South Asia Citizens Web

The life sentence handed down against Dr Binayak Sen by a court in the India state of Chhattisgarh violates international fair trial standards and is likely to enflame tensions in the conflict-affected area, Amnesty International said today

A shock wave just struck the conscience of India. Dr Binayak Sen the celebrated doctor who has spent a lifetime working for the poor in Central India has been made a scapegoat in the war against terror in Central India.
Sen had first been arrested on trumped up charges in 2007 under a draconian Chattisgarh Public Security Act. After a huge public campaign he was released on bail in 2009 on order of the Supreme court of India.

On the 24th of December the Raipur Sessions Court in the central Indian state of Chattissgarh delivered a final ruling charging Dr Binayak Sen of sedition and treason and awarding him a life sentence. Sen has been arrested and move to prison. Human rights circles and social movement coalitions across India are aghast at the travesty of justice.

Nike’s 900 supply factories are situated in 50 countries, all poor and underdeveloped. In order to have a focused discussion and better analysis, I will confine my reference to Indonesia, Vietnam and Pakistan only. Given the horrible conditions of work, ridiculously low wages and exploitation of child-labour Nike’s factories were critically renamed as sweatshops.

The Khap Panchayats and their supporters have raised dissenting voices against the enactment of a comprehensive law on ’honour’ killings. This is understandable as these extra-constitutional and mob-gathering forums have always considered themselves above the law of the land. The time has come when all those who are organically attached to the ideals of secular and liberal values intervene to stop such ghastly murders of young people. They have to press for the enactment of a law today

The trial of celebrated Indian pediatrician Binayak Sen, a tireless advocate for the poor and marginalized in India’s Chattisgarh State, ends on 24 December 2010. A judge is expected to deliver a verdict in this widely-watched case that is marked by unsubstantiated allegations and intimidation of human rights advocates. Here is the text of a final statement made by Dr Binayak Sen.