'Genocidal violence in Bastar': Civil society groups ask UNHRC to intervene

By Our Representative

The civil rights network Forum Against Corporatisation and Militarisation (FACAM), along with the Foundation The London Story, Netherlands, International Solidarity for Academic Freedom in India, India Justice Project, Germany and London Mining Network, UK, in a submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has complained of "genocidal violence" allegedly being unleashed on the Adivasi peasants in Bastar.

Stating that the violence has intensified in 2024 since the Indian state launched the draconian Surajkund Scheme, the representation said, as of now, close to 200 individuals have been killed in Bastar. Along with this, multiple human rights defenders, ground activists and peasant leaders such as Surju Tekam, and Suneeta Pottem, have been arrested in Chhattisgarh based on falsified charges of being associated with the proscribed Communist Party of India (Maoist) under anti-terror and sedition law, it added.

Seeking periodic review of the obligations of India under the UNHRC's International Political Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which assures the basic civil and political rights of all as elaborated citizens within the states that have ratified the convention, FACAM said, Indian citizens have these basic civil and political rights since India is a party to this covenant, yet Indian state is violating several provisions of the ICCPR.

Article 6 of the ICCPR states that every person has an inherent right to life protected by the law and no one can be arbitrarily deprived of this right. Article 4 states that this right cannot be taken away, even when it is a public emergency threatening the life of the nation. Similarly, Article 2(3), states that any person whose rights under the ICCPR have been violated will have a right to remedy, even if the individual violating these rights were working in an official capacity, it said.

The arrests of human rights defenders, activists, and Adivasi peasantry, are in violation of Article 9(1) of the ICCPR. The Indian state is also in violation of Article 9(3) of the ICCPR, which states that individuals have the right against any undue delays to a proper trial after they are arrested by the state, FACAM noted.

Many of the individuals have been arrested under bailable provisions but bail is not granted to them for several years, leading to them being in jail for several years as undertrials, it underlined, adding, the Indian state is perpetrating this genocidal violence against its own people in order to ensure corporate loot at gunpoint. The state is trying to grab the land of the peasantry and displace them through this war on people.

Insisting that the state must put an end to this violence immediately and create an atmosphere of pea this anti-people model of development and urges all to read its submission to the UN and stand for a pro-people model of development.

Comments

Islamophobia 'being fuelled' in India amidst move to curtail violence against Bangladesh Hindus

By Ram Puniyani* The recent turmoil in Bangladesh has significantly impacted the nation and contributed to a surge in fake news and Islamophobia in India. For the past fifteen years, Shaikh Hasina has governed Bangladesh with an iron fist, quelling opposition through imprisonment and house arrest of key opposition figures.

Ram Temple tableau prompts Indian Muslims of North America to withdraw float from NYC parade

By Our Representative The Indian Muslims of North America (IMNA), an Indian diaspora group that had initially planned to organize a float for the New York City India Day parade on August 18, has withdrawn their participation from the parade due to “significant concern” over the event’s inclusion of a tableau celebrating the Ram Temple.

New York mayor 'supports' NGO demand to bar AVHP's I-Day Ram Temple float

By Our Representative New York City (NYC) mayor Eric Adams has condemned the decision of the Indian Consulate of New York and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) , a U.S. offshoot of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), for planning what several diaspora human rights groups call an anti-Muslim float planned for this year’s upcoming NYC India day parade on August 18.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

At the cost of Adivasi rights? Security camps in Central India meant to ‘promote' corporate interests

By A Representative According to the Home Minister, Amit Shah, 250 security camps have been established in Bastar after 2019. There are camps roughly at a distance of every 2 or 5 km, turning Bastar into one vast cantonment. In February 2024, the IG Bastar announced 50 additional camps. This makes Bastar into one of the most militarised regions of the country with 1 security person to every 9 civilians.

Golwalkar's views on tricolour, martyrs, minorities, caste as per RSS archives

By Shamsul Islam* First time in the history of independent India, the in-charge minister of the Cultural Ministry in the current Modi government, Prahlad Singh Patel, has glorified MS Golwalkar, second supremo of the RSS and the most prominent ideologue of the RSS till date, on his birth anniversary, February 19. In a tweet he wrote : “Remembering a great thinker, scholar, and remarkable leader #MSGolwalkar on his birth anniversary. His thoughts will remain a source of inspiration & continue to guide generations.”

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Ambedkar varsity 'on brink of collapse', 32 faculty members resign, 22 embroiled in legal battles

Counterview Desk In a strongly worded statement, the Ambedkar University Delhi Faculty Association (AUDFA), even as insisting on the need to protect the top public institution, has said that the university "is now on the brink of collapse and fragmentation", accusing the administration for operating "with increasing impunity, subjecting faculty to harassment amid deteriorating working conditions."

Rabies vaccines 'also cause injuries', time to pause, take informed decision

By Deepika* Dog bites and Rabies Vaccines are in the news these days. Every other day there is a news report mentioning the death of a child following a dog bite despite the child being vaccinated against Rabies. The news reports erroneously and intentionally mention that the child died due to “Rabies” and do not question the role of the vaccines.

Search This Blog