[Onthebarricades] Pro-democracy, human/civil rights protests, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Tamils, November 2008
global resistance roundup
onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca
Wed Sep 16 11:16:13 PDT 2009
PAKISTAN
* Lawyers protest locking of courts
* Protests over judge sacking continue
* New York Pakistanis protest Musharraf
* Journalists protest kidnapping
* Amnesty protest tour against disappearances
* Baloch nationalists block Karachi roads
TAMIL EELAM - SRI LANKA
* MALAYSIA: Tamil protest
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Wave of protests - marches, fasts
* NEW ZEALAND: Tamil protest for human rights
INDIA
* Haryana - Uprising after police murder student
* Delhi - Bogus terror arrests protested
* Tamil Nadu - Lawyers protest judge's comments
* Tamil Nadu - AIADMK protest attack
* AP - Protest for arrest of cop
* Batala - Relatives protest after fatal police "rebuke"
* Manipur - Journalists protest killing
* Assam - Protest after journalist killed
* Hyderabad - Protest against torture despite police repression
* AP - Protest over attack on PR leader
* MP - BJP faces protests over candidate selection
* Delhi - Protest over delay in giving ticket
* Delhi - Protests over Congress choice of candidates
* AP - Opposition activists demand MP arrest over assault
* Hyderabad - Actor egged in separatist dispute
* UP: Anti-corruption protests erupt, attempt to burn down leader's house
* AP: Angry dispute between PR, Congress
BANGLADESH
* Protests over Awami League candidate list
* Arrests of former ministers spark protests
* Protests over BNP candidate listPro-e
http://www.dawn.com/2008/11/07/nat27.htm
Lawyers Protest LHC’s suo motu action: Locking of courtrooms
By Our Staff Reporter
LAHORE, Nov 6: Lawyers on Thursday gathered in front of judges’ gate and
criticised the Lahore High Court chief justice and other judges in
protest against the suo motu proceedings into locking of lower courts on
Nov 4.
Some 50, out of about 1,000 protesting lawyers, marching towards the
Charing Cross, stopped in front of judges’ gate of the LHC and started
chanting slogans against the judges through a megaphone.
The Lahore Bar Association’s action of locking the courtrooms and a
sharp response by the administrative committee of the high court has
driven a wedge between the sitting judges and the lawyers seeking
restoration of the deposed judges.
Several lawyers at the general house meeting of the Lahore High Court
Bar Association (LHCBA) said they would stand with their colleagues, who
locked the courtrooms, if the judges passed any order against them. At
the rally too, the presidents of the LHCBA and the LBA marched shoulder
to shoulder in a show of unity between the two bars.
Members of LHCBA, the LBA and a few workers of Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan
Tehrik-i-Insaf, Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam and Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat were
present in the rally. A woman and a man represented the PML-N at the
rally although lawyers, and recently a deposed judge, Justice Khwaja
Mohammad Sharif, had urged the party to improve its’ presence in the
lawyers’ rally.
Neither the group called the Concerned Citizens of Pakistan nor the
Students Action Committee attended the protest.
A group of lawyers chanted slogans against President Asif Ali Zardari
and Governor Salman Taseer. The lawyers made speeches in front of the
Punjab Assembly on The Mall and later dispersed peacefully.
Earlier, addressing the LBA, its president Manzoor Qadir said he had
given the call to lock courtrooms.
He added the lawyers were fighting for an independent judiciary and did
not believe in running into a conflict with the judiciary.
Addressing the LHCBA, Pakistan Bar Council member Hamid Khan said the
proposal to lock courtrooms was on the lawyers’ agenda but it should
have been done in coordination with other bars throughout the country.
He added on November 3, 2007, Gen (retired) Pervez Musharraf had pulled
a coup against the judiciary by sending the army to shut down the
Supreme Court and all the high courts.
“At that time a seven-member Supreme Court bench had declared illegal
the imposition of emergency, the Provisional Constitution Order and the
oath of office order,” Mr Khan said, criticising the sitting judges for
“flouting” the Supreme Court order and accepting oath under the PCO
issued by a dictator.
He said the LHC took suo motu notice of the locking of courtrooms, which
was a symbolic exercise but failed to take any notice of the imposition
of emergency on November 3 and beating of lawyers on November 5, last
year. Mr Khan added the LHCBA and the whole lawyers’ community stood
behind the LBA — which had locked courtrooms on Nov 4.
He said the perpetrator of Nov 3 action was still being given
president’s protocol, and the judiciary watched in silence. He said the
judges would be responsible if the situation spun out of control.
Former Lahore High Court Bar Association president Hafiz Abdur Rehman
Ansari said lawyers would physically restrain those who tried to harm
their colleagues. “If judges want to start a fire, the lawyers, who did
not submit to Gen Musharraf, would not watch in silence,” he said. He
predicted a surge in the movement because of the suo motu notice.
Save Judiciary Committee member Mian Jamil Akhter said the LHC chief
justice, who headed the inquiry into November 5 police action against
lawyers, did not give a proper inquiry report, whereas he formed a bench
to proceed against lawyers. “The arrest of even a single lawyer would
ignite a full-scale war,” he said.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=144426
Hyderabad lawyers to protest on 3rd Sunday, November 02, 2008
By our correspondent
HYDERABAD: The legal fraternity here on Saturday announced to observe
November 3 as a black day to mark the emergency rule imposed by Pervez
Musharraf and his decision of sacking over 60 judges of the superior
judiciary.
This was announced by representatives of political parties and lawyers
while addressing a press conference at the Hyderabad Press Club.
The representatives and lawyers included Lawyers Movement Action
Committee Hyderabad Convener Zafar Rajput, High Court Bar Association
Hyderabad Vice-President Abdul Rehman Shaikh, Jamaat-e-Islami Deputy
Secretary-General Abdul Wahid Qureshi, Pukhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party
Hyderabad President Saleem Khan Tareen, Ghulam Sarwar Qureshi of the
Tehrik-e-Insaf, Israr Chang of the Awami Tehrik, Sachal Gopang of the
Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party and others.
They said a rally would be taken out in front of the Supreme Court of
Pakistan in Islamabad on this day. Scores of lawyers from across the
country would assemble to take part in the rally, they added.
They said the lawyers here would hoist black flags atop the bar office
and stage a sit-in before the office of the Hyderabad DPO. They would
wear black armbands and take out a rally, they added.
Component parties of the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) would
also join the lawyers on that day, they said. Meanwhile, a lawyers’
delegation, led by Kazi Sattar, would leave for Islamabad to attend the
rally there.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/international/2008/November/international_November164.xml§ion=international
Pakistan lawyers warn of storm of protest over judge
(Reuters)
3 November 2008
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - Pakistani lawyers campaigning for the the
restoration of a deposed chief justice vented their anger on Monday
against President Asif Ali Zardari and warned of a storm of protest if
their demands are ignored.
Thousands of lawyers across the country held protests on Monday, the
first anniversary of the imposition of a six-week stint of emergency
rule by then president Pervez Musharraf.
After declaring a state of emergency, Musharraf purged the judiciary of
the independent-minded chief justice, Iftikar Chaudhry, and other judges
who Musharraf saw as a threat to his plans to hold on to power.
Musharraf’s resignation in August did not end controversy over Chaudhry,
and the failure of the government led by Zardari’s party to reinstate
Chaudhry led to a split in the coalition.
Zardari is the widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto who was
assassinated in December.
About 3,000 lawyers, political party workers and rights activists, many
chanting “Go Zardari, go” gathered in the city of Rawalpindi to mark the
anniversary of Musharraf’s emergency with a fresh call for Chaudhry to
be reinstated.
“Don’t compel us to knock on the doors again,” firebrand lawyers’ leader
Ali Ahmed Kurd told the rally.
“We want the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law in the
country and if that doesn’t happen, the power of 100,000 lawyers and
members of civil society will emerge like a storm,” Kurd said.
Analysts say Zardari, who was elected president in September, does not
want Chaudhry to be reinstated as the country’s top judge.
Zardari fears Chaudhry might reopen legal challenges to an amnesty from
graft charges Musharraf granted Bhutto, Zardari and other senior
officials in their party last year as part of a proposed power-sharing
deal, analysts say.
Chaudhry also spoke to the rally, recounting the events that led to his
ouster.
Zardari’s refusal to restore Chaudhry led to the country’s second
biggest party, led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, quitting the
coalition, prompting fears of a return to the fractious politics of the
1990s.
Although that has not happened, a new round of protests over the judge
will raise concern for the government as it struggles with a
balance-of-payments crisis and escalating militant violence.
Musharraf’s initial attempt to sack Chaudhry in March last year
triggered a country-wide protest campaign that dogged Musharraf until
his resignation under threat of impeachment.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=144513
PML-N to participate in Nov 3 protests in a big way Monday, November 03,
2008
By Tariq Butt
ISLAMABAD: The PML-N will participate in a big way in the Nov 3 protests
to mark the sacking of several superior court judges by Pervez Musharraf
a year ago and their non-restoration by the PPP government.
The PML-N wants to dispel the impression that it has become lukewarm to
the struggle for the reinstatement of deposed chief justice Iftikhar
Muhammad Chaudhry and some other deposed judges.
“Democracy has been restored but the judiciary has not been, even after
the passage of one year,” PML-N Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal told
The News. He said that the PML-N would make its presence felt in five
major functions to be organised on the day in the provincial capitals
besides Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif will preside over a special function in Lahore
on the day that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will also attend. These
two leaders are not attending any rally mainly for security reasons.
Ahsan Iqbal said the PML-N would also participate in the rallies
starting from the Rawalpindi District Courts to the Supreme Court,
Islamabad, and Lahore’s Nasir Bagh to the High Court. “We will prove
again that all the political parties and the civil society are together
in backing the restoration of the Nov 3 judiciary,” he said.
Recently, the PML-N appeared to have become remarkably inactive in the
lawyers’ movement, which too has turned markedly sluggish. The PML-N
came under tremendous pressure after being criticised for not
participating in the lawyers’ movement.
Ahsan Iqbal said that the PML-N had issued instructions to its rank and
file in the provinces to fully participate in the protest rallies on Nov
3. He said that the victory of Ali Ahmed Kurd in the Supreme Court Bar
Association (SCBA) election had fired up the lawyers.
Apart from the PML-N, the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Pakistan
Tehrik-e-Insaaf are also taking part in the protest. The SCBA and other
lawyersí bodies are also geared up for rallies and processions on Monday.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=144841
Lawyers observe black day to protest November 3 emergency Tuesday,
November 04, 2008
By Wajih Ahmad Sheikh
LAHORE: Lawyers observed Monday as black day to condemn declaration of
emergency on November 3, 2007. Lawyers across the country boycotted
courts, held rallies and staged sit-ins. Political workers, students,
doctors and civil society activists joined them.
