[Onthebarricades] Pro-democracy and human/civil rights protests, INDIA, PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH, TURKMENISTAN, Aug-Sept 2008

[global resistance roundup]

BANGLADESH:
* Students stone cops, defy ban, demand PM release
* Protest over repression of human chain
* Protest over political releases
* Protest over alleged torture

PAKISTAN:
* Clashes, roadblocks at lawyer protests
* Women protest allegedly corrupt teacher appointments
* Residents block Super Highway over crap arrests
* Minister leaves residence to protest government attitude
* Protest over live burial in Balochistan
* Man attempts suicide during protest

INDIA:
* Police terror against Muslims protested
* DMDK repression protest
* Lawyers clash over election in UP
* Protest against attack on art exhibit
* Lawyers protest police assault
* Protest against forced labour in Tamil Nadu
* Residents protest corrupt handout
* Students protest police beating
* Villagers shun panchayat nomination
* Protest on self-government day in Orissa
* Karnataka protest at BJP failure
* AIADMK demand sacking over corruption
* Tamil Nadu - protest for release of political prisoners
* Karnataka - JD(S) protests BJP
* Karnataka - artists protest against ban
* Karnataka - call to ban paper over blackmail
* Karnataka - CPI(M) protests BJP
* Tamil Nadu - dharna, motorcycle burning in anti-BJP protest

INDIA - SRI LANKA
* Fishermen strike over Lanka navy killing

TURKMENISTAN - FRANCE
* Activists occupy Paris embassy over detention of journalists






http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/25/asia/AS-Bangladesh-Protest.php

Student activists demand ex-PM's release

The Associated Press
Published: August 25, 2008

DHAKA, Bangladesh: Stone-throwing protesters clashed with riot police, 
smashed and burned vehicles Monday to demand the release of Bangladesh's 
former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is being held on corruption 
charges, news reports said.
The violence left one person dead, United News of Bangladesh reported. 
The victim, a 45-year-old garment trader, was hit by splinters from an 
exploding gas cylinder from a bus that was set on fire by the 
protesters, the report said. He died in state-run Dhaka Medical College 
Hospital.
Several other people were injured, the report said without providing 
details.
Police used batons to disperse the dozens of protesters who tried to 
take to the streets, defying emergency rules banning such protests, the 
agency reported.
The protesters were from the student front of Zia's Bangladesh 
Nationalist Party, the report said.

It said the protests occurred on the campus of Dhaka University and its 
adjoining areas.
The activists threw stones at riot police during the protest in central 
Dhaka.
There was no immediate reports of injury.
Zia served as prime minister from 2001 to 2006. She has been held at a 
makeshift prison in Dhaka's parliament compound since September last 
year on corruption charges.
Zia is accused of misusing her power by awarding contracts to a local 
company, Global Agro Trade Company, when she was in office in 2003.
The complaint said Zia's administration did not follow standard 
procedure in awarding the company work involving two cargo terminals, 
one in Dhaka's Kamalapur Railway Station and another in the country's 
main Chittagong seaport.
She faces three other charges of extortion.
She has rejected the charges as a move to tarnish her political image.
Bangladesh has been ruled since mid-January last year by an interim 
government installed by the military after 30 people were killed in 
political clashes following the end of Zia's term.
The government, led by a former central bank governor, has vowed to 
fight corruption, reform electoral rules and clean up the nation's 
factional and often violent politics before holding the next elections 
scheduled for December this year.
Bangladesh, an impoverished nation of 150 million people, has been 
ranked as one of the world's most corrupt countries by the Berlin-based 
anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International.





http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e8a_1187799181

Bangladesh Students Defy Protest Ban
Photo taken at the scene..
Three days of violent student demonstrations drove Army soldiers from a 
university campus in Bangladesh Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007.

Government officials ordered troops to leave the Dhaka University 
campus, where they had been stationed since January. The government 
declared a state of emergency in January, suspended elections, stationed 
soldiers on campuses throughout the country and decreed and end to many 
civil liberties.

The emergency laws ban all demonstrations, but that did not prevent 
thousands of students from protesting this week. The demonstrations 
began after a group of soldiers quartered at Dhaka University beat up 
some students during a soccer match Monday, according to press accounts.

The clash between the soldiers and students led to three days of violent 
protests in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Cars were burned, shops 
damaged and at least one military vehicle was turned over and torched by 
demonstrators. The Agence France Presse wire service reported one person 
was killed and the Associated Press reported 150 were injured. To put 
that into perspective, recent flooding has left about 650 people dead in 
Dhaka. Bangladesh has a population of 147 million, which is about half 
the population of the United States.

Five students were injured by the soldiers early Monday, according to 
the AP. The attack led to street protests by Dhaka University students 
and the demonstrations were joined by Dhaka University staffers and 
students from other nearby campuses.

Government and Army officials said they would investigate the incident 
and take disciplinary action against the soldiers responsible for the 
attack.

However, a 2006 U.S. State Department human rights report on Bangladesh 
indicates many abuses by the military, government authority and 
political parties go un-investigated and unpunished.

"While the law prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading 
punishment, security forces, the RAB (the Rapid Action Battalion police 
force), and police routinely employed severe treatment as well as 
psychological abuse during arrests and interrogations. Abuse consisted 
of threats and beatings and the use of electric shock. According to 
human rights organizations, security forces tortured 45 persons during 
the year, 14 of whom died... The government rarely charged, convicted, 
or punished those responsible, and a climate of impunity allowed such 
police abuses to continue."

Bangladesh has been under a state of emergency since Jan. 11, 2007, when 
the country's leader, President Iajuddin Ahmed, cancelled scheduled 
elections and decreed a state of emergency for the country. His actions 
came after opposition parties staged violent protests calling for fair 
elections.

