible with immense help from a number of organistions such
as Jabala, Nari Nirjatan Pratirodh Mancha, Swayam, Sanhita, Disha, Vasundhara,
Chandrani and Pathasena as well as media-houses like Ajkaal, Sambad Pratidin
and Ekhon Bi-sambad. The fair was well attended by people from different
walks of life.
Shri
Biren Roy was felicitated by MASUM for his invaluable contribution to human
rights movement. From last year MASUM has started the felicitation programme
to show respect to the pioneers of the human rights movement. Last year
MASUM showed its respect to Shrimati Tillotama Bhattacharya, leading human
rights personality for the last two decades and to the noted film director
Shri Tapan Sinha. This year the unanimous choice was Shri Biren Roy. On
the evening of 10 December, the International Human Rights Day, Shrimati
Tillotama Bhattacharya, on behalf of MASUM presented a memento to Shri
Biren Roy. The occasion was organised at the Human Rights Fair at College
Square. In her speech Shrimati Tilotama Bhattacharya narrated her longstanding
relation with Biren Babu. She described her acquaintance with Shri Roy
in 60s when Shri Roy was a leading organiser of the Communist Party of
India. Later Shri Roy got involded with civil rights movement and worked
with Shrimati Tillotama Bhattacharya for more than two decades.
.
Shri Biren Roy thanked MASUM and said though he was not sure whether he
was the suitable person for this felicitation but he could say that he
has tried his best to strengthen human rights movement. He said human rights
movement needs more tolerant approach to others opinion.
An eye for an eye...do you ask, why?
Death Penalty not only reciprocates violence and acts as justification to support counter-killing. It cannot be considered as deterrent to crime also. Number of studies conducted by the UN have confirmed that crime does not decrease due to increase of execution by Death Penalty or crime does not increase due to abolition of Death Penalty in a country. In particular case, it is to be emphasized that the Death Penalty to the killers of Late Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi could not deter the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Execution of hundreds of drug criminals throughout the world could not deter drug crime to a little extent. Death Penalty is irrevocable. In the instant case, it has been proved that TADA Court had given a fanatic judgement to execute 26 convicted persons, allegedly connected with the case. Some have been given lifetime imprisonment. Even in the Supreme Court there was absence of unanimity regarding one death sentence, that is, of Nalini. It is cruel and inhuman to kill people legally in cold blood, whatever crime they commit. They should be given punishment or rehabilitation in any other form but not by death penalty.
So we request you to kindly commute the Death Sentence of all the four
persons who have given Death Penalty. This will brighten the image of the
country in the humanitarian point of view and will create new dimension
towards abolition of Death Penalty in India.
An almost life-size gallows with hanging rope in the Fair ground attracted
attention of all the visitors.
There was a big cross over them to "Say No to
Death Penalty". Also there were several posters in display demanding abolition
of death penalty in India. As for the immediate issue the demand of withdrawal
of death penalty of the four convicted persons in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination
case was highlighted in the poster campaign. Brochures in Bengali, with
the account of abolitionist and retentionist countries, and the highlights
of the related studies regarding capital punishment, were sold at
nominal price.
Earlier CADP and MASUM held a joint demonstration on 30th October ’99 at Esplanade in Calcutta. A memorandum was submitted to the President of India through the Governor of West Bengal.
In September 29, 1999, police force of Tiljala police station unprovokedly
fired on the flood victims of VIP Nagar, Bypass Town and Netaji Nagar
of East Calcutta, who put in a peaceful road blockade on E.M. Bypass .
They were assembled in protest against their plights due to waterlogged
condition. Altogether seven persons were injured in the indiscriminate
police firing.
On the basis of the fact-finding Report of MASUM in the matter, WBHRC under order of its chairperson, Justice M G Mukherjee has directed the Superintendent of Police, south 24 parganas (Maliwal) to submit a report on the alleged indiscriminate firing by police force.
