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Chanu Sharmila: Political Prisoner and Activist in India Re-Arrested !
Related to country: India

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Find Full text at: http://www.worldsikhnews.com/12March2008/Iron-heartedactivistChanuSharmilareleased.htm


Iron-hearted activist Chanu Sharmila released and re-arrested
Jagmohan Singh

India celebrated the International Women’s Day in an unparalleled way. The gritty activist Irom Chanu Sharmila who was released on 7th March was re-arrested on the afternoon of 8th March –International Women’s day, after spending barely 20 hours with her family and friends. She is again in the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital from where she was released.

Despite her failing health and young age, the never-say-die Sharmila continues to taunt the Indian state for abrogation of the provisions of the draconian anti-people provisions of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur and other parts of the North-east in India.

Though released intermittently for few days and weeks during her 8 long years in prison, she has continued her struggle while being incarcerated under charges of attempted suicide. As was expected, even though there is no ground for the government to continue with her detention, but as she continues to be on fast, for repeal of the AFSPA Act, 1958 she has been imprisoned again for attempted suicide because the government of India seems to be in no mood to relent.

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, which has been in force in the North east for more than five decades, is a breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The sweeping powers under the law, including the power to shoot to kill on mere suspicion and the blanket impunity granted to the armed forces has resulted in heinous human rights violations including rape and extrajudicial murders. According to estimates by human rights bodies thousands of innocent Manipuris have been killed over the years and many are still under illegal detention of the armed forces.

It does not shame India –‘the largest democracy of the world’ that the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the UN Committee on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Committee on the Right of the Child have condemned AFSPA and urged India on many occasions to remove it from the statute.

It is sad but not surprising that the mainstream Indian media not omitted news of her arrest and her re-arrest. Much of civil society was silent leaving only the Delhi-based Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) to condemn her re-arrest by the Manipur police as they were unwilling to allow her to address a meeting of the Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (Mothers Union to Save Manipur) to observe International Women’s Day.

8 March 2008

March 24, 2009 | 11:41 PM Comments  0 comments

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Statement on Mauna Kea- February 17, 2009, Support Hawaian Sovereignty
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Statement on Mauna Kea - February 17, 2009

We declare our opposition to SB 992/HB 1174 and SB 502/HB 1370 and any other legislation bills that would transfer Mauna Kea to the University of Hawai..i (UH). These current legislative proposals would give the UH complete management authority over Mauna Kea and allow implementation of a plan that has no limit on telescope construction, would close public access to the summit, and exempt UH from public oversight in the name of development.


Mauna Kea is a sacred summit, which is already being desecrated by the existing science telescopes. The Hawai..i revised statute 711-1107 on Desecration specifically states that no one may commit the offense of desecrating “a place of worship or burial,” and the statute defines “desecrate” as “defacing, damaging, polluting, or otherwise physically mistreating in a way that the defendant knows will outrage the sensibilities of persons likely to observe or discover the defendant's action.” If this legislation passes, state legislators would be violating their own state law.


These legislative proposals also interfere with on-going litigation on the current regulations governing Mauna Kea. We would also like to remind state representatives and the general public that in the recent Third Circuit Court case regarding the management of Mauna Kea, the court ruled in favor of the Plaintiffs—Kealoha Pisciotta, President of Mauna Kea Anaina Hou; Debbie Ward and Nelson Ho, Co-Chairs of Mauna Kea Issues Committees, Sierra Club Hawai..i Island Chapter; Ali..i ..Ai Moku, Paul K. Neves of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Moku of Mamalahoa Heiau Helu ..Elua; and Clarence Ku Ching, individual Native Hawaiian Practitioner—and against the UH and the state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) for violation of the regulations protecting Mauna Kea as a conservation district. This lawsuit is currently on review before the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) after the University appealed the lower court ruling against them. Though the University only recently withdrew its appeal from the ICA, counterclaims that go to the fundamental merits of this issue remain before the ICA.


