Dec
11
Lok Sabha passes bill to repeal POTA
December 11, 2004 | Comments Off on Lok Sabha passes bill to repeal POTA
On December 6, the Lok Sabha (lower parliamentary house) approved the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Bill, and approved the bill to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). POTA has raised concerns because of issues such as its vague definitions of membership and support for “terrorist organizations,” its lack of pre-trial safeguards, and insufficient guarantees of […]
Sep
23
Indian Government Decides to Repeal Prevention of Terrorism Act
September 23, 2004 | Comments Off on Indian Government Decides to Repeal Prevention of Terrorism Act
The Central Government has decided to repeal the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA): [Home Minister] Patil said one of the main problems with Pota had been that it required the accused to prove their innocence rather than the prosecution to prove guilt…. He said bail provisions under Pota were also very difficult, resulting in […]
Sep
10
Army Orders DNA Tests after Evidence of Rape of Manipur Woman
September 10, 2004 | Comments Off on Army Orders DNA Tests after Evidence of Rape of Manipur Woman
In response to the massive protests across Manipur state at the brutal beating and death of a young woman in custody of the Indian Army, the government instituted an inquiry. Last week, the judge heading the inquiry threatened four soldiers with arrest if they did not appear before him. They had refused to cooperate, challenging […]
Aug
27
Draft Model Law on Communal Violence
August 27, 2004 | 1 Comment
In late July, the Union Home Ministry announced that it had begun to draft a new law aimed at combating communal violence: This follows the CMP commitment for enactment of a ‘‘comprehensive law’’ against communal violence which will provide for investigations by a Central agency, prosecution by special courts and payment of uniform compensation to […]
Aug
17
Protests Spread Across Manipur Against Draconian Legislation
August 17, 2004 | Comments Off on Protests Spread Across Manipur Against Draconian Legislation
For the past two weeks, protestors in Manipur have raised the issue of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and human rights abuses perpetrated by security forces on civilians. The protests began after security forces killed a young woman in detention: On 11 July soldiers of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force deployed in Manipur […]
Jul
19
Court Releases Compensation for Bhopal Survivors
July 19, 2004 | Comments Off on Court Releases Compensation for Bhopal Survivors
India’s Supreme Court ordered the release of millions of rupees of compensation for the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy of December 1984. Three thousand people died in the days after a leakage at the Union Carbide pesticide plant. 20,000 more died later from the long-term impacts, such as disease: The court directed that 15bn rupees […]
Jul
18
People’s Tribunal Releases POTA Report
July 18, 2004 | Comments Off on People’s Tribunal Releases POTA Report
Last week, the Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani released the People’s Tribunal report on the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA): At a press conference here today to mark the release of the People’s Tribunal’s report on POTA and other security legislation, Mr. Jethmalani said: “I did support the enactment of the Act, but I now […]
Jun
14
June 12 marked the anniversary of a 1975 High Court ruling that found Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi guilty of corruption. BBC’s On This Day reproduced its contemporary article reporting on the verdict: Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi has been barred from holding office for six years after she was found guilty of electoral corruption. But […]
Jun
8
President Calls for Repeal of POTA and New Law on Communal Violence
June 8, 2004 | Comments Off on President Calls for Repeal of POTA and New Law on Communal Violence
The President of India has declared the government’s intention to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA): The President reiterates the Manmohan Singh Government’s commitment to do away with the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). It asserts that “while there can be no compromise on the fight against terrorism,” the Government believes that the […]
May
15
Arundhati Roy: Is this a New Dawn for India?
May 15, 2004 | Comments Off on Arundhati Roy: Is this a New Dawn for India?
In an article reacting to the election victory of the Congress Party, writer and activist Arundhati Roy points to the human rights problems created and exacerbated by many Indian governments—center, state, Congress or Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): [W]e know that on every major issue besides overt Hindu nationalism (nuclear bombs, big dams and privatisation), the […]