South Asia Citizens Web

A delegation of some civil society organisations visited the Malir District Jail to get the signatures of Indian fishermen on the Vakalatnama to be used for a petition being filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan to release the detained Indian fishermen who have completed their terms in jail or are kept in the jails without any trial. Civil society organisations of both India and Pakistan decided in April this year to approach the Supreme Courts of the respective countries for release of detained fishermen.

The assassination of the moderate nationalist, Secretary-General of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Habib Jalib Baloch, in broad daylight in Quetta reflects what may be an emerging pattern in the conflict-ridden, largest but poorest province of Pakistan. Three days before Jalib’s death, the assassination of another moderate nationalist leader, Maula Bux Dasti of the National Party, proved to be a portent of things to come.

The government is set to move the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 in the current session of Parliament after withdrawing its earlier draft on March 15 without explanation. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology headed by Congress MP T Subbirami Reddy has since heard various proponents and opponents of the Bill.

While the former mainly comprise Department of Atomic Energy officials, who stress the importance of moving the legislation quickly so as to encourage investment in the nuclear power programme, the objectors are a more plural group, including “official” experts such as former chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) A Gopalakrishnan, and independent experts and activists from the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP), Greenpeace India and the Delhi Science Forum, as well as political parties.

Public opinion in India is mute. The parties of the left prefer to avoid the subject for fear that political rivals will question their patriotism. Kashmir is never spoken of, and has never been allowed to speak.

The circle of public conscience points to the true meaning of law and judgement in a democratic society. The seat of law is not synonymous with the person occupying it, nor are judicial decisions always coterminous with justice. In 1982 I became the victim of a violent crime. But in the eyes of the justice system no one is guilty. All that it has done is to suggest that I made a ‘tutored’ accusation. The crime has now become invisible. I expect no recompense for that murderous assault on me 26 years ago. I still respect the law. I cannot say the same for those to whom I turned for justice.