Besides blatant desecration, and interference in on-going litigation, the negative environmental effects are numerous. As noted in the Testimony of the Plaintiffs regarding this legislation, two reports by the State Auditor have found that UH’s misuse and the BLNR’s failed oversight is “inadequate to ensure the protection of natural resources, and neglected ...the cultural value of Mauna Kea." Their report further stated that the University's Institute for Astronomy “focused primarily on the development of Mauna Kea and tied the benefits gained to its research program,” and that its focus on telescope construction has been “at the expense of neglecting the site’s natural resources.” Also, in 2005, an Environmental Impact Statement required by federal court order found that the cumulative impact of telescope activities on Mauna Kea has had a “substantial, adverse, and significant” impact.


The current proposals also violate the land claims of the Hawaiian nation. These legislative attempts to transfer a portion of the Hawaiian Kingdom Crown and Government Lands of which Mauna Kea is a part, is in direct contravention of the Hawai..i State Supreme Court’s holding in OHA v. Housing and Community Development Cororation of Hawai..i, 2008. The Hawaii Supreme Court barred the transfer of this land base by the state. If this legislation passes, state legislators would be violating the state Supreme Court ruling.


This exploitative venture proposed by this legislation must be stopped because the entire scheme promotes the ongoing violation of the sacred summit of Mauna Kea; it would be irresponsible and bad public policy, as well as a continued abuse of state power.



J. Leilani Basham, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawai..i at West O..ahu

Kamanamaikalani Beamer, Ph.D., Mellon-Hawai..i Postdoctoral Fellow, Kohala Center

Maenette K.P. Ah Nee-Benham, Ed.D., Dean of Hawai..inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, University of Hawai..i, Mānoa

Kealani Robinson Cook, Ph.D.
Candidate, Department of History, University of Michigan

J. Noelani Goodyear-Ka..ōpua, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Political Science, University of Hawai..i at Mānoa

Lisa Kahaleole Hall, Ph.D.
, Assistant Professor, Women’s Studies, Wells College

Sydney Lehua Iaukea, Ph.D., Mellon-Hawai..i Postdoctoral Fellow, Kohala Center

Kū Kahakalau, Ph.D.
, founder and director of Kanu o ka ‘Āina New Century Public Charter School

Val Kalei Kanuha, Ph.D., M.S.W., Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Hawai..i at Mānoa

J. Kēhaulani Kauanui, Ph.D.
, Associate Professor, Anthropology and American Studies, Wesleyan University

Brandy Nalani McDougall, Ph.D. Candidate, English, University of Hawai..i, Mānoa

Noenoe K. Silva, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Political Science, University of Hawai..i at Mānoa

Ty Kawika Tengan, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Anthropology and Ethnic Studies, University of Hawai..i at Mānoa

Lani Teves, Ph.D.
Candidate, Program in American Culture, University of Michigan

Haunani-Kay Trask, Ph.D., Professor, Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawai..i, Mānoa

Liza Keanuenueokalani Williams, Ph.D.
student, New York University

February 17, 2009 | 10:49 PM Comments  0 comments

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On the Run in India: My experience of the Indian Army and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
Related to country: India

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I hope you are enjoying this blog and I hope it can in some small measure open your eyes to what is happening to some indigenous communities around the world. As many of you know I advocate for human rights. Working primarily with indigenous communities nationally and internationally in doing so I have had the honor of visiting many of the world's most biologically and culturally diverse places.

One place that remains dear to my heart is the region of North Eastern India, in the state of Meghalaya. I traveled there in 2005, in a study abroad. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world, heavy rainfall, and thick jungles. The region is not only spectacular for its natural beauty and wealth but also for the many indigenous communities who have lived there for centuries.

However, it didn't take long for me to observe the intense militarization, the check points, and the general tension of occupation. I asked my teachers what the situation was and I was told of the genocide, occupation, and oppression of the people through laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The people of this region live under this draconian law and as a result are allowed to be killed with impunity.

I was staying in Tura a small city, were my friends and I wanted to go to the market one last time before we headed back to Delhi. We took a cab to the market got our supplies found another cab and headed home. However, this cab driver knew little English and I can't speak Hindi so he began driving into the jungle in the opposite direction of where we came! Cabs and language barriers is never a good thing. I made him stop the car and turn us around, he was lost, but thankfully my sense of direction is keen, and we were again on the right path. We headed back home, we were late, on our way I noticed a congregation of 30 people near a school's soccer field.

