South Asia Citizens Web

The Hindu community, particularly in Sindh, has been in the grip of strong feelings of grief, anger and insecurity for several weeks. Unless its grievances are speedily addressed Pakistan stands to suffer incalculable harm in both material and moral terms. The issue of Hindu girls’ conversion to Islam and marriage to Muslim men, both transitions alleged to be forced and often after abduction, is not new. Indeed, it has always been high on the Hindu citizens’ list of complaints. What is new is the scale and intensity of their reaction and the large number of their appeals for justice.

Their names are Madkam Hungi and Veko Bajare. Hungi is 12 years old, and Bajare 22 years. Village of residence: Nendra, District Sukama (old name district Dantewada). Nendra was one of the several adivasi villages burnt under your Empty the Villages campaign (which you christened ’Salwa Judum’ and under the guise of a peace campaign which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court). Four girls from this village disappeared during this campaign.

NATIONAL FISHWORKERS’ FORUM (NFF) NFF 20/4 SIL LANE, Kolkatta 700015. India (Reg.No:487/85) Tel/Fax: +91 33 23283989 F 10/12 Malviya Nagar New Delhi – 110 017 Tel: 011 26680 883, 26680914 Fax: 011 26687724 Matanhy Saldanha, Chairperson, matanhysaldanha@gmail.com, Ph: 09822160941 R.K. Patil, General Secretary, patil.rambhau@gmail.com, Ph: 09892833815
Kind attention of Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, PM Office, South Block, New Delhi
Date: 23rd March 2012
Sub: Fishworker (…)

We are forwarding a letter signed by more than 4000 intellectuals from all over the world protesting against the withdrawal of Professor Ramanujan’s celebrated essay ‘Three Hundred Ramayanas’ from the reading list of one of the under graduate courses of Delhi University. This action by the Academic Council has shocked and dismayed all those who see university as a place of learning, a space that allows a free exchange of ideas, and helps shape critical minds. By repressing ideas we destroy the very basis of this ideal.

Sunila Abeysekara, Nimalka Fernando and Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu

23rd March 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka: As the three Sri Lankan human rights defenders who have come most under attack by the state media in Sri Lanka in the past week, because of our active involvement with the on-going session of the UN Human rights Council in Geneva, we feel compelled to issue this statement of clarification.