Losing My Religion!

A Request to India: Help stop the bloodshed in Syria

2011-07-30T03:47:00.000-07:00

It has been over four months since the beginning of largely peaceful protests in Syria calling for political reform and for the Syrian President to step down. The Syrian authorities’ response to their people’s demands has so far been brutal.

According to Amnesty International’s research, the human rights violations committed by the Syrian security forces and army since mass protests began in mid-March include unlawful killings and torture. They appear to have been committed as part of a widespread - as well as systematic - attack on the civilian population and, in some cases, to amount to crimes against humanity.

That is why Amnesty International has called on the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC), to impose an arms embargo and to freeze the assets abroad of the Syrian President and his senior associates.

So far the UN Security Council has been silent on Syria – failing to take action to help protect peaceful dissent in the country.

Some members of the Council have introduced a resolution on Syria which could be a first step towards a referral to the ICC. However, voting on the resolution is currently blocked by six other members. We believe that, three of those six, Brazil, South Africa and India, could be persuaded to change their position with sufficient international pressure.

Brazil, South Africa and India aspire to become permanent members of the UN Security Council and, as such, we believe that they have an increasing responsibility to try to bring an end to the violent crackdown in Syria. Please sign this petition to help ensure that Brazil, South Africa and India do not shy away from their responsibilities. As an Indian you need to pressure your government to change its position. Sign here to let the government hear your voice.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/ask-brazil-south-africa-and-india-to-help-stop-the-bloodshed-in-syria

Take Action Now
Send an email to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, South Africa and India urging them to join other members of the UN Security Council in supporting the current draft resolution on Syria and calling on the Syrian authorities to help bring an end to the violent crackdown in the country.

Dear Minister,

I am writing to urge you, as representatives of the governments of Brazil, South Africa and India, to support the current draft UN Security Council resolution on Syria and thereby to join other members of the Council in calling on the Syrian government to stop the use of tanks, snipers and torture to suppress peaceful dissent.

So far the UN Security Council has remained silent on the situation in Syria. This is despite reports of widespread human rights violations across the country and Amnesty International’s assessment that crimes against humanity are being committed by the Syrian security forces and army in their crackdown on dissent.

As key players in the international arena and members of the UN Security Council, India has the possibility and we believe the responsibility to change this.

I appeal to you and your governments to show leadership and to use your international influence to help stop the bloodshed in Syria and ensure accountability for abuses committed there.

Yours sincerely,

S M Krishna, Minister of External Affairs
E-mail: eam@mea.gov.in

Press: J&K detentions used to keep people ‘out of circulation’ - Amnesty Report

2011-03-18T22:24:00.000-07:00

On 21 March 2011, Amnesty International will launch a new report revealing how administrative detention in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is being used to detain people for years at a time, without trial, depriving them of basic human rights otherwise provided under Indian law.

A Lawless Law: Detentions under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, documents how authorities are using the Public Safety Act to secure the long-term detention of political activists, suspected members or supporters of armed groups and a range of other individuals against whom there is insufficient evidence for a trial or conviction to ‘keep them out of circulation’.

It is the first report by Amnesty International about Jammu and Kashmir since 2000.

A message from Amnesty International

2011-03-02T09:59:00.000-08:00

Libya has witnessed horrific levels of violence in the last few days. Hundreds of innocent people have died, among them protesters who were peacefully demanding basic political and human rights reform.

Across the Middle East and North Africa region, people have taken to the streets in their thousands to demand change. In far too many cases, they have been met with bullets, shotguns, grenade launchers, riot guns, electro-shock batons, armoured vehicles and police trucks. A number of states from around the world have supplied arms to these countries. Wouldn’t it help to have a treaty that would stop arms from getting into the hands of those who will use them to commit human rights violations?

You can do something to make this happen.

At the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty negotiations in March, Amnesty International will call on governments to push for a treaty that is strong enough to prevent the horrors now taking place in Libya from taking place in other countries in the future.

Help us show world governments that thousands of people like you support this. Stop arms from getting into the wrong hands.

I’m sorry, India. It’s not you, it’s me!

2011-03-02T02:23:00.000-08:00

Of the many times that the United States of America has been accused of being hypocritically silent towards distress situations of international importance, a few have been, directed to favor India. India has more or less always been found a strong ally in the US, even more in the last few years. We are only speaking politically, of course!

The decade has seen a rise in general cynicism from the Indian public towards the US and ever encroaching people. And although it’s easy and rather affordable to purchase loyalty in India, there is a looming distrust in almost every economic stratum in the country; likewise in the United States. The Americans people have not trusted the low cost, union free and hard working Indians with their food and population problems, since the dawn of this era of capitalism. They no longer care about the Indian street cows and snake charmers. And they’ve also come to realize that the Indian food is too spicy for their taste.

They want their industries back; they want their jobs back; heck, they even want their money back. And now, after eight years of noise, they finally have a government that will listen to them, even if only in parts. It’s undeniable that some of Obama’s popularity lies in his speeches that promise to deliver the nation from India, much to the displeasure of a small but wealthy section of corporate. It’s not his fault; he has to after all, serve the interest of his people.

A break up seems to be rearing at the horizon.

So, take back your jobs, America! And take your industries as well; and while you are at it, take away your free markets, and start paying us for all the tax-free exports of products that we don’t really need. Give us our industries back, and let our producers sell their wares. Give us back our agrarian produce so we can feed our hungry, or at least pay us what it’s really worth. And how about you also start paying the bills for all the tax-free investments that lost us more jobs and earned you some more money? Also don’t forget to take back all those harmful drugs & chemical industries & research facilities, and pay up for the environmental and human resource damages they’ve caused. You can even keep Monsanto! But, we want the custody of our fine doctors, engineers &technicians, with annual support payments. Don’t think we didn’t see you flirt around with Pakistan for a while, not that we hold it against you.

It won’t be easy, it never is. This divorce, if it ever happens, will be a messy one. Makes you wish, we’d signed a pre-nup, doesn’t it? So, how about we try and sort it out between us; make a few trips to the marriage counselor’s; see other people for a while; but in the end let’s just suck it up and stay together for the kids!

The Czech Book

2011-01-31T01:42:00.000-08:00

4th January 2011

My cheeks began to hurt from smiling so much. I would swivel my hips and jump a little every couple of minutes. The people around me were starting to stare. To them, I probably came across this desperate little Asian from an under privileged third world nation, travelling to Europe for the first time in her life. They were right.

I was at the height of every emotion; every feeling magnified; happiness, accomplishment, pride, fear, dread, excitement… I was going to Prague!

I had been accepted into an International Conference on Youth Leadership at Czech Republic and I couldn’t have been happier.

I prepared myself for the trip, the winter, the snow and meeting new people. People, from countries around the world; big and small; rich and not so rich; democratic, socialist, communist and monarchies, they would all be there.

I had so much to say, I had so many questions. I simply couldn’t wait.

5th January 11, 2011

It wasn’t best of flights to Paris. Noisy, Uncomfortable and cramped, I have definitely been on better flights in my life. My co-passenger in the seat besides me was starting to annoy me. I was irritated and a bit cranky. The excitement was long gone, replaced with a much darker emotion, an urge to punch the guy next to me square in the nose. The Euro tour hadn’t even started and I already wanted to go home. There was also this growing fear of not being able to fit in amongst some of the intellectual best from around the globe. God, what was I thinking?

My flight reached Paris Airport around six in the morning. The fear and doubts that were building inside of me vanished in the instant I saw the Eiffel tower shining from the crappy Air France window. The smile that tore across my face, stayed there for the next 5 hours. I was in Europe and I was going to make the best of it.

I had a cappuccino at a French coffee shop called Rizatta. Czech.
I had some French red wine. Cezch
I used the only two French words in my vocabulary – Merci & Si. Czech.
I was referred to as ‘Mademoiselle’. *Sigh* Czech [swoons and falls back]

My flight from Paris to Prague was much better, lifting my spirits back to its infinite peak. As we approached Czech, I could see the rusty colored, snow covered roof tops of little red, yellow and blue houses. Vast fields of pure white snow blanketed parts of the landscape. I fell in love in a heartbeat.

