Archive of South Asia Citizens Wire

  • Freedom of expression in slow death : U.N. gets cosy to legitimising curbs on criticism of religion

    by sacw.net, 28 March 2009

    (sacw.net)
    Text of Joint NGO Statement on Danger of U.N. “Defamation of Religions” Campaign
    We, the undersigned non-governmental organizations,
    Deeply concerned by the pervasive and mounting campaign by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to produce U.N. resolutions, declarations, and world conferences that propagate the concept of “defamation of religions,” a concept having no basis in domestic or international law, and which would alter the very meaning of human rights, (…)

  • Sri Lanka: Ethnic Strife, Fratricide, and the Peace vs. Human Rights Dilemma

    by Rajan Hoole, 28 March 2009

    (Journal of Human Rights Practice 2009 1(1):120-139)

    The rapid intensification of the conflict in Sri Lanka during the mid-1980s followed the July 1983 communal violence. Agents of the state perpetrated human rights violations, including attempts at demographic transformation through massacres and the displacement of minority Tamils. The accompanying rise of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam through the brutal elimination of rivals brought another dimension to the conflict. Conventional human rights work, which dealt exclusively with the State, distorted the problem. The new totalitarian cult of the hero within a disillusioned Tamil society portended internal terror, recruitment of women and children, debasement of its own civilians in peace and war, and a barbarous approach to civilians from other communities.

  • At the heart of Pakistan’s crisis is arbitrary power

    by Asma Jahangir, 28 March 2009

  • India: Full text of the Gujarat High Court’s order rejecting the bail application of Dr. Mayaben Kodnani

    27 March 2009

    (sacw.net, 28 March 2009)
    IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 1943 of 2009 With CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 1959 of 2009 With CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 1961 of 2009 With CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 2015 of 2009 In CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 1943 of 2009 With CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 2109 of 2009 In CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 1959 of 2009 With CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 2018 of 2009 In CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 1961 of 2009
    For (…)

  • A hawk dressed as a dove: The marketing of a repackaged L. K. Advani

    by Subhash Gatade, 27 March 2009

    [ It is for the first time in his nearly five year old tenure as PM that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a stinging attack on L. K. Advani - PM in waiting as far as the Sangh Parivar is concerned. Prime Minister was candid enough to remind about the "prominent role" played by Mr Advani in the Babri Masjid demolition, or how he presided over Gujarat riots and failed to prevent terror attacks on Parliament and Red Fort as Home Minister.]
    1.
    L.K. Advani, the ’Swayamsevak’ from across (…)

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