The media is heavily restricted and censored in Bangladesh. According to 
the U.S. State Department's report the toll on press freedoms in 2006 
included "...one journalist was killed, 183 journalists were injured, 
six were arrested, 53 were assaulted, and 114 were threatened during the 
year."








http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=52641

Published On: 2008-08-31
Metropolitan
Delwar protests police action during human chain in Khulna
Staff Correspondent

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain protested the police 
action during the human chain programme by the four-party alliance on 
August 27 in Khulna, says a press release yesterday.

Delwar termed the obstacle as interference to the democratic rights of 
the people. It reflects the repressive and undemocratic nature of the 
present government, he added.

He also condemned the filing of case against its 15 leaders and demanded 
withdrawal of the case.







http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=53417

Published On: 2008-09-05
Metropolitan
Release of corrupt suspects protested
Staff Correspondent

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) yesterday formed a human chain in the city 
and elsewhere in the country amid police barriers to protest the release 
of corrupt politicians and war criminals.

JSD leaders and activists observed the programme yesterday, a day after 
Tarique Rahman, a leading accused in corruption cases, was released on bail.

Police barred JSD President Hasanul Haq Inu, General Secretary Syed 
Jafar Sajjad and other leaders who tried to form the human chain in 
front of the party office at Gulistan.

The JSD president said it is unfortunate that corrupt politicians, war 
criminals and militants are being released from jail as part of a 
'backdoor' deal between the government and the corrupt politicians.

He called on the government to try war criminals and corrupt politicians 
before holding of the general elections.







http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=54746

Published On: 2008-09-14
Metropolitan
Protest against CA in front of UN headquarters on Sept 26
Staff Correspondent

Tarique Mukti Andolon (TMA), a platform for the release of BNP 
Chairperson Khaleda Zia's elder son Tarique Rahman, will stage 
demonstration against Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed in front of 
the UN Headquarters in New York on September 26.

This was stated by TMA President and Senior Joint General Secretary of 
BNP's US unit Akter Hossain Badal at an Iftar party on Friday to mark 
the release of Khaleda and Tarique, said a US- based news agency.

Badal said they will stage the demonstration as Fakhruddin is involved 
in eliminating the nationalist forces and torturing the family members 
of late president Zia.

He also alleged that Tarique was tortured so that he could not take part 
in politics.

The committee thanked the media for playing a positive role for the 
release of Khaleda and Tarique and held a function to thank the journalists.







http://mobile.sun-sentinel.com/news.jsp?key=66165&rc=wo

Pakistani lawyers protest for return of ousted judges, disrupt traffic
By Associated Press

August 28, 2008 03:48 AM


LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) _ Hundreds of lawyers are rallying in major 
Pakistani cities and disrupting traffic.

They are pressuring the government to reinstate dozens of judges fired 
by ex-President Pervez Musharraf.

Lawyers played a major role in undermining Musharraf, who resigned Aug. 
18 to avoid impeachment by the country's ruling coalition.

The government this week reinstated some judges, but it appears 
reluctant to restore Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry. Musharraf 
sacked the judges in November to avoid legal challenges to his rule.

The protests Thursday happened in cities such as Karachi, Multan and 
Lahore. A top lawyer leader, Aitzaz Ahsan, said the ruling coalition 
should "honor its pledge" to restore Chaudhry and other judges.







http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2008/09/pakistan-lawyers-protest-leads-to.php

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Pakistan lawyers' protest leads to violent clash with police
Joe Shaulis at 2:13 PM ET

[JURIST] Pakistani lawyers demanding that the government reinstate 
judges ousted last year [JURIST report] by former President Pervez 
Musharraf [JURIST news archive] clashed with police in Islamabad on 
Thursday, according to media reports. Television images showed police 
beating the lawyers with batons outside Parliament, in a confrontation 
that reportedly began after an estimated 100 demonstrators tried to 
enter the nearby Supreme Court [Bloomberg News report]. Hundreds of 
lawyers and other protesters had gathered for a sit-in outside the 
buildings, where Aitzaz Ahsan [profile], president of Pakistan's Supreme 
Court Bar Association, told reporters [Daily Mail report] that an 
independent judiciary is essential to a stable government in Pakistan 
[JURIST news archive]. Protests also took place [AFP report] in the 
cities of Lahore, Karachi and Multan. The demonstrations came amid 
reports that four judges removed from the Peshawar High Court [official 
website], including the chief justice, would take new oaths Friday 
[Daily Mail report].

The Pakistani lawyers' movement [AHRC backgrounder; PBS report] renewed 
its protests last week after eight judges were reappointed [JURIST 
report] to the Sindh High Court in Karachi. Critics described that 
development as evidence of a "conspiracy" to undermine support for 
reinstatement of all the judges nationwide. Pakistan's coalition 
government dissolved [JURIST report] last week after former prime 
minister Nawaz Sharif [party profile; JURIST news archive] withdrew his 
Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) [party website] party over the 
failure to reach an agreement with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) 
[party website] to reinstate the judges. Musharraf, who resigned [JURIST 
report] last month to avoid impeachment proceedings for firing the 
judges and other alleged abuses of authority, now faces the possibility 
of criminal charges [JURIST report].







http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Stick-wielding_riot_police_beat_protesting_Pakistani_lawyers/rssarticleshow/3444018.cms

Stick-wielding riot police beat protesting Pakistani lawyers
4 Sep 2008, 1404 hrs IST, AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani riot police used sticks to beat lawyers demanding 
the reinstatement of dozens of judges sacked by former President Pervez

Pakistani police used sticks to beat lawyers demanding the reinstatement 
of judges sacked by Pervez Musharraf. (AFP photo)
More Pictures

Musharraf.

