Jan
12
The Trauma of the Kashmir Conflict
January 12, 2004 | Comments Off on The Trauma of the Kashmir Conflict
In BBC News today, Geeta Pandey reports on the staggering increase in stress and trauma cases in the Kashmir Valley. The article explores the exponential rise in cases, as well as the impact of the violence on children: The hospital saw 1,700 cases in 1989 – but by last year that figure had rocketed to […]
Jan
11
US Congressional Delegation Visits Gujarat
January 11, 2004 | Comments Off on US Congressional Delegation Visits Gujarat
On Friday, a US Congressional delegation visited some of the sites of major carnage during the Gujarat pogroms against Muslims in early 2002: The four-member US delegation — led by Joseph Pitts, vice-chairman of the Congress sub-committee on terrorism, rights and non-proliferation — also visited the massacre site in the Gulbarg Society where former MP […]
Jan
10
Distortions by Times of India
January 10, 2004 | Comments Off on Distortions by Times of India
The Times of India has given a curious title to their article on the formation of the Association of Families of the Disappeared in Punjab: Terrorist Victim Families Seek Justice. Who is the terrorist here? Are they referring to state terrorism, meaning the families are victims of state terrorism? Or are they saying that the […]
Jan
9
Inauguration of Association of Families of the Disappeared in Punjab
January 9, 2004 | Comments Off on Inauguration of Association of Families of the Disappeared in Punjab
Today, the victim families of enforced disappearances and arbitrary executions in Punjab formed themselves into an association known as Association of Families of the Disappeared in Punjab or AFDP. Only Punjab families whose members have been disappeared or killed by State forces or their agents may become members of AFDP. AFDP is dedicated to the […]
Jan
8
Gujarat Charge Sheets
January 8, 2004 | Comments Off on Gujarat Charge Sheets
Bilkis Yakub Rasool told the Gujarat police that, during the Gujarat pogroms of 2002, she and her three-sisters were gang-raped, and over 13 family members—including her daughter, two sisters, mother, and two brothers—were murdered. Despite a forensic report that confirmed rape, the Gujarat police closed her case. Bilkis appealed to the Supreme Court who directed […]
Jan
7
Gujarat: One Conviction
January 7, 2004 | Comments Off on Gujarat: One Conviction
Yesterday’s Indian Express carried a story about the conviction of one man for his role in the murder and attack on a Muslim couple during the Gujarat pogroms against Muslims. The article briefly touches on how all of the witnesses turned hostile, but the existence of a forensic report led to the conviction of one […]
Jan
6
Communalism and the Media
January 6, 2004 | Comments Off on Communalism and the Media
At an event celebrating the 125th anniversary of the paper, The Hindu reported today on the speech made by K.N. Panikkar on increasing communalism in the media. Panikkar warned of the increasing acceptance and perceived respectability of communalism, as well as its impact on the rhetoric of nationalism: Dr. Panikkar said that communalism had gained […]
Jan
6
Threats Issued to Kashmir Peace Panel Organizers
January 6, 2004 | Comments Off on Threats Issued to Kashmir Peace Panel Organizers
The Confederation of Human Rights Organisations has issued a press release detailing threats it has received because of its role in organizing a panel on peace in Kashmir for the upcoming World Social Forum (Bombay). The panel, titled “Moving Towards Peace in Kashmir,” will feature speakers such as Ved Bhasin, Human Rights Activist and Chairman […]
Jan
5
POTA and Godhra Case
January 5, 2004 | Comments Off on POTA and Godhra Case
The Sunday Express reports that the team investigating the Godhra fire of late February 2002, that preceded the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat, told the special POTA court that it had named the wrong person as an accused. The investigation team moved the court to change the name of the accused. The court, however, rejected […]
Jan
4
India: The Judiciary in a Democracy
January 4, 2004 | Comments Off on India: The Judiciary in a Democracy
The South Asia Citizens Web posted today the report India: The Judiciary in a Democracy, summarizing the proceedings at the annual lecture series of the The Amiya and B.G. Rao Foundation. This year’s discussion, chaired by Prof. Imtiaz Ahmed, featured noted speakers Om Prakash Sharma, Nandita Haksar, Vahida Nainar, Vrinda Grover and K. John Sundar: […]