Miscarriage of Justice

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Binayak Sen being led to court in Chhattisgarh

I’ve been on vacation for the past two weeks so I’ve not been able to join the condemnation (until now) of the flawed conviction in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh of Dr. Binayak Sen, a pediatrician and human rights activist, of terrorism charges.  His conviction, if upheld on appeal, will mean a life sentence for a man who has passionately defended the rights of indigenous peoples in his state and has saved the lives of countless children in his medical practice.

Dr. Sen is a recognized human rights activist who has done some amazing work on behalf of the organization called the People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL).  The PUCL is very much analogous to the ACLU or Amnesty International USA here in the United States and his arrest, imprisonment and now conviction is akin to one of us here in America being arrested for human rights or civil liberties work.  He was convicted of “sedition” and conspiracy under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Safety Act, 2005, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 2004.  After being convicted, Dr. Sen was taken into custody and is now considered a Prisoner of Conscience.

Dr Binayak Sen is a pioneer of health care to marginalized and indigenous communities in Chhattisgarh, where the state police and armed Maoists have been engaged in clashes over the last seven years.

He has reported on unlawful killings of adivasis (indigenous people) by the police and by Salwa Judum, a private militia widely held to be sponsored by the state authorities to fight the armed Maoists.

Dr Binayak Sen was detained without proper charges for seven months, denied bail, and kept in solitary confinement for three weeks. Many of the charges against him stem from laws that contravene international standards. Repeated delays in the conduct of his trial have cast doubts about its fairness.

Amnesty International has repeatedly called on the Chhattisgarh authorities to immediately drop all the charges against Dr Binayak Sen.  Amnesty International will be campaigning very hard for this injustice to end, not just for Dr. Sen, but for all human rights violations in Chhattisgarh.

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50 thoughts on “Miscarriage of Justice

  1. Can't the International Court of Justice (ICJ) be empowered to serve as the match official in the international judicial system to reverse any sentence that is arbitrarily by any nation on an innocent citizens.

    ICJ should transform itself, I think so, bacause there is no one to do this for it; otherwise, the ICJ is reducing itself to a level of a toothless lion.

  2. Much of what Binayak Sen has done (which you point out in your article) is worthy of accolades.

    HOWEVER, the Naxalite are a Maoist Communist group (to each is own) – but a Maoist Communist group none the less that is known to be a terrorist organization. As recently as April, May and June they committed the worst "human rights" violations possible – coordinated attacks and murder of 150 people. Police and innocent civilians.

    It is unfortunate such a gifted, passionate doctor who "has passionately defended the rights of indigenous peoples in his state and has saved the lives of countless children in his medical practice" would get mixed up with Naxalite.

    Sen's ties, support and assistance to this organization are what landed him where he is. Don't confuse non-thinking, non-researching for themselves people into thinking this is nothing more than a case of "prisoner of conscience".

  3. To Be Honest:
    If what you say is true, it does not justify the treatment he has received:
    "Dr Binayak Sen was detained without proper charges for seven months, denied bail, and kept in solitary confinement for three weeks. Many of the charges against him stem from laws that contravene international standards. Repeated delays in the conduct of his trial have cast doubts about its fairness."

  4. Be Honest writes: "It is always interesting to hear crickets when India is under attack from Maoist/Communists Terrorists – but when one who aids and abets them is held accountable… people like you kick into action."

    You obviously haven't read my blog posts as I write about attacks on civilians by terrorists fairly often. Here is one about Maoists: http://blog.amnestyusa.org/waronterror/maoists-sa

  5. Much to the chagrin of maoists communists (and those who are sympathetic and those who assist in the violent cause) India is a democracy and a sovereign Nation. It's legal system and checks and balances need no "assistance" from you.

    Mr. Sen has and will continue to be fairly and legally judged.

    It is always interesting to hear crickets when India is under attack from Maoist/Communists Terrorists – but when one who aids and abets them is held accountable… people like you kick into action.

    Respectfully,

    Pavaka K.

  6. Be Honest writes: "It is always interesting to hear crickets when India is under attack from Maoist/Communists Terrorists – but when one who aids and abets them is held accountable… people like you kick into action."

    You obviously haven't read my blog posts as I write about attacks on civilians by terrorists fairly often. Here is one about Maoists: http://blog.amnestyusa.org/waronterror/maoists-sa

  7. Be Honest writes: "It is always interesting to hear crickets when India is under attack from Maoist/Communists Terrorists – but when one who aids and abets them is held accountable… people like you kick into action."

