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 Views:
| 1. |
CONDEMN THE ATTACKS ON SOUTH-ASIAN STUDENTS IN AUSTRALIA |
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The attacks on students of South Asian students in Australia which seem to have a definite pattern and a mind behind them must be condemned in no uncertain terms. ..more |
| 2. |
The Eelam War IV and human rights |
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The Mahinda Rajapaksa Government of Sri Lanka has announced victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam and the end of the so called Eelam War IV and has claimed to have completely decimated the LTTE and reunited the country. ..more |
| 3. |
Indian black money in foreign banks–Who can really punish the culprits? |
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The G-20 summit held recently in London came out with a declaration that secret accounts in foreign banks and tax havens abroad will no longer be tolerated and that at least tax authorities have a right to access information regarding secret accounts. ..more |
| 4. |
The Tamil Question in Sri Lanka and the People of India |
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The Sri Lankan Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power promising to take a tough line against the LTTE and to `recapture' the territories held by the LTTE. Indeed, in April 2009, Mr. Rajapaka visited Killinochi after a major military offensive that claims to have decimated the LTTE. ..more |
| 5. |
Need for a people-centred political process |
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Recently, the Election Commission of India bemoaned that the Model Code of Conduct is being seriously violated by political parties and called for a full adherence of the code. ..more |
| 6. |
Facts and Fiction in the Economy |
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The Government has been trying to take the country by storm about its breath-taking achievement in having ensured a so-called ‘9% growth’ in the G.D.P. (Gross Domestic Product) during each of the four years 2004-05 to 2007-08 and its expectation to maintain that performance during 2008-09 also. ..more |
| 7. |
The Eelam War IV and human rights |
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The Mahinda Rajapaksa Government of Sri Lanka has announced victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam and the end of the so called Eelam War IV and has claimed to have completely decimated the LTTE and reunited the country. ..more |
| 8. |
Indian black money in foreign banks–Who can really punish the culprits? |
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The G-20 summit held recently in London came out with a declaration that secret accounts in foreign banks and tax havens abroad will no longer be tolerated and that at least tax authorities have a right to access information regarding secret accounts. ..more |
| 9. |
The Tamil Question in Sri Lanka and the People of India |
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The Sri Lankan Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power promising to take a tough line against the LTTE and to `recapture' the territories held by the LTTE. Indeed, in April 2009, Mr. Rajapaka visited Killinochi after a major military offensive that claims to have decimated the LTTE. ..more |
| 10. |
Need for a people-centred political process |
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Recently, the Election Commission of India bemoaned that the Model Code of Conduct is being seriously violated by political parties and called for a full adherence of the code. ..more |
| 11. |
Views The Eelam War IV and human rights ...Read Indian black money in foreign banks–Who can really punish the culprits? - S. Raghavan...Read The Tamil Question in Sri Lanka and the People of India - B. Ananthanarayan...Read Need for a people-centred political process - S.Raghavan...Read Facts and Fiction in the Economy |
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The Government has been trying to take the country by storm about its breath-taking achievement in having ensured a so-called ‘9% growth’ in the G.D.P. ..more |
| 12. |
Right to Recall is an essential right of voters |
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This is election time. Many issues concerning India’s political process get aired and debated at this time. When Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee demanded some time back that voters should have the right to recall elected representatives, if they fail to perform, many political commentators responded in favour or against. The call was given at the second roundtable conference on “Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy”.
..more |
| 13. |
An anti-war movement as a call of the times by B. Ananthanarayan |
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It is becoming increasing clear that the prospect of India becoming embroiled in a war in the region, and indeed in a world war, is not a far-fetched one. As though to test the waters, various members of
the establishment and ruling circles in the post 26/11/2008 era called for `surgical strikes' against purported terror-camps in Pakistan. ..more |
| 14. |
Warmongering and Jingoism decreed in meeting by Dr Venkatesh Sundaram |
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Some members of Lok Raj Sangathan were invited to the inaugural meeting of the Foundation of Media Professionals, on “Who is to Blame for the Media Hysteria on Terror?”
