Human Rights Activist Dr. Binayak Sen Granted Bail

[red cat]

This is a huge victory for all progressive mass-movements fighting the Indian fascist state ! There have been huge mass-rallies throughout India in the past months demanding freedom for Dr. Binayak Sen.




http://www.domain-b.com/images/10x10spacer.gif Dr Binayak Sen freed: SC says sympathy is not sedition news
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15 April 2011


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The Supreme Court today granted bail to tribal healthcare pioneer and civil rights activist Binayak Sen, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment by a lower court on charges of sedition and having links with Maoist rebels.

The apex court said that the evidence on record proves no sedition case against Sen. At worst he could be termed an active sympathiser with the Naxalites. "No case of sedition is made out. He is just a sympathiser, nothing beyond that," the court said.

Saying ''we are a democratic country'', a bench comprising justices H S Bedi and C K Prasad also observed that mere possession of Naxal literature does not make a person a Naxalite, guilty of sedition, just as one who possesses Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography cannot call himself a Gandhian.

While ordering jail authorities in Raipur, where he has been incarcerated, to release Sen, the apex court said that the trial court would set the conditions of the bail.
Opposing Sen's bail plea, the Chhatisgarh government had filed an affidavit saying Sen has deep links with hardcore Naxalites.

''He (Sen) provides active support and coordination in spreading the base of CPI-Maoists in the country. Apart from providing logistic support, he exchanges information and material directly and indirectly with the Naxalites in the areas of Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa and propagates Naxal ideology," the affidavit said.http://www.domain-b.com/people/in_the_news/20110415_dr_binayak_sen.html

[pranabjyoti]

I am not so excited about the fact. After all, Indian Judicial system is a part of Indian state and their role isn't very bright in protecting workers and other people from state oppression. Most probably, the pressure from international community (like EU) plays a good role here.

[Sir Comradical]

The Supreme Court says sympathy with the Maoists is not sedition. The question should then be asked, what kind of a so called democratic state has sedition laws? Sedition laws that have been on the books since the days of the Raj I might add. Arundhati Roy sympathises with the Maoists as would anyone who understands their struggle. Are they all to be jailed? How far is the Indian state willing to go?

Anyway, I'd like to buy Mr Sen a drink.

[red cat]

I am not so excited about the fact. After all, Indian Judicial system is a part of Indian state and their role isn't very bright in protecting workers and other people from state oppression. Most probably, the pressure from international community (like EU) plays a good role here.

Since last year there have been huge mass rallies in all the major cities of India concerning various issues from the Bhopal tragedy to freeing Binayak Sen. Although in most of the cases there was a mass-media blackout and police forces surrounded these, I consider these as playing a decisive role in such victories. International pressure wouldn't have amounted to much if the masses had not taken to the streets to challenge the state.