In the provincial metropolis, lawyers staged sit-ins, wearing black
armbands and holding black flags. The Lahore Bar Association (PBA)
staged a sit-in at the PMG Chowk and the Lahore High Court Bar
Association outside the Governor’s House. Earlier, both the bar
associations held general house meetings where speakers condemned the
ìunconstitutionalî acts of November 3. Lawyers also criticised the
PPP-led government for not undoing acts of a ìdictator.î
Activists of the Jamat-e-Islami, the Tehrik-e-Insaf, the Insaaf Students
Federation, the Jamiat Talaba Islam, the Jamiat Ulema Islam, the
Tehrik-e-Khaksaar, the Pakhtoon Khawa Milli Awami Party, the Students
Action Committee, the Shabab-e-Milli, the Muslim Students Federation and
the Concerned Citizens of Pakistan joined lawyers at the GPO Chowk from
where they then marched towards the Governor’s House.
Ahsan Rasheed of the PTI, Liaquat Baloch, Fareed Parracha and
Ameer-ul-Azeem of the JI, Mobeen Khan of the PKMAP, Alam Hameed-ud-Din
Ahmad Al Mashraqi of the KT, Hamid Zaman of the CCP and PML-N MNA Naseer
Ahmad Bhutta were present there.
Interestingly, lawyers affiliated to the People’s Lawyers Forum led by
Mian Jahangir also joined lawyers when they began marching from the LHC.
Traders of the Hall Road showered protesters with rose petals when they
passed the Regal Chowk. The PTI had arranged a pickup van, carrying cold
drinking water. The Mall Road was decorated with PML-N flags and banners
with photos of Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and PML-N Quaid Mian
Nawaz Sharif. PTI activists removed PPP banners fixed at the Governor’s
House Chowk.
Highly-charged lawyers and other protesters were seen chanting slogans
against the PPP government, blaming it for not reinstating the deposed
judges.Protesters stayed at the Governor’s House for two hours and
listened to speeches delivered by lawyer leaders and political
activists. They pledged to continue the movement until the reinstatement
of all the deposed judges.
When the protesters gathered outside the Governor’s House, Punjab
Governor Salman Taseer sent soft drinks to the protesting lawyers which
were returned by the lawyer leaders. An employee of the Governor’s House
twice brought juice packs and presented them to Lahore High Court Bar
Association Secretary Rana Asadullah, who asked him to take them back.
He said lawyers were protesting against the government so they could not
accept the drinks.
Addressing the gathering, Rana Asadullah said the people had gathered
outside the Governor’s House to remind the government of its promises to
reinstate the deposed judges. He said the government of a dictator could
not stand in front of lawyers and the present government would have to
face a similar fate if it did not reinstate the judges. He said the
people had rejected the policies of the government. Workers of various
parties holding party flags separated into groups to make their presence
felt. They chanted slogans in favour of their leadership and against the
government. Traffic on The Mall remained blocked for many hours because
of the lawyers’ rallies and sit-ins from 11 am to 3 pm. Riot police was
deployed there.
Earlier, addressing the general house meeting of the LHCBA, PML-N MNA
Naseer Ahmad Bhutta advocate said some people thought the lawyers’
movement had weakened but lawyers were united for the restoration of the
deposed judges. He said Mian Nawaz Sharif stood with lawyers for the
reinstatement of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
HRCP Chairperson Asma Jahangir said lawyers alone forced General (retd)
Musharraf to quit. President PML-N Lawyers’ Forum Khwaja Mehmood Ahmad
said General (retd) Musharraf followed US policy and tried to distance
the Army from the people by bombing the tribal areas and killing
innocent people inside the Lal Masjid. The house applauded PLF member
Raja Zulqarnain for his role in the movement for the restoration of the
deposed judges when former LHCBA president Firdous Butt invited its
attention to it. The house also unanimously passed a resolution, asking
the federal government to try General (retd) Pervez Musharraf for
treason under Article 6 of the Constitution.
http://www.workers.org/2008/world/pakistanis_protest_1113/
Pakistanis protest in NYC
Published Nov 8, 2008 6:36 AM
Pakistani residents of the New York metropolitan area and their
supporters and friends demonstrated outside that country’s consulate in
Manhattan Nov. 3 on the one-year anniversary of the arrest of Chief
Justice of Pakistan Mr. Iftikhar Chaudhry and his sixty fellow judges of
the Pakistani Superior Courts. That day, the dictator of Pakistan, Gen.
Pervez Musharraf, imposed the equivalent of martial law and awoke a
response from lawyers and judges that spread to the mass of the people
and eventually led to Musharraf’s removal. The protestors, from the
Pakistan-U.S. Freedom Fund, criticize the new president, Asif Zardari,
for not fulfilling his promise to reinstate Chief Justice Chaudhry and
all the other judges, and because he has not provided basic needs to the
people of Pakistan. The organization also wants the U.S. to stop air
strikes on Pakistani territory. Similar protests were called in other
major world cities with significant Pakistani communities.
—Report and photo by Sara Flounders
________________________________________
Articles copyright 1995-2009 Workers World. Verbatim copying and
distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without
royalty provided this notice is preserved.
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=100140
PAKISTAN: Journalists protest kidnapping
PFUJ hold rally to condemn police inaction in recovering the kidnapped
father of former Hyderabad Press Club president Lala Rehman Samoon
Dawn
Saturday, November 1, 2008
HYDERABAD --- A large number of journalists belonging to print and
electronic media held a big rally on Saturday on a call given by the
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) to condemn police inaction
in recovering the kidnapped father of former president of the Hyderabad
Press Club, Lala Rehman Samoon.
Lala's father Jam Nawaz Hussain Samoon was kidnapped on Sept 21 in the
limits of Makki Shah police station when he left his home for offering
morning prayers. Police have picked up a number of suspects and
interrogated them but they have so far failed to recover the hostage.
Jamaat-i-Islami leaders Abdul Waheed Qureshi, Mushtaq Ahmed Khan,
Pakhtoon Khwa Milli Awami Party's Saleem Tareen and vice-president of
High Court Bar Association Abdul Rehman Sheikh also joined the rally.
The participants of the rally signed a memorandum, which stated that the
culprits had been identified but police had still been unable to recover
the journalist's father.
The memorandum was later presented to police.
In Sanghar, journalists held a rally and staged a sit-in outside the
press club here on Saturday, demanding safe and early recovery of Jam
Nawab Hussain.
Date Posted: 11/2/2008
http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGNAU200809025853&lang=e
Protest launches tour against enforced disappearance in Pakistan
2 September 2008
Amnesty International called on the Pakistan government to reveal the
fate and whereabouts of hundreds of disappeared people, amid
international protests to mark the 25th International Day of the
Disappeared on Saturday 30 August.
Amina Janjua, the founder of Defence of Human Rights, a Pakistani
organisation that campaigns for the release of the disappeared, was
joined by Amnesty International activists to demonstrate outside the
Pakistani High Commission in London. They chanted “Justice now for the
disappeared” and handed over a petition. The demonstration marked the
start of an international tour by Amina Janjua, supported by Amnesty
International.
Amina Janjua will appeal to governments around the world to raise their
voices against enforced disappearance in Pakistan. She speaks for 563
families of the disappeared. She knows only too well the pain and
suffering caused by this illegal practice - her own husband, Masood
Janjua, was apprehended in Pakistan over three years ago while
travelling on a bus to Peshawar. State officials deny his detention and
all knowledge of his whereabouts.
Amina Janjua will go to Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and the USA
as part of the tour to raise awareness of the issue in Pakistan. She
will join Amnesty International in campaigning for governments to put
pressure on Pakistan's new ruling coalition to investigate all cases of
enforced disappearance and to ensure the practice is brought to an end.
Background
The Pakistan government began widely using the practice of enforced
disappearances after it joined the US-led "war on terror" in 2001.
Hundreds of people suspected of links to terrorist activity have been
arbitrarily detained in Pakistan and held in secret facilities.
Denied access to lawyers, families and courts and held outside all
protection of the law, they are victims of enforced disappearance. Most,
if not all, are subjected to torture and ill-treatment. The government
has repeatedly denied any knowledge of their whereabouts, despite
mounting evidence, including official court records and affadavits.
Many of those picked up in Pakistan were secretly handed over to the US
authorities, often for financial reward, ending up in Guantánamo Bay and
secret CIA detention centres.
Domestic political opponents of the Pakistani government were also
targeted, in particular, members of Pakistan's Sindhi and Baloch
nationalist groups advocating greater autonomy. Amnesty International's
recent report Denying the Undeniable: Enforced Disappearances in
Pakistan, confronted the authorities with evidence of how government
officials obstructed attempts to trace those who have "disappeared."
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=145170
BNP protest causes monster jam in city centre Thursday, November 06, 2008
By Farooq Baloch
Karachi
Vehicular traffic on Dr Zia Uddin Ahmed Road, Club Road, PIDC bridge
(M.T. Khan Road) and adjoining thoroughfares came to a standstill during
peak hours on Wednesday evening.
Commuters remained stranded in a massive gridlock as traffic did not
move an inch for at least one hour due to a sit-in by activists of the
Baloch National Party (BNP) in front of the Chief Minister House.
At about 6 p.m., when vehicular traffic is usually at its peak,
activists of the BNP blocked the already-congested Dr Zia Uddin Ahmed
Road. As a result, traffic from all four directions at the vital PIDC
signal came to a standstill.
A large number of people remained stuck in a massive traffic jam for
more than an hour at the PIDC Chowk, while scores of motorists and
motorcyclists took U-turns and went back to find alternative routes to
make it to their respective destinations.
A large number of mini-buses and coaches also remained stuck in the
bumper-to-bumper traffic jam due to the road being blocked, forcing many
passengers to disembark and walk long distances.
The effects of the sit in were far-reaching. Some motorists complained
that they were trapped in prolonged traffic jams on Sharea Faisal in the
evening. They complained that the vehicular traffic, if not stationary,
moved at snail’s pace all the way from FTC flyover up to the Metropole
intersection. Similarly the flow of traffic on Sharah-e-Liaquat and M.A.
Jinnah Road was also very heavy and commuters were trapped in traffic
jams at different intersections along these busy arteries.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92519
MIC Youth, NGOs protest against Sri Lankan violence Nov 5, 08 4:29pm MIC
Youth wing and several non-governmental organisations this morning
staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the Sri Lankan High
Commission in Jalan Damai, off Jalan Ampang against the civil war in
that island.