Much to my surprise, I was greeted at the airport by Kyril, a facilitator from the conference. Since I knew I was going to be a day early, I had booked myself into a hostel close to the conference venue and wasn’t really expecting to meet anyone from the conference till about a day later. In the events that followed later, I would be thanking my stars for running into Kyril. He helped me out with the tickets and the directions to the Sir Toby’s hostel and I set along to explore the city of Prague, armed with a bag in each hand. I stepped out of the airport into the cold. The icy winds slapped me in the face, but I smiled right back and kept on smiling, unaware of the lessons that waited.

I don’t want to sound too dramatic, but somewhere along my journey, I lost my way in this east European city, in this sub freezing temperature, with no pay phones or internet facilities in the vicinity and where neither the street signs nor people spoke English, if they spoke at all. I had lost the map with the directions to a gust of strong wind and was left wandering around in the cold by the equally cold hearted locals. I was falling out of all that love. It wasn’t till an hour and three panic attacks later that a kind couple (who understood & spoke English) helped me find my way.

I was at Sir Toby’s by 3 after noon, checked into my room, took a shower, had a cup of warm coffee, went grocery shopping, went down to their pub, chatted with some really friendly locals; now I was ready to fall back in love with the city all over again.

6th January 2011

A little shaken, but feeling more confident after yesterday’s escapades, I decided to go see the city today. I went to the old town square and joined the walking tour. For the next two hours I just walked the city by myself, admiring the buildings, their architecture, the history within them, the people and they rich culture.

The famous Astronomical clock
Charles bridge
The castle
A Jewish synagogue that looked like a mosque, marking the happier days between the two religions
Another synagogue that exhibited the paintings of the children from the Nazi concentration camps
The Kubics house
The museum of Communism
The ticker that marks the end of communist regime in Czech…

I was mesmerized by every sight, sound and smell. I tasted a lot of local food, the hot wine, the bread, the croissants and bagels. It was a pure delight and I wasn’t ready to leave yet.

But I had to go. I had to be at the conference venue soon.

Later that night, I sat with my allotted group, The A-Team. A brilliantly diverse group that was more alike in so many ways. It was while before the ice was cracked, but when we reached out to another, it was home. It was here that I met some really inspiring individuals, young thinkers and visionaries I may ever cross paths with. Led by our warm & friendly facilitator Amazing Amina [yes, the ‘A’ in the A-Team has something to do with her], our group consisted of Ernesto, the ladies man; Zingy Zahan, my compatriot; Brave Bon, the super cool Indonesian who promised to take me shopping someday; Eric, the silent observer; Sporty Sonja, my newest, smartest, awesomest & coolest Serbian [not Siberian!] best friend; Awesome Alberto & Wise Wilmarie, the sweetest and the most fun Puerto Ricans; Wonderful Wendy, the super intelligent Singaporean; Sheila, exceptionally smart and enterprising Kenyan; Magical Marija, the cute Macedonian; Terrific Tory, Ravishing Rose and Liam, the sweet crazy Australians and of course, me. [I miss you all so much!]

That night I lay in bed, with the smile still carved on my face, and in a rare moment of spiritual gratefulness, I thanked the universe for making this happen.

7th January 2011 and beyond…

At breakfast I was met with colorful bright faces of people chatting merrily soaking in the flavors of the many cultures surrounding them. I eavesdropped on some of the most intellectual and some of the craziest breakfast table conversations; Right from democracy in China to why Indians don’t kiss in public and everything in between, we discussed it all in our breakfast gatherings, during lunches, dinners, bus rides, and the late nights at Tousters. I met more people with bright and shining personalities from all corners of the globe.

The cultural night, was the moment, if there was any, that I felt a change in my identity to a more integral part of a global community. The world isn’t as small a place as we make it to be. It is huge, one that engulfs within it cultures and histories of so many people, so many groups, so many individuals and their communities. The three hours of one of the most multi cultural experience of my life, concluded with a prodigious change in world views.

(Forgive me, if I repeat adjective, English includes only so many words to describe Awesomeness!)

My fellow Indian, were some of the magnificent people I met, highly opinionated Divya; the future lobbyist Zahan; Mansha, the smart little one; the pretty eyed damsel Reema [with a drinking face!] and lastly our very own Bollywood villain, Kanan. [Thank you, all]

My conversations with the Afghans changed my perspectives on what the world in that part is like, and my dear friends, believe me it isn’t as bad as they want you to believe it to be. Zulfia spoke such fluent hindi that she learnt from watching countless Bollywood films movies; and Gufhran made the most adorable Speaker to European Parliament. [I really wish to meet both of you again sooner. Thank you]

I was left spellbound by the brilliance and optimism of David, the Chinese. [You were awesome and it would be an honor to meet you once again]

Dominic, the pseudo Chinese, from Hong Kong made some of most intelligent breakfast table conversations. I wished I spent more time with. [I love Hong Kong and will be there probably really soon, and I would love to catch up with you over some long breakfast conversations!]

The Singaporeans, are definitely the next select evolution of the Human race. They are all brains, all fun, all the time. Wendy & Augustine, had all of us, super-impressed with their intelligence beyond bounds. [I miss you, Wendy!]

The Indonesians are some of the warmest, soft-spoken and the friendliest people I met. Bon, my group mate was another super-intelligent life form from this side of the world, who knows all the super shopping places in Indonesia. [Bon, I’m looking forward to that shopping trip we planned!]

Amir, the friendly Malaysian was brilliant. I really enjoyed our breakfast, lunch and dinner table conversation, specially the ones about food. [I’m really looking forward to that Malaysian food excursion, you promised!]

Amina, our facilitator, probably the most dynamic of all [sorry guys, but its true], was another beautiful person I had the fortune of crossing path with, and definitely look forward to it again.

The world is soon going to see an awesome German take over with his brilliance [yes, again]. Oliver, is by far the most sweetest and adorable German around. Period. [I’m really looking forward to meeting you again. Thank you, Oli!]

The Israelis Danielle and Dor, have left me full of awe and respect for them, specially after their questions and rebuttals at the panel discussion. [I really wish I spent more time with you, but nevertheless, I am looking forward to seeing you again soon!]

The Puerto Rican, probably the liveliest from amongst us, [except Jennavive, I suppose] dancing and expressing themselves at all times. Albert was such a sweetheart and Wilmarie was another awesome friend I made there. [I miss both you guys so much!]

Ernesto, the Mexican, the ladies man.

Seren, from everywhere, was truly remarkable individual with a pretty smile and a lovely hat. [I wish we had more time to talk!]

Oh and let’s not forget the crazy crazy Australians... Liam, the ever equanimous social entrepreneur; Tory, she is such a sweet doll, with amazing intelligence and rationality [Great job on that amendment, Tor!] and Roslyn, I really hope things get better in your town! [I miss you, guys]

The Americans I met there, they were brilliant [I’m not kidding!]. Michael, Lauren, Kent & our very own Obama, Demetrius, one of the most amazing bunch, I’ve had the honor to associate with. [I hope our paths cross again. Kent, I thank you once again for helping me out with the adapter!]

The Canadians, probably the most multicultural group representing one nation was the fun bunch. Maryam, my nonexistent roomie; Sandy, the Punjabi; Jennavieve from Saskatchewan and my now most favorite person, Sonja!!

Sonja, was really from Serbia [NOT Siberia!] and is one of the most amazing people I met there. She was brilliant, funny and amazing with the map. She knew a lot about food, one of my most favorite things in the world! She had travelled and lived in over 10 countries and was a really wise and rational individual [much like me, except the travelling to ten countries part]. I had some of the loveliest conversations with her. [Sigh! I miss you so much.. can’t wait to see you again!]

And to everybody else I didn’t mention here, I still do miss and think of all of you all the time

These places eventually became our little forums for opinions, analysis or simply for being really crazy. Mac, his workshops and the gripping conversations that followed left us all touched.

