South Asia Citizens Web

4 February 2015: We, the undersigned conveners on behalf of civil society organizations and individuals who have focused on human rights protection through the dark and dangerous days of the Rajapaksa regime, welcome the victory of Mr. Maithripala Sirisena in the 08th January 2015 Presidential Election and the formation of a new government. We look forward to a positive and constructive association with the new government to ensure an end to the culture of impunity which defined the Rakapaksa regime’s record on human rights

We, members of the Mumbai based human rights group Hum Azaadiyon Ke Haq Mein are disturbed at reports of the multiple cases lodged against Shirin Dalvi, the editor of Awadhnama, Mumbai, and her arrest by Thane district police on January 28, for publishing a news-item on the Charlie Hebdo issue and one of the covers of the magazine on January 17, 2015. We are also shocked at the reports of the continual harassment of Shirin Dalvi.

Prof. Irfan Habib, eminent historian, speaks on "Gandhi’s Finest Hour" at ’Aman Ka Ailaan: A Festival in Defence of Secularism’, organised by the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) in association with the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) in JNU on 30 January 2015, the 67th anniversary of Gandhi’s assassination. The festival was supported by the All India Forum for Right to Education, Tulika Books and Social Scientist.

The threats and intimidation directed at this lady reporter are a violation both of the spirit of democracy and the letter of the law. Journalists associations, TU’s, democratic and anti-communal groups must defend her, if they wish to retain political legitimacy. Those threatening this reporter must be resisted. The hooliganism she is facing is no different from the treatment meted out to Perumal Murugan in Tamilnadu recently. Violent activism in the name of moral policing and hurt religious sentiment is same old fascist thuggery no matter which flag it flies.

The words Secular and socialist were added to reassure the nation that minorities would be safe and the moneyed class would not dominate the economy