The melee broke out after around 100 black-suited lawyers tried to enter 
the Supreme Court building by climbing the main gates, shouting slogans 
against the new chief justice appointed by Musharraf in November.

After the 15-minute brawl, the lawyers retreated but continued their 
demonstration.

Some 500 lawyers had been joined by political party workers and other 
supporters carrying black flags, placards and banners in front of 
parliament house and the Supreme Court.

"This is the representative gathering of all lawyers and bar 
associations of Pakistan and our struggle will continue until the 
reinstatement of all judges," lawyers' leader Aitzaz Ahsan said.

Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, deposed dozens 
of judges under a state of emergency last November when it appeared they 
would challenge his re-election as president the previous month.

The sackings sparked large and sometimes violent protests by Pakistan's 
influential lawyers.

Musharraf resigned on August 18 under the threat of impeachment charges 
levelled by the government but Pakistan's shaky ruling coalition has 
since failed to decide how to restore the judges.

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif withdrew his party's support from the 
coalition last month over the issue, saying the ruling Pakistan People's 
Party (PPP) was dragging its feet.







http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/13/nat16.htm

September 13, 2008 Saturday Ramazan 12, 1429

Women protest against teachers’ recruitment ‘out of merit’

By Our Staff Correspondent

MUZAFFARABAD, Sept 12: Around four dozens women, annoyed over the 
alleged violation of merit in the recent recruitment of primary 
teachers, staged a unique demonstration in the hometown of Prime 
Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan on Friday, throwing eggs and tomatoes 
at the local education department office to register their protest, 
witnesses said.

As the protesters reached the office of deputy district education 
officer in Dhirkot, some 55 kilometres south of here, a large contingent 
of police intercepted them, though the entire education department staff 
had already left to avert their ire.

After an altercation with the police, the infuriated protesters pelted 
tomatoes and eggs at the education department office amid bitter slogans 
against the prime minister as well as the “corrupt education department 
officials.”

Similar chants were also inscribed on several placards which the 
protesters were carrying. “Killer of merit: prime minister,” read one of 
the placards.

Earlier, the female protesters also took a round of Dhirkot bazaar in 
what the locals said was first ever demonstration of women in the town. 
They were also accompanied by male political activists and members of 
civil society.

“Sardar Attique government has compelled us to come on the roads by 
resorting to slaughter of merit. This will not auger well for his 
government,” said one protester. She said she held a master’s degree but 
a less qualified girl had been given preference either due to nepotism 
or political considerations or bribery.

Another protestor warned that prime minister's cavalcade may also 
receive tomatoes and eggs if the “controversial appointments were not 
nullified.”

“Sardar Attique frequently travels through this route to his residence. 
If today education department is pelted with eggs and tomatoes, tomorrow 
his cavalcade can also receive similar treatment,” she said.

The protesters called upon the government to immediately cancel the “out 
of merit” appointments or else a serious law and order situation could 
emerge in the region. “We will go to the last extent. We will challenge 
the sale of merit in the courts of law and also on the streets,” said 
Raja Sajjad Ahmed, leader of main opposition People’s Muslim League 
(JKPML) which had organised a protest demonstration on this issue on 
September 5.

A day after the last Friday demonstration, a news item was released by 
the official quarters to a section of the vernacular press, stating that 
the prime minister had ordered annulment of all controversial 
appointments after Raja Iftikhar Ayub, a ruling Muslim Conference leader 
from Dhirkot, had drawn his attention towards violation of merit in the 
recruitment process.

However, secretary education Khan Bahadur Abdullah later issued a 
clarification that the department had constituted a committee to look 
into the complaints against the recruitment process.

It may be mentioned that complaints of non-transparent recruitment of 
primary teachers have also started pouring in from other areas of AJK.






http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=137834

Protesters block Super Highway Thursday, September 25, 2008
By our correspondent

Karachi

Hundreds of residents of Sohrab Goth blocked the Super Highway on 
Wednesday to protest the arrest of three people by the police. The men 
were alleged to have made a bid to extort money from a factory owner in 
the F.B. Industrial Area police limits.

SSP Allauddin Abbasey of Gulberg Town said that a complaint was received 
from a trader, Mohammed Anees. He owns a factory situated in the F.B. 
Area police limits. Anees said that some unidentified people were 
demanding extortion of Rs1.5 million. He said they had threatened dire 
consequences if their demands were not met.

SSP Abbasey then assigned police officials who started negotiations with 
the criminals and called them within the premises of the factory. While 
they were taking the extortion amount, the police pounced at them and 
took them to the police station and registered a case against them on 
Anees’ complaint. The men were identified as Tariq Khan, Amanullah, and 
Saeed Khan.

During investigations, the accused said that they were the supporters of 
the Awami National Party (ANP). On verification, it was found that they 
had no connection with the party. Afterwards, the residents of Sohrab 
Goth, where the accused were residing, came on to the Super Highway and 
blocked the road for vehicular traffic and demanding that the three men 
be released.

The protesters maintained that the men were innocent and the police had 
implicated them in a false case. The situation at Sohrab Goth was tense 
until last reports came in.








http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=135891

Rafiq Engineer surrenders official residence in protest Monday, 
September 15, 2008
By Tahir Hasan Khan

Karachi

Sindh Katchi AbadiesMinister Rafiq Engreer has vacated his official 
residence (an apartment provided to him in Bath Islanad, Clifton) to 
protest the “discriminatory” attitude of the bureaucracy .

Authorities concerned had provided the apartment to the minister at a 
rent of Rs40,000 per month. Similar apartments were, meanwhile, being 
provided to government officers at Rs8,000 per month as rent. The 
minister told The News that he had lodged a proper complaint with the 
Sindh chief minister and the chief secretary, informing them that the 
authorities were yet to provide him accommodation according to his 
entitlement as a provincial minister.