The academics were very expository, but it was the people around me who made the real difference in my learning curve. These were some of the best people from their respective countries. They comprised the crème of the present youth, the catalysts to the future. These were some of the awesomest people in the world and I was sitting amongst them. We shared so much in common and yet we all represented the diversity on this planet. Each one got with them a bit of their cultures, a manifestation of where they come from, and yet here we all were in a medley of everything in the world as it should be. It was a reflection of what Utopia must be like.

Further beyond…

I am ecstatic and more. I learned so much from this experience. There is a new found clarity in my ideas and the world seems so much closer now. I have re-prioritized so much in my life since I got back. But I miss them and can’t wait to see them again. It is amazing to know I have friends waiting for me in countries across the globe, while I wait for them here in Bombay, India. The feeling is something I can’t explain; what I feel for these people that I have known for less than a week, some I didn’t even get a chance to speak with. It is unusually strong. It is mutual. It is life changing.

Convicted for Blogging - Kareem Amer

2010-11-13T23:16:00.000-08:00

I started blogging about 4 years ago. It was around the same time they threw, the Egyptian blogger, Kareem Amer into prison. Of course, I hadn't heard of him then. I spent the next four year writing about what I thought of the world around me. I had an opinion to give and the Internet was the limit. While I was busy exercising my freedom of expression, telling the governments/ruling elites around the world, what they were doing wrong, Kareem Amer was being beaten up in the jail for having done just that.

I have often criticised the Indian government and bureaucrats for their underhanded activities that suppress the people’s right to expression, but never in my short years as an independent blogger and writer, could I have dreamt of being thrown into a jail and tortured for my opinions on national and community issues. So you can only imagine my surprise when I read about Kareem Amer's arbitrary detention beyond its due date of 5th November (Ironic!).

Kareem Amer, was convicted, in what was a clear violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, for "defaming the religion of Islam and insulting the President Hosni Mubarak" through the writings on his blog. I am trying to find the original text of the said blog post that got Mr. Amer a four year term that was ameliorate with abuse and torture at the hands of the State Security Intelligence (SSI) officers. Nevertheless, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has declared Kareem Amer's detention "arbitrary" on the grounds that being arrested for online criticism and for exercising his right to freedom of expression violated freedoms guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

To add to what is already a matter of national shame for Egypt, Kareem Amer continues to be detained by the SSI at Alexandria now even after having served his term of four years.

What's most remarkable about this whole incident is blatant arrogance of the Egyptian government. Egypt, like many small nations, has real world issues to deal with rather than spend resources trying to portray a conscience writer as a threat to national security and yet they continue to mock their people and the world with their pointless show of authority. Amnesty International has called on the Egyptian authorities to immediately release Kareem Amer and also to President Hosni Mubarak, to curb the powers of the SSI.

Let us all come together in support of our brother behind bars and uphold our right to free speech and expression, simply because we can.

Press: Myanmar: Political prisoners must be freed

2010-09-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

On the third anniversary of the violent crackdown on the “Saffron Revolution”, Amnesty International calls on the Myanmar government to immediately and unconditionally free all political prisoners arrested for their peaceful activism.

The Myanmar authorities continue to imprison over 2,200 political prisoners—more than double the number held before the August 2007 protests against sharp fuel and commodity price rises.

“While the international community, including Myanmar’s ASEAN neighbours, has been calling for free, fair and inclusive elections there, the plight of thousands of political prisoners has been overlooked,” said Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International’s Myanmar Researcher.

Amnesty International believes the vast majority of those held are prisoners of conscience who are being punished merely for peacefully exercising their rights to free expression, assembly and association.

The Myanmar government will hold its first elections in 20 years on 7 November 2010 against a backdrop of political repression and systematic violence. Under Electoral Laws enacted in March 2010, no political prisoner can take part in the elections or hold membership in any political party.

International attention in recent months has focused on the power-play between the military and the government’s proxy parties on the one hand; and the armed ethnic minority groups, the National League for Democracy, and a small number of new opposition parties on the other.

“The long-standing problem of political imprisonment in Myanmar remains very much at the heart of the political impasse in the country”, said Benjamin Zawacki. “These prisoners constitute a significant part of the political opposition”.

In the largest show of public discontent against the military government in Myanmar since the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, tens of thousands of protesters—led by Buddhist monks—took to the streets in August and September 2007, demanding economic and political reforms.

The peaceful country-wide demonstrations were violently put down by the authorities in late September 2007. At least 31 (and possibly more than a hundred) people were killed—with many more injured and at least 74 disappeared—and thousands detained.

The brutal crackdown provoked international condemnation, including an unprecedented expression of revulsion and demands for change from the UN Security Council, the UN Human Rights Council and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Yet even as Myanmar prepares for its first elections in two decades, as part of what it calls a “Roadmap to Democracy”, it continues to repress political opposition.

“It beggars belief that the government can attempt to burnish its democratic credentials by holding elections, while it also holds more than 2,200 political prisoners behind bars and out of sight of the campaigns and polls”, said Benjamin Zawacki . “The international community should point out to Myanmar that these practices cannot be reconciled under any genuine Roadmap to Democracy”.

Political prisoners in Myanmar are held in deplorable conditions.

Many of those who took part in the Saffron Revolution, such as labour rights campaigner Su Su Nway, monk leader and activist U Gambira, and 88 Generation Student group members Min Ko Naing, Htay Kywe, Mie Mie, Ko Mya Aye and Zaw Htet Ko Ko, are in poor health. In the past two years, at least 238 political prisoners have been moved to extremely remote prisons, restricting their access to relatives, lawyers and medical care. Reports of torture and other ill-treatment are rife. The International Committee of the Red Cross has been denied access to prisons in Myanmar since late 2005.

“On this third anniversary of the Saffron Revolution, Amnesty International calls on world leaders to demand that the Myanmar government free all political prisoners at once, and ensure human rights protection throughout the elections period and beyond”, said Benjamin Zawacki.

Press: India: Urgent need for Government to act as death toll rises in Kashmir

2010-09-17T20:31:00.000-07:00

With an increasing death toll in protests in Kashmir, Amnesty International calls on the Indian authorities to take urgent steps to ensure respect for the right to life and to investigate past killings of demonstrators by police.
With two more protestors shot dead today, Amnesty International urges the Indian government to immediately instruct the security forces not to use firearms against demonstrators. Security forces should use the minimum force necessary to defend themselves or others against an imminent threat of death or serious injury. They should not employ intentional lethal use of firearms except where such use is strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.
Ninety-six people have been killed since June when protests broke out in Jammu and Kashmir after the killings of three young men, reportedly by the security forces, in March. The vast majority of these killings have been at the hands of police and paramilitary forces.
An inquiry ordered by the authorities into 11 of the deaths by shooting in July has failed to make headway. Amnesty International renews its call to the government to initiate an independent, impartial and thorough investigation into all the killings. Members of the security forces responsible for excessive use of force in demonstrations should be brought to justice.
In the last week alone, at least 23 people were killed and 80 others injured in shootings by the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) paramilitary personnel. Protestors defied curfew regulations, held demonstrations and often clashed with the security personnel.
Protests in several places turned violent as demonstrators hurled stones at the security forces in the last week. Reports about threats to burn the Quran in the United States increased tensions. Demonstrators attacked two Christian schools and a hospital, burning one of the schools.
At the same time human rights activists in Srinagar told Amnesty International that on a number of occasions the security forces shot protestors who were throwing stones at them.
A number of towns in the Kashmir valley including Srinagar have been under 24 hour curfew for the last five days.
Information about these events has been restricted as a result of strict enforcement of the curfew regulations. Journalists have informed Amnesty International that, despite possessing curfew passes issued by the authorities, they have been prevented by the police and the paramilitary personnel from leaving their homes. With journalists unable to report on the situation, a number of regional television stations and newspapers have suspended their work.
Any restrictions on the rights to freedom of movement or freedom of expression imposed for the protection of public order should only be such as are necessary and proportionate for that purpose and should be consistent with the state’s other human rights obligations. In view of the key role of journalists in facilitating exercise the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to receive information. Amnesty International calls on the Indian authorities to ensure that journalists can obtain curfew passes and are not harassed or otherwise obstructed while carrying out their professional functions of reporting and imparting information on issues of public concern.
More public protests have been announced for 21 September by the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), one of the largest political formations in Jammu and Kashmir. This underlines the urgency for the Indian authorities to instruct the security forces not to use lethal force when dealing with demonstrations.
The demonstrations began in late May over the reported extrajudicial execution of three young men by the Army at Machil in Baramulla district. Protests increased after 17-year old Tufail Mattoo was killed by security forces in Srinagar during a demonstration on 11 June. They have intensified during repeated cycles of protests and further killings of demonstrators by security forces.
The demonstrators have raised various concerns about the lack of accountability of the security forces; the withdrawal of Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958; the removal of Army camps – along with an underlying demand of independence for Kashmir.
The AFSPA, which gives special powers of immunity to the security forces, has been in force in parts of Jammu and Kashmir since 1990. The Central Government is currently debating the withdrawal of the AFSPA from a few of its districts.
One of the key demands of the state authorities and protesting organizations, namely the withdrawal of the AFSPA, does not appear to figure in the agenda of the all-party team from Delhi scheduled to visit Srinagar on 20 September.
Under the AFSPA, soldiers are protected from any legal proceedings unless specifically sanctioned by the Central Government. This rarely happens in practice, allowing armed forces personnel to violate human rights with impunity.

