Thursday, July 28, 2011

Indian State and the Art of Fabricating False Cases :: Convention on July 30, 2011 at Bangalore


PROGRAM 
Indian State and the Art of Fabricating False Cases
Convention on July 30, 2011 in Bangalore
Venue: NGO Hall, Cubbon Park, Bangalore
Date: July 30, 2011
Time: 9.30 am to 6.30 pm


DESCRIPTION
Two spectres are haunting the civil society in India – the spectres of
communalism and globalisation.


As a part this invasion on people, minorities are attacked as it happened in Gujarat or Kandhamal and many other places in the recent past. Multinationals, the World Bank, ADB, IMF and other international
organisations decide on the policies of the Indian Government today. Land,
forests, hills, lakes, rivers and seas are sold to the corporates. Prices
are rising and the corruption level has reached the peak as never before,
due to such policies. 

While many groups and people’s movements are resisting both these
tendencies, the Indian State is using its executive machinery in a brutal
way to suppress the dissent. Many innocent people are criminalised, branded
and made to suffer for long time. Dr. Binayak Sen is the most well known
personality in this category of fabricated cases by the Indian State. Due to
active resistance of many groups and concerned individuals all over the
country and abroad, he is not only out of jail today, but also absorbed by
the Planning Commission. However, there are hundreds of similar such
fabricated cases in Chattisgarh itself. Many innocent adivasis are
languishing behind the bars in Chattisgarh. While POTA seems to be no more,
many innocent muslims are still in jail in Gujarat for no crime. The lesson
from Kandhamal is also no different.


Moreover, the growing tendency of the Indian state is to frame false cases
on those who are organising and leading people’s movements in this country.
Many false cases are framed on those who are resisting POSCO. Similar false
cases are framed on activists who respond on a number of other issues. When
evidences are missing for their guilt, efforts are being made to create
false evidences. The real issue is that when they are released without
evidences, a part of their lives would already be over.


The mainstream press, predominantly follow the version of the police,
politicians and the bureaucracy in all these cases. When genuine
investigative reports are being made by some journalists, attempts are being
made to criminalise them also.


It is time that the civil society in this country wakes up against this
process and say `No’ to the process of fabricating cases by the Indian
State. For unless, we say `No’ to this process, the vested interests will
silence all dissent in this country, threatening the very pillars of Indian
democracy.


Therefore, over 20 organisations in Bangalore have come forward to organise
a one-day Convention on the `Indian State and the Art of Fabricating False
Cases’. We request you to participate, support, mobilise and contribute to
this process.


PROGRAMME


9.30am – Inauguration


*First session:*


False charges on people’s movements:** Globalisation, Development and
People’s Movements


Chairperson:Leo Saldanha, Environment Support Group


Speakers: 


1. Prafulla Samantarai (Well known activist/intellectual from Orissa)
2. Prashant Paikray (Official Spokesperson, Anti-Posco Movement,
Orissa)
3. Swami Vishua Bhadrananda Shakti Bhodi (Director, Alathoor Siddha
Ashramam/Editor, Ethir Disha Magazine)


*Second session:*


Communalism and Branding


Chairperson: Gauri Lankesh, Editor, Lankesh Patrike


Speakers:


1. K.L. Ashok (State Secretary, Karnataka, Communal Harmony Forum, A coalition of over 90 organisations
2. Teesta Setalvad (Well known anti-communal activist, writer and editor of Communalism Combat)
3. Fr. Ajay Singh (The main initiative from Kandhamal for raising the Kandamal communal issue at a national level)
4. Dr. K. Muhamed Najeeb (Solidarity Youth Movement)


*Lunch Break: 1.15 pm to 2 pm


Third Session: 2 pm


War on Terror or War on People?


*Speakers:*


1. Sebastian Paul (Former Member of Parliament)
2. U.S. Kumar* (Mangalore Human Rights Forum)
3. Sherif Kottapurath (Former CTO of Sun Microsystems)
4. Bhasurendrababu (Media Critic/Political Observer)


*Fourth Session:*


Approaches of the Indian State, Media and Civil Society Responses:


*Speakers:*


1. S.A.R. Gilani (Professor, Delhi University)


2. Kavita Srivastava (General Secretary, PUCL)


3. Satya Sagar (Journalist/Activist)




*Organised By:*


*Environment Support Group, PDF, PUCL, Pedestrian Pictures, SICHREM,
Karnataka Vidhyarthi Sangha, Samanatha Mahila Vedike, Janasakti, Karnataka
Komu Souharda Vedike, Indian Social Institute, Students Christian Movement,
New Socialist Alternative, Department of Women’s Studies – UTC, Concern,
Moving Republic, Stree Jagruti Samiti,Solidarity Youth Movement, Visual
Search, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Ambedkar Pilosophy Foundation,
Swabhimani Dalit Sangha, INSAF, Human Rights Law Network and Open Space.*

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