http://sanhati.com/
- PRASHANT RAHI
Heart-felt greetings at the onset of yet another tumultuous years of struggle
for civil and democratic rights, which are increasingly threatened the world
over by police atrocities perpetrated here as a normal course, and there as
barbaric exceptions, in a setting of the yet retained post- 9/11 anti-terror
laws in India and other parts, even though the U.S. imperialists seem to be
back-tracking on their aggressive invasions in Iraq and Af-Pak! We, Indian
activists, remain vulnerable, with none of the Parliamentary political forces
even bothering to promise to repeal the 2008 and 2004 amendments in our
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act – UAPA of 1967, which was indeed
superfluous with the colonial Indian Penal Code (IPC)
already draconian enough to stifle any serious political dissent. My arrest and
torture in custody, as also that of Hem Mishra, the J.N.U. student of Chinese,
which so many of you have cared to express concern about, according to newspaper reports, could be just the tip of an ugly iceberg. Even
so, you might need to be apprised of the facts of our cases, and those of my
ongoing Uttarakhand post-torture trial, so as to direct the raging passions in
more effective ways.
1. Repeal the U.A.P.A. or at least withdraw its 2008 and 2004 amendments.
2. Withdraw the ban on organizations which are attempting to lend a voice to
the impoverished and deprived lot, irrespective of whether they resort to
counter-violence against state repression.
3. Redefine terrorism! Get out of the nomenclature imposed on the world by the
likes of Bush and Obama, and Putin and Angela, and Manmohan Singh and Narendra
Modi! Do not equate revolutionary violence with terrorism!
4. Release all the alleged Maoist prisoners incarcerated as a result of the
draconian laws and amendments, and all other innocents framed up for political
reasons and as part of the conspiracies of intelligence agencies, the bosses of
ATS’, IBs and the NIA!
5. Stop forthwith government sanctioning of all prosecution of persons accused
under UAPA, especially those not active in combatant roles and common
villagers, adivasis and dalits, and ordinary women.
6. Ensure speedy trials for all UAPA accused. Summon prosecution witnesses
without delay.
7. Ensure production of all UAPA accused in their cases pending in courts of
various States and districts. Stop using “security reasons” as the excuse to
delay and deny trials.
8. Accord political prisoner status in all States on the lines of the West
Bengal Correctional Services Act.
9. Amend Jail Manuals in all States on the lines of the West Bengal
Correctional Services Act.
10. Do not adopt video conferencing as the means to conduct court trials. Stop
the practice forthwith, wherever in force.
11. Stop erecting barriers in the form of wire meshes, glass panes, etc. in
visitors’ enclosures in prisons in the name of security. Let jail interviews be
held in a humane manner. Allow UAPA accused the right to access the Press.
12. Implement forthwith the provisions of the International Covenants on Civil and
Political Rights, on Prisoners’ Right, and on Detention Centres.
Prashant Rahi
Address for correspondence:
PRASHANT RAHI
UNDER TRIAL SECTION, BARRACK No. 8,
CENTRAL PRISON, NAGPUR-40020
- PRASHANT RAHI
Heart-felt greetings at the onset of yet another tumultuous years of struggle for civil and democratic rights, which are increasingly threatened the world over by police atrocities perpetrated here as a normal course, and there as barbaric exceptions, in a setting of the yet retained post- 9/11 anti-terror laws in India and other parts, even though the U.S. imperialists seem to be back-tracking on their aggressive invasions in Iraq and Af-Pak! We, Indian activists, remain vulnerable, with none of the Parliamentary political forces even bothering to promise to repeal the 2008 and 2004 amendments in our Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act – UAPA of 1967, which was indeed superfluous with the colonial Indian Penal Code (IPC) already draconian enough to stifle any serious political dissent. My arrest and torture in custody, as also that of Hem Mishra, the J.N.U. student of Chinese, which so many of you have cared to express concern about, according to newspaper reports, could be just the tip of an ugly iceberg. Even so, you might need to be apprised of the facts of our cases, and those of my ongoing Uttarakhand post-torture trial, so as to direct the raging passions in more effective ways.
1. Repeal the U.A.P.A. or at least withdraw its 2008 and 2004 amendments.
2. Withdraw the ban on organizations which are attempting to lend a voice to the impoverished and deprived lot, irrespective of whether they resort to counter-violence against state repression.
3. Redefine terrorism! Get out of the nomenclature imposed on the world by the likes of Bush and Obama, and Putin and Angela, and Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi! Do not equate revolutionary violence with terrorism!
4. Release all the alleged Maoist prisoners incarcerated as a result of the draconian laws and amendments, and all other innocents framed up for political reasons and as part of the conspiracies of intelligence agencies, the bosses of ATS’, IBs and the NIA!
5. Stop forthwith government sanctioning of all prosecution of persons accused under UAPA, especially those not active in combatant roles and common villagers, adivasis and dalits, and ordinary women.
6. Ensure speedy trials for all UAPA accused. Summon prosecution witnesses without delay.
7. Ensure production of all UAPA accused in their cases pending in courts of various States and districts. Stop using “security reasons” as the excuse to delay and deny trials.
8. Accord political prisoner status in all States on the lines of the West Bengal Correctional Services Act.
9. Amend Jail Manuals in all States on the lines of the West Bengal Correctional Services Act.
10. Do not adopt video conferencing as the means to conduct court trials. Stop the practice forthwith, wherever in force.
11. Stop erecting barriers in the form of wire meshes, glass panes, etc. in visitors’ enclosures in prisons in the name of security. Let jail interviews be held in a humane manner. Allow UAPA accused the right to access the Press.
12. Implement forthwith the provisions of the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights, on Prisoners’ Right, and on Detention Centres.
Prashant Rahi
Address for correspondence:
PRASHANT RAHI
UNDER TRIAL SECTION, BARRACK No. 8,
CENTRAL PRISON, NAGPUR-40020