Press: Indian authorities must investigate online video of Kashmir detainee abuse

2010-09-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

Amnesty International has urged Indian authorities to carry out an effective investigation into a video clip that appears to show detainees in Kashmir being stripped and humiliated by security forces.

The three-minute clip, described on social networking sites as "Kashmir’s Abu Ghraib video", apparently shows Jammu and Kashmir police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel herding at least four naked young men to a nearby police station.

"This behaviour is in clear violation of the universal and absolute right to freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," said Donna Guest, Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific programme.

The video, apparently recorded by one of the security personnel, has since been removed from social networking sites, including Facebook and YouTube, after the Jammu and Kashmir police reportedly began legal action against the publishers of what it termed a “baseless and malicious clip”.

It is unclear when the clip was recorded, although it was reportedly taken in the north-western town of Sopore.

The recorded conversation in Hindi-Urdu suggests that the security force personnel suspected the young men of being involved in throwing stones at the security forces, and that they had been caught after a long chase.

Amnesty International has consistently received reports of torture and other ill-treatment of detainees in various police stations and interrogation centres in Jammu and Kashmir. Such accounts have often included men being stripped naked and humiliated by security force personnel.

The Indian Parliament is currently debating new legislation criminalizing torture and the Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram has said the video will be investigated.

However, a statement by Jammu and Kashmir Police to local media indicated that a formal case had been registered against the clip's distributors.

“The approach of the local police raises serious concerns. Instead of investigating and identifying the perpetrators of the humiliating treatment, the police appear to be more concerned about who uploaded and circulated the video clip," said Donna Guest.

"The Indian and Jammu and Kashmir authorities must ensure that the content of the clip is subjected to an independent, impartial and effective investigation. Any officials who are suspected of offences involving human rights violations should be prosecuted in fair trials.”

Just another love poem

2010-09-14T00:44:00.000-07:00

The house was old,
lay quite & forgotten.
Insides cold,
& the wood, rotten.

The peeling paint,
& the shattered glass,
the unkempt garden,
& the withered grass,
told a story of its heroic past;
A story with dark contrasts.

Brace yourself as I begin this tale,
unfolding the mystery of a lost mail.

In a distant place, not too far,
accounts from the civil war.
Yankee were near,
Confederates at par.
He wrote his note beneath stars.
A smile on his face, her face in his heart.

Into it, his heart he poured,
with every word his spirits soared.

Tales of sorrow & tales of woe,
In his missive, all he spoke.
Stark and unbound,
he let the words flow.

His expressions he penned,
and with the ink he sent,
his truest intent,
the promise to return,
his commitment.

In the end he put his love,
despaired his unfulfilled wish.
Professed to her, she was missed,
Then he sealed it with a kiss.

In a friend he put his trust,
to pass the epistle to his love.
A man of honest word, he was,
& pledged his soul to his work.

But in this friend, a covetous notion flared,
when he laid his eyes on the maiden fair.
A part of him put up a fight,
and his conscience deterred,
Told himself 'It wasn't right'

A thought so malevolent,
A feeling of infatuation
with wild aspirations,
he saw no reasons.

It was an indocile desire,
and overpowering insanity.
A perfect melange,
for writing this tragedy.

He brought the news of her beloved,
who's own affection he now besotted.
News of destruction and demise,
news consummated with his lies.

For a moment he held her,
a moment only so long.
Engulfing the loss of her betrothed,
to the one she belonged.

That night she wept,
and then another tear.
At the break of dawn,
she embraced her fear.

She was gone, when he arrived,
brimming with all his glory & pride.
He rushed to meet his dearest,
claim his rightful bequest.

An empty house was all he found,
replete with silent sounds,
with a story abiding,
a story of lost tidings.

As dismay retreated,
grief acceded,
his lost sweetest,
was all he needed.

Held the barrel
to his temple,
& let the bullet through.
As he watched his blood trickle,
he wondered if his darling knew.

Years have past,
and decades too.
Still it stands,
abandoned, subdued,

And if you listen with intent,
You’ll hear the words of lament,
The story will once again be told,
Of envy, grief & love in fold.

Not in the Jam

2010-08-09T03:47:00.000-07:00

The entire Mumbai community, online & offline, is a buzz with the upcoming strike on the 12th August 2010. The frequently rejected, underappreciated & weary commuters of this city can't take it anymore and have decided to shun their local charioteers.

I can relate. I too have been turned down rides, much to often for my convenience. But I'm not complaining! Don't get me wrong I am participating in the protest, yes sir, I am... but definitely not for reasons as such. I protest their dishonest ways of making that extra buck like meter tampering, long ferry rides, rate bargaining.

Sadly though, the central theme of this protest seems to be just only that which I consider rather pointless.

Being turned down, my fellow travellers, no doubt is inconvenient, but is NOT illegal and NOT a reason to protest & definitely NOT the end of the world.

The two main 'excuses' for turning down the ride, as given by the rickshaw drivers, which I think are perfectly acceptable (exception: moral duty) are,

1. Off Duty: Everybody has the right to work as many hours beyond their duty, as they wish to. If they don't want to take you because that will push their duty hours ahead, I think it is a good enough reason to deny you a ride. Besides, most rickshaws run on a daily rent basis, where they are expected to return to the owner at stipulated hours. Extending those hours costs the driver money, which chances are that your fare won’t cover. Face it, we all hate working overtime especially if it doesn't pay.

2. Doesn't fall in their way: If your destination doesn't happen to be their destination you can't blame them. They have certain areas to be covered and return to the vehicle owner within given hours. Going off route to that would delay their return, may be even without a fare. And let’s not rule out the Mumbai traffic and the fuel costs on their way home. So excuse them, if your convenience isn't their priority.

Now if you're going to tell me that they 'bluff' about the above excuses more often than not, I'm going to call you a hypocrite. We have all at some time or another made up false excuses to get off work/class. We have all told little white lies to our heart' content, then why blame the little guy for doing exactly what we would otherwise justify. It's the Indian way!

And don't even get me started on how things work in other countries/cities. Unlike here, the cab system there is usually more corporate or co-operative in nature. The cab drivers get benefits, severance and huge tips. They don't have to calculate the cost/price at every 100 meters. You want international standard public transport system; provide them with international standard labor.

We have become so preoccupied that we fail to see the plights of another. The socio- economic background these drivers come from, how can they be expected to work for your convenience?