Boycott call on Sri Lankan products
Another bigger demonstration planned
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/26/stories/2008112650550300.htm
Tamil Nadu - Dharmapuri
Protest condemning attack on Tamils in Sri Lanka
Staff Reporter
Members of various political parties participate
— Photo: N. Bashkaran
Joining hands: Members of PMK, MDMK, CPI, Tamilar Desiya Iyakkam and
Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam blocking road near the Dharmapuri
Head Post Office on Tuesday.
DHARMAPURI: Condemning the attack on Tamils in Sri Lanka by the military
forces, cadres of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, Marumalarchi Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam, Communist Party of India, Tamilar Desiya Iyakkam and
Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam blocked Salem Road, near the Head
Post Office, here on Tuesday.
They raised slogans against the Sri Lankan Government, its President
Mahinda Rajapaksa and also the Centre and demanded immediate ceasefire
in Sri Lanka. Traffic on the road was affected for half-an-hour.
About 200 workers of the parties participated. A police team led by
Assistant Superintendent of Police Sundararajan and Deputy
Superintendent of Police Vijayaraghavan arrested 115 workers including
Dharmapuri MLA Ila Velusamy (PMK). They were released in the afternoon.
CPI district secretary P. Ilamparuthi, MDMK district secretary V.S.
Sampath, Dharmpuri MP R. Senthil, district panchayat chairman S.S.
Venkateswaran and PMK State deputy general secretary A. Saravanan took
part in the agitation.
In Krishnagiri, the members of PMK, MDMK and Left parties staged a flash
protest blocking traffic at the Five Road Junction.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/04/stories/2008110451350300.htm
Tamil Nadu
Voice of protest
— Photo: Special arrangement.
For the downtrodden: Malayaha Makkal Maruvazhvu Manram members observing
a fast at Kotagiri on Monday to protest against the attack on Tamils in
Sri Lanka.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=27542
4TH LEAD (ADDS VOICE, PHOTOS)
Civilians in Vanni protest against Colombo's use of humanitarian
supplies as tool of war
[TamilNet, Friday, 21 November 2008, 16:07 GMT]
People in Vanni marched in thousands towards two Government Agents'
offices and two Divisional Secretariat offices in four locations on
Friday protesting against Sri Lanka Government's restrictions on food
and essential supplies, blaming Colombo for using humanitarian supplies
as a tool of war to force civilians to flee against their will into the
hands of Sri Lanka Army (SLA). K. Mahethevan, a representative of Vanni
Peoples Welfare Organisation (VPWO), addressing more than 5,000
protesters in front of Ki'linochchi Government Agent's office at
Tharmapuram described how the supplies were reduced from 600 lorries per
month in 2007 to 250 lorries per month in 2008, but only 54 have allowed
to cross into Vanni in the recent days.
Demonstration to condemn the Sri Lankan government that denies food
supplies to Vanni people
• Appeal to the ICRC from Vanni Peoples Welfare Organisation
The VPWO, a civil society forum with representatives of various
organisations throughout the Vanni, held protests in front of Government
Agent's offices at Tharmapuram and Mullaiththeevu and in front of AGA
(Divsional Secretary) offices at Puthukkudiyiruppu and Oddichuddaan in
Mullaiththeevu district, urging global community's awareness on the
humanitarian plight of the civilians in Vanni.
Voice: Slogans by the demonstrators
Direct Link (mp3)
VPWO's General Secretary Vethavanam, who expressed gratitude to the
solidarity shown by the people of Tamil Nadu towards Eezham Tamils, said
the ICRC, which was expected by the people of Tamil Nadu and also by
their Chief Minister, as a neutral agency to facilitate the supplies
itself is now getting restricted itself by the government of Sri Lanka
even to operate the Oamanthai crossing.
"The Sri Lankan government is using food as a tool of war against
civilians to force them to act against their will," said S.
Thuraisingam, the president of the organisation, while addressing the
participants at Tharmpuram.
"But, we have a democratic right to urge the global community and also
Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa at the same time, to allow unhindered access to
humanitarian supplies," he said reminding the participants that the
demand is a universally recognised fundamental right.
K. Mahathevan
Voice: Speech by Mr. K. Mahathevan
Direct Link (mp3)
Mr. Mahathevan, in his address said: "While the Sri Lankan President
Mahinda Rajapaksa tells India and the world that he was allowing
humanitarian supplies to civilians in Vanni, he has instructed his army
at Oamanthai to continue an un-announced embargo and block additional
lorries. They block essential supplies from petrol and diesel to
medicines needed to cure snakebite."
When 80 lorries are forced to wait for 10 days with supplies at the
crossing, what would happen to food items that need immediate
preservation, he asked.
"In October 2007, 600 lorries were allowed to pass through the crossing,
in November it was reduced to 30 lorries, in April 2008 only 400 lorries
were allowed, and in June the number became 370. Now it is reduced to
254 lorries, but only 54 lorries have crossed over so far," he said.
S. Vethavanam
Voice: Speech by Mr. Vethavanam
Direct Link (mp3)
"Now there are many more civilians displaced. The Sri Lankan military
occupies the entire district of Mannaar and vast areas of agricultural
lands of the other districts, depriving our people to produce their own
food."
"Every day, a new item is added to their un-announced list of banned
items at Oamanthai," he said.
"The message is you can't eat enough as free people. Even when you eat,
you can't add spice," he said with a remark: "Everybody knows you
[Colombo government] are fighting puli (Tiger), but are you also
fighting pu'li [Tamarind fruit pulp, a spice]."
"Now they don't want to allow trouser-cloth. Do they want us not to wear
cloth?," he asked.
The World Food Program (WFP) had decided on 200 grams of rice per person
earlier, which means 1.4 kg rice per week per person. But, only 600
grams are provided due to the limited supplies, he noted.
"We condemn the Sri Lanka government, which blocks humanitarian supplies
to the people of Vanni."
More than five-thousand civilians took part in the demonstration at
Tharmapuram alone.
"We condemn the Sri Lanka government, which blocks humanitarian supplies
to the people of Vanni."
Women, most of them mothers, took part in the demonstration
Text in the placards: Don't make food a weapon of war, Don't block
cloths, Don't kill people by blocking medicine
Demonstration to condemn the Sri Lankan government that denies food
supplies to Vanni people
Text in the placard: Don't block fishing
People from all walks of life took part in the demonstration in Vanni
The march began at 9:30 a.m. and concluded around
Participants marched from Number 1 school located near
Neththali-aattup-paalam in Tharmapuram towards Ki'linochchi GA's office.
More than 5,000 civilains took part forming a 1 km long march
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/24/stories/2008112451370300.htm
Tamil Nadu - Udhagamandalam
Fast observed in protest against attack on Tamils
Special Correspondent
Udhagamandalam: A fast was observed under the aegis of the Human Rights
Organisation at Kotagiri on Sunday.
It was in protest against the killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Led by the Organiser of the Human Rights Organisation, the Nilgiris
North, S. Saravanan, several speakers at the protest regretted that in
many ways human rights were being violated by the Sri Lankan armed forces.
They urged the Central Government to take steps without delay to
safeguard the interests of Tamils in Sri Lanka and put an end to their
sufferings.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/24/stories/2008112454610400.htm
Tamil Nadu - Madurai
Tamil movements plan protest
MADURAI: Several political parties and Tamil movements in the State will
organise a protest in front of Central government offices on Tuesday in
southern districts to urge the Centre to intervene and stop the war in
Sri Lanka, said P. Nedumaran, president, Ulaga Tamilar Peramaippu.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Mr. Nedumaran said the
protests were aimed at sensitising the Tamils here to sink differences
and voice their support for the Lankan Tamils. — Staff Reporter
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080070836
TN stars protest for Lankan Tamils
Sanjay Pinto
Saturday, November 01, 2008, (Chennai)
Close to a hundred speeches on their emotional ties with Sri Lankan
Tamils and a donation of 45 lakh rupees towards a relief fund. That's
what this 8-hour token fast in Chennai by the Tamil Film Industry
resulted in.
Sarath Kumar, president South Indian Film Artists Association, said:
"The TN Govt must ensure that the money and relief materials reach the
right and deserving people through the right channels."
Unlike protests in the past over the Cauvery and Hogenakkal water
sharing disputes, there were no fiery speeches this time around. That's
because the Stars themselves decided to play Censor.
This is after some of them burnt their fingers in the recent past. Like
Rajinikanth who had to pacify angry pro Kannada groups for his speech
during the Hogenakkal fast, in order to have his film ''Kuselan"
released in Karnataka. Or Directors Ameer and Seeman who were recently
arrested for pro LTTE speeches in Rameshwaram. Rajinikanth came up with
an emotional plea to end the war in Sri Lanka.
"For 30 to 35 years, the Sinhalese have not been able to win the war
against the Tamils. Then what sort of warriors are they? Are they man
enough? Not just in Sri Lanka, anywhere in the world, the curse of
innocent people, women and children will not let any nation prosper,"
said Rajinikanth.
A politically correct stance in a State where everyone is keen to emerge
as champions of the Tamil cause.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/13/stories/2008111353070300.htm
Tamil Nadu
MDMK fast to protest against killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka
Staff Reporter
They want the Central Government to immediately intervene in the matter
Photo: M. Periasamy
For a cause: MDMK cadres observing fast in Coimbatore (left) and Tirupur
on Wednesday, to press for cessation of war in Sri Lanka. —
Tirupur: Members of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam observed a
fast in front of the Corporation office here on Wednesday.
Killings
They undertook the agitation in order to protest against the killings of
innocent Tamilians by Sri Lankan armed forces in the island nation.
They asked the Central Government to immediately intervene in the matter
to stop the genocide that was taking place in Sri Lanka.
Atrocities
The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam men levelled a charge that
the State Government was not showing any interest in fighting against
the atrocities on Tamilians, so far.
Former MLA S Doraisamy led the agitation that had been organised for the
purpose, to press the demand for which the fast had been organised.
District treasurer of the party M Eswaran, Corporation councillors
representing Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam S. Sivabalan,
Govindaraj, Shantamani, Kalamani and Parameswari, were among the
prominent persons who took part in the agitation that was organised in
the hosiery town of Tirupur.
Demand
A similar fast was observed in Coimbatore in order to press the same
demand in support of the Sri Lankan Tamils, on the same day.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10543405&ref=rss
Tamils protest
5:00AM Monday Nov 17, 2008
Tamils from Sri Lanka demonstrate during the Sri Lankan independence
celebrations outside Aotea square. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey
About 200 Sri Lankan Tamils living in New Zealand took to the streets in
Botany to protest against their homeland Government's failure to uphold
human rights and its lack of action against violence.