    You obviously haven't read my blog posts as I write about attacks on civilians by terrorists fairly often. Here is one about Maoists: http://blog.amnestyusa.org/waronterror/maoists-sa

  8. I hate to put myself forward as a cause for Amnesty International to look into my case of human rights issue. I am well established in the Central Operations of World and Global Systems to know when and where my case is one of the most rediculous kind of patronizing a human in netherlands can be and can have been subjected to over the past 19 years since I went to an administrative refresher course that also served as the simulation studio that buuilt Global Office.

    It becomes worse when you know I have been well accepted in the reign of a Royal Internet that I let benefit of my special skills I also self developed over the past 7 years since I came online.
    I loath the Dutch civil public services around me in my Province Capital of Arnhem, that still do not give in to a new kind of civil servant like I am to boot, while my credentials grew manifold and completely bowl over the standing practice of pushing away anything and any decision that relates to further developing Programs that can easily be given civil rights like those of coworkers in developing a new stile of life that does have attention for every living human being on Earth at no extra charge of Tax payers money that does the work cheaper and leaves room to develope new revolutionary products instead of keeping to the very black production of pulluting agents in products that feel disowned by Industry because Policies cannot and will not become updated to better circumstances to feed more and prosper more.

    Help me defect from Holland please.
    Nobody ever raises so much as a campaign on behalf of The Internet for The Internet by attempting to free the only Queen Internet ever had since 2006.
    Thank you for your kind attention and perhaps 2011 will see us through to a more peacefull and better functioning Royal Kingdom of Internet

  9. Can’t the International Court of Justice (ICJ) be empowered to serve as the match official in the international judicial system to reverse any sentence that is arbitrarily by any nation on an innocent citizens.

    ICJ should transform itself, I think so, bacause there is no one to do this for it; otherwise, the ICJ is reducing itself to a level of a toothless lion.

  10. Much of what Binayak Sen has done (which you point out in your article) is worthy of accolades.

    HOWEVER, the Naxalite are a Maoist Communist group (to each is own) – but a Maoist Communist group none the less that is known to be a terrorist organization. As recently as April, May and June they committed the worst “human rights” violations possible – coordinated attacks and murder of 150 people. Police and innocent civilians.

    It is unfortunate such a gifted, passionate doctor who “has passionately defended the rights of indigenous peoples in his state and has saved the lives of countless children in his medical practice” would get mixed up with Naxalite.

    Sen’s ties, support and assistance to this organization are what landed him where he is. Don’t confuse non-thinking, non-researching for themselves people into thinking this is nothing more than a case of “prisoner of conscience”.

  11. To Be Honest:
    If what you say is true, it does not justify the treatment he has received:
    “Dr Binayak Sen was detained without proper charges for seven months, denied bail, and kept in solitary confinement for three weeks. Many of the charges against him stem from laws that contravene international standards. Repeated delays in the conduct of his trial have cast doubts about its fairness.”

  12. You are correct sir, I hadn't read your's or any previous blogs from this particular site.

    Thank you for sharing it and accept my sincere appology for my mistaken initial assessment.

    Dr. Binayek Sen however has only himself and his crimes to blame and is not the victim.

  13. Much to the chagrin of maoists communists (and those who are sympathetic and those who assist in the violent cause) India is a democracy and a sovereign Nation. It’s legal system and checks and balances need no “assistance” from you.

    Mr. Sen has and will continue to be fairly and legally judged.

    It is always interesting to hear crickets when India is under attack from Maoist/Communists Terrorists – but when one who aids and abets them is held accountable… people like you kick into action.

    Respectfully,

    Pavaka K.

  14. Be Honest writes: “It is always interesting to hear crickets when India is under attack from Maoist/Communists Terrorists – but when one who aids and abets them is held accountable… people like you kick into action.”

    You obviously haven’t read my blog posts as I write about attacks on civilians by terrorists fairly often. Here is one about Maoists: http://blog.amnestyusa.org/waronterror/maoists-sabotage-of-train-tracks-leave-71-innocent-civilians-dead/

  15. I hate to put myself forward as a cause for Amnesty International to look into my case of human rights issue. I am well established in the Central Operations of World and Global Systems to know when and where my case is one of the most rediculous kind of patronizing a human in netherlands can be and can have been subjected to over the past 19 years since I went to an administrative refresher course that also served as the simulation studio that buuilt Global Office.