You want them to be considerate to your needs but you refused to be considered to their limitations. Protest against the wrong doings and the dishonest rickshaw/taxi drivers and I have your back; but I won't join you to protest what I see as an honest day’s work.

Hail India! Hail Vedanta!

2010-08-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't you do just about anything for the progress of you country? And don't you feel offended when another fellow patriot refuses to honour the needs of this country? Well, offend away, as I tell you about this small tribe in Orissa, which simply won't evacuate their ancestral village homes for mining development in those parts! If that didn't make your blood curdle, hear this- they want compensation for evacuating their land!! (How dare they??!!)

Had it been you, wouldn’t you have already packed your bags and moved to the streets, the minute you heard about the precious minerals being discovered beneath your homes? After all what's the security of your homes, when compared to the nation’s development, right? Well, these thankless beings won't make way for Vedanta Aluminum mining. Many of them are also complaining about health ailments, skin and respiratory problems caused by the rise in pollution from Vedanta's 6 fold expansion of its new refinery. (What party poopers!!)

Now what do we do about it? Exactly what the government & their allied organizations are doing right now - threatening them, harassing them & forcing them out of these homes, with nothing but bare selves and nowhere to go (Serves them right for messing with India’s shine!!).

And if you think otherwise then you may click here and join other infidels as yourself in saving the homes of Dongria Kondh tribes. (Traitors!! Hmph!!)

And while you are at it, you may even send in a mail to Mr. Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment & Forests, letting him know what you think. His address is as below,

Paryavaran Bhavan,
CGO Complex,
Lodi Road,
New Delhi - 110003
India

--

Press: Myanmar elections will test ASEAN’s credibility

2010-07-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

Southeast Asian nations should press the Myanmar government to protect the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association throughout the elections period and beyond, Amnesty International said today on the eve of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Ha Noi.

ASEAN has repeatedly emphasized that the elections should be held in a “free, fair and inclusive manner”. Yet those calls do not go far enough to highlight the human rights that are most at risk in the elections context. Indeed, the Myanmar government has not taken any steps to improve its poor human rights record as the polls approach.

More than 2,200 political prisoners continue to languish behind bars in Myanmar. This is double the number since the start of the mass peaceful anti-government protests of August – September 2007—a huge indictment of the grim human rights situation there.

Under Electoral Laws enacted in March, no political prisoner can take part in the elections, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The same laws also prohibit them from membership in any political party.

ASEAN should unequivocally call for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience at the Ministerial Meeting, something they conspicuously failed to do at the organisation’s summit in Ha Noi in April.

The Electoral Laws also list a number of offences and penalties, among them—a blatant violation of freedom of expression—a vaguely worded provision against "exhorting" persons to vote or not to vote in the elections.

Moreover, in a 21 June directive issued by the Union Election Commission, political parties are prohibited from campaigning activities that “harm security, the rule of law and community peace”. These regulations allow for an excessively broad interpretation of what constitutes a threat to “security”. For decades the authorities have routinely used vaguely worded laws to arbitrarily criminalize peaceful political dissent.

New censorship rules introduced in June also serve to undermine any remaining scope for independent journalism around the elections process.

The “three freedoms”—of expression, peaceful assembly, and association—must be safeguarded for all, whether people choose to participate in the elections or not. It is not enough for ASEAN to adopt a “wait and see” attitude.

ASEAN states must also be prepared to speak out forcefully if individuals are harassed and detained for their peaceful political views and activities in the run-up to the elections.

Failure to address these urgent challenges will damage ASEAN’s international credibility. It is crucial that ASEAN seizes this opportunity to work towards the realisation of long overdue human rights improvements in Myanmar.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises 10 member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The annual ASEAN Ministerial Meeting takes place from 19 – 23 July this year.

Leftovers From The War - Prioritize

2010-07-12T01:52:00.000-07:00

I recently read someone define 'evil' as the intention to cause harm/hurt. This instantly made me wonder what ‘unintentional’ harm would be called. After much philosophical brooding, I concluded, that evil wasn't the intention to do harm, but the absence of intention to prevent harm.

I know, I may sounds too harsh, but too many men have taken cover under the facades created by the word 'intention', the definition of which seems to change from situation to situation. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't believe in accident, but I also believe that most accidents happen cause of the lack of effort (intention?) to prevent them.

The Sri Lankan government has taken much trouble to prove me right. It is one thing to wage a war within your national boundaries at the risk of your own innocent people, but another to disown them and wash yourself of any responsibility.

You may have noticed, many of my last notes (Amnesty International) dealt with the horrors of post war Sri Lanka. But I probably can't emphasis enough the continuing plight of the victims of war crimes. It's a surprise no one has come around to using the word 'genocide' yet.

Their government says, they don't care about foreign pressure as long as India was on their side. Get this Mr. Sri Lankan President; 'India' is not going to be a party to this injustice. I don't know what a handful upper crust politicians have told you, but us majority want Sri Lankans to be able to live in Sri Lanka without fear and with as much possible human dignity, as a government can provide to its people.

And while President Rajapaksa, is doing a 'George Bush' on his people thousands of displaced Tamils are taking refuge with their neighbour India, who if you haven't noticed can barely keep herself together.

The Crisis Group report urged India to begin our investigation on the war crimes and human right abuses, and while I'm aware that our platters are more than full under the current political scenario, I strongly believe that India should consider an international investigation seriously. Face it; we are never going to have time for it, unless we make it. Prioritize.

Please sign this petition. Raise your voice against injustice.

Press: India, avoid excessive use of force, investigate killings in Kashmir valley

2010-07-07T14:02:00.000-07:00

Authorities in India should avoid excessive use of force while dealing with demonstrators in the Kashmir valley, Amnesty International said today.

Over the last month, a total of 11 persons, at least eight of them children between 13 and 19 years old, were allegedly killed in shootings by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) paramilitary personnel stationed across the Kashmir valley, as protestors defied curfew regulations, held violent demonstrations and often clashed with the security personnel in Srinagar, Sopore and other towns which were put under curfew.

Amnesty International has learned that the state authorities have ordered probes into some of the killings during the demonstrations at Srinagar, Sopore and Anantnag. The organization is calling on Indian authorities to investigate all the killings and bring to justice the security personnel, as well as any protesters who have violated an internationally cognizable criminal provision, in trials conforming with international standards

The authorities have blamed the armed Lashkar-e-Toiba and other Kashmiri separatist organisations for instigating the protestors to throw stones and engage in violence. At least 35 people sustained injuries during the demonstrations so far.

On 11 June, 17-year-old Tufail Ahmed Mattoo of Srinagar was killed, according to initial reports, by a teargas shell fired by the police at the protestors. However, later reports said he was shot in the head. On 19 June, a Srinagar court has directed the state police to investigate this killing and submit its report by 28 June.

On 20 June, as protests over the killing of Tufail Ahmed Mattoo turned violent, a 24-year-old carpet weaver of Srinagar, Rafiq Ahmed Bangroo, sustained serious head injuries and went into coma. He died on 19 June at the hospital. Some reports suggest that he was beaten by the CRPF personnel during the protests. The next day witnessed further protests over the death of Bangroo, as youths returning from his funeral attacked a CRPF post and attempted to set fire to a CRPF armoured vehicle. A 19-year-old relative of Bangroo, Javed Malla, was killed in the CRPF firing.

On 25 June, two teenaged children, Firdous Ahmad Kakroo and Shakeel Ahmad Ganai were killed as the CRPF personnel fired at demonstrators demanding the bodies of two armed guerrillas killed by the security forces near the Sopore town, 55 km from Srinagar. Eyewitnesses had reported that the demonstrators set fire to the CRPF commanding officer’s vehicle and attacked a security bunker. The authorities claimed that the two were armed guerrillas with close links with Lashkar-e-Toiba and the CRPF claimed that it had fired in self-defence.