..more |
| 15. |
Lessons from the Mumbai Terror Attacks |
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The recent horrendous terror attacks in Mumbai are obviously totally atrocious. They have woken up our elite citizenry of Mumbai and the country to the dangers of terrorism as nothing ever has. There have been many terror attacks in this country before -- several serial blasts in major cities of the country during this year itself. ..more |
| 16. |
Mumbai terror attacks |
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We've forfeited the rights to our own tragedies. As the carnage in Mumbai raged on, day after horrible day, our 24-hour news channels informed us that we were watching "India's 9/11". Like actors in a Bollywood rip-off of an old Hollywood film, we're expected to play our parts and say our lines, even though we know it's all been said and done before. ..more |
| 17. |
Fourth Delimitation of Constituencies |
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The Fourth delimitation exercise was conducted 30 years after the previous exercise was done in 1972-76. One expected that this exercise will be based on democratic principles of consulting the people and will be done in the best interests of the people. ..more |
| 18. |
Obama Presidency and south Asia |
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On November 4, 2008 Senator Barack Obama was elected by a `landslide' to the Presidency of the United States of America. The election has taken place in the midst of a world wide economic crisis and financial meltdown, and in the midst of two highly unpopular wars in which the USA finds itself. ..more |
| 19. |
Who has Treaty making powers? |
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Recent events such as India’s treaty on the nuclear issue with the United States and earlier treaties such as India signing the Marrakesh Treaty in 1995 and its implications for India or the earlier treaty between India and the former USSR have raised the question of who has the right to enter into treaties under the present constitutional scheme and to what extent the people of this country have a role to play in India’s signature or accession to a treaty. ..more |
| 20. |
Dollar bubble is about to burst? |
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IRAN HAS REALLY DONE IT...more deadlier than the nuclear.. ..more |
| 21. |
Stop private wholesale trade in food |
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Prices of food items like wheat, pulses, oil and vegetables have shot through the roof and a large section of people are unable to afford even essential food items. ..more |
| 22. |
Jaipur Blasts and the aftermath |
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In a shocking series of blasts in Jaipur almost a hundred people have lost their lives and many more have been injured. ..more |
| 23. |
Constituent Assembly in Nepal |
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Lok Raj Sangathan welcomes the announcement of the convening of the newly elected Constituent Assembly in Nepal from May 28. ..more |
| 24. |
Public Statement on The Gujarat Carnage 2002 |
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The recent Tehelka expose of the "Gujarat riots" of 2002, demonstrate very starkly that these were neither "spontaneous" nor "riots", but were in fact mass murder, loot and mayhem orchestrated and organized by the top echelons of the Gujarat units of the VHP, the Bajrang Dal, and the BJP with the full connivance and complicity of the Gujarat government headed by Narendra Modi. ..more |
| 25. |
For 750 Million... Humans The unilateral opening up of retail holds few pluses for the country |
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The government has so far been zealous in its commitment to opening up the retail sector. And that too, much before the wto tells us to do so. Big corporate houses and mncs have been invited to invest in retail purportedly with the intention of attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) but mainly to benefit some mighty economic entities. ..more |
| 26. |
Excursion into the Domain of Government Budgeting and Accounts |
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The budget of the Government of Andhra Pradesh for the financial year 2008-09. ..more |
| 27. |
Measure Seeking Greater Economic and Political Autonomy-A brief on the Bolivian Situation |
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According to news reports dated May 5, 2008, the wealthy region of Santa Cruz in Bolivia has approved "a measure seeking greater economic and political autonomy according to exit polls." ..more |
| 28. |
Indo_US Nuclear Deal and the power of the Government |
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It will be relevant to consider briefly the provisions of the Constitution of India regarding the Parliament and the Executive (that is the Government). ..more |
| 29. |
Call of the National Alliance of People's Movements |
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The struggle by the riverine fishworkers affected by the Upper Wardha dam in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra has reached a peak once again with five representatives of the fish workers having begun their indefinite fast since July 1st, to assert their rights to the reservoir
..more |
| 30. |
Stop State Sponsored Attacks on Rights Activists |
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Dr. Binayak Sen, an active national Vice-President of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and General Secretary of its Chhattisgarh unit was arrested a year ago under the allegation that he had links with Maoists. ..more |
| 31. |
ATTACKS ON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IS AN ATTACK ON ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD |
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The escalation of military action by Israel in the occupied occupied territoriesunder the pretext of securing the release of a kidnapped Israeli soldier hasexceeded all bounds. No decent human being can avoid being shocked atthe bestiality of these actions, including indiscriminate bombing, destructionof homes and buildings, bridges and roads, and of civilian infrastructure.