Rafiq Engineer, who was twice elected from Lyari, said that he would 
raise the issue in the Sindh Assembly as his privilege was breached. He 
further said that the authorities were “fooling” him.

The Sindh General Administration Department is responsible for providing 
accommodations, vehicles and fuel to provincial ministers and advisers 
as per their entitlement under the rules. Most provincial ministers and 
advisers have, however, complained that they were not provided with 
official accommodation. There are 44 ministers in the provincial cabinet 
and most of them have preferred to stay in their own houses in order to 
avoid bureaucratic hurdles.

The crisis started when the General Administration Department allotted a 
house to Rafiq Engineer behind the US Consulate and informed the 
minister that the house was in a dilapidated condition and repairing it 
would cost Rs2.5million and will take considerable time.

When the minister reached the house, however, he was told that it had 
been allotted to the additional home secretary and the department 
concerned had already moved a summary for approval by competent 
authority with the estimate of Rs1.3million for repairs.

Engineer said that such tactics proved how the bureaucracy was “fooling 
elected representatives.” He said that a bureaucrat was living in this 
house for the last five years while his services were handed over to the 
federal government from Sindh but the authorities did not charge for its 
repair from the officer concerned and the condition of the house was 
worse when it was vacated.

The minister said that the officers whether working in Sindh or in the 
federal government have occupied official residences in Bath Island, 
Shireen Jinnah Colony, DHA and PECHS and all the budget of the 
departments concerned was being spent for the repair, renovation, fuel 
and providing vehicles to bureaucrats.

He said that the bureaucracy had “many lame excuses” for elected 
representatives with regard to providing them accommodation and other 
facilities while they “make no excuses” for providing accommodation and 
other facilities to officers. Engineer said that this attitude “shows 
how government servants hate the people’s representatives.”







http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=137017

Protest in Islamabad against live burial of women in Balochistan 
High-powered commission demanded to present report on issue

Sunday, September 21, 2008
By Saadia Khalid

ISLAMABAD: A high-powered commission for presenting a report to 
parliament on Violence Against Women (VAW), especially on killings in 
the name of honour, tradition and custom, was demanded in a protest here 
on Saturday.

The protest was staged by civil society members at the Parade Avenue to 
condemn the government for not taking any immediate steps on the recent 
incident in which five women were buried alive in Naseerabad.

The participants were holding placards inscribed with messages like 
'Kick out Israrullah Zehri' and 'Women parliamentarians speak or 
resign'. They raised slogans against the government for not taking the 
issue seriously, as those responsible have not been arrested yet while 
the investigation process of the unfortunate incident was also not 
satisfactory.

The protesters said that the government representatives should stay 
vigilant in order to identify planning of such crimes as honour 
killings, so that preventive measures could be taken in time. They said 
that Senator Zehri and those public representatives who had defended 
honour killings should be disqualified immediately.

Director of the Aurat Foundation Naeem Mirza said he was greatly 
disappointed by the stance of women parliamentarians on such a terrible 
issue. "The role of PPP women parliamentarians is condemnable, as they 
have not taken any stance in parliament in this regard," he said and 
stressed that a high-level commission should be constituted to 
investigate the issue in which members of civil society should also be 
given proper representation.

Civil activist Shabana Arif said that burial of women who were alive was 
the most inhuman, heinous, and barbaric crime that should be condemned 
at all levels. "The issue should be discussed in both houses in order to 
curb such practices in future," she said.

Farzana Bari said it was a routine matter that committees were 
constituted to prolong such issues until the voices opposing them died 
down. "We are not satisfied with the proceedings of the committee till 
now," she said and added that the penal code needed to be further 
amended, so that murder could be brought back as a crime against the 
State and should, under no circumstances, be compounded.

Meanwhile, People's Rights Movement (PRM) held a protest on the occasion 
of the joint session of parliament, demanding a firm stand against the 
American imperialism, both in the form of direct military incursions on 
the Pakistani territory and the economic imperialism of the 
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and its sister financial institutions.

Speaking on the occasion, Aasim Sajjad said that over the past two 
weeks, it had been proven that the military establishment was 
hand-in-glove with the US. "There is a widespread consensus in the 
society that American hegemony should not be tolerated but 
unfortunately, the powers-that-be are willing to take a stand on the 
basic principle of national sovereignty and so Pakistan's client state 
status stands confirmed," he said.







http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=137018

Man attempts suicide during protest Sunday, September 21, 2008
By Saadia Khalid

ISLAMABAD: During the protest at the Parade Avenue against the killing 
of five women in Naseerabad and the American imperialism, a person named 
Safdar Ali attempted to commit suicide.

The protesters became panicky when all of a sudden Ali came out of the 
crowd and poured petrol over himself. However, media persons and members 
of civil society present on the occasion successfully stopped him from 
proceeding any further.

Afterwards, while talking to The News, Safdar Ali said that he was 
employed by the Civil Aviation, Lahore, some years ago when he went on 
leave for three days for being seriously ill.

"On my return, the officers expelled me from the job," he said. Since 
the last three years, Ali said he was running from pillar to post in 
order to get his job restored but all his efforts had been in vain.