In Sri Lanka, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been fighting
since 1983 to carve out an independent homeland for minority Tamils in
the north and east.
Protest organiser Nirupa George said the protest was held to raise
awareness of the harsh reality of life and injustice Tamils in Sri Lanka
face.
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1202956
Haryana burns after cops shoot Bhiwani youth dead
Ajay Bharadwaj
Monday, November 3, 2008 14:33 IST
Police mistook Kuldeep for a robber and killed him
CHANDIGARH: In an alleged case of mistaken identity, Haryana Police shot
dead 22-year-old college student Kuldeep in Bhiwani on Sunday night.
The incident occurred when the student was returning home from a wedding
with brother Vikas and a friend.
While the police said it was "accidental firing", head constable
Karanbir Singh, who is accused of the shooting, has been booked and
arrested for murder. Seven other police personnel present at the site of
the incident have also been booked.
The killing sparked widespread protests from college students in
Bhiwani, Rohtak, Hisar and the state capital of Chandigarh.
A group of students demonstrating outside the governor's residence here
demanded suspension of all policemen involved in the incident.
In Bhiwani, Rohtak and Hisar, vehicular traffic was blocked and police
vehicles damaged.
Narrating the incident, victim's brother Vikas said they were returning
home on a motorcycle when a police van stopped them and without
provocation or questioning, one of the policemen fired at Kuldeep from
"point-blank range".
He said the police began enquiry only after Kuldeep fell from the bike
after being hit in the forehead. Soon, he breathed his last, prompting
the police to flee the site, Vikas claimed.
A witness alleged the policemen were drunk and manhandled them before
firing at Kuldeep. However, Hissar superintendent of police Anil Kumar
Rao said the student's death at the hands of Hansi Police was an accident.
He said the police stopped the youth as they had information that Dara
Singh, a prime suspect in a robbery of Rs2.16 lakh at Sorkhi village in
May, was in Bhiwani. When the police signalled them to stop at midnight,
the youth tried to speed away, Rao claimed, after which a police party
chased them on Tosham-Bhiwani Road. As the cops neared their motorcycle,
a constable's gun went off accidentally due to the poor condition of the
road, he said.
Leaders of opposition parties questioned the police way of dealing with
criminals. Former finance minister Sampat Singh said the incident
reflected the brutality with which they dealt with people.
"How could police identify criminals without arresting and interrogating
them?" he wondered and demanded that the governor intervene and check
police highhandedness.
In the last one year this is the third incident of Haryana Police
shooting down a person after dubbing him an outlaw.
Chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said a magisterial inquiry had been
instituted even as an ex-gratia of Rs2 lakh granted to the victim's family.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/03stu.htm
Student's 'accidental' killing sparks protests in Bhiwani
November 03, 2008 15:18 IST
A 22-year-old youth was shot dead by the police in Bhiwani when he was
returning from a party in the wee hours of Monday, his family alleged.
But the police have claimed that it was a case of accidental firing.
The main accused, constable Karmbir, has been arrested and a case
against seven other personnel of Hisar's Hansi police has been
registered, Superintendent of Police, Bhiwani, Sanjay Singh said.
The killing of Kuldeep, a student of Vaish College, sparked violent
protests in the area with mobs damaging police vehicles.
Kuldeep's brother Vikas, who along with another friend was with the
victim when the incident took place, alleged that they were proceeding
towards their house on a motorcycle when a police van suddenly stopped
them. One among the personnel, some of whom were in plain clothes, fired
a shot from point blank range at Kuldeep, he alleged.
He said that the police inquired about their whereabouts after the
firing. Kuldeep fell from the bike and died on the spot, Vikas claimed,
adding that the police team fled from the site.
Hukam Singh, who was also traveling with the two brothers, alleged that
the policemen were inebriated and manhandled them before firing at Kuldeep.
However, Hisar Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar Rao said that the
gunning down of a student by the Hansi police was not an encounter but a
case of accidental firing. He said that policemen had stopped the youths
as they had information that one Dara Singh, a prime suspect in a
robbery case, was in Bhiwani.
When the police signaled the motorcycle to stop at midnight, the youths
tried to speed away, Rao claimed. However, the police party chased them
on the Tosham-Bhiwani road. When the policemen neared the motorcycle, a
constable's gun went off due to the poor condition of the road, the
superintendent claimed.
"It is a case of accidental fire and not an encounter," he said.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/04/stories/2008110456241100.htm
Gloom, protests in Bhiwani
Special Correspondent
The “encounter” victim was to get married soon
________________________________________
Encounter a mistake, admit authorites
Government orders magisterial inquiry
________________________________________
CHANDIGARH: Commercial and educational establishments were forcibly shut
down as students took to the streets in Bhiwani in Haryana to protest
against the killing of a college student by the Hansi police late on
Sunday night.
Demonstrators clashed with police over the “encounter” killing of Kuldip
(22), which authorities later admitted was a “mistake.”
The final-year graduation student was returning to Bhiwani after
attending a social function, when some policemen from Hansi in Hisar
district, who had set up a ‘naka’ to nab a gangster, reportedly shot him
in the head. Kuldip was to get married soon.
A pall of gloom descended on the district headquarters town as news
spread of the killing of the youth, who was to get married soon.During
the protests, a mob surrounded the police station near the Clock Tower
and burnt vehicles and threw stones at the policemen. The protesters
were demanding the immediate arrest of and registration of a case
against the policemen who shot Kuldip.
The government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. A
senior district police officer said a case was registered against eight
Hansi police personnel and one constable arrested.
Compensation
Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dharambir Singh announced that the
government would give a grant of Rs. 5 lakh and employment to a member
of Kuldip’s family. The Bhiwani District Red Cross Society would give
Rs. 2 lakh to the family.
Haryana Janhit Congress leader Kuldip Bishnoi charged the government
with “letting loose a reign of terror in the State through the police.”
The former Haryana Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal, who visited the residence
of the victim, demanded imposition of President’s Rule in the State as
“utter lawlessness” prevailed.
The Indian National Lok Dal also demanded the sacking of the Hooda
government as ‘jungle raj and total anarchy’ prevailed in the State.
In a statement, INLD secretary-general and Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Singh
Chautala said it was highly condemnable that the police and the
government were trying to protect the policemen by stating that it was
an “accidental death” or that “the police opened fire after the boy ran
away.”
In another incident two weeks ago, the Haryana police killed Jaswir
Singh Jassa of Dhakla village in a ‘fake’ encounter, Mr. Chautala said.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/26protest-against-delhi-ats-arrest-of-innocent-youths.htm
Protest against Delhi ATS' arrest of innocent youths
Vicky Nanjappa | November 26, 2008 21:17 IST
Over 100 members of the Jamia Teachers' Solidarity Group staged a
protest in front of the Special Cell of the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the
Delhi [Images] Police on Wednesday morning, demanding action against
police officers who had arrested two innocent Kashmiri youths on terror
charges in 2006.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, which probed the case, had found
both Irshad Ali and Mohammed Moarif Qamar innocent.
Qamar and Ali, both from Kashmir, were arrested by the police from
Mukarba Chowk on G T Karnal Road in north Delhi in February 2006.
The Special Cell claimed that the two young men had been arrested while
alighting from a Jammu & Kashmir Roadways bus in February 2006. The
Delhi ATS officials alleged that the duo, which was carrying two pistols
and two kgs of RDX, were militants belonging to the Al Badr outfit.
In its report to the Sessions Court, the CBI disclosed that Ali and
Qamar were informers of the Intelligence Bureau.
The protestors alleged that the 'Al Badar operation' of the Special Cell
was very similar to the recent Batla House encounter.
Though arms have been seized in both the operations, no seizure list was
made or verified in either case, claimed the protestors. This only adds
to the doubts raised about the Batla House encounter, they said.
Speakers at the protest raised questions about the veracity of the
Special Cell's claims regarding the Batla House 'encounter'. They also
expressed their outrage at the fact that those who indulge in
fabricating evidence to implicate innocents are glorified and rewarded,
but those who raise questions and wish to exercise their democratic
right to protest are harassed by the police.
Incidentally, the CBI has demanded action against sub inspector Ravinder
Tyagi, who won a President's Medal for Gallantry on Republic Day.
The protestors alleged that Tyagi was instrumental in fabricating
evidence against Mohammed Arif Qamar and Irshad Ali. He was also part of
the police team that was involved in the Jamia Nagar encounter, in which
two suspected terrorists and a police officer were killed.
In its closure report, the CBI has said that action must be taken
against Tyagi. The case in this regard is coming up for hearing on
November 27.
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2008/nov/26/jamia_teachers_students_stopped_protesting_against_special_cell.html
Jamia teachers, students stopped from protesting against Special Cell
Submitted by Tarique on Wed, 11/26/2008 - 15:52.
• Indian Muslim
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: In a clear show of highhandedness of security forces, the
Jamia Nagar Police today, with orders from higher authorities, stopped
Jamia Millia Islamia teachers and students from some universities from
protesting before the Delhi Police Special Cell office.
The protesters were forcibly stopped from moving out of Jamia University
area while the Delhi Police Special Cell office was 10 km away. As soon
as the bus carrying the peace marchers moved it was stopped at few
meters, some policemen entered the bus and forced the driver to stop.
SHO of Jamia Nagar Police Station told marchers that they have been
detained and they cannot move unless they change their place of
agitation. After the heated argument between the police and marchers,
organizers were forced to agree to protest at Jantar Mantar. The police
took into custody the bus along with its passengers and escorted it to
Jantar Mantar.
“We wanted to do a peaceful protest in front of the Special Cell office
but we were not allowed. It is unfortunate that in this country one
needs to get permission for peaceful protest but those who carry out
fake encounters and implicate people in false cases do not need any
permission,” Manisha Sethi, Jamia Millia Islamia teacher who heads the
Jamia Teachers' Solidarity Group, told TwoCircles.net.
Manisha Sethi who as head of the teachers’ group has been in the
forefront to blast the police theory on the Batla House encounter told
TCN: “We wanted to protest at the office of Delhi Police Special Cell as
it symbolizes the brutal face of the Indian government. The CBI has just
come out with a report that says the Special Cell was guilty of forging
evidence to implicate some innocents as terrorist in another case. We
were protesting because most of the Special Cell team members who took
part in that case were also involved in the Batla House encounter. And
this has made the Batla House encounter more suspicious.”
The group has demanded stringent action against Special Cell officers
involved in false frame ups of innocents as terrorists.
