Meeting of PUDR on â??Repression by Stateâ??: a civil rights perspective

Pallavi Sharma

New Delhi

Mon, 06 Aug 2007: 

Aug 06: On Sunday, Aug 05 an-all India meeting was held in Gandhi peace foundation building in Delhi by PUDR (people’s union for democratic rights) othe topic “State Repression Today” – a civil rights perspective.

The meeting was divided into two sessions. First session discussed on ‘the attacks on civil rights organizations’. People from Andhra, Chhattisgarh and Delhi reflected on the repressive and suppressive nature of draconian laws of Public special securities act 2006 and Unlawful Activities (prevention) Act 1967 under which civil rights activist Dr. Binayak Sen has been detained for the last three months.

In the second session the reports from different parts of India were presented by the civil rights activists. PUDR, PUCL and other civil rights groups told about the repressions done by state agencies in their states.

The meeting was called in wake of the three month long detention of Dr. Binayak Sen by fabricating charges against him under serious sections of security laws.

Members of PUDR and other groups asked for the repeal of CSPSA 2006 and UA(P)A 1967. The meeting said that these extra-ordinary laws are applied to the ordinary citizen and his civil rights are encroached. This practice is done to silent the voice which rises against state’s wrongdoing.

Meeting said that these draconian laws suppress people’s rights mainly their democratic right to resist, to form association etc as a citizen can be arrested under these laws even if one shows the tendency to pose an obstacle to the administration of law.

CSPSA’s definition of ‘unlawful activities’ extend even to ‘encouraging and preaching the disobedience of established law’ which very apparently violates the right to freedom of speech and expression and gives omnipotent power to the legislature who can enact any type of law even though not in the interest of public. But you can’t oppose.

One member from Haryana expressed a need of State Human Rights Commission in Haryana in view of growing human rights violation in the state.

Khurram a representative from J&K told about the growing atrocities by Army.

Meeting also discussed about the increasing militarization of the conflict-ridden areas instead of finding any political solution with the insurgents.