Hamas Government, Palestinian, Israel ..more |
| 32. |
On Globalization |
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Globalisation has increased the divide between the rich and the poor countries, and widened the gap between the rich and the poor in the Third World Countries. ..more |
| 33. |
On LRS Participation in the National Convention on Judicial Reforms and Accountability |
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What was the notion of rights and duties inherent in Indian society, and the concomitant notion of justice? ..more |
| 34. |
The execution of Saddam Hussein and the dangers facing the world |
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The execution of the President of Iraq, Mr. Saddam Hussein on December 30, 2006 represents a watershed in the developments on the world scale. ..more |
| 35. |
THE PEOPLE VS. 'DEVELOPMENT' IN SINGUR |
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The Singur developments raise the question of political power and how it is wielded in the country. ..more |
| 36. |
A case for scrapping the SEZ ACT |
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The Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are being promoted by the UPA Government, which claims that this will build infra-structure and also `enhance employment generation'. ..more |
| 37. |
Mumbai, Malegaon, Disinformation and the Crisis of Legitimacy |
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Irrespective of who is behind the Mumbai blasts, it can be easily concluded that the effect of these blasts is to bolster the Indian state and its various agencies and to enable them to regain the position of guarantor of security ..more |
| 38. |
The crisis of ruling circles and the war on terror |
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The media has been full of reports on the alleged plot to blow up jet liners due to a handful of men, mainly of Pakistani descent. This plot was supposedly exposed by British intelligence which received tips from Pakistan. ..more |
| 39. |
Attacks on the Palestinian people is an attack on all the peoples of the world |
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The escalation of military action by Israel in the occupied territories under the pretext of securing the release of a kidnapped Israeli soldier has exceeded all bounds. ..more |
| 40. |
COPING WITH OIL PRICES |
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The increase in the price of petroleum products has caused a crisis for the public sector oil undertakings. But, there are ways to overcome this crisis ..more |
| 41. |
Lessons of history cannot be forgotten |
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The progressive forces in India must closely watch the events in Nepal and learn from their experience, indeed as the people of Nepal learn from the experience of the Indian people who allowed the fruits of their mass Nationalist struggle to pass into the hands of the rich, the privileged and the few, whose practice of statecraft denied the mass of the Indian people their rights to a dignified and human existence. ..more |
| 42. |
Long Live the Unity of the Residents of Transit Camp |
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Led by Lok Raj sangathan and Transit Camp Bachao Sangharsh Morcha, the residents of Transit Camp, Kalkaji have been fighting valiantly against attempts to demolish their houses and evict them from the area. ..more |
| 43. |
Communalism --- Combating it, by Ananthanarayan |
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The principle of command responsibility, which is that those who were in power at that time were to be held accountable for the events, demands that an enquiry into those in power at the highest echelons of power be held and guiltybe punished for their crimes. ..more |
| 44. |
Government's callousness to farmers and rural distress, by Devinder Sharma |
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If there was real concern for the well-being of people, the President should have called for a special session of Parliament many months ago to initiate an informed discussion and formulation of a plan. ..more |
| 45. |
Iran has a right to pursue its peaceful nuclear programme |
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All thinking Indian's must support the just right of Iran to pursue its peaceful nuclear programme ..more |
| 46. |
Electoral Reforms - Towards People's Power, By Prakash Rao |
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The general experience of the vast majority of the Indian people is that elections are dominated by a handful of so-called 'recognised political parties' and the candidates nominated by them. ..more |
| 47. |
“Free and fair elections” sans voters? |
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For elections to be considered "fair", it must be a process that encourages and enables all voters to express their will, not a process that reduces them to vote banks. ..more |
| 48. |
Bihar elections- "Free and fair elections" sans voters?, By S. Raghavan |
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2005 Bihar elections, political process, electoral reforms, election analysis, right to recall, Election Commission, right to recall, dalits, political representation, voter turnout.For elections to be considered "fair", it must be a process that encourages and enables all voters to express their will–not a process that reduces them to vote banks. For elections to be "free", voters must be able to walk out of their homes without having to face armed police and paramilitary on every street. The November 2005 Bihar elections do not qualify on either count. ..more |
| 49. |
Machiavellian tactics, by A. Narayan |
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Whether or not the perpetrators of the atrocity are hand maidens of the Government, or whether they are external agents interested in 'destablizing' the country, or whether they are this or that set of disgruntled elements, etc., is something that will never be known. ..more |
| 50. |
State should fund the electoral process and not the political parties, By S. Raghavan |