The CBI has recently revealed that the Special Cell had falsely
implicated two youths, Irshad Ali and Md. Moarif Qamar as Al Badr
'terrorists' in 2006. The Special Cell claimed that the two young men
had been arrested while alighting from a Jammu & Kashmir Roadways bus in
February 2006 and were carrying two pistols and two kg of RDX. In its
report to the Sessions Court, however, the CBI disclosed that Ali and
Qamar were innocent and in fact police informers, who were abducted by
the Special Cell in December 2005.
“These startling revelations have brought into open the way in which
such 'special' security agencies operate: kidnapping, framing innocents,
planting pistols and explosives, and justifying their high-handedness in
the name of fighting 'terror'. The 'Al Badar operation' of the Special
Cell is very similar to the Batla House 'Encounter',” said the group.
The group has also provided some facts: The Special cell team which
conducted the 'Al Badr' operation was headed by ACP Sanjeev Yadav and
Inspector Sharma – the very same people who led the Batla House
operation. Moreover, there were several common members between the two
Special Cell teams: Sub-Inspectors Ravinder Tyagi, Sanjay Dutt and Rahul
Kumar played an important role in both events. Arms have been shown to
be seized on both occasions. No seizure lists made or verified in either
cases.
“This naturally deepens our suspicions about the claims that the Delhi
Police has been making about the Batla House 'encounter'. Today's
protest was against the shameful tainted past of the Special Cell.
However, when the protestors were leaving from Jamia, the Delhi Police
stopped the bus and detained the teachers and students, denying them the
right to express their outrage at the Special Cell office,” said the
teachers’ group.
The protesters were sloganeering against the Delhi Police, its Special
Cell and Home Minister. When they reached Jantar Mantar they were also
blocked there.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/26/stories/2008112653730200.htm
Tamil Nadu - Madurai
Advocates stage demonstration
Special Correspondent
MADURAI: Advocates affiliated to the Madurai Bar Association (MBA)
staged a demonstration in front of the district courts here on Tuesday
in protest against the remarks of a High Court Judge. The members said
that many advocates appearing on PIL petitions were unhappy with the
remarks made by the Judge.
The members, led by MBA secretary A. K. Ramasamy, also shouted slogans
against the Judge.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/01/stories/2008110151170300.htm
Tamil Nadu - Nagercoil
Attempt to stage demonstration
Nagercoil: Members of AIADMK attempted to hold a demonstration here on
Friday in protest against the attack on the convoy of their leader
Jayalalithaa on the way to Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram district to pay
homage to Pasumpon Muthramalinga Thevar.
However on request of the district secretary Pachaimal, they did not
resort to any kind of agitation.
The police had made elaborate security arrangements throughout the
district to prevent any untoward incidents.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/12/stories/2008111252510300.htm
Tamil Nadu - Nagercoil
Protest against attack on Jayalalithaa
Staff Reporter
Nagercoil: Activists of All India Anna Dravida Munnettra Kazagham staged
a demonstration on Tuesday in protest against the recent attack on
former Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa at Kamuthi in Ramanathapuram
district.
Prior to the agitation, former Health Minister N. Thalavai Sundaram came
to the spot to inaugurate the demonstration.
According to sources, in order to facilitate him to participate in the
agitation, activists tried to remove a barricade put up by the police.
However police refused to remove the barricade. Traffic was affected in
front of the collectorate and after the intervention of police and
revenue officials the activists withdrew their agitation.
The police have registered a case in this connection.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/10/stories/2008111052940300.htm
Tamil Nadu
AIADMK cadres stage protest
VILLUPURAM: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadres led by C.Ve.
Shanmugham, former Minister and district secretary of the party,
observed a fast at Mandakarai grounds here on Sunday.
They were protesting the recent attack on the convoy of party
general-secretary Jayalalithaa at Pasumpon. They urged the authorities
to book those who were involved in it.
Party functionaries, trade union leaders and members of women’s wing
participated in the fast.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/01/stories/2008110151720300.htm
Tamil Nadu - Erode
Protest staged
Staff Reporter
ERODE: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party men protested
across the district against the attack on the party leader and former
Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
Ms. Jayalalithaa’s car and another vehicle in her convoy were stoned in
Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram District when she went there to pay homage to
Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar.
In Ammapettai party men gathered in front of the party office and raised
slogans.
In Erode on Thursday, AIADMK activists led by Councillor Market Raja
protested near Panner Selvam Park junction.
The district police took the protesters in custody and later released them.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/07/stories/2008110752160300.htm
Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool
Protest staged demanding arrest of police officer
Special Correspondent
KURNOOL: Leaders of SC, ST and BC organisations staged a demonstration
at the Collectorate here on Thursday urging the authorities to take
action against the police officer who misbehaved with them and institute
CB CID inquiry into the death of an engineering student Venkata Krishna.
The leaders said a panel which went to the college yesterday to inquire
with the management about the death was abused by the police. They
alleged that Inspector Janardhan Naidu had misbehaved with the leaders
abusing them in the name of caste.
Cases were framed against leaders on a complaint from the management.
They said the management which owed an explanation on the death was
allowed to go scot free while cases were framed against the leaders.
Leaders M.K. Ranga Swamy, Seshaphani were present.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081126/punjab1.htm
‘Rebuked’ by cop, woman dies
Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service
Batala, November 25
Leela Devi died within a few seconds after she was allegedly reprimanded
by a police official here. After the November 23 incident came to the
notice of SSP Naresh Kumar, he transferred the police official to the
Police Lines and deputed the DSP(D) to probe the incident.
The SSP said today evening that a case would be registered if the police
official, identified as Harjit Singh, assistant sub inspector (ASI), was
found guilty of misconduct. He added that a probe was also being held by
the executive magistrate, Batala.
According to reports, Ajay Kumar, son of deceased Leela Devi, was
allegedly marrying a minor girl of the Urban Estate area on November 23.
A police party reached the spot after the matter was reported to the
Urban Estate police post by Ajit Singh of the locality.
Harjit Singh, who, along with other policemen, reached the spot, took
Ajay, his mother Leela, the minor girl and Mohinder Rani, mother of the
minor, to the police post where he allegedly rebuked Leela. Leela, a
heart patient, fell down. When taken to hospital by a relative, she was
declared brought dead. The relative of the deceased also protested in
the police post against the inhuman treatment given to the deceased by
Harjit Singh.
The ASI said neither had he taken Leela to the police post nor had he
threatened her. When he took Ajay and others to the police post, Leela
Devi came on her own to the police post, he added.
He said before he took Ajay and Mohinder to the police post from the
venue of marriage, which was a temple, he got a case registered against
them in the police station. The case was registered under the Child
Marriage Act by sending constable Balraj Singh to the police station.
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/11/23/Journalists_protest_killing_of_reporter/UPI-17991227462813/
Journalists protest killing of reporter
Published: Nov. 23, 2008 at 12:53 PM
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IMPHAL, India, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Journalists in the northeastern Indian
state of Manipur were on strike to protest the killing of a colleague
gunned down this week, union officials said.
No daily newspapers were published Saturday in the state for the third
consecutive day, The Calcutta Telegraph reported. Reporters and editors
demanded a full investigation into the killing of Konsam Rishikanta and
punishment for the culprit.
The president of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union said Saturday
that officials had not responded to their call. A large rally is planned
for next week.
Rishikanta, 22, was the fifth reporter to be killed in Manipur with no
one charged, Press Trust of India reported. The state lies on India's
eastern border with Myanmar and is closed to foreigners who do not have
entry permits.
National journalism groups supported the Manipur union and pledged to
seek justice through the national government.
http://newsblaze.com/story/20081122085425nava.nb/topstory.html
November 22,2008
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Another Assam Scribe Shot Dead: Protest Meet on Tuesday
By Nava Thakuria
After Manipur, within a week Assam has lost a young reporter, who fell
prey to miscreants on Saturday. Jagjit Saikia, a Kokrajhar based scribe,
associated with a vernacular Assamese daily, Amar Asom, was shot on
November 22 afternoon in Kokrajhar town. He was taken to Rupnath Brahma
hospital, but Jagjit succumbed to his injuries. He was also an office
bearer of Assam Press Correspondents' Union. He has left behind his wife
and a minor daughter.
The northeastern part of India earlier witnessed the brutal killing of a
scribe in Imphal on November 17, when unidentified assailants shot dead
Konsam Rishikanta, a trainee sub-editor of The Imphal Free Press, an
English daily in Manipur. The Manipur police are yet to get any
breakthrough, and no armed group has so far claimed responsibility for
the killing.
The Journalists' Forum, Assam strongly condemned the killing of Jagjit
Saikia. In a press statement, the forum also demanded the Assam
government take prompt and appropriate actions to book the culprits for
stringent punishment. Meanwhile, The Journalists' Action Committee,
Assam is organizing a protest meet on November 25 (Tuesday) at Guwahati
Press Club. In a statement, JAC revealed that Assam has lost 16
journalists since 1991, all of them were targeted by miscreants and
banned armed groups.
The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union, Editors' Forum, Manipur had
already taken the path of agitation and asked for a four-day strike by
all Imphal-based daily newspapers and local channels in protest against
the murder of Rishikant. The All Manipur Working Journalists Union
members also called on the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh
demanding a prompt investigation.
North East Media Forum, a body of New Delhi-based journalists also
strongly condemned the killing. In an official statement the forum said
that it urged the Manipur government 'to immediately take measures to
ensure [the] safety and security of the journalists working in the State'.
Even the Paris based media rights body, Reporters Without Borders issued
a statement that 'both the Manipur state government and the federal
authorities must ensure that the murder investigation has the resources
it needs to establish the motive and identify those responsible'. The
RSF also extended support to the strike announced by the local press in
protest against this cowardly murder'.
Earlier the Editors Guild of India, while expressing shock at the
killing of Rishikant, extended 'its support to the struggle of the
Manipur editors and journalists, and demand immediate action by both the
central and state governments to protect the media in Manipur'. Nabbing
the killers of Rishikant Singh must be a high priority for the
governments, it asserted.
In a letter to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Guild also
appealed to him 'to take personal interest in the situation in Manipur
and if necessary, order a CBI investigation into the murder of
journalists'. Signed by Rajdeep Sardesai and K S Sachidananda Murthy,
the President and Secretary General of the forum, a copy of the letter
was sent to Shivraj Patil, the Union Home Minister, Gurbachan Jagat,
Governor of Manipur and Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur.
Nava Thakuria is an independent journalist based in Guwahati, Northeast
India, whose main interest is in socio-political developments of
Northeast India and neighbouring Bhutan, Burma and Bangladesh.
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2008/nov/22/hyderabad_police_didn_t_allow_protest_meeting_against_police_torture.html
Hyderabad Police didn’t allow protest meeting against police torture
Submitted by Tarique on Sat, 11/22/2008 - 17:39.