"I have eight daughters and two sons but I am unable to feed my family 
due to unemployment," he said.










http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/15/stories/2008091554160500.htm

Other States - Rajasthan

Muslim protestors slapped with ‘harsh’ sections
Special Correspondent
Fact-finding team of the Rajasthan Muslim Forum visits Jodhpur, Kota 
over the last week-end
JAIPUR: Alarmed at the claim of investigating agencies that Kota and 
Jodhpur are fast emerging as nerve-centres of Islamist radicals, Muslim 
groups in Rajasthan visited the two towns over the week-end and 
expressed concern over what they described as a “reign of terror” 
unleashed by the police to nab youngsters for their alleged links with 
the terror outfits.
Panic among Muslims
The combing operations launched by the State police to nail the 
associates of alleged perpetrators of the May 13 Jaipur serial blasts 
have led to panic and resentment in the local Muslim communities. The 
way 37 persons were held in Jodhpur after the protest staged against the 
arrest of two terror suspects has left the city’s Muslims horrified.
A fact-finding team of the Rajasthan Muslim Forum found in Jodhpur that 
very harsh sections of criminal law were slapped on those arrested 
during the protest against policemen taking away two youths to Jaipur. 
In Kota, policemen have been swooping on the Muslim-dominated localities 
in the dead of night and randomly picking up any person on the pretext 
of acquaintance with the terror suspects.
Twenty-six of the 37 persons arrested in Jodhpur on charges of rioting, 
damaging public property and interfering with the public servants’ work 
were released on bail, while others are still in judicial custody. Two 
youths, Sohail and Azam, were taken to Jaipur and booked under the 
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, for their alleged links with 
the masterminds of the Jaipur blasts.
Bail pleas rejected
The bail applications of seven persons arrested from Kota for their 
alleged connections with the banned Students Islamic Movement of India 
(SIMI) have since been rejected by a city court here. They had contended 
that the FIR registered against them was “vague with no mention of 
explicit grounds”.
The Muslim Forum alleged here on Sunday that the police and 
investigating agencies were creating an atmosphere hostile for Muslims 
to justify indiscriminate arrests and illegal detentions and influence 
the courts. It said the police were terrorising Muslims in Kota and 
Jodhpur by demanding that the youths profiled by them as suspects be 
handed over to them.
Muslim Forum’s member and Jamat-e-Islami Hind State president Mohammed 
Salim said the investigating agencies’ attempt to establish the 
complicity of the alleged perpetrators of Ahmedabad and Jaipur blasts in 
Saturday’s terror attack in Delhi would weaken their own case as there 
was “no way in which the detainees could have exploded bombs from the 
police lock-up or jail”.
Bid to deflect attention
“The prompt delivery of an e-mail from the so-called Indian Mujahideen 
claiming responsibility for the blasts confirms our belief that the 
masterminds want to deflect attention from the real culprits and somehow 
prove the case against Islamist outfits,” said Mr. Salim.
He said the police would put the blame for the Delhi serial blasts on 
the accused such as Shahbaz Hussain, Abu Bashir and Sajid Mansuri.
Despite a controversial resolution adopted by the District Bar 
Association not to represent any of the accused in the blasts case, the 
Muslim Forum has appointed a panel of 20 lawyers to defend those picked 
up from various places in connection with two separate cases – carrying 
out the blasts and participating in the activities of SIMI. Prominent 
among the panel’s members are criminal lawyer S.R. Bajwa and High Court 
advocate Prem Krishna Sharma.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/07/stories/2008090758810300.htm

Agitated
Agitated Desiya Murpokky Dravidar Kazhagam (DMDK) activists thronged the 
Peelamedu police station protesting against the removal of the banner 
put up by the party in connection with the demonstration to be held on 
Sunday near Red Cross Society Buildings on Huzur road.
The banners were placed welcoming the party leader Vijaykanth who was 
scheduled to take part in the demonstration condemning the erratic power 
supply situation in the State.






http://news.oneindia.in/2008/08/26/three-advocates-hurt-in-group-clash-1219745456.html

August 26, 2008 > Full Story
Three advocates hurt in group clash in UP

Tuesday, August 26 2008 15:23(IST) Subscribe to Newsletter
Kanpur, Aug 26: Three advocates, including election officer Amresh Chand 
Mishra, were wounded in a clash between two groups of lawyers in Bar 
Association premises at the district court compound here.

According to reports, Mr Ganesh Dixit was elected as the president of 
the Kanpur Bar Association last week.

The rival groups were opposing this, allegeing that the election was 
invalid as only 16.8 per cent advocates had cast their votes.

The rival group members started raising slogans and vandalised the 
furniture of the Bar Association during the oath ceremony today.

Later, they also thrashed some advocates.

Amresh, Santosh Tiwari and Shivendra sustained wounds in the incident 
and were rushed to Urshala hospital.

Police was yet to make any arrest in this connection.

Meanwhile, posse of policemen have been deployed at the court compound 
to avoid any fresh violence.

Investigation was on.

UNI







http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/26/stories/2008082659951000.htm

Protest against attack on art exhibition
Staff Reporter
NEW DELHI: A day after an exhibition showcasing the printed works of 
painter M. F. Husain was vandalised by miscreants at V. P. House here, a 
protest meeting was organised by SAHMAT on Monday.
The exhibition was organised to coincide with the three-day “India Art 
Summit” at Pragati Maidan, where Husain’s works were not displayed by 
the organisers.
Some activists, claiming to be members of “Shri Ram Sena” vandalised the 
exhibition on Sunday afternoon.
“In protest against the attack and the vandalism, the exhibition, which 
began on August 22 and was to conclude on 24, was extended in ‘as-is’ 
vandalised condition for a day,” said a SAHMAT member.
At the meeting, organised to condemn the attempts by right-wing forces 
to impose a narrow, majoritarian view of the country’s culture, CPI(M) 
leaders Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat, artists Jatin Das and Ram 
Rahman and classical singer Shubha Mudgal were present.
The CPI(M) Polit Bureau also strongly condemned the attack by “Hindu 
chauvinist elements” and demanded that the culprits be brought to book.
Attack condemned
Janata Dal (Secular) has condemned the attack on an exhibition of M.F. 
Husain’s paintings here on Sunday. The exhibition was organised by SAHAMAT.
“This is a grave attack on freedom of expression and the secular fabric 
of India”, Kumwari Danish Ali, secretary general of the party, said.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/29/stories/2008082952420300.htm

