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Dr. Binayak Sen Update

Arundhati roy at a protest meet demanding Dr Sen's release

Chomsky seeks Binayak Sen's release

Professor Noam Chomsky has now joined a long list of intellectuals who are seeking immediate release of Binayak Sen of the People's Union for Democratic Rights who was arrested on May 14 under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2004, and Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2006.

In a statement, over 30 intellectuals including Prof. Chomsky have demanded that all charges against Dr. Sen be dropped. They have also demanded an end to threats and harassment of other activists, immediate disbanding of Salwa Judum and repeal of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2004, and the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2006. "We believe that the arrest of Dr. Sen is a grave assault on the democratic rights movement in India. PUCL Chhattisgarh has been one of the foremost independent organisations to draw attention to the excesses committed by the Chhattisgarh Government under its Salwa Judum campaign."

Arrest of Binayak Sen condemned

CHENNAI: Doctors, medical students and members of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) condemned the arrest of Binayak Sen in Chhattisgarh. Dr. Sen, general secretary, PUCL Chhattisgarh unit, was arrested in mid-May for alleged involvement with naxalite violence.

He had been associated with various initiatives to improve access to health care in the region for more than two decades, said the speakers at a meeting. V. Suresh, president, PUCL, said the meeting was organised to discuss problems faced by doctors involved in the protection of human rights, he said.

Former teachers and students at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, the alma mater of Dr. Sen, recalled that he was given the Paul Harris Award by the institute; the highest honour the institution gave its alumnus for upholding its founding ideals.

Human Rights activists in Delhi protest against Binayak Sen's arrest

New Delhi, May 26: Human Rights activists on Saturday protested the arrest of two of their leaders in Chhattisgarh on charges of having links with Maoist rebels.

They protested against the arrest of Binayak Sen, a paediatrician working in remote villages to evolve a low cost health plan for the locals, and Rajendra Sail, an activist of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).

Sen, who is also the Vice-President of PUCL, is a vociferous critic of the Salwa Judum movement, government-sponsored movement to counter the Maoists.

"We have forwarded this case to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and today again after the arrest of Rajendra Sail we have send another letter. We will also send a letter in this regard to the Prime Minister, urging him to intervene in this matter. In this manner, we aim to make sure that attack on the human rights activists is an attack on the constitution of India," said Y P Chhiber, general secretary of PUCL.

"I have met the Union Home Minister, and also issued public statements that the PUCL is committed to non-violence but neither the government of India nor the Chhattisgarh government has done anything about it," said Rajendra Sachar, a former judge of the Supreme Court.

Activists of the PUCL had earlier staged a demonstration in New Delhi.

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