Over the next two days, Sopore witnessed two more deaths – of 22-year-old Bilal Ahmed Wani and 17-year-old Tajamul Ahmad Bhat - as the CRPF personnel fired to quell protestors repeatedly defying curfew. On 28 June, demonstrators on the outskirts of Baramulla town clashed with the CRPF personnel after which another youth, Tariq Ahmed Rather was shot dead; the next day. The next day, three protestors, 15-year-old Ishfaq Ahmed Khanday, 17-year-old Imtiyaz Ahmed Itoo and 19-year-old Shujatul Islam – were shot dead in Anantnag district. While the initial reports said they were killed in firing by the CRPF, later reports suggested that they had been initially detained and then killed.

Amnesty International reminds the Indian authorities that they have an obligation to protect the right to life in accordance with international law. This includes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a state party, and standards such as the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, which state that firearms should be used only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.

A meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 29 June, directed the CRPF to exercise “maximum restraint and sensitivity” while assisting the state police in enforcing curfew regulations in the valley. Amnesty International is urging the Indian government to ensure implementation of its directives, and ensure protection of the right to life under international law.

Background
The latest round of protests over extrajudicial executions in Kashmir commenced in late May after the Jammu and Kashmir authorities exhumed the remains of three young men allegedly killed by the Indian security forces at Machil in Baramulla district after they had been promised jobs as casual labourers for the security personnel stationed near the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan. An inquiry is being conducted into the killings.

The protests also coincided with the commencement of the annual Hindu pilgrimage to Amarnath in the valley, heightening security concerns and the recent Indo-Pakistan meeting at Islamabad last week.

Related
India: Extrajudicial executions must be investigated and suspects prosecuted, AI Index: ASA 20/015/2010, 8 June 2010

Leftovers From The War - Escaping the “child-catchers” of the LTTE

2010-07-03T02:11:00.000-07:00

Amnesty International is calling on the UN to set up an independent investigation into possible war crimes committed in Sri Lanka in the final months of the civil war which ended in May 2009. Both sides, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government’s armed forces committed human rights violations. The families who suffered deserve justice and if you want to know why, read young Kamla’s account of how she escaped capture.

Child-catchers of the LTTE
The bullets and bombs were scary but what struck terror in Kamla’s heart were the “child-catchers” of the LTTE. For months, Kamla (nearly 15) and her 2 younger sisters managed to escape them by hiding in barrels buried underground in the backyard. The lid would be closed and soil sprinkled on top, with only a small tube fitted for breathing. However, during the final months of the war, shelling became so bad that the family were displaced 14 times and ended up in a hut without any of their possessions.

Caught in the cross-fire
One morning, when Kamla came out of the hut she found the place surrounded by more than 20 child-catchers. She ran in terror, ducking and hiding behind huts and somehow managed to escape. That night, her family decided they couldn’t continue like this anymore. Along with 150 other Tamils, they began moving towards the Sri Lankan army controlled areas, risking one final confrontation with the LTTE. “Tigers fired wildly. Parents fought against Tigers and some were dragged away,” recalls Kamla. But after a night of battle, the Sri Lankan army saved them and sent them to the Vavuniya camp.

A year after this escape, Kamla drew the picture above (she is in yellow, surrounded by “child-catchers” in black) to show what disturbed her the most. Help Kamla and her family discover the truth by calling for an independent investigation. Your signatures will be presented to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon at a high level meeting in September during the UN General Assembly.
Please click on the link below to help Kamla.

TAKE ACTION

Press: India’s relations with Myanmar fail to address human rights concerns

2010-06-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

Amnesty International calls on the Government of India as a regional leader, to use its influence to improve the human rights situation in Myanmar in advance of the upcoming elections.

With Myanmar’s first elections in two decades approaching, the three freedoms - of expression, association and peaceful assembly - essential for people to freely participate in the political process, are increasingly being denied. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is one of some 2,200 political prisoners in Myanmar. None of them will be able to participate in this year’s elections under new election laws - laws that the Indian government has failed to condemn.

The Government of India claims to follow a ‘constructive’ approach in promoting human rights improvements in Myanmar. However, its response to the dire state of human rights in the country has been increasingly inadequate.

By disassociating itself from the recent critical resolution on Myanmar’s terrible human rights record at the United Nations Human Rights Council, while issuing the anodyne call for elections to be ‘inclusive and broad based’, the Government of India has ignored the reality on the ground the resolution looked to address.

Political repression is also occurring against a backdrop of widespread and systematic violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by the Myanmar army in its campaign against ethnic minorities.

While India suspended most shipments of military hardware to Myanmar in late 2006, it has reportedly considering a resumption of its arms sales. Its opposition to a global arms embargo on Myanmar makes its reluctance to support wider sanctions, supposedly based on the harm they would do to the wider population, disingenuous. Amnesty International calls on the Government of India to maintain its current suspension of military transfers to Myanmar.

Myanmar’s other neighbours have in some crucial instances taken a stronger stance than India. Singaporean Foreign Minister, George Yeo, in a statement after the ASEAN Summit on 9 April 2010, complained of the obstacles ASEAN faces in acting on Myanmar due to the stances of both India and China. In October 2007 during the popular protests against the Myanmar government, ASEAN - chaired then by Singapore - expressed “revulsion” at the brutal crackdown. India expressed only “concern”.

In May 2008 after the devastating Cyclone Nargis, many in the international community, including China and ASEAN, raised the Myanmar government’s failure to assist the 2.5 million survivors. India instead ‘saluted’ the people and government for their resilience and called for the aid process to be ‘apolitical’, ignoring the fact that Myanmar’s leaders had already politicised aid by blocking much-needed assistance.

India’s role in the “Group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Myanmar” at the UN is a small step in the right direction but much more is needed. To participate in the group but to be silent unilaterally at best weakens India’s ability to help effect positive change in Myanmar, and at worst sends a mixed message that could be interpreted as tacit endorsement of the human rights violations taking place.

The numerous human rights violations documented by Amnesty International and many others during periods of heightened political dissent in Myanmar indicate the need to focus on upholding human rights during the upcoming election period.

As the Myanmar elections approach Amnesty International urges the Government of India to publicly call for the three freedoms - of expression, association and peaceful assembly - to be guaranteed throughout the election period. This is the time to show true human rights leadership as befits a key regional player – and not the time for silence.

The Indian List

2010-06-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

Amnesty International India prepared a list of top 10 things to know about India's human rights record over the past year. While not everything on this list unpleasant, it's shocking how little we've moved forward and how eager we are to fall back. I have highlighted the negative ones in red and the positive ones in blue and I have linked my notes where ever applicable. Take a look at our performance for yourself, and don't be afraid to raise your voice!

Top 10 Things about India's human rights record in the past year,

1. Atleast 50 ppl were sentenced to death but for the 5th successive year there were no executions.

2. Around 40,000 adivasis remain internally displaced by the ongoing conflict between the Maoists and the state in Chhattisgarh. [The Red Witch Hunt]

3. The International Peoples Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Indian administered Kashmir published a report documenting unmarked graves of more than 2,900 people who allegedly disappeared during the Kashmir conflict.

4. Authorities refused to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958. UN says it allows security forces to shoot to kill even when they are not at imminent risk. [Irom Sharmila - The Unsung Hero]

5. 25 yrs after the Bhopal gas tragedy, authorities repeatedly failed to deliver on promises to survivors and families. [An Air Of Arrogance]

6. Perpetrators of human rights violations in Punjab between 1984 and '94 and Assam between 1998 and 2001 continue to evade justice.

7. Most of those responsible for the attacks on Muslim minorities in 2002 in Gujarat were not brought to justice. [Racial Prejudice v/s Racism]

8. In some cases adivasis were threatened with eviction from lands defined as exclusively theirs by the Indian constitution.

9. Nearly 15,000 people, mostly Christians, were displaced in 2008 in Orissa following violence by hundreds of Hindu nationalist organisations. . [How Many Rams?]

10. In a historic decision the Delhi High Court deemed Section 377, criminalizing homosexuality, discriminatory and "against constitutional morality."