Other States - Orissa

‘Assault’ triggers protest
KORAPUT: Members of the Koraput District Bar Association took out 
rallies at Koraput, Jeypore, Kotpad and Nabarangpur on Thursday in 
protest against the alleged assault by police on Satyabrata Padhi, an 
advocate from Jeypore on Wednesday evening. The association demanded a 
judicial probe into the incidence wherein the policeman had allegedly 
assaulted the advocate.
Mr. Padhi was assaulted for not giving way for the police vehicle, the 
association said.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/18/stories/2008091850700200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Perambalur

Demonstration staged in Perambalur
Special Correspondent
PERAMBALUR: Members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi led by its 
leader Thol. Thirumavalavan staged a demonstration in Perambalur on 
Thursday, protesting the alleged action of police officials forcing some 
Dalits to dig a grave in Veppanthattai village in the district.
The incident was said to have taken place last month, following a 
dispute between Dalits and non-Dalits over burying a non-Dalit in the 
village.
The two communities already had a dispute over the village temple car 
festival.
The demonstration was staged near the Old Bus Stand in Perambalur.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/18/stories/2008091851260300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tuticorin

Residents stage demonstration
Staff Reporter
TUTICORIN: Demanding immediate distribution of free colour television 
sets, a group of residents from Pandaarampatti near here staged a 
demonstration on Wednesday.
The protestors said the freebie was given to only to a select set of 
Pandaarampatti villagers on September 6 and the officials refused to 
give a proper reply when the residents, who did not get the ‘idiot box’, 
raised queries about the shortage.
The residents also forwarded a petition to the District Collector.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/05/stories/2008090555520300.htm

Sept 5

Other States - Uttar Pradesh

AMU students protest beating of colleague by police
‘Student assaulted for objecting to police personnel using ATM after 
brushing aside crowd waiting for their turn’
Aligarh: Alleged beating of a student of Aligarh Muslim University by 
two police personnel sparked demonstrations in the varsity campus with 
angry students on Thursday protesting in front of the VC’s office, 
demanding suspension of the duo.
According to a report filed with the University authorities by the 
victim, Javed Alam, two police personnel assaulted him last Tuesday when 
he objected to their using an ATM after brushing aside others waiting 
for their turn.
The incident took place when Javed, a final year engineering student, 
had gone to the SBI ATM in the University administrative block.
In his complaint, Javed also alleges that the duo later took him to the 
Civil Lines police station and released him after several hours on the 
intervention of University authorities.
Javed, in his written complaint, has also mentioned that station officer 
in charge of the police station threatened him of implicating in “bogus 
case” if he files any complaint.
The students’ protest came to an end after senior officials led by 
Senior Superintendent of Police Aseem Arun assured them that punitive 
action would be taken against the errant officers by evening.
Meanwhile, Secretary of AMU teachers association, Abdus Salam has 
demanded immediate suspension of station officer in charge
A close watch is being kept over the campus to prevent the situation 
from turning violent. --PTI






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/06/stories/2008090658000300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Protesting villagers shun panchayat nomination
Staff Reporter
No nomination filed till last day for presidentship
PUDUKOTTAI: With no nomination received for the by-election till 
Thursday, the last day for filing of papers, the post of village 
panchayat president and members for nine wards at Koppanaapatti village 
panchayat near Ponnamaravathy in the district will remain vacant for 
another six months.
Demarcation first
None of the voters filed the nomination papers, demanding that the 
district administration and the State Government demarcate the boundary 
of their village panchayat.
Notify jurisdiction
Residents say that the village panchayat had been bifurcated without 
notifying proper jurisdiction.
They have been demanding the village panchayat map which the officials 
had failed to issue.
The first time when the villagers boycotted the polls was in October 
2006 when the local bodies across the State went to polls.
In the two by-elections held in February 2007 and August 2007, none of 
the voters filed the papers for the village panchayat presidentship and 
ward membership.
A meeting, convened prior to the by-election in February this year, 
helped provide only a temporary relief to the officials.
En masse resignations
Although nominations were then filed for the vacant posts, all the 
winners submitted their resignations en masse a few days after the 
by-election. “We shall notify the vacancy in this village panchayat for 
the next by-election due in February next year,” official sources told 
The Hindu here on Friday.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/01/stories/2008090157360300.htm

Other States - Orissa

Protest marks ‘local self-government day’
Correspondent
Opposition parties observe ‘Black Day’, criticise BJP-BJD alliance
CUTTACK: While the ruling BJP and BJP parties shied away from observing 
the Local Self-government Day without any major functions in the city, 
the opposition parties observed the day as ‘Black Day’ throughout the 
city on Sunday.
Considered to be an important day for the municipalities, the Millennium 
city boasting to have one of the oldest municipalities in the State wore 
a “pathetic” and “deplorable” look on the day. Contrary to Cuttack’s 
sorry state of affairs, the neighbouring Bhubaneswar municipality 
observed the day with fun and gaiety. Both the cities were accorded the 
municipal corporation status on the same day five years ago.
Protesting against the ‘inefficient’ municipal council formed in the 
city by the ruling alliance, the city CPI(M) unit blamed city legislator 
Samir Dey, Mayor Nibedita Pradhan and the BJD-BJP government in the 
State for neglecting the Silver city over these days. “The ruling 
alliance headed by Naveen Patnaik has systematically turned one of the 
thriving cities of the State into a dead city,” alleged CPI (M) leader 
Subash Singh.
CPI (M) meet
While the CPI (M) observed the protest day at a meeting in front of 
Ravenshaw University by wearing black badges and hoisting black flag, 
the main opposition party of the council -- Congress held a protest 
meeting in front of Pravat Cinema where the CMC had laid a foundation 
stone for an over bridge five years ago. Joined by former Cuttack Lok 
Sabha member Jayanti Patnaik, and former minister Bijaylaxmi Sahu, the 
Congress activists too observed the day as ‘black day’.
City Congress chief Suresh Mohapatra alleged that the BJP-BJD council 
has neglected the city.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/09/stories/2008090952930300.htm

