[Reader-list] "Oppose Draconian UAPA"

[Sanjay Kak]

Here is a Press Release in connection with the latest from the
Ministry of Home Affairs
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Sanjay Kak

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Press release

Coordination of Democratic Rights Organizations, CDRO

Oppose Draconian UAPA

7th May 2010

The most recent alert (regarding use of section 39, UAPA) issued by
the government in so called ‘public interest’ has brought out in the
open what had so far been implicit in its anti-Maoist policy. The
purpose of the circular is to intimidate voices of protests and
dissent over government policies, particularly Operation Green Hunt.
The statement criminalizes dissent and makes a mockery of the spirit
of critical inquiry which is at the foundation of a strong democracy.
As members of civil rights groups we consider the statement as an
attack on civil society and reminiscent of the Emergency era.

The contents of the circular show complete disregard of the concerns
expressed by Supreme Court when it rebuked the Chhattisgarh government
for labelling human rights activists and legitimate activities as
‘sympathetic’ to ‘naxals’, or the more recent concerns expressed by
the Chief Justice over the government’s war against its own people. It
is not surprising that the government has also chosen to ignore the
‘sympathetic’ and undoubtedly saner voices in its own ranks, which
have a different perspective on addressing the problem.

We condemn the government’s threat to use extraordinary draconian laws
such as UAPA to constrain freedom of expression and free and informed
debate on issues which are of crucial importance for the country. We
further condemn the government for targeting political and civil
rights groups who are doing no more than carrying out their democratic
responsibility of ensuring equal protection of the Constitution to all
sections of society.

Signed by:

Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR, Punjab); Andhra Pradesh Civil
Liberties Committee (APCLC, Andhra Pradesh); Association for
Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR, West Bengal); Bandi Mukti
Committee (West Bengal); Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights
(CPDR, Nagpur); Coordination of Human Rights (COHR, Manipur); Campaign
for Peace and Democracy in Manipur (CPDM, Delhi); Human Rights Forum
(HRF, Andhra Pradesh); Lokshahi Hak Sangathana (LHS, Maharashtra);
Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS, Assam); Naga People’s Movement for
Human Rights (NPMHR); Organization for Protection of Democratic Rights
(OPDR, Andhra Pradesh); People’s Committee for Human Rights (PCHR,
Jammu and Kashmir); People’s Democratic Forum (PDF, Karnataka);
People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL, National); PUCL
(Chhattisgarh); PUCL (Jharkhand); PUCL (Nagpur); PUCL (Rajasthan);
People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR, Delhi); People’s Union for
Human Rights (PUHR, Haryana)