• Indian Muslim
By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad city police did not permit a public meeting
where the victims of police torture were to present details of the
physical and mental torture after they were picked up following last
year's bomb blasts in Hyderabad.
Assistant Commissioner of Police S Chaturvedi said that the permission
was not granted for the protest meeting by Majlis Bachao Tehreek due to
the apprehensions of breach of peace.
The meeting was organized on Idgah Ujale Shah Ground in old city of
Hyderabad to protest against the incidents of subjecting Muslim youth to
physical torture and failure of the police to nab the culprits of the
blast in Mecca Masjid in May last year.
"We wanted to expose the real face of the police before the people.
Victims of police torture were to present their case in the people's
court but fearing the exposure the police did not permit our meeting",
said Amjadullah Khan Khalid, the leader of MBT.
Heavy police force was deployed in Sayeedabad, Malakpet, Chanchalguda
and other surrounding areas. The venue of the meeting was also locked by
the police.
ACP Chaturvedi said that if they had allowed the MBT to hold the
meeting, then other groups of people would have also insisted to hold
similar meetings leading to tension and disruption of communal harmony
and peace.
Imran Khan and Shoaib Jagirdar, who were acquitted by the court in a
criminal conspiracy case were scheduled to speak at the meeting and give
the details of how they were picked up after the Mecca Masjid blast and
how the police subjected them to third degree torture to extract
confession of their involvement in the blast.
Before the meeting was cancelled, a team of plain-cloth policemen
visited Shoaib's home in Hyderabad and warned him against attending the
protest meeting. They told Shoiab's father that higher police officials
were against Shoaib attending the meeting. But Shoaib's father, a
central government employee Yunusullah Khan rejected their threats and
warned the policemen against visiting his home.
"My son was innocent but you tried to frame him in a false case and
project him as a terrorist. Now that the court has found him innocent,
you are still threatening us", Yunusullah Khan told the policemen.
The police also threatened and warned Imran's friends not to support him
or attend the meeting. Two of his friends were even summoned to
Bowenpally police station, Imran said.
Earlier Imran was also asked by the police to turn an informer and
provide information about the activities of Muslim youth, which he
firmly rejected.
Shoaib Jagirdar, who had come from Jalna to attend the meeting, said
that he too was under constant pressure from the police and intelligence
sleuths.
The issue of subjecting Muslim youth to torture in Hyderabad has come
into focus at the international level after the Human Rights Watch Group
recently issued a statement demanding prosecution of the guilty police
officials. The HRW said that after last year's blasts in Hyderabad about
100 Muslims were picked up and many of them were subjected to brutal
torture including stripping, beatings and electric shocks.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/06/stories/2008110656820500.htm
Andhra Pradesh - Warangal
PR workers stage protests
Staff Reporter
Take out rallies condemning the attack on party chief Chiranjeevi
________________________________________
Workers wash the portrait of Chiru with milk
Eggs distributed to the poor as mark of protest
________________________________________
--Photo: Uppu Damodar
Expressing solidarity: PR leaders taking out a rally in Karimnagar on
Wednesday in protest against the attack on Chiranjeevi.
WARANGAL: The Praja Rajyam workers organised protest meetings and took
out rallies condemning the attack on their leader Mr. Chiranjeevi by the
TRS workers on Tuesday.
The PR leaders staged a dharna near Public Gardens and Ambedkar statue
and some of them washed the Gandhi statue with milk and also the
portrait of Mr. Chiranjeevi as well at a series of meetings held across
the district.
The Praja Rajyam leader Dr. M. Seshu Madhav said the TRS leaders were
feeling threatened by Mr. Chiranjeevi’s tour in Telangana area as he
came out with the social justice as agenda. “The PR raised a banner
against the feudal parties and pledged to give top priority to BCs, SCs
and minorities. The TRS leaders are apprehensive that they might lose
their base in Telangana region,” he pointed out.
Mr. Seshu Madhav said PR would put up an excellent show in Telangana
region despite the odds being created by the TRS leaders. No
conspiracies or obstacles could deter the Praja Rajyam from sweeping the
polls.
Another leader Madati Ravinder Reddy led a group of party workers and
washed the Gandhi statue at Public Gardens and distributed eggs to the
poor people as mark of protest against the attack on Mr. Chiranjeevi.
PR senior leader J. Jacharaiah lashed out at Mr K.Chandrasekhar Rao and
his son Mr Ramu accusing them of conspiring against Mr Chiranjeevi. The
TRS had hoodwinked people by promising to accord top priority to BCs,
SCs and minorities. “Mr. Rao virtually sold the Assembly tickets to
candidates of forward castes. Now, Mr Chiranjeevi came out with social
justice as agenda, Mr. Rao is feeling threatened,” he said.
Karimnagar Staff Reporter adds: Condemning the attack on the Praja
Rajyam party president Chiranjeevi the PR district unit leaders have
taken out a peace rally in Karimnagar town on Wednesday.
Demand action
PR leaders Md Arif Ahmed, Bejugam Madhu, K Harikrishna Goud, G
Balakrishna and others participated in the peace rally by wearing the
black badges. They also distributed eggs to the passersby in protest
against the attack on the actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi. They also
demanded the government to stern action against the culprits involved in
the attack.
Mr Jacharaiah warned the TRS leaders of dire consequences if they went
ahead with such actions.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/as-protests-gather-police-force-guards-madhya-pradesh-bjp-office_100115455.html
As protests gather, police force guards Madhya Pradesh BJP office
November 5th, 2008 - 7:39 pm ICT by IANS - Send to a friend:
Bhopal, Nov 5 (IANS) Heavy police force has been deployed at the
Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Madhya Pradesh state office in Bhopal
since Tuesday in the wake of growing protests over its selection of
candidates for the forthcoming assembly elections.Protests and
demonstrations are being held at the state BJP headquarters by several
groups, including those who have arrived here from other parts of the state.
Hundreds of BJP workers protesting the candidature of Chetram from Amla
constituency arrived here in the afternoon and held demonstration at the
party office. Soon the police force surrounded the office to prevent any
ugly incident or fracas from breaking out.
BJP workers from Amla constituency in Betul district gathered outside
the office and raised slogans against Chetram. They claimed the party
would lose heavily if the candidate was not changed.
Earlier in the day, the Sindhi Samaj Sangharsh Samiti protested the
candidature of Jitendra Daga, said to be the choice of senior BJP leader
Sushma Swaraj. The Samaj wants Bhagwandas Sabnani to contest from the
state capital’s Huzur constituency.
Sabnani, it is said, was brought back to the party fold from Uma
Bharati’s Bharatiya Jan Shakti (BJS) Party a couple of weeks ago with
the promise that he would be fielded from the constituency.
“We (the community) would field Bhagwandas Sabnani as an Independent
candidate if the BJP doesn’t give him the ticket,” Samaj’s spokesman
Dharmendra Bulchandani told reporters.
The members of the Samaj also held demonstrations at the party office
Monday and kept shuttered their establishments across Bairagarh township.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/madhya-pradesh-bjp-swamped-by-protests-over-poll-tickets-lead_100115506.html
Madhya Pradesh BJP swamped by protests over poll tickets (Lead)
November 5th, 2008 - 9:17 pm ICT by IANS - Send to a friend:
Bhopal, Nov 5 (IANS) Heavy police force has been deployed at the
Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Madhya Pradesh state office in Bhopal
since Tuesday following growing protests over its selection of
candidates for the forthcoming assembly elections. Supporters of more
than a dozen legislators have so far turned up from their respective
constituencies to lodge their protest against the party decisions. The
polls to the 230-seat state assembly are scheduled for Nov 27.
Protests also continued for the fourth day Wednesday as over 2,000 party
workers arrived here to protest against the candidature of Finance
Minister Raghavji from Vidisha constituency.
Raghavji is a legislator from Shamshabad constituency, but this time he
has been fielded by the party from Vidisha, thereby denying a ticket to
legislator Gurucharan Singh.
The party workers said any candidate other than Singh was not acceptable
to them at Vidisha.
“Our legislator has been denied a ticket simply because the state
leaders including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wanted to disturb
both Raghavji and Gurucharan knowing well that both were well entrenched
in their respective constituencies and any other candidate will not be
able to make it through,” said a worker from Vidisha.
Hundreds of BJP workers protesting the candidature of Chetram from Amla
constituency also arrived in the afternoon and held demonstration at the
party office in Bhopal. Soon the police force surrounded the office to
prevent any ugly incident or fracas from breaking out.
BJP workers from Amla constituency in Betul district raised slogans
against Chetram, and claimed the party would lose heavily if the
candidate was not changed.
Earlier in the day, the Sindhi Samaj Sangharsh Samiti protested the
candidature of Jitendra Daga, said to be the choice of senior BJP leader
Sushma Swaraj. The Samaj wants Bhagwandas Sabnani to contest from the
state capital’s Huzur constituency.
Sabnani, it is said, was brought back to the party fold from Uma
Bharati’s Bharatiya Jan Shakti (BJS) Party a couple of weeks ago with
the promise that he would be fielded from the constituency.
“We (the community) would field Bhagwandas Sabnani as an Independent
candidate if the BJP doesn’t give him the ticket,” Samaj’s spokesman
Dharmendra Bulchandani told reporters.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/protest-outside-malhotras-residence-over-ticket-distribution_100114147.html
Protest outside Malhotra’s residence over ticket distribution
November 2nd, 2008 - 4:14 pm ICT by IANS -
New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS) Unhappy over ticket distribution for the
upcoming Delhi assembly elections, some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
leaders along with their supporters protested outside the house of the
party’s chief ministerial candidate V.K. Malhotra here Sunday.The BJP
had released the first list of 53 candidates late Saturday for the Delhi
assembly polls, which it will contest in alliance with the Akali Dal.
The list that included names of 19 sitting BJP legislators was cleared
at a meeting of the Central Election Committee chaired by party
president Rajnath Singh.
“Everyone, however, is not happy with the ticket distribution. Some had
arrived at Malhotra’s residence since the morning to wish him while some
had come to complain and register their protest,” a BJP supporter
working with Malhotra told IANS.
“The protestors raised slogans and criticised the party’s decision. They
alleged that several candidates selected by the party were not the best
bet and should be changed,” he added.
The protest outside Malhotra’s residence at 6, Dr Bishamber Das Marg
also resulted in a traffic jam.
According to the list announced Saturday, Malhotra will contest from the
Greater Kailash constituency. Delhi party unit chief Harshvardhan and
veteran leader Vijay Jolly will contest from the Krishna Nagar and New
Delhi constituencies, respectively.
