Jan
31
Alleged Jailbreak “Mastermind” was Illegally Detained
January 31, 2004 | Comments Off on Alleged Jailbreak “Mastermind” was Illegally Detained
On January 22, 2004, three men accused of playing a role in the assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh escaped from jail. Beant Singh, Chief Minister from 1992 until his assassination on August 31, 1995, was largely credited with suppressing the militancy in Punjab, sanctioning systematic human rights abuses in the police counterinsurgency campaign. […]
Jan
30
84 riots: Cop blames Cong leaders
January 30, 2004 | Comments Off on 84 riots: Cop blames Cong leaders
ACP Ranbir Singh, who served as SHO Karol Bagh, Delhi, during the November 1984 pogroms against the Sikhs in India, deposed to the Nanavati Commission about Congress leaders intimidating police officers who attempted to arrest the perpetrators of the violence: ACP Ranbir Singh…said the then Congress MP Dharam Dass Shastri and others had come to […]
Jan
30
World Social Forum: Experiences of Women in Gujarat
January 30, 2004 | Comments Off on World Social Forum: Experiences of Women in Gujarat
On OpenDemocracy.org, Swedish activist America Vera-Zavala has written about experiences of women at the World Social Forum, which concluded last week in Bombay. She begins her article with women survivors of the massacre in Gujarat, speaking at the panel “Religious Fundamentalism, Communalism, Casteism and Racism – Actually a Globalisation Agenda:” “After the rape they made […]
Jan
29
Update on Bilkis Case
January 29, 2004 | Comments Off on Update on Bilkis Case
In a follow up to the gang rape case, originating from the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat during spring 2002, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) secured another week of custody of the 12 accused. One of the accused is the former BJP secretary from Dahod district: The CBI told the court that during the […]
Jan
28
UN Draft Convention Regarding Forced Disappearances
January 28, 2004 | Comments Off on UN Draft Convention Regarding Forced Disappearances
Last week marked the conclusion of the second meeting of the UN Commission of Human Rights’ Inter-sessional open-ended working group to elaborate a draft legally binding normative instrument for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance. The group considered the Draft International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/19, Annex). […]
Jan
27
Harvard Law School Website Features NHRC Case
January 27, 2004 | Comments Off on Harvard Law School Website Features NHRC Case
The Harvard Law School website today features the intervention by the Harvard Law Student Advocates (HLSA) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) in the Punjab illegal cremations matter pending before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The article, titled “Student Group Urges Investigation of Missing Sikhs,” describes the friend of the court brief filed by HLSA/HRW, […]
Jan
27
Supreme Court Issues Notice Over Plea from 1984 Victim
January 27, 2004 | Comments Off on Supreme Court Issues Notice Over Plea from 1984 Victim
The Supreme Court of India has issued notice to the government of Uttar Pradesh in response to a petition filed by a victim of the November 1984 massacre of Sikhs, who, 20 years later, has still not received compensation for the abuses he and his family suffered: Petitioner Gurbachan Singh Salooja’s counsel H S Phoolka […]
Jan
26
Fallout from Gujarat reaches US
January 26, 2004 | Comments Off on Fallout from Gujarat reaches US
The BBC today has an article, titled “Fallout from Gujarat reaches US.” The article discusses attempts made within the Indian diaspora to reach out to different religious communities, among a growing debate on Hindutva. The article describes the Vishwa Hindu Parisad (VHP) in general terms, and largely ignores the role of the party in hate […]
Jan
25
More Discoveries in Gujarat Gang Rape Case
January 25, 2004 | Comments Off on More Discoveries in Gujarat Gang Rape Case
An article in the Telegraph today gave more information on the 12 men arrested recently and charged with gang rape and murder during the Gujarat massacres of Muslims during early 2002. The CBI had taken over the case because of the failure of the local police to properly investigate the crimes and implicated key BJP […]
Jan
24
POTA Update–Powers of Central Review Committee
January 24, 2004 | Comments Off on POTA Update–Powers of Central Review Committee
The Central Review Committee established by the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) today rejected the arguments posed by Tamil Nadu in the ongoing case around the Committee’s powers. The Committee held that it has the power to intervene in the cases regarding the detention of a senior political leader and eight others: The powers conferred […]