MASUM demanded punishment of all police and force personnel and other government
officials attached to CMC and State irrigation department responsible for
maintaining the drainage, clearing water-logging and operating the pumps
at Chaubaga Pumping station and those who were responsible for causing
suffering of the civilians and flood victims taking shelter on comparatively
high bypass road and seeking for flood relief, drinking water.
This has once again endorsed the WBHRC Annual Report that on average one
custodial death reportedly happens once in a week in West Bengal.
On 16 June,’99, MASUM demonstrated
its concern and anguish by silently displaying placards in front
of CJM Court and handed over memoranda to D.G. of Police and Home Minister,
demanding immediate suspension of those four police officials prosecuted
by CJM.
Sustained legal battle into the custodial death of Babai Biswas in
April’97, by MASUM upto the level of Supreme Court is a case to be recalled
in the history of Human rights movement in the country. The case
has exposed the hypocrisy of the leftist ruler of West Bengal. They nakedly
defend the rulers in uniform in the court of law, despite strictures
passed by WBHRC against the doctors, trying magistrate and Addl. S.P. ,
who had been shamelessly promoted by the rulers.
Three youths, allegedly involved with kidnapping Nangia,a businessman,
were arrested by Police of Kareya Police Station. They were mercilessly
beaten and forced to drink Nangia’s urine. The entire episode could happen
at the behest of Nangia and police with vested interest. The incident sparked
a furore of protest over the state.
MASUM investigated into the incident and held a demonstration near Lalbazar
Police Head Quarter. On 21st December, 1999, Masum filed a writ petition
in Calcutta High Court demanding a probe into this gruesome incident.
.
Section of Tribal People in village Tengramari, of Sandeshkhali P.S., District
24 Parganas (North), was under attack. On 31st March, about 150 influential
peopleand backed by a political party, forcibly attempted cut away the
harvest of the tribals. The armed mob set fire on their dwellings and physically
assaulted them, including pregnant woman. A case was registered against
twelve persons. But none of them has been arrested till date.
MASUM intervened into the incident and submitted a memorandum to O.C. On
4th November, again a delegation of MASUM along with victim
women met D.G. Sri Dipak Sanyal. But all in vain. The matter also brought
to the notice of WBHRC. But they refused to take it on the excuse that
the matter was beyond their jurisdiction.
MASUM is the abbreviated form of Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha, literally to say Forum for Protection of Human Rights, in English. Masum took shape in 1998, when some experienced human rights activists in West Bengal came close together to form a platform to work against abuses of human rights and with a view to explore the possibilities of various dimensions of human rights as well as to share their views and experiences. Besides its human rights activism against various forms of state-repression, like sending fact-finding mission, campaigning and initiate litigation against persons in power, it took the cudgels of other forms of rights like workers rights and health rights.
To curb the rising custodial violence MASUM filed on 4th August, 1998 an application under article 215 of the Constitution of India along with Contempt of Court Act, against concerned state-authorities for non-compliance of Supreme Court's 11 point directives to comply certain formalities before arresting any person and issuance of Memo of Arrest. They cited more than 60 cases where no memo of arrest was served and informed the court that in general Supreme Court's order dated 18 December, 1996 is not obeyed by any branch of police force. This includes Calcutta Police. State police, Railway police, CBI etc. The petition made 95 officials including Chief secretary to the Govt., Commissioner of Calcutta police, all concerned senior officials of different police administration and all Sub-Divisional judicial Magistrates as contemptor. Consequent to the petition Masum organised campaign in various forms. As a result a number of intellectuals, human rights activists and others signed an appeal to support their call for implementation of Supreme Court's order. If Masum succeeds, it will be a big leap towards resisting custodial violence.
Contact 
Office : 20/4, Seal Lane, Calcutta 700015, West Bengal, INDIA
Telephone : + 91-33- 328 3989
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We are preparing a directory of human
rights organisations working in India. Please help us by sending the name,
address and e-mail no. of the human rights organisations known to you.
Thank you.
Homepage Vasundhara Disha Chandrani
Last Revised: 9 April,2000