Archive of South Asia Citizens Wire

  • Taking Forward the Struggle for Equality, Justice and Democracy in Sri Lanka

    by Rohini Hensman, 3 June 2009

    Its is important demonstrating to the people of Sri Lanka – and especially the minorities, who have suffered so much – that there are political leaders in Sri Lanka willing to stand up for equality, justice and democracy. The Progressive forces should take the lead — The struggle for justice and democracy is a programme which can unite working people of all communities, rather than dividing Tamils from Tamils, Sinhalese from Tamils, and Tamils from Muslims.

  • India: Deployment of Special Police Officers undermining justice and human rights

    by Asian Legal Resource Centre, 2 June 2009

    Asian Legal Resource Centre
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 2, 2009 ALRC-CWS-11-03-2009
    Language(s): English only
    HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Eleventh session
    A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status
    INDIA: Special police officers in use in armed conflicts, committing rights violations
    On 23 May 2008, in a meeting held at Imphal in Manipur state, the Manipur state government published a set of (…)

  • Sri Lanka: Sinhala Ultranationalists Threaten Progressive Think Tank

    by The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), 1 June 2009

    Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)
    CPA received this letter on 1st June 2009 via the post. The scanned Sinhala original is available as a PDF to download, along with the English translation.
    ###
    NOTICE TO THE TRAITORS (DESHADROHIS) The wretched war that lasted throughout 30 years has now come to an end. Blood thirsty wicked terrorists were finished from this country. That happened in such a way that even their carcass didn’t mix with the Sri Lankan ( Lak Polawa ) soil. That is (…)

  • Remembering Ahilya Rangnekar

    by Githa Hariharan, 31 May 2009

    Reading about the death of the veteran activist, Ahilya Rangnekar, in Mumbai last month conjured up several scenes of history — to do with an individual life, but also with reference to the freedom struggle, the growth of workers’ and women’s movements, and the efforts of a city to divide its opportunities equally among its citizens. One good place to begin this visit to Mumbai’s history of political action is Parel, especially because of the deceptive veneer the place has now acquired.

  • Bangladesh: The era of women empowerment and 39 lashes

    by Moazzem Hossain, 30 May 2009

    Yes, I am talking about the recent incident at a village in Daudkandi, where a girl was whipped with 39 lashes in the presence of a few hundred people the outcome of a decree of a local salish.

    This is not the first occasion that such a crime has been committed by the so-called moulanas and their accomplices in this nation. The aim of this piece is to remind the politicians at all levels that, under any circumstances, this kind of atrocity cannot be allowed and must be stopped immediatelyby making new laws if required

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