Losing Dignity

2010-06-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Amnesty has been running a campaign against poverty called 'Demand Dignity'.

Their supporting rationale being, Human Rights = Less Poverty.

The 3 major areas of focus in this campaign are,
1. Slums: Right to adequate housing, security, access to basic services & protection from forced eviction.
2. Maternal Mortality: Right to safe motherhood, indiscriminating access to obstetric services, political/legal/practical/local accountability & addressing the problems of poor women.
3. Corporate Accountability: CSR guidelines, human right safeguards and transparency & listening to local communities.

While the above list is very comprehensive and socially directed, I would like to first bring to your attention the evils of poverty in my country, India. Starvation.

Poverty has plagued India in form of starvation, with India as the 24th malnourished country in the world*. 24th isn't so bad you may say; Well, tell that to 50 million Indians going to bed hungry, not that they have a bed to sleep in or adequate housing or any kind of security. This is, of course, contrary to the food production statistics and the over flowing granaries which tell a different story.

The government's public distribution system (PDS) is a network of about 460,000 ration shops across the country through which grains, sugar, cooking oil and so on are sold at subsidized rates. However, most of India's poor cannot afford to even buy these subsidized (substandard?!) grains. There have been reported cases of tribal eating mud and grass to survive. The ones better off than them; manage to secure one meal day consisting of one chapatti (bread) and chillies. But, it is probably the urban poor who are the luckiest of the lot; they get to salvage classy leftovers through the waste bins outside the many city restaurant. Oh, goody!

With such falling standards of humanity, I see starvation as the worst afflicted human right violation, a brutal outcome of poverty.

You are fortunate if you're reading this, possibly looking forward to your next meal. And when you've eaten to your heart's content, come back here and add your voice against poverty, supporting those who couldn't.

We lose 'our' dignity, they day we decide that these people don't matter!

*The Global Hunger Index released by the International Food Policy Research Institute

Leftovers From The War - Survivors

2010-05-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

Vasuki is a Tamil refugee now living outside Sri Lanka.* In 2009 she spent several months in the No Fire Zone in Northern Sri Lanka struggling to survive with her 2 small children. Vasuki shares some of her desperate experiences of daily life trapped between the fighting parties – the Sri Lankan security forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Vasuki spent several months in detention at Ananda Coomaraswamy camp after the war before leaving the country.

“In December 2008 I was living in Kilinochchi when my home came under aerial attack. We were displaced to Viswamadhu in Mullaitivu. The early days of displacement were not too difficult as Viswamadhu is an agricultural area. It was when we moved to PTK that we started to feel the pinch. We lived in a tent over a bunker. When there was no attack or shelling we could cook outside but when shelling was heavy we had to stay in the bunker for hours cooking and living there. For weeks my kids did not talk, they were so scared. They had to witness people dying from shell attacks and the memory of dead bodies lying all around will probably never vanish.

Scenes from the war zone in Sri Lanka, May 2009 - Amnesty International

In March we had to move to Matalan in Mullivaikkal – this was crammed with tens of thousands of people. By now people had finished their supplies and eaten all they had, even their cattle. I had to fast so that I could feed my children and just drank the water I cooked the rice in. Elderly people collapsed around us or slipped into comas. I have to admit I tried to kill myself because I was so depressed but my daughters begged me not to give up. What kept us going was a belief that the UN would intervene to stop the terrible human suffering.

Scenes from the war zone in Sri Lanka, May 2009 - Amnesty International

Shelling got steadily worst. Then on 15 May a huge explosion forced us to move towards Vella Mullivaikkal. I can’t describe the horror around us - we had to fight our way across a carpet of dead bodies. We finally made our way to Vatavahal bridge. Along the way the Army fired at us.
I find it hard to talk about this time.... people were also not happy with the LTTE as they forcibly recruited from families. What I know is that people want to live in peace but we cannot forget all those we left behind. You can’t give us back what we lost but you can give us justice”.

Scenes from the war zone in Sri Lanka, May 2009 - Amnesty International

Amnesty International has launched a campaign “Justice for Survivors” to put pressure on the UN to open an independent investigation into war crimes committed by both sides. Help Vasuki and thousands like her by signing this petition. Amnesty is targeting atleast 50,000 signatures. Help them get there!

(*Vasuki’s name has been changed to protect her identity.)

Leftovers From The War

2010-05-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Education has kept me a little too busy to update this blog & so might be the case for at least another month. But in the meanwhile I take great pride to inform you that I have decided to share this space with Amnesty International, thus bringing more socially relevant posts to my blog readers.

For those of you who don't know, Amnesty is an international NGO that fights for the protection and promotion of Human Rights in many countries, touching a cross section of issues of Human Right violation/abuses.

So every once in a while, I will be posting either on behalf of Amnesty and/or with the help from their extensive pool of research and knowledge base, issues that I see necessary to be discussed here, in which case I will mention so.

This week, I would like to raise one such issue that requires urgent attention and support - Post War Justice in Sri Lanka.

It has been a year since the Sri Lankan government declared victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in a conflict where massive violations were committed by both sides. The scale and nature of atrocities escalated in the last stages of the military assault between January and May 2009. Witnesses say, many thousands of civilians died, caught between the warring parties.

Father and Son, No Fire Zone, May 2009 - Amnesty International

The Sri Lankan government’s armed forces and the LTTE completely disregarded protecting civilians through their appalling military actions. This is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law that prohibits indiscriminate or targeted attacks on civilians and hostage taking.

UN Silence

But where is the outrage? Why is the UN Security Council (UNSC) silent?

Countries like Russia and China have argued that there was no threat to international peace and security since the conflict was contained within Sri Lanka’s borders. But such gross violations of international humanitarian law impact us all if countries are allowed to get away with it. Today it is Sri Lanka. Tomorrow it could be another country and then another and then another.

UN General Secretary, Ban Ki-Moon, tried to discuss the situation with the Sri Lankan President directly. But his actions to ensure accountability in Sri Lanka as elsewhere remain very weak and fall short of pushing for an international inquiry that is so clearly needed.

The survivors of the conflict have no closure. In Sri Lanka, they have been offered no recourse to justice, truth and reparations.

It is only international pressure in the form of a UN mandated independent investigation that will ensure that states like Sri Lanka are not allowed to hide from the crimes they commit inside their borders.

Join Amnesty International’s campaign to ‘Make International Justice Real’ which will be launched on May 18th, 2010. For further information on the crisis in Sri Lanka click here.

Racial Prejudice v/s Racism

2010-03-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

Lately after interacting with numerous people on various forums I have now begun to notice that most can’t seem to differentiate between Racism & Racial Prejudice. Most of you, like the people I talk of, may wonder what the real difference is between the two. I assure you it’s like chalk & cheese.

Racial prejudice, is when a characteristic assumption ingrained into a person’s psyche is made about another person based on his/her race, community etc., usually derogatory but not always intended to discriminate or hurt. For e.g. When one assumes that every Nigerian is a drug dealer or involved in bank scams or when a darker skinned, bearded individual is looked upon suspiciously as a potential terrorist. Even in a country like India, home to a variation of cultures, almost all the communities have a standing prejudice about another. Like people generalise that every Marwadi or Sindhi is a stingy person, or joke about Nepalis being watchmen, etc...

This, although, may not be physically/mentally damaging, but can definitely obstruct quality communication between individuals. But on the brighter side it can easily be (and ideally it should be) ignored by the recipient.

Solution: Since it almost always stems from ignorance, the victim must, as a duty towards society, make a civilised verbal attempt at clearing it. A simple expression of dislike via a constructive dialogue can work wonders, most of the times.

All in all, racial prejudice does not have to be a major hindrance in the smooth working of a social system. The victim, here must realise, that his/her perception towards the situation can make or break a potential disaster.

Racial prejudice is very much curable.

Racism, on the other hand, is like an inoperable tumour. Racism is when racial prejudice is used as a justification or an excuse to cause severe physical/mental damage to the individuals of a particular race, community, etc., with an ultimate destruction of the human spirit. Unlike, racial prejudice, racism is always a product of hatred & deep-rooted insecurity & superiority complex. It has strong roots into the conscience of the victim as well as the oppressor.