Names of candidates for the remaining 13 seats are expected to be
released in the next few days.
The Akali Dal will fight from four constituencies - Shahdara, Adarsh
Nagar, Rajauri Garden and Jungpura.
Elections to the 70-member assembly will be held Nov 29.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/10/stories/2008111059610300.htm
New Delhi
MLA’s supporters protest
Staff Reporter
Photo: V. Sudershan
Zile Singh Chauhan along with his supporters protesting outside the AICC
office in New Delhi on Sunday.
NEW DELHI: Supporters of Bhalaswa Jahangirpuri MLA Jile Singh Chauhan
held a demonstration outside the Congress headquarters on Akbar Road
here on Sunday to protest against the delay in grant of the party ticket
from Burari to the two-time MLA.
The protesters insisted that Mr. Chauhan is the only Rajput and advocate
MLA in Delhi and had carried out a lot of development work in his area
during his 10-year term. Mr. Chauhan was also a member of the Delhi
Development Authority and in that capacity had also been closely
associated with the new Master Plan for Delhi.
As a lawyer too he had been associated with the Congress for a long time
and had represented its interests in the Jain Commission of Enquiry and
other important cases. But despite these credentials, the protesters
insisted unnecessary weightage was being given to the Tyagi factor in
Burari as both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party
haven given tickets to candidates from the community here.
After much deliberations, the BJP finally announced the name of its
candidate from Burari, three days after having announced its candidates
from all the other 69 seats. It has now fielded Shri Krishna Tyagi, a
party worker and executive member of All-India Kisan Morcha from the seat.
In the Congress too, a Tyagi emerged as one of the frontrunners after
the process of delimitation took the representation of people from the
community in the area to 10 per cent. So Deepak Tyagi, who climbed the
political ladder by securing a post in the Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress,
is now posing a challenge for Mr. Chauhan.
A break up of voters in the constituency shows that at 8 per cent, the
Rajputs are only marginally behind the Tyagis. But if caste were to be
the criteria for selection here, the Scheduled Castes at 16 per cent
should have got the tickets.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?sectionName=NLetter&id=55ef08ab-6d7b-46ae-898e-cd9bc83ffaa7mydelhimyvote_Special&Headline=Cong+list+leaked%2c+protests+follow
Cong list leaked, protests follow
Anuradha Mukherjee, Hindustan Times
Email Author
New Delhi, November 10, 2008
First Published: 00:25 IST(10/11/2008)
Last Updated: 00:37 IST(10/11/2008)
With only two days left for filing nominations, Congress leaders were
left speculating on the probable candidates for the 22 Delhi assembly
seats. The party is yet to make an announcement.
The Congress was expected to announce the list on Sunday noon. By noon,
however, several names were leaked and pandemonium broke loose.
Burari MLA Jile Singh Chauhan’s supporters gathered outside the AICC
office to protest against his reported non-inclusion among the 70
candidates who would contest the elections. The protest turned so
violent that the police had to resort to mild lathicharge to disperse
the crowd.
“Some names were leaked to party members in the noon and local workers
got to know that I would not be given a ticket. These were people who
had assisted Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her son, MP Sandeep
Dikshit, win elections. I have worked as the area MLA for 10 years. Let
them field Deepak Tyagi. Can he win?” posed Chauhan.
Fourteen names were doing the rounds in Congress circles. Health
minister Yoganand Shastri was named as the choice from the Mehrauli
seat, while Tarwinder Marwah was reported to be the candidate from
Jangpura where veteran city leader Tajdar Babar was also a contender.
“Fielding Shastri from Mehrauli does not make sense. There is hardly any
Jat vote there. This is one of the Gujjar dominated seats,” said a party
insider.
Similarly, former Union minister Buta Singh’s son Ravinder Singh Lovely
(Deoli), IPS officer Amod Kanth (Sangam Vihar), Ramesh Lamba (Hari
Nagar), Deepak Tyagi (Burari), Vijender Jindal (Rohini), Rajesh Jain
(Sadar), Mehmood Zia (Matia Mahal), JS Rana (Narela), Shabnam Riaz
(Kirari), P.C. Kaushik (Mundka), Bhisham Sharma (Ghonda) and Anil
Vashishth from Babarpur were the other names.
DPCC chairman Jai Prakash Aggarwal, however, called the protests
unnecessary as the official list was yet to be announced.
“Jile Singh is a senior leader and has been an MLA for 10 years. If he
had a problem, he could speak to me or the chief minister,” he added.
“This is an ill thought out list. They have merely looked at personal
equations, not a candidate’s ability to win,” said Chauhan.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/04/stories/2008110457150300.htm
Andhra Pradesh - Kadapa
Assault on civic staff protested
Special Correspondent
KADAPA: The TDP, CPI and CPI(M) and municipal staff staged a dharna
before the Badvel municipality office on Monday demanding arrest of
Congress functionary Chandrasekhar Reddy, who allegedly assaulted
Municipal Commissioner A.C.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/04chira.htm
TRS workers greet Chiranjeevi with protests and eggs
Mohammed Siddique in Hyderabad | November 04, 2008 19:34 IST
Actor turned politician Chiranjeevi [Images] got a taste of the murkier
side of politics on Tuesday, when workers of the Telangana Rashtra
Samiti pelted eggs at the megastar at Narsampeta in Warangal district.
Smeared in egg yolk, Chiranjeevi was forced to make an unscheduled stop
at a school to take a bath.
Chiranjeevi supports Telangana cause
The TRS workers initially blocked Chiranjeevi's state-wide yatra,
demanding a clear statement from the actor on the contentious Telangana
issue.
When Chiranjeevi pointed out that he had already clarified his stand on
the issue, some TRS workers started pelting eggs at the actor, who was
addressing the crowd from the roof of his 'rath'.
Chiranjeevi's grand entry into politics
"This is not good, not proper. You should not indulge in such things,"
Chiranjeevi said even as his security guards tried to shield him.
When the miscreants continued throwing eggs, the actor was taken inside
the vehicle. The unpleasant incident left the star visibly jolted.
Countdown begins for Chiranjeevi's D-day
Chiranjeevi, who is visiting the Telangana districts of Karimnagar,
Warangal and Khammam, is yet to take a definite stance of Telangana. "If
the central government initiates steps for the formation of Telangana
state, the Praja Rajyam will not object or oppose it," he had said.
Chiranjeevi hints at an alliance with BJP
BJP and TRS supporters have held demonstrations during Chiranjeevi's
rallies in the last four days, pressing him to clarify his stance further.
Speaking about the attack, the actor said, "I will not be threatened or
deterred by such acts of vandalism. I am determined to serve the people
and I will continue to do that."
http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-38131.html
One dead as mob targets BSP leader's house in protest in UP
Lakhimpur Kheri, Oct 29 : A youth was killed in firing after a mob
allegedly attempted to set afire the house of ruling Bahujan Samaj Party
(BSP) leader Akhilesh Gupta here today.
The whole matter had started yesterday, when some men were extorting
money from shopkeepers in a fair at Tikuniya town.
Sweatmaker Chetram had, however, objected to the move after which the
men had ransacked his shop.
As per sources, the police had also denied to register a case in this
regard as the men charged with extortion were supported by the BSP.
The enraged shopkeepers, who staged demonstration outside the house of
BSP leader Akhilesh Gupta and also attempted to set afire his house
today, allegedly faced firing from the other side, in which one Kuldeep
Singh (25) died.
As many as 12 others sustained bullet wounds in the incident and have
been admitted to hospital.
An uneasy calm, meanwhile, prevailed in the area and police and PAC
sleuths have been deployed on the site.
--- UNI
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/20/stories/2008112060991100.htm
Andhra Pradesh
‘Manhandling of activist led to protest’
Special Correspondent
Ruling party cadres raid R&B guesthouse at Pulivendula
________________________________________
Irate group of people damage some vehicles
Police restrain Congressmen from staging protest
________________________________________
Tense situation: A Congressman pulling out Praja Rajyam flag from a
vehicle in Pulivendula on Wednesday.
PULIVENDULA: Manhandling of a Congress activist, Chinna, by Praja Rajyam
activists after he objected to their attempt to tie their party banner
and flag atop his house sparked off trouble in Pulivendula, leading to
the ruling party activists raiding the R&B guesthouse at Pulivendula,
according to Pulivendula DSP Khaleel Saudagar.
Following the manhandling, Praja Rajyam activists rushed to the guest
house and took shelter inside and an irate group of people damaged some
vehicles, a Congress leader Ravimohan said. Rather than chide the
partymen, PR leader K. Vidhyadhara Rao levelled allegations against
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, resulting in a dharna by
Congressmen, he added.
Congress functionaries staged a peaceful demonstration for a while
before Kadapa MP Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy’s office on Wednesday morning,
with policemen restraining them from protesting during Chiranjeevi’s tour.
The Chief Minister is said to have directed party leaders and activists
not to obstruct or protest during the Chiranjeevi’s tour, Congressmen said.
Chiranjeevi, who said PR activists exercised restraint and staged
peaceful protests, ought to have admitted that yesterday’s incidents
were a fall-out of overzealous PR functionaries’ bid to put up party
flags atop Congress sympathisers’ houses, a Congress leader said.
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=63958
Published On: 2008-11-19
National
Angry protests against AL tickets in Rajshahi-4,5, 6
Rallies, token hunger strike: Nominees declared unwanted
Anwar Ali, Rajshahi
Awami League leaders and activists burst into angry protests in three
constituencies in Rajshahi yesterday against party nominations to
businessmen newcomers, instead of senior party leaders suggested from
the grassroots.
On the other hand supporters of the businessmen candidates also held
meetings hailing the nominations, unleashing a flurry of protest
programmes and tension between AL factions.
Hundreds of AL leaders and activists held protest meetings, formed human
chain and observed token hunger strike. They declared the businessmen
candidates unwanted in the areas and threatened to quit the party.
They demanded immediate cancellation of nomination of industrialist
Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-4 (Bagmara), businessman Kazi Abdul Wadud Dara
in Rajshahi-5 (Puthia-Durgapur) and industrialist Shahriar Alam in
Rajshahi-6 (Bagha-Charghat) constituencies.
They demanded nomination of minister Sardar Amjad Hossain, Rajshahi
district AL president Tajul Islam M Faruk and former lawmaker Raihanul
Haque in these Jatiya Sangsad seats.
These senior party leaders were selected through vote of grassroots
leaders in party meetings but their opinions were ignored, they said.
The party leaders in protest meetings blamed Rajshahi Mayor AHM
Khairuzzaman Liton for helping the businessmen to get nomination. They
are not even party members, speakers at the meetings said.