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The present electoral laws favour the party-dominated electoral process. These laws should be amended … State funding of the electoral process rather than the political parties is an essential step in this direction. ..more |
| 51. |
An Alternative Women's Reservation Bill, By Madhu Kishwar |
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In the event of any recognised party failing to nominate one-third women candidates, for the shortfall of every single women candidate, two male candidates of the party shall lose all the recognition related advantages. ..more |
| 52. |
Geelani acquittal: Ordeal by fire by Madhavi Thampi |
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For a person proclaimed innocent by two courts, Geelani underwent a prolonged ordeal to which no human being should be subjected. No state agency is answerable for what he and his family were put through. ..more |
| 53. |
Law making for the Unorganised workers, By T.S.Sankaran |
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The National Campaign Committee wants the unorganised sector workers to be partners and participants in the whole process of formulating the law, the schemes and their implementation. ..more |
| 54. |
In support of Forest Rights of tribals and forest dwellers |
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These communities are among the poorest and most marginalized sectors of Indian society. They face discrimination, starvation, bondage and violence as daily realities. Fifty years after Independence, their social condition has barely improved. ..more |
| 55. |
Profound Revolution in the Conception of Production, by Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz |
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It is common knowledge that Bush's cronies set up a big committee to plan all the details of what they call "transition" in Cuba. This committee drafted a gruesome plan which included vaccination programs and literacy campaigns … ..more |
| 56. |
War in Iraq Violates International Law |
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Whether Americans realize it or not, the integrity of the United States has been dealt a serious blow. This country can no longer be regarded as a nation that stands upon the legal and moral high ground. ..more |
| 57. |
Criticizing Patriot Act Lands lawyer M Chee in Jail |
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Chee had been a nationally recognized lawyer for her work with immigrants, some of it pro bono, and much of it for Muslims, but things soured for her soon after she appeared on a panel discussing the PATRIOT Act in March 2003. ..more |
| 58. |
I'm sorry, but the world's still round ! |
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Mr Friedman expounds his Theory of Conflict Prevention: "No two countries that are both part of a major global supply chain, like Dell's, will ever fight a war against each other so long as they are both part of the same global supply chain”. ..more |
| 59. |
Agrarian Sector Taking Center Stage in Indian Economy |
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Closer scrutiny of farm income and farm productivity around the country shows that ownership of the land by the tillers is far from a closed chapter in India. ..more |
| 60. |
People too want a part in selecting candidates |
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It is important that people should have some say on the candidates the parties will finally select. This model will encourage good, clean candidates to file for candidature but also promote candidates among their constituency,'' ..more |
| 61. |
Project Mumbai Makeover Casualties of Development, by Shivali Tukdeo |
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Announcing the "development and beautification plan" for Mumbai, Chief Minister Deshmukh launched a massive demolition drive that rendered 250,000 people homeless by December 2004. ..more |
| 62. |
High-Tech Delhi Suburb Stuck in 'Village Time Warp', By Rama Lakshmi |
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Despite the array of glitzy air-conditioned super-malls, two-car homes and sleek glass high-rise offices, Gurgaon residents groan about corruption, bad governance, poor roads and inadequate power and water: the same ills that plague rural India. ..more |
| 63. |
Employment Guarantee Act: Twelve Essential Safeguards |
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There have been wide-ranging discussions in recent months about the key features of an acceptable Employment Guarantee Act for rural areas. A list of 12 essential demands that have emerged from these discussions are presented. ..more |
| 64. |
44 Nobel Prizewinners sign appeal to against nuclear weapons |
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We call on governments to implement steps to lower the operational status of nuclear weapon systems in order to reduce the risk of nuclear catastrophe, affirmed by the International Court of Justice, to achieve the elimination of nuclear weapons under strict and effective international control ..more |
| 65. |
Pro-rich policies of a ‘pro-poor’ government |
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The entire economic system functions to enable the rich to get richer at the expense of the large majority of poor. Bulk of tax collections of central government come from indirect taxes like sales tax and service tax, and are paid by all people. ..more |
| 66. |
Elections to the British Parliament – How free and how fair? |
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It is widely accepted and recognised within Britain that Tony Blair and his party do not represent the popular will. As a result of a political process that is fast losing credibility among the voting public… ..more |
| 67. |
The dough is in the land, not the bread, Siddharth Varadarajan |
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Five years after privatisation, Modern Food assets are being stripped. Writing for the Hindu, Siddharta Varadarajan highlights the broken promises by the Central Government and the HLL management.. ..more |
| 68. |
Communal Disturbance Bill: Will it prevent another Gujarat? |
