Binayak Sen: London witnesses mass protest
Protesters arrived at London from different parts of the United Kingdom to demonstrate vehement protest outside the Indian High Commission on May 14 and demanded an immediate release of Dr Binayak Sen, famous Indian human rights activist.
A GROUP of protesters including renowned academics, medical practitioners and human rights activists demonstrated vehement protest outside the Indian High Commission in London on Thursday (May 14) and demanded an immediate release of Dr Binayak Sen, famous Indian human rights activist.
Presently, Sen is in the Chhattisgarh jail in India. He has been languishing here since the last two years. According to the Chhattishgarh police, Sen was closely associated with the Maoist groups. Protesters arrived to the capital city from different parts of the United Kingdom. They also had placards mentioning the immediate release of Dr Sen and sought prompt withdrawal of the false charges brought against him.
Citing the peculiar silence of the Indian mass regarding this issue, the UK based Indian protesters raised slogans like ‘Indian democracy shame, shame.’ The protesters also submitted a mass petition to the Indian High Commission in London and urged an immediate intervention of the Indian Home minister P Chidambaram in this issue.
The South Asia Solidarity Group along with the Indian Workers’ Association organised the protest march. The groups carried out their movement under the banner of ‘Release Binayak Sen Now Campaign’.
Moreover, it is to be mentioned that some British MPs also raised their voices in the British parliament and brought an Early Day Parliamentary motion expressing concern over the continued detention as well as suppression of Dr Sen in Indian jail. The British MPs also sought the intervention of the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in this regard. Terming the incarceration of Dr Sen for two years as a ‘grave case of violation of human rights’, the British MPs stated that Dr Sen has become a victim of mean and selfish politics.
Dr Sen received the 2008 Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights. The protesters also claimed that Dr Sen was not given a fair trial. He was arrested on May 14, 2007.
Dipankar Sen, brother of Dr Binayak Sen arrived in Mumbai on Thursday and said in a public meeting that he was trying his best to give a right trial to his brother. Dipankar Sen, a resident of Belgium further added that he was not involved in the politics of the country. He also asked Dr Sen not to come back to Chhattishgarh, but his adamant brother did not listen to his warnings.
Dipankar Sen also said, “He is a poor man’s doctor. I can’t imagine what he could have done to warrant his arrest. The family has been living through hell.” The public meeting in Mumbai was a part of an international show of solidarity for Dr Sen. Protests were also held in 25 states of India.
Dipankar Sen had met many high profile leaders of the country including P Chidambaram, but did not get any positive result.
A highly irritated Sen remarked in front of the media, “What is his crime that he cannot be given bail? It has been rejected three times and we are all gripped by absolute fear. His fate will be sealed if the Supreme Court does not act.”
The medics had advised Dr Sen for an angiography two months ago, but the court had not given him the permission yet.
Anand Patwardhan, a renowned film-producer said that Dr Sen is a heart patient and the condition is critical. Patwardhan also demanded Dr Sen’s immediate release without any delay.
Even the Amnesty International had labeled Dr Sen as a prisoner of conscience. Amar Jesani, a renowned health activist, who also knows Dr Sen for more than two decades, claimed that Sen raised his voice for the poor and fought for the rights of the oppressed section.
Citing the peculiar silence of the Indian mass regarding this issue, the UK based Indian protesters raised slogans like ‘Indian democracy shame, shame.’ The protesters also submitted a mass petition to the Indian High Commission in London and urged an immediate intervention of the Indian Home minister P Chidambaram in this issue.
The South Asia Solidarity Group along with the Indian Workers’ Association organised the protest march. The groups carried out their movement under the banner of ‘Release Binayak Sen Now Campaign’.
Moreover, it is to be mentioned that some British MPs also raised their voices in the British parliament and brought an Early Day Parliamentary motion expressing concern over the continued detention as well as suppression of Dr Sen in Indian jail. The British MPs also sought the intervention of the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in this regard. Terming the incarceration of Dr Sen for two years as a ‘grave case of violation of human rights’, the British MPs stated that Dr Sen has become a victim of mean and selfish politics.
Dr Sen received the 2008 Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights. The protesters also claimed that Dr Sen was not given a fair trial. He was arrested on May 14, 2007.
Dipankar Sen, brother of Dr Binayak Sen arrived in Mumbai on Thursday and said in a public meeting that he was trying his best to give a right trial to his brother. Dipankar Sen, a resident of Belgium further added that he was not involved in the politics of the country. He also asked Dr Sen not to come back to Chhattishgarh, but his adamant brother did not listen to his warnings.
Dipankar Sen also said, “He is a poor man’s doctor. I can’t imagine what he could have done to warrant his arrest. The family has been living through hell.” The public meeting in Mumbai was a part of an international show of solidarity for Dr Sen. Protests were also held in 25 states of India.
Dipankar Sen had met many high profile leaders of the country including P Chidambaram, but did not get any positive result.
A highly irritated Sen remarked in front of the media, “What is his crime that he cannot be given bail? It has been rejected three times and we are all gripped by absolute fear. His fate will be sealed if the Supreme Court does not act.”
The medics had advised Dr Sen for an angiography two months ago, but the court had not given him the permission yet.
Anand Patwardhan, a renowned film-producer said that Dr Sen is a heart patient and the condition is critical. Patwardhan also demanded Dr Sen’s immediate release without any delay.
Even the Amnesty International had labeled Dr Sen as a prisoner of conscience. Amar Jesani, a renowned health activist, who also knows Dr Sen for more than two decades, claimed that Sen raised his voice for the poor and fought for the rights of the oppressed section.
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