Archive of South Asia Citizens Wire

  • Behind the Recent Communal Violence in Assam

    by Uddhab Barman, 30 October 2008

    People’s Democracy, October 19, 2008
    Rampant violence and mayhem swept across many areas in the two districts of Udalguri and Darrang in Assam for three consecutive days starting on October 3, 2008. A total of 54 persons were killed in the clashes between Bodos and Muslims, including 25 in police firing. The toll in Udalguri district was 31 persons (including 11 killed in police firing) and in Darrang district 23 persons (including 14 killed in police firing). Those killed mostly belonged (…)

  • Highly Inflammable

    by Neelabh Mishra, 30 October 2008

    Outlook Magazine, November 3, 2008
    The latest case of sati, reported from Chhechhar in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh on October 11, once again raises issues about the interface between the law and social reforms. It is a pity that since Deorala in 1987, each of the at least five incidents of sati has drawn diminishing attention from women’s groups, the media and civil society. Lalmati, a 75-year-old woman, immolated herself with her dead husband, who was laid on the funeral pyre in (…)

  • In Mayaland, human rights activists are targets of anti terrorism agencies

    by Subhash Gatade, 30 October 2008

    It has been more than one and half year that Maya rode to power in the state promising end to goondaism. Little could people have the premonition that under the new dispensation the security forces would have no qualms in engaging in ’goondaism’.

  • An Appeal for Conducting Public Enquiry into the Affairs of Bhonsala Military College

    by Sukla Sen, 30 October 2008

    www.sacw.net, 30 October 2008 To The President of India New Delhi presidentofindia@rb.nic.in
    Cc:
    The Prime Mister of India New Delhi pmosb@pmo.nic.in manmohansingh@sansad.nic.in
    The Home Minister of India New Delhi svpatil@sansad.nic.in
    Smti Sonia Gandhi The Chairperson of the UPA New Delhi soniagandhi@sansad.nic.in
    Justice S. Rajendra Babu The Chairperson National Human Rights Commission New Delhi chairnhrc@nic.in covdnhrc@nic.in Sub: Appeal for Conducting Public Enquiry into (…)

  • Quake Survivors Await Relief in Pakistan

    by Beena Sarwar, 30 October 2008

    Inter Press Service, 29 October 2008
    KARACHI, Oct 29 (IPS) - Poor infrastructure and communications are making it difficult for rescue and relief teams to reach scattered hamlets in the mountainous plateau area affected by the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Pakistan’s Balochistan province at dawn on Wednesday.
    Relief efforts were repulsed by a second temblor, estimated at 6.2 on the Richter scale that struck the area barely 12 hours later at about 5 pm, followed by at least four (…)

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