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Some of the provisions of this bill are as draconian as other black laws such as the UAPA and its predecessors, POTA and TADA, and the hated AFSPA… ..more |
| 69. |
Accusing the Accusers |
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Mr. Galloway's spirited defence in front of the US Senate Committee in which Mr. Galloway turned the tables of his accusers, is a inspiration to progressive people the world over who have been opposing the illegal US occupation of Iraq. ..more |
| 70. |
Prevention & Punishment of Genocide/Crimes against Humanity |
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Citizens Consultation For A Law Against Mass Crimes, New Delhi, August 21-23, 2004 to propose The Prevention and Punishment of Genocide and Crimes against Humanity Act 2004. ..more |
| 71. |
NAPM Salutes Kishen Pattanayak |
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The organizations and movements connected with the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) condole the sad demise of our ideologue-activist comrade Kishen Pattanayak, on September 27. ..more |
| 72. |
An APPEAL to the PRISONERS Who are on an Indefinite Hunger Strike in Chennai and Vellore Jails? |
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The authorities in Tamil Nadu have not taken any notice of the 11 political prisoners who are on indefinite hunger strike since August 26, 2004. We are informed that the condition of the prisoners, including three women, has deteriorated … ..more |
| 73. |
Petition for the Repeal of the AFSPA from MIT, USA |
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A country that calls itself a democracy cannot sanction a part of its people living under legalized martial law for five decades. Join the people of Manipur in opposing this Act. We demand that it be withdrawn from the entire country and be repealed. ..more |
| 74. |
Petition for the Repeal of the AFSPA from MIT, USA |
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A country that calls itself a democracy cannot sanction a part of its people living under legalized martial law for five decades. Join the people of Manipur in opposing this Act. We demand that it be withdrawn from the entire country and be repealed. ..more |
| 75. |
Education: Trade, Profession, Occupation or Busniness?, By Justice H. Suresh (Retd.) |
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Justice H. Suresh (Retd.) argues his case to establish education is an obligation of the State – and the State and its agencies cannot be allowed to trade on education. ..more |
| 76. |
One more encounter for Modi's sake? |
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A report of the all India fact finding team on the 'encounter' of four alleged terrorists by Gujarat police on June 15, 2004 at Ahmedabad ..more |
| 77. |
Rejoinder to The antics of rights activists, By Mukundan C Menon |
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Justice Hosbet Suresh (President, Lok Raj Sangathan, Mumbai) said : “The question is not about the terrorist links of Ishrat, Javed and others are alleged to have had, but is how, why and under what authority the police killed them” ..more |
| 78. |
Encounter Truth : Police as investigator, prosecutor & judge, By Mukundan C Menon |
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Weeks after orchestrated loud claims, charges and accusations against the four alleged Lashkar terrorists killed in the June 15 encounter at Ahmedabad outskirts, the Detection of Crime Bureau (DCB) of Gujarat is faced with two embarrassing questions… ..more |
| 79. |
To Officer from Israeli soldier, refusing to serve in army |
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Chaim Feldman is a combat reservist. He was jailed for 21 days last year for refusing to serve the occupation. On Monday it is very like that he will be jailed again. This letter to his unit liaison officer explains why: ..more |
| 80. |
Letter from Cuban President Castro to US President Bush |
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It is cynical to include Cuba in a list of countries involved in the illegal trafficking of persons. Even more outrageous and abhorrent in this arrogant report that the US feels obliged to issue every year is the claim that Cuba promotes sex tourism. ..more |
| 81. |
No justification for murderous action by Ahmedabad police!, by Justice Hosbet Suresh (Retd.) |
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Lok Raj Sangathan President, Justice Hosbet Suresh (Retd.) elaborates on important legal issues regarding killing of Ishrat, Javed and others by Ahmedabad police in fake encounter on Jun 15, 2004. ..more |
| 82. |
The World After Iraq – Questions confronting the people |
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Over 15 million persons across 2000 cities have marched denouncing the war, the participation of their respective governments in war effort and calling for the defence of the sovereignty of the Iraqi people and an end to the unjust and illegal war. ..more |
| 83. |
PEACE IS NOT AN OPTION .. It is a necessity |
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In his opening remarks to the recently concluded UN General Assembly in New York, Secretary General Kofi Annan identified four geographic areas-Kashmir, Afghanistan, the Palestinian territories, and Iraq-as flashpoints for the outbreak of war. ..more |
| 84. |
Gujarat today - A letter from an activist |
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More than four months after the dreadful killings and arson broke out in Gujarat, the people in the State continue to live in uncertainty and an atmosphere of violence and fear. Why does peace not return to the state? ..more |
| 85. |
Indo-Pak war is against the peoples of India and Pakistan |
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The AIPSG is firmly of the opinion that the current military confrontation between India and Pakistan is against the short term and long term interests of the peoples of both countries and calls upon everyone to stay the hands of the two governments ..more |
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