    It becomes worse when you know I have been well accepted in the reign of a Royal Internet that I let benefit of my special skills I also self developed over the past 7 years since I came online.
    I loath the Dutch civil public services around me in my Province Capital of Arnhem, that still do not give in to a new kind of civil servant like I am to boot, while my credentials grew manifold and completely bowl over the standing practice of pushing away anything and any decision that relates to further developing Programs that can easily be given civil rights like those of coworkers in developing a new stile of life that does have attention for every living human being on Earth at no extra charge of Tax payers money that does the work cheaper and leaves room to develope new revolutionary products instead of keeping to the very black production of pulluting agents in products that feel disowned by Industry because Policies cannot and will not become updated to better circumstances to feed more and prosper more.

    Help me defect from Holland please.
    Nobody ever raises so much as a campaign on behalf of The Internet for The Internet by attempting to free the only Queen Internet ever had since 2006.
    Thank you for your kind attention and perhaps 2011 will see us through to a more peacefull and better functioning Royal Kingdom of Internet

  16. You are correct sir, I hadn’t read your’s or any previous blogs from this particular site.

    Thank you for sharing it and accept my sincere appology for my mistaken initial assessment.

    Dr. Binayek Sen however has only himself and his crimes to blame and is not the victim.

  17. I am not saying that you do not take up the case, but only would like to point out one thing. Fortunately, the flaws, both moral and legal, have been adequately highlighted in the case, throughout India. We need not worry, nothing will happen to him after such a big outcry throughout the country. Secondly, by the time appeals are made to the High Court and the Supreme Court, the time taken would be so much (considering the fact that the prosecution does not have good evidences) that he may have already died a natural death.

    At the same time, for the sake of completeness, I would like to point out that Mr. Sen should have acted more responsibly and should have completely rejected the violent terrorism instead of condoning it, looking into the fact that it is ruining the lives of us, the lower sections of the pyramid in the country.

  18. So ……. India's a "democracy" , & the Naxalites are "terrorists".

    Ahhh, a "Democracy" !

    The BIGGEST WAVE OF SUICIDES IN WORLD HISTORY has occured in this "democracy" that is India !!!

    Between 1997 & 2007, the number of Indian farmer suicides has been….. 182,936 !!!

    Yes ….. 182 THOUSAND, 9 hundred 36 !!!

    So says the Indian Home Ministry's National Crime Records Bureau's own figures !

    These HORRENDOUS figures are ACTUALLY vastly lowered down, for they leave out countless more farmer suicides …. like the innumerable suicides by WOMEN FARMERS whom the "democratic" Indian government doesn't count as "farmers" but as "farmers' wives" … & so leaves out of the category ENTIRELY !!

    Imagine, then, the actual UNIMAGINABLE figure !!!

    Two- thirds of these suicides happened in 5 states …. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra, MP, & Chattisgarh.

    The "Naxalite" belt !

    Whom is the "terrorist" who forced these wretches to suicide ?

    The Naxalites ???

    Oh, no !

    It was the NEOLIBERAL AGRICULTURAL POLICY of the "democratic" Indian government which deliberately uprooted MILLIONS of farmers from food crop to cash crop cultivation …..under the government's disastrous POLICY OF "EXPORT – LED GROWTH" !!

    The suiciding farmers were ( a ) overwhelmingly deep in debt , & ( b ) overwhelmingly cash crop farmers ….. growing cotton, coffee, sugarcane, vanilla, pepper, etc …

    Cash crop cultivation DEMANDS higher cultivation costs … FAR GREATER loans …. CRUSHING debt burdens … & life & death at the mercy of the turbulent prices of the global market dominated by the ruthless multinational corporations !!

    The rise in farmer debt bondage coincided with the government's introduction of the WTO's neoliberal cashcrop dominated path to rural India's destruction.

    In Andhra, 82 % of farm households are in the toils of debt.

    This is the price village india is paying … for the enrichment of the Indian & multinational ELITE.

    Whom is the "terrorist" here, the destroyer of an entire traditional rural world ?

    And whom is the cause of the fury & the rising of the indigenous peoples & peasantry which we later come to hear of as the Naxalite Revolution ?

  19. I am not saying that you do not take up the case, but only would like to point out one thing. Fortunately, the flaws, both moral and legal, have been adequately highlighted in the case, throughout India. We need not worry, nothing will happen to him after such a big outcry throughout the country. Secondly, by the time appeals are made to the High Court and the Supreme Court, the time taken would be so much (considering the fact that the prosecution does not have good evidences) that he may have already died a natural death.

    At the same time, for the sake of completeness, I would like to point out that Mr. Sen should have acted more responsibly and should have completely rejected the violent terrorism instead of condoning it, looking into the fact that it is ruining the lives of us, the lower sections of the pyramid in the country.

  20. So ……. India’s a “democracy” , & the Naxalites are “terrorists”.

    