Karnataka - Hassan

JD(S) protests against BJP’s ‘failure’ in governing State
Staff Correspondent
Party members take out rally expressing dissatisfaction

Complaints galore: Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Revanna presenting a 
memorandum addressed to the Governor through Deputy Commissioner Naveen 
Raj Singh in Hassan on Monday.
HASSAN: Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Minister H.D. Revanna led 
a rally here on Monday protesting against the “failure” of the Bharatiya 
Janata Party Government to govern the State well. He presented a 
memorandum addressed to the Governor through Deputy Commissioner Naveen 
Raj Singh.
Addressing protesters at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Mr. Revanna 
detailed the failures of the BJP Government and said farmers in the 
district were unable to recover from the potato crop loss. The 
Government, on its part, did nothing to help them. The district 
administration sent a proposal to the Government seeking compensation of 
Rs. 100 crore, but the Government did not act on it.
Arsikere MLA K.M. Shivalinge Gowda said roads in Arsikere had been 
damaged as lorries carrying iron ore from Hospet/Bellary passed through 
the taluk. He said ore from Bellary should be supplied to steel plants 
within the State and not exported.
Anti-farmer
Shravanabelagola MLA C.S. Putte Gowda said governments which were 
anti-farmer would not survive.
Hassan MLA H.S. Prakash said potato was the major crop in the district 
and that Rs. 600-crore worth crop was being sold every year. In the 
memorandum, the Janata Dal (S) listed 18 failures of the Government 
including non-payment of compensation for failed potato crop and for 
crop loss due to the recent floods; failure to pay Rs. 14.3 crore as 
crop insurance premium for last year; and non-payment of Rs. 15 crore as 
compensation to sugarcane growers.
It also spoke about the police opening fire on farmers in Haveri 
district, the Government’s failure to deal effectively with the 
fertilizer shortage and its directive to farmers to settle outstanding 
power bills for the last two years’ although it had announced free power 
supply up to 10 HP to 14 lakh irrigation pumpsets in the State.
Mr. Revanna said when BJP activists burnt KSRTC buses in Hubli when 
Jagadish Shettar was not made a Minister, no action had been taken 
against them.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/26/stories/2008082651850300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Nagercoil

Demonstration
Nagercoil: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK) staged a 
demonstration in front of Collectorate on Monday, to urge the Government 
to sack the Tourism Minister, N. Suresh Rajan from his post.
According to sources, the Minister allegedly used abusive words against 
the Deputy Collector (Distribution of Free Television Sets), Janarthanan 
while distributing television sets with in Nagercoil municipal limits 
(8th ward). The former Minister, Thalavai Sundaram, led the agitation.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/26/stories/2008082654880500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Demonstration to release prisoners
Staff Reporter
Photo: M. Periasamy

Demand: The demonstration organised by Members of the Committee for the 
Release of Political Prisoners in Coimbatore on Monday. –
Coimbatore: Activists of the Committee for the Release of Political 
Prisoners on Monday staged a demonstration demanding the release of 72 
prisoners belonging to minority community.
The demonstrators welcomed the decision of Tamil Nadu Government to 
release life sentence convicts who had completed seven years rigorous 
imprisonment on September 15 in view of the birth centenary of former 
Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai.
The Home Secretary, in her circular to Prison Department officials, had 
stated that the remission and release of prisoners was not applicable to 
those held for offences under the Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and 
communal violence. In addition, those sentenced to capital punishment 
and subsequently reduced to life sentence would not be eligible for 
release.
Such a clause was making it quite evident that the Tamil Nadu Government 
was not willing to release the 72 minority community prisoners and four 
serving sentence in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
The Constitution, guidelines of Union Government and Supreme Court 
judgments have never given guidelines for such a discrimination among 
prisoners, the demonstrators said.
The demonstrators appealed to the State Government, Home Secretary and 
Additional Director-General of Police to remove guidelines that 
discriminate against prisoners on caste and communal lines.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/10/stories/2008091051440300.htm

Karnataka

JD(S) workers stage protest
Correspondent
SIRSI: Scores of workers of the Janata Dal (Secular) took out a march in 
Karwar on Monday to protest against the “failure” of the BJP Government 
in the State.
The workers damaged a windowpane at the Deputy Commissioner’s office 
when the Deputy Commissioner, Govindaraj, did not come out to receive 
their memorandum.
Observer of the State unit of the party Abdul Azim, State unit general 
secretary Pramod Hegde, MLAs Dinkar Shetty and Sunil Hegde, the former 
MLC V.D. Hegde, district unit president of the party Ganapayya Gouda 
were present on the occasion.







http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/10/stories/2008091051440300.htm

