PRESS NOTE

A meeting of Human Rights Activists, concerned citizens and representatives of various NGOs held at PRASHANT today strongly condemned the highhanded action of various departments of the State like Police and Charity Commissioner against Human Rights Activists and NGOs.

There have been several instances of this intimidation and harassment all over the State. Some of the instances are:

On 1st June, several Human Rights and Social Activists ( many of who were deeply involved in responding to the Gujarat Carnage) had a meeting at “Prashant” office in Ahmedabad and made a Charter of Demands to the newly elected UPA Government in Delhi. The Charity Commissioner of Ahmedabad ( through their inspectors) have been visiting these NGOs and Human Rights Activists and making all kinds of enquiries regarding their works, objects, etc.

The way well-known dancer, artiste Mallika Sarabhai has been harassed by the Modi government is well known.

On April 11th, a group of Youth Activists who were addressing a Press Conference in Vadodara under the banner of Youth Aman Karwan lead by Shabnam Hashmi, was physically attacked.

On April 12th, Teesta Setalvad a co-petitioner in the Best Bakery Case was threatened with dire consequences by accused in the Gulbarg Society case here in Ahmedabad.

Well known Human Rights Activist and the Director of “Prashant” , Father Cedric Prakash, has been constantly harassed by the State authorities and even on the basis of a mysterious email sent by an RSS functionary. Enquiries are being conducted to prove that he is anti-national and to have his passport impounded.

The Police 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. This, it is understood, is under the direct supervision of the State’s Home Ministry.

The participants in the meeting were of the opinion that the action of the police against Fr. Cedric Prakash violated all the norms of democracy and revealed the fascist character of the State.

To protest against the onslaught of the State against Human Rights Activists, the meeting resolved to mobilize public by holding massive Demonstration / Dharna on 25th June 2004, at Ahmedabad. The meeting also resolved to send a delegation to the Central Government and submit a memorandum appraising the Government about the State of affairs prevailing in the State of Gujarat and demanding appropriate action on the Charter of Demands.

The meeting decided to hold group meetings at various places like Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, etc. on 23rd and 24th June which will be attended by eminent Human Rights Activists.

The meeting was attended by :

Amar Jyot [Action Aid]
Anwar Tirmizi, [Sanchetna]
Batuk Vora [JCF]
Bhavna Ramrakhiani [ACF]
Chunilal Vaidya [Guj. Lokh Samiti]
Digant Oza [Satyajit Trust]
Dwarikanath N. Rath [MSD]
Fr.Cedric Prakash [Prashant]
Gagan Sethi [Centre for Social Justice]
Girish Patel [Sr. Advocate]
Hanif Lakdawala
Harinesh [Janpath]
Harinesh [Janpath]
Harsh Mander [Anhad]
Hiren Gandhi [Samvedan]
I.S. Lal [WREU]
J. V. Momin
Justice (Retd.) A. P. Ravani
Jyotsna Macwan [BSC]
Mahadev Vidrohi
Mallika Sarabhai [Darpana Academy]
Meenakshi Ganguly [Human Rights Watch]
Mukul Sinha [Jan Sangarsh Manch]
P. K. Valera [AJCC]
Panki Jog [Janpath]
Parthiv Shah [CMAC]
Prasad Chacko [Behavioral Science Centre]
Prof. J. S. Bandukwala
Rafi Malek [CfD]
Rafi Mallik [Centre for Development]
Roopa Rathnam [Oxfam]
S. Amalraj [BSC]
S. H. Iyre, Advocate [JSM]
Sajid irmizi [Samvedan]
Salma [Oxfam]
Saumya Joshi [Fade-in Theatre]
Shabnam Hashmi [Anhad]
Sheba George [Sahr-Waru]
Sophia Khan
Stalin K. [Drishti Media Collective]
Swarup Dhruv [Samvedan]
Tanveer Jafri
Vandana Bhatt [Janhit]
Varghese Paul [CISS]
Wilfred D’Souza [INSAF]
Zakia Jowher [Aman Samuday]

Földrajzi hely (amirol szól): India

Kirol szól (személyek): Prakash, Cedric SJ

Kikrol szól (csoport): Prashant

Csoport, mozgalom, irányzat (ahonnan származik): Prashant