Secretary of the Puducherry unit of the Communist Party of India N.Kalainathan signing a memorandum to be sent to President Pratibha Patil, seeking the release of human rights activist Binayak Sen, in Puducherry on Sunday. Photo: T. Singaravelou.
PUDUCHERRY: A group of human rights activists on Sunday sent a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil seeking the immediate release of human rights activist Binayak Sen. At a protest meeting organised by the Federation of People’s Rights here, about 100 persons signed the memorandum seeking Mr. Sen’s release.
Secretary of the Puducherry unit of the Communist Party of India and Member of the Legislative Assembly N. Kalainathan said the charges against Mr. Sen had not been proved by any of the witnesses or evidence produced before the court.
Terming the arrest of Mr. Sen “vindictive,” he said the human rights activist was active in tribal areas providing people medical help and creating awareness of their rights. This had “infuriated” some sections of society, which led to the arrest, Mr. Kalainathan said.
G. Sugumaran, secretary of the federation, said the arrest of Mr. Sen had been condemned worldwide. The intolerance of criticism of the State machinery was a dangerous trend and should be condemned by all those who respect democracy.
Speakers at the meeting who signed the memorandum included A. Marx, president, People’s Union for Human Rights (PUHR), Tamil Nadu Chapter; Praba.Kalvimani, co-ordinator, Irula Tribal Protection Movement; R. Azhagiri, president, Tamils National Movement; G .A.Jaganathan, vice-convener, Village Panchayat Presidents Co-ordinating Federation; M.A. Asraf, district president, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK); I. Mohammad Saleem, district secretary, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi; G.S. Chandran, president, Singaravelar Munnetra Kazhagam; Joseph Victor Raj, national joint secretary, INSAF; C.Murthy, convener, Ambedkar Peoples Force; and K. Ramkumar, president, Puducherry Tribal People’s Federation.
The Hindu / 02.12.2011
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