Karnataka

JD(S) workers stage protest
Correspondent
SIRSI: Scores of workers of the Janata Dal (Secular) took out a march in 
Karwar on Monday to protest against the “failure” of the BJP Government 
in the State.
The workers damaged a windowpane at the Deputy Commissioner’s office 
when the Deputy Commissioner, Govindaraj, did not come out to receive 
their memorandum.
Observer of the State unit of the party Abdul Azim, State unit general 
secretary Pramod Hegde, MLAs Dinkar Shetty and Sunil Hegde, the former 
MLC V.D. Hegde, district unit president of the party Ganapayya Gouda 
were present on the occasion.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090851200200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Chord of protest by live band artistes and music lovers
Staff Reporter
‘Having liquor and viewing live music is not a crime’
— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Against ban: Live band artistes performing in front of the Mahatma 
Gandhi statue in Bangalore on Sunday.
BANGALORE: A host of music lovers, young live band artistes and music 
lovers on Sunday staged a protest against the ban on live band in 
restaurants.
‘Let music live’
Holding placards that said “Music be the food of love, you are starving 
us”, “Bust crime, not creativity”, “Let music live”, “Do not kill the 
music”, they staged a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on 
Mahatma Gandhi Road here.
Illogical
They termed illogical the argument that live music in restaurants and 
bars increased crime.
“Even the live band artistes have families. They have to maintain it. 
Ban has affected their financial condition,” the protesters said.
“The live band artistes and music lovers are not potential criminals. 
Having liquor and viewing live music is not a crime,” said Arati Rao, 
artiste.
Those who want to go for dinner, viewing live music are denied their 
rights,” she added.
Platform
Restaurants provided platform to young artistes to exhibit their talent, 
she added.
“Let the police take action against those who perform in an 
objectionable manner, but not curb live band,” she said.
‘Allow live band’
Carlton, artiste, said that the State Government should allow live band 
and protect the interests of artistes and music lovers.







http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/09/stories/2008090953120300.htm

Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad

Protests by BSP, NWKRTC staff
Staff Correspondent
HUBLI: The city witnessed two protests on Monday — one by the Bahujan 
Samaj Party (BSP) against the nuclear deal, and the other by employees 
of the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) against 
a tabloid.
BSP members led by Dharwad district unit president Premanath 
Chikkatumbal staged a demonstration in front of the B.R. Ambedkar statue 
near the Head Post Office, accusing the Congress and the Bharatiya 
Janata Party of conspiring to prevent a Dalit woman from becoming the 
country’s Prime Minister.
The protesters said that the nuclear deal were against the interests of 
the country. They released a booklet on why the nuclear deal is 
detrimental to the country and what its impact will be on the people of 
the country.
Ban sought
Employees of the NWKRTC urged Governor Rameshwar Thakur to ban a Kannada 
tabloid carrying crime news, published from Bangalore. Its editor and 
reporters were resorting to blackmail, and publishing concocted stories 
to tarnish the image of the employees of the corporation who refused to 
pay them, the protesters alleged. They urged the Governor to arrest the 
editor and reporters of the tabloid, and file criminal cases.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/10/stories/2008091057950300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

CPI(M) stages protest
Staff Correspondent
MYSORE: Even as the district administration celebrated the Bharatiya 
Janata Party Government (BJP) completing 100 days in office at 
Kalamandira by distributing benefits to beneficiaries under various 
schemes, hundreds of activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) 
held a demonstration at K.R. Circle here on Tuesday and raised slogans 
against the Government for its “anti-people” stand in the last three 
months.
Addressing the activists, member of district committee of CPI (M) Balaji 
said that the firing on farmers, who demanded distribution of 
fertilizers; luring MLAs from other parties under “Operation Kamala”; 
using brutal force on those who protested against the “anti-people” 
policies of the State and Union Governments and branding trade union 
leaders as anti-social elements were the “achievements” of the BJP 
Government in the last 100 days.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/28/stories/2008092856970500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Salem

PDK protest turns violent
Staff Reporter
Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

Fall out: A moped of a cadre of Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam was burnt near 
the venue of State BJP meet in Salem on Saturday. —
SALEM: Violence erupted near the venue of Tamil Nadu BJP’s executive and 
general council meet in Salem on Saturday when Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam 
(PDK) cadres attempted to stage a dharna in protest against the BJP.
In the melee, BJP cadres assaulted a PDK member and reportedly burnt his 
moped. Stones were also pelted at the PDK members.
Tension prevailed when the PDK cadres led by their leader Kolathur Mani 
tried to stage a dharna near the venue protesting against the conduct of 
the meet, which was attended by the party’s national President Rajnath 
Singh. Police arrested the PDK cadres and their leader when they tried 
to block traffic on the Steel Plant road leading to the venue.
Meanwhile, another group of PDK cadres tried to enter the venue which 
led to a clash between the two sides. Police rushed to the spot and 
brought the situation under control. They arrested 124 PDK cadres.







http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/30/stories/2008093053030300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Fishermen protest killing
Special Correspondent
MADURAI: A large number of fishermen abstained from work on Monday in 
protest against the killing of a fisherman, Murugan, on Sunday.
Two days ago, when four fishermen went into the sea for fishing, one 
among them died in the firing allegedly opened by the Sri Lankan Navy 
personnel.
Keep off sea
As a token protest, the fishermen numbering 3,000 and about 700 boats in 
Rameswaram stayed off the sea.
They wanted the Centre and State governments to take action o stop such 
firing.



http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/18/europe/EU-France-Turkmenistan-Protest.php

Activists occupy Turkmenistan's embassy in Paris

The Associated Press
Published: September 18, 2008

PARIS: Activists have occupied Turkmenistan's embassy in Paris to demand 
the release of two journalists held in the Central Asian country.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says the activists from media 
watchdog Reporters Without Borders briefly entered the embassy before 
leaving peacefully.
The activists were calling attention to the plight of journalists in 
Turkmenistan during a meeting Thursday in Paris of Central Asian and 
European leaders.
They were demanding the release of Annakurban Amanklychev and Sapardurdy 
Khadjiev, two journalists imprisoned since 2006. They were arrested with 
journalist and rights activist Ogulsapar Muradova, who later died in prison.
Kouchner said he also had urged for the release of the journalists.