AL chance of victory in the coming election, created by alleged crime
and corruption by BNP-Jamaat, would evaporate if proper candidates are
not selected, they said.
Rajshahi-4
Several hundred AL men held a protest meeting at Bhawaniganj in Bagmara
and formed a 200-member citizens' committee headed by Abdus Samad to
create resistance against nominee Enamul Haque.
The meeting held with the upazila AL secretary Zakirul Islam Santu in
the chair demanded ticket for Sardar Amjad Hossain from the constituency.
“Out of 63-member upazila committee, only 13 support Enamul and he was
not a party member even a month ago. How can we abide by him if he gets
party nomination”, said Santu.
Rajshahi-5
Several hundred AL men formed a human chain and held token hunger strike
at Puthia and Durgapur upazilas demanding nomination for Tajul Islam M
Faruk.
They announced a seven-day protest programmea and declared Abdul Wadud
Dara unwanted in the area.
Following allefged threats, Dara along with some 50 people rushed to
Rajshahi city and held a press conference at Miapara Central Public
Library auditorium welcoming the nomination.
Dara vowed to recover the Rajshahi-5 seat that, he said, was lost to BNP
four times for wrong selection of candidate.
Rajshahi-6
Shahriar Alam was also declared unwanted in Rajshahi-6.
At a protest meeting held at Charghat AL office with the upazila AL
president Anwar Hossain in the chair, a number of party-men demanded
nomination for Raihanul Haque.
They threatened to leave party en masse if the grassroots selection is
neglected.
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=65239
Published On: 2008-11-28
National
Protest by 2 Khulna AL aspirants' men
Staff Correspondent
Supporters observe a token hunger strike on the premises of Khulna Press
Club yesterday demanding nomination to Khulna district Awami League
President Sheikh Harun-ar-Rashid for Khulna-1 and senior Vice President
Sheikh Nurul Huq for Khulna-6 constituencies. Photo: STAR
Police foiled observance of token hunger strike by over 2000 people in
the Khulna Press Club premises at 10 am yesterday (Thursday) in demand
of nomination to Khulna district Awami League president Sheikh
Harun-ar-Rashid from Khulna-1 and senior Vice President Advocate Sheikh
Nurul Huq from Khulna-6 constituencies.
Later, they went to the Khulna Awami League office to observe token
hunger strike from 10:30 a.m. till 2 p.m., which was followed by a rally.
The grassroots level people came to Khulna from Batiaghata, Dakop, Koira
and Paikgacha upazilas of Khulna-1 and Khulna-6 seats of the Parliament
in protest against nominations of Nani Gopal Mandol and Advocate Sohrab
Ali Sana.
After the token hunger strike a rally was held where speakers appealed
to AL Chief Sheikh Hasina to review nominations by fielding Sheikh Harun
in Khulna-1 (Batiaghata-Dacope) and Advocate Nurul Huq in Khulna-6
(Koira-Paikgacha) constituencies.
Otherwise, the speakers warned that the party would face polls debacle
in the two seats.
AL Parliamentary board has fielded Dacope upazila AL president Nani
Gopal Mandol in Khulna-1 and Advocate Sohrab Ali Sana in Khulna-6 to
contest in the upcoming national elections.
Nominations to these two new faces have triggered discontent among
grassroots level workers and leaders of the two constituencies.
Sheikh Harun and Advocate Sheikh Nurul Huq said they were stunned at the
decision of the AL parliamentary board regarding nomination in the two
constituencies.
Advocate Sheikh Nurul Huq who won Khulna 6 seat in 1996 said he would
contest as an independent candidate if the nomination were not reviewed. .
Sheikh Harun-ar-Rashid who was elected lawmaker from Khulna-1 in 1986
national elections said that the decision was unacceptable to him.
"Yet, I would not go against party decision", Harun said urging Sheikh
Hasina to review the nomination and field him in Khulna-1.
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=65573
Published On: 2008-11-30
National
Election 2008
Protesters to lose right to do AL politics, says RCC mayor
Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi
Rajshahi city Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, centre, introduces six Awami
League nominees for constituencies in the district at a meeting of
grassroots AL leaders yesterday as nomination deprived party leaders
continue agitation. Photo: STAR
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, who
himself opposed party decision during the last RCC polls, yesterday said
the protesters against the Awami League nominations for six seats in
Rajshahi district will lose their right to do AL politics.
“Sheikh Hasina's [AL chief] decision for nomination is the final. Those
who are protesting should stop it immediately or they will have no right
to do Awami League politics in future,” he said at the party's special
workers' meeting at Rajshahi Zila Parishad auditorium.
Rajshahi AL General Secretary Omar Faruk Chowdhury, also AL nominee for
Rajshahi-1 constituency, chaired the meeting.
A large AL faction led by district AL President Tajul Islam M Faruk is
holding protest meetings demanding AL nominations to senior politicians.
They criticised AL nominations to three industrialists who are newcomers
to the party.
At the meeting, Liton called upon all to unite for ensuring victory in
upcoming election as well as to fight against the undemocratic, communal
and militant forces and establish pro-liberation ideologies.
All six AL nominees from the seats under district Omar Faruk Chowdhury,
Prof Abdul Khaleque, Meraj Uddin Mollah, Enamul Haque, Kazi Abdul Wadud
Dara and Shahriar Alam were present at the meeting.
Khairuzzaman Liton himself went against the AL decision before August 4
RCC election when the party gave the AL-led combine ticket for Workers
Party leader Fazle Hosain Badsha in the mayoral poll.
Following Liton's role under the banner of Rajshahi Nagorik Committee,
Badsha had to withdraw from the RCC mayoral race. Liton later won the
election.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/241053,detention-of-former-ministers-sparks-protests-in-bangladesh.html
Detention of former ministers sparks protests in Bangladesh
Posted : Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:12:01 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Asia (World)
Dhaka - The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies announced
nationwide protests against the detention of three former ministers in a
graft case, saying it was a ploy to keep the alliance out of the
December elections, media reports said Tuesday. The party's right-wing
ally - Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's largest Islamic party -
said in a statement that it was starting five days of protests Tuesday
to demand the immediate release of two of its party officials, Ameer
Matiur Rahman Nizami and secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed.
The two top Jamaat leaders and former BNP finance minister M Saifur
Rahman, who served as ministers in then-prime minister Khaleda Zia's
cabinet from 2001 to 2006, were detained as they appeared before a court
Monday in a corruption case related to a coal-mine contract.
The BNP-led alliance, which has yet to clarify its position over
contesting the December polls, plans nationwide demonstrations Wednesday
to denounce the arrests and push a list of demands, including the
withdrawal of a state of emergency before the elections, slated for
December 18.
BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain, after an emergency
meeting of alliance leaders chaired by Zia late Monday, accused the
military-backed interim government of Fakhruddin Ahmed of making
arrangements to bring a "certain quarter" to power.
"The arrest of the senior alliance leaders indicates that the government
wants to keep the alliance out of the election race," he said, asking
the government to refrain from hatching a conspiracy.
Leaders and activists of the BNP and Jamaat parties on Monday staged
rallies and marched down streets across the country to protest the
court's decision.
Jamaat's assistant secretary general, Muhammad Quamaruzzaman, announced
non-stop demonstrations and protest rallies across the country from
Tuesday to Thursday. The party said it would also organize prayers and
protests Friday.
The detained former ministers were accused of ignoring lower bids and
awarding a contract to a foreign firm to develop a coal mine in northern
Bangladesh. Zia is also accused in the case.
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=65702
Published On: 2008-12-01
National
Eligible Aspirants Deprieved of Ticket from Dinajpur-3
BNP office locked protesting nomination to 'stranger'
Three new faces, three stalwarts chosen
Our Correspondent, Dinajpur
Dinajpur BNP candidates, from left, Mahbubur Rahman, Akhtaruzzaman Miah
and AZM Rezwanul Haque
Aggrieved at BNP nomination to Jatiya Ganatantrik Party leader Md
Shafiul Alam for Dinajpur-3 constituency, local BNP men locked Dinajpur
BNP office protesting the decision.
The central BNP has given party ticket for the seat to a person who does
not have any relation with grassroots BNP leaders while eligible party
leaders have been deprived, said grassroots BNP leaders and activists.
Shafiul Alam Prodhan, who hails from Panchagarh, went to file his
nomination paper to Dinajpur returning officer under police escort.
At the time he was accompanied by Jatiya Ganatantrik Party leaders but
no BNP leader or activist was seen around.
In 2001 national elections, four out of six BNP-led four-party alliance
candidates in the district were from BNP while two others from its key
alliance partner Jamaat.
The alliance won five of the seats while BNP candidate for Dinajpur-5
Rezwanul Haque was defeated to AL man.
However, the political situation in Dinajpur district has changed as
alleged large-scale corruption by the then ruling BNP-led four-party
alliance lawmakers caused resentment among the people and many corrupt
suspect party leaders are on the run to evade arrest.
Death of former minister Khurshid Zahan Haque, elder sister of BNP
Chairperson Khaleda Zia, in June 2006 also created a vacuum in BNP
leadership in the district.
Nominees of BNP and its alliance partner Jamaat yesterday filed
nomination paper in all six constituencies in Dinajpur district.
In Dinajpur-1, Jamaat leader Maulana Abu Hanif filed his nomination paper.
Md Aftab Uddin Mollah of Jamaat contested in 2005 by-election but was
defeated to independent candidate Monoranjan Shill Gopal.
BNP standing committee member Lt Gen Mahbubur Rahman, who won from
Dinajpur-2 in 2001, filed his nomination paper in the seat.
In Dinajpur-3, Shafiul Alam Prodhan filed his nomination papers but
grassroots leaders and activists want BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia here,
which is also her home constituency.
Khaleda Zia had submitted her nomination from this constituency for
January 22, 2007 election (later cancelled).
Md Akhtaruzzaman Miah, who won from Dinajpur-4 in 2001 election, filed
his nomination paper with BNP ticket from the constituency.
BNP sources said there is severe intra-party feud in the constituency as
several aspirants including industrialist Hafizur Rahman Sarker and
advocate Abdul Halim sought BNP tickets from the seat.
In Dinajpur-5, BNP leader AZM Rezwanul Haque, who was defeated to AL's
Mostafizur Rahman Fizar in 2001, filed his nomination paper.
Md Anwarul Islam, general secretary of Dinajpur Jamaat, filed nomination
paper in Dinajpur-6.
In 2001, Jamaat leader Maulana Azizur Rahman Chowdhury was elected
lawmaker from the seat but the party later expelled him following
allegations of corruption, said party sources.
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