(Asian Independent)
Defend Right to Dissent Repeal Sedition Law, UAPA and Repressive State Laws
Restore Citizens’ Right to Bail
Dear Friends,
23 July 2021, Day of Public Action – Justice for Father Stan Swamy
Fr Stan was repeatedly denied medical bail by the NIA special court, and even by the Bombay High Court, despite suffering from Parkinson and heart disease. He died waiting for a chance to clear his name. You may please refer to the attached documents for detailed information.
We call upon groups across the country to organize public protests on 23rd July 2021 calling on the Judiciary to restore dignity to Father Stan and give him justice, at least in death.
We are further calling for all of us to unite around 6 demands:
1. Repeal of the sedition law
2. Repeal of UAPA (and all other draconian laws, including state laws that allow preventive detention)
3. Restore Citizen’s Right to Bail
4. Release all Political Prisoners
5. Accountability for filing false cases and Compensation to victims
6. Stop illegal detentions and weaponizing the criminal justice system
We propose that all concerned citizens and groups come together for common days of protest:
15 Days of Action – 15-28 August 2021
- 15th August as a day of pledge to defend democracy and the Indian Constitution. A countrywide reading of the Preamble of the Constitution can be organized.
- Between 15th and 27th August, any one or two days of a countrywide mass hunger strike; along with any other political actions and cultural events that individual organizations may want to organize during these days.
- 28th August, as a day of countrywide protest, as it is the day when 5 people in the Bhima Koregaon case were arrested 3 years ago. This event can begin in the evening and end with a candlelight vigil for all jailed comrades.
- Several groups have also proposed protest on the 9th of August the International day of indigenous peoples and the day the Quit India movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi
We call on all organizations to participate with their banners, slogans, and placards. Furthermore if organisations want, they can add in their local programmes additional demands related to state repression. Organizations can also include these demands in actions organized on any other commemorative dates of people’s struggles (such as 9th August, 23rd September and so on) as part of this campaign.
Please circulate this appeal widely.
In solidarity,
1 Academy for Socio Legal Studies
2 Adivasi Adhikar Manch, Jharkhand
3 Adivasi Women’s Network
4 AIDWA Delhi
5 AIPWA
6 All India Secular Forum
7 All India Students’ Association (AISA)
8 ANANDI Gujarat
9 ANHAD, Delhi
10 Anti -Sterlite People’s Movement
11 Anusuchit Janjati Van Adhikar Manch
12 Ashadeep
13 Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan
14 Bombay Catholic Sabha
15 CCROP
16 CHARM
17 Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan
18 Chhattisgarh Mahila Mukti Morcha
19 Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha
20 Child Rights Trust
21 Citizen For Social Action
22 Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)
23 Civil Liberties Committee, Telangana & AP
24 Dominican Sisters
25 Feminists in Resistance
26 Forum Against Oppression of Women (FAOW)
27 Forum for Justice and Peace
28 FRANCIS
29 Gujarat Mahila Manch
30 H.O.P.E. legal aid office, Pune
31 Hansdeo Arand Bachao Sangharsh Samiti
32 Haryana Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Rohtak
33 Health, Ethics and Law Institute, FMES, Mumbai – Pune
34 House Lease Sangharsh Samiti
35 Human Rights Alert
36 Human Rights Defenders Alert -India (HRDA)
37 Human Rights Forum, Telangana & AP
38 Indian Christian Women’s Movement (ICWM)
39 Indian Christians for Democracy (ICD)
40 Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF)
41 Indian Social Institute Bangalore
42 Jan adhikar
43 Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan
44 Jan Sangharsh Manch4
45 Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Mumbai
46 Jan Vikas kendra
47 Janhit
48 Janwadi Safai Kamgar Union
49 Jeevan Jharna Vikas Sanstha
50 Jeevan Vidya Trust
51 Jesuits For Stan
52 Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM)
53 Jharkhand Nagrik Prayas
54 Justice Coalition of Religious, West India (JCoR)
55 JUSTICE&PEACE FORUM
56 Karwan E Mohabbat (K – e -M)
57 LABIA – A Queer Feminist LBT Collective Mumbai
58 Lawyers Fraternity -Tamil Nadu
59 Loka Samabay Pratisthan
60 Loktantrik Ispat Evam Engineering Mazdoor Union
61 Mazdoor kisaan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS)
62 Mazdoor Sathi Sangathan
63 MCC Gujarat
64 National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)
65 National Federation of Indian Women
66 National Hawkers Federation
67 National Muslim Women’s welfare society
68 National Trade Union Initiative (NTUI)
69 Nav Janwaro Lokmanch
70 NirmanEvam General Workers Union & Kachi Basti Maha Sangh, Jaipur
71 Nrega Sangharsh Morcha
72 Paschim banga khetmajoor samity
73 People’s Union for Civil Liberties
74 People’s Watch
75 Prgatisheel Mahila Sangathan Delhi
76 PRASHANT 77 Protsahan
78 Punjab Women Collective
79 Relaa
80 Right to Food and Work Campaign, West Bengal
81 Right to Food Campaign
82 Right to Food Campaign Chhattisgarh
83 Right to Food Campaign Karnataka
84 Right to Food Campaign, Bihar
85 Right To Food Rajasthan
86 Rihai Manch
87 Saheli Women’s Resource Center, New Delhi5
88 Samalochana
89 Sankalp Samajik Vikas Samiti
90 Sarva Dharma sanvidhan bachav samiti
91 Social Watch – Tamilnadu
92 Stand With Stan
93 SURAKSHIT
94 Swadesh Gramotthan Samiti
95 Tamilnadu Vanigar Sangankalin Peravai (Y)
96 United Christian Forum
97 United Forum for Adivasi Rights
98 Ursuline Convent Girls Primary School
99 Vichardhara Foundation
100 Vikas samvad
101 Maharashtra State, Human Right Council Council Of India
102 Vividha Mahila Aalekhan Evam Sandarbh Kendra (Rajasthan)
103 VSS Mandal
104 Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS)
105 Women Rehabilitation Group
106 Zila Kisan Sangh
107 उमण्ड
108 विकलांग आांदोलन 2016 सांघर्षसमति राजस्थान