We arrived and immediately began to pack our things for the three hour journey to the airport. We were interrupted by our teacher. He said, "Children, I just got a call, the military has just shot a group of protesters at the school here in Tura, they are declaring marshal law, we cannot meet in groups of three in any public place, nor can we drive, we must leave at once, and by another route, or we could remain here for days".

The army had shot the group of unarmed people I passed on my way home.

We packed our things, jumped in the trucks and ran. We drove that evening, as military convoys raced past us to occupy Tura. We drove all night, until we reached a check point. They stopped us; our teacher was speaking Hindi with them. Two young military officers with machine guns passively inspected us and let us go. They were not threatened by a group of young American students. After eight hours of driving on back roads we arrived at the airport where we left our kind hosts.

I was able to leave but this is the reality of my companions who live there and who want to remain on their ancestral lands. The people are strong and will continue to work until they are free from oppressive laws like the AFSPA. However, the internationally community also is responsible and has an important role to play in repealing this legislation as well as demanding reform and respect in all areas that concern indigenous peoples rights, their resources, and lands. Below is more information from Human Rights Watch concerning the situation in North Eastern India.



HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/08/18/india19628.htm

October 23, 2008 | 10:42 AM Comments  0 comments

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US Covers Up Indigenous Border Abuses at OAS: Brenda Norrell
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

US State Department and BIA attempt to cover up their crimes,
interrupt Lipan Apache testimony on human rights abuses at the border,
during hearing of Organization of American States

By Brenda Norrell

WASHINGTON -- As Lipan Apache Margo Tamez delivered powerful testimony
on the US government's human rights violations at the Texas/Mexico
border before the OAS Inter-American Commission on Human Rights,
members of the US State Department and BIA interrupted to cover up
their crimes.
After introducing herself in the Apache language, Tamez described how
her family's land is being seized without consent or consultation for
the US/Mexico border wall. Tamez said the lands of her people would be
divided and result in relocation, especially for the elderly. Tamez
said the place where they pray is on the other side of the border. She
described what is happening to Indian people all along the border, in
this new wave of genocide of Indian cultures and ceremonies along the
border.
During the hearing today, Oct. 22, members of the Texas border
delegation, a working group based at the University of Texas, pointed
out how the poor are affected the most by the border wall, while the
playgrounds of the rich, such as a golf course, are avoided. They also
pointed out that Homeland Security had voided all federal laws,
including environmental laws and laws protecting American Indian
cultural and burial places. Traditional communities of the Tigua in
Texas and Kumeyaay in California also have members living on both
sides of the border and the border wall cuts through their traditional
territories.
Interrupting Tamez, US State Department and BIA officials attempted to
cover up the violations of human rights, with a lengthy, empty verbal
tap dance.
The representative from the BIA, Nina Siquieros of the Tohono O'odham
Nation, attempted to paint a rosy picture of the Arizona border wall,
but she did not reveal the testimony of Tohono O'odham Ned Norris to a
Congressional committee in April. At that time, Norris testified that
Homeland Security and Boeing had violated all federal laws. Norris
said the border wall construction had human bones in heavy machinery
tracks.
The Commission was not told of the O'odham ancestors' remains that
were dug up and removed in secret on Tohono O'odham land.
During the US government's attempt to coverup the crimes, there was no
opportunity for the Tohono O'odham opposing the wall, such as Ofelia
Rivas, founder of the O'odham Voice Against the Wall, to speak. There
was no voice of those doing humanitarian work, including Mike Wilson,
Tohono O'odham, to speak for the dead.
Tamez, in conclusion, pointed out that Chairman Norris had opposed the
border wall and came to Texas to support the Lipan Apache. Tamez also
said the Indigenous Alliance without Borders has brought together
Indigenous Peoples from all along the border, from California to
Texas, who oppose the border wall and the violations of human rights
resulting.
Although the US State Department claimed the border wall was necessary
to keep terrorists out of the country, one member of the human rights
commission questioned what would keep a terrorist from coming through
the hole in the wall at the Texas golf course.
"They don't attack when you have a golf course?" he asked the State
Department, who didn't respond at the time.

Watch the video of the hearing:
http://www.oas.org/OASpage/videosondemand/home_eng/videos_query.asp?sCodigo=08-0341


--
Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Listen at Earthcycles:
http://www.earthcycles.net

October 23, 2008 | 10:37 AM Comments  0 comments

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