South Asia Citizens Web

The Human Rights Forum (HRF) mourns the passing away of K.G. Kannabiran at his home in Secunderabad at about 5 pm on December 30 [2010].

Activists across the country have known Kannabiran as the unshakeable pillar of integrity and sagacity and as a person who stood as the pillar of the
civil liberties movement in the country. Those of us in Andhra Pradesh have
also had the privilege of having known him for his wisdom and courage on a
daily basis. He was a builder of the civil liberties movement in the State
in the post-emergency period. Over four decades, Kannabiran has helped in
articulating a uniquely Indian perspective on civil liberties, both through
his legal practice and through his writings and public speaking.

By systematically persecuting Dr Binayak Sen, a tireless champion of human rights and the rights of adivasis and workers, the Indian state is sending a strong message to civil society about the price of not toeing the line.

The headlines in the media, the constant talk in the market of how deep the corruption has sunk in our body politic and how nefarious role is played by the ill gotten money contribution to all political parties is a specter which is haunting the public all the time. Why inspite of CBI investigation in 2G Scam under Supreme Court monitoring or by J.P.C. or P.A.C. probe still not persuade the government to consider seriously to enact a effectively genuine Lokpal legislation to deal with this menace of corruption – if the draft of Lokpal Bill 2010 is any indication it would appear that realization of grave urgency is still missing – with the government.

’Queer’ activists out and proud in Delhi and Mumbai have little connection with those forced to live in small-town secrecy

We, the members of the Joint Action Committee for People’s Rights Lahore (JAC) and Women’s Action Forum are deeply concerned by the Federal Shariat Court’s verdict on 22.12.2010, that declared four clauses (11, 25, 28 and 29) of the Women Protection Act 2006 as unconstitutional. The Joint Action Committee and WAF urge the Federal government and all four provincial governments who are respondents to this petition to challenge the verdict and ensure that the administration of justice in our country does not deteriorate further and result in intensifying problems of the public in general and women in particular.