Solution: Although, dialogues help, they can do little to change one's attitude & thinking towards another. It can never be wholly eradicated, but can be subdued with value based education and social acceptance. Social tolerance & acceptance of various cultures & races may sound like a clichéd solution but goes a long way in tackling most social issues if adopted seriously.

Racial Prejudice v/s Racism. While both are impeding to the growth of a healthy society one must learn to differentiate amongst degree of the two evils. Racial prejudice should not snowball into monstrous proportions when it can be taken care of with little tact and diplomacy.

A victim of racial prejudice should consider the following before turning it into an issue of national security:
1. The intent of the defaulter
2. The degree of offence
3. Resulting damage

An over dramatic reaction might get your cause wide attention, but only after it has lured everyone away from the real world issues. Someone calling you culturally offensive names cannot be more important that failing national economy, can it?

Believe me; I am not trying to validate racial prejudice. Having been a victim of it myself at some point in my life, I know how irritating a racial slang can get. But one must not forget, that that is what it really is - slang and nothing more.

The difference between racial prejudice and racism is that of thought and action. One cannot be convicted for murder, simply because he/she thought of doing it without actually committing the crime. Although both can be destructive, one has to address each with the appropriate response and diplomacy it requires. A potential murderous intent can be averted, but each needs to be dealt with distinct finesse at different level of importance. Truly in the world there are a million things to take offence to if you want to, but know which ones are truly worth fighting for.

[“Prejudices are what fools use for reason” - Voltaire]

[Edits provided by Dan]

Alone, am I?

2010-03-01T04:26:00.000-08:00

I pride my individuality,
my whole, my soul;

I flaunt my rationality,
my comfort at being alone.

Never a teary eye,
Never a dramatic sigh,
I never try, I never try!

In a sudden piffany,
I realise;
there isn't a soul
by my side.

A Piquant Delight

2010-01-30T12:07:00.000-08:00

I may not be a super cook, but really do enjoy cooking. This, I think, is probably the by-product of my immense love for food. Several times a day, I catch myself thinking about different flavours and recipes and wonders that one can create from them. Food makes me happy, whether I'm eating it or making it. Maybe, that's the reason I could totally relate to Remy from the movie 'Ratatouille' when he describes the joy of eating as a celebration of life; each taste has different colour, a different feeling, a different experience and imagine what we can create when we combine those - A symphony on your taste buds. The possibilities are endless.

I am grateful to be able to indulge myself. I live to eat rather than the other way around, although I know there are many who can barely draw a meal a day. I wish I could introduce them to the experience of food, not gourmet food, but food for the living rather than food for existence.

When I worked with this NGO (RED) for the under privileged kids, who lived by the streets, we once threw them a birthday party, something they had never experienced and knew nothing about. We got the regular b'day stuff, the wafers, the candies and a chocolate cake! I love chocolate cake and it turned out hardly any of those kids had ever seen an entire chocolate cake in their lives. The excitement, they felt, was wondrous and could probably be felt a mile away. Needless to say they enjoyed it and it turned out be a very fulfilling experience for them as well as us. Just watching those kids gorge on what is probably the world's most favourite dessert was worth every crumb (...and there wasn't one left!).

If ever in my life, I run a soup kitchen, I am going to stock it with more than just the essential. Most soup kitchen serve food that isn't even wholesome, let alone, appetizing. I don't blame them; it is quite a task to arrange for timely food for a large group of people on regular bases and not to mention the funds are forever restricted. But nevertheless, I want everyone in the world, to at least once in their life; experience the delight of eating a good meal. A delicious moment in time to remember, a taste that they can recall at will. I would want them to experience this pleasure not out of hunger but for what it truly is - a gastronomic experience. Eat for want and not for need!

Coronach - The death of cinema?

2010-01-23T04:13:00.000-08:00

How was your last movie experience at a multiplex? Were you satisfied with the services that you received for the money that you paid? And talking about money, what is the average damage for an average suburban to go out for an average movie? Let’s calculate:

Travel to the nearest multiplex (considering that we have one at every crossroad) by rickshaw = 40/- (consider the traffic also!)

Tickets = 150/-

Snacks& Drink = 150/- (Regular pop corn & Soda)

Total Average cost = 340/- per person.

Hmmph!! Now that’s quite an average lump sum to spend during these times of recession. And let’s face it, once outside we don’t just spend on popcorn and soda, and the tickets don’t always cost an average and the traffic can be maddening often. So when you go through so much to spend your hard earned money the least you expect is decent service.

The coming of a new age in cinema has also seen the rise of multiplexes. Multiplexes are like a factory producing movie shows. I understand that its quite a task managing 5 to 7 screen at one time and several shows in rotation, but let’s face it, in the end it’s also very rewarding. So quality service isn't too much to ask, is it?

The last time was in a theatre, I paid 360/- for two ticket plus I bought a ice tea (I don’t consume aerated drinks!) for 40/- and a mayo roll for 50/-. Total damage = 450/-. (Minus the travelling cost!!) Now that’s a lot considering my meagre income, but I'm not complaining considering movies is one luxury I love to splurge on. But that, in no possible, condition would mean that a below average service for my money is acceptable.

The print on this particular movie I am talking about was bad. By bad I don't mean just hazy or unclear, but it had big fat colourful lines running all over it. Something you would expect from pirated CD brought from Andheri station. Anyways, I waited for them to clear till about 10 minutes in the movie & then I did what nobody else seemed to be doing - complained to the theatre authorities. Now I don’t mean to be difficult or ungrateful but the response I got surprised me a little, they said - We know the print is bad, but it is so only in the first 15 minutes of the movie then it rolls on fine!! When I question why were they still running with such bad print, I was told that they had to. They assured me they had sent in a complaint to Adlabs (from where the print originated), but nothing would be done about it as it wasn’t their province. With nothing left to say, I went back to the movie. The print ran that way for about 45 minutes and then again for about 15 minutes at the end. The multiplex I’m talking about is MovieTime, Goregaon (E).

This wasn't a lone experience. A few weeks ago I went to see this movie about mythical creatures. I paid 300/- for two tickets. I brought a hotdog for 70/- plus a bottle of water for 25/- (although it had an MRP of 12/-). Total damage = 395/- (minus the travelling cost again).

This movie began with some technical issues with sound which was eventually corrected. The movie had subtitles for every time the mythical creatures spoke in their language of far and beyond. But I wouldn’t know because the print was truncated at the bottom. Now it’s not like I couldn’t understand what was happening on my screen but for that kind of money I can’t be blamed for not knowing the language spoken by the elves and the fairies. So I followed the drill and complained. At first we were told that it was a projection error & would be looked into, but when halfway through, the movie was still sliced we called for the manager. Now the manager never really honoured us with his presence but was mediating instruction to our questions through his agent. She, not so politely, told us that nothing could be done about it as the print was such & we would gladly be refunded the money. This way we were handed our 300/- and asked to leave. This happened at PVR cinemas, Juhu.

I don’t know how many echo the same trauma as mine with multiplexes. Is quality service so difficult? I am not talking about the extra mile. All I'm asking for is the minimum service I’m paying for. I understand the print quality is not in their hands but in such a situation they shouldn't be running the show in the first place. Selling the customer tickets for a movie with a bad print & sound quality is fraud. I'm cheated off the basic service promised to me when I buy the tickets i.e. a good movie experience!!

Sadly there isn't much that I can do about it anyways, except maybe rant about it here. It’s an arbitrary world out there and quality cinema is losing out to it!!

Update (27/1): The manager of PVR cinema sent me a mail in response to this post. I just spoke to him a while back, he was polite, courteous and apologetic. Although, a years supply of free movie tickets would have been better, I am very pleased with the prompt acknowledgement of the problem. Yet, this hardly changes my stance on corporatism, it is amazing how a single representative can break or make the Company's image.