South Asia Citizens Web

Asian Centre for Human Rights
NEPAL: PAX INDIANUS CRUMBLES
BP/NP/04-09 23 December 2009
Table of contents
– I. Introduction
– II. Shrinking space for compromise
– III. India’s damaging role
– IV. Consequences of Indian policy in Nepal
– V. Dangerously stalled peace process
– VI. Direct Indian interference
– VII. The Phantom of Insurrection
– VIII. Consequences of Indian support
– IX. Impunity and the peace process
– X. Rightward Shift
– XI. Consequences for India

Why are politicians and bureaucrats in Jharkhand uninterested in spending central development funds even when the state is so backward? And why are they not apprehensive about what this would do to their electoral fortunes? The Madhu Koda case supplies the answers. The ruling elite relies on a share of the rents or super profits from issuing licences for the state’s massive mineral resources. And the vote-gathering system is largely based on kinship and community ties, rather than on interest groups demanding various benefits.

Amnesty International urges authorities in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh to immediately stop the torture and arbitrary arrest of peace activists and human rights defenders belonging to the Vanvasi Chetna Ashram (VCA) and drop all politically motivated charges against VCA member Kopa Kunjam, who was arrested on 10 December. The government must investigate reports of torture immediately, and bring those responsible to justice.

The Editors Guild of India is deeply shocked and seriously concerned at the increasing number of reports detailing the pernicious practice of publishing "paid news" by some newspapers and television channels, especially during recent elections. The Guild, at its Annual General Meeting held on December 22, 2009 has strongly condemned this practice which whittles the foundations of Indian journalism and calls upon all editors in the country to desist from publishing any form of advertisement which masquerade as news.

On the 18th December 2009, Justice Santosh Hegde released the summary report on Democracy and Governance in Karnataka (period June 2008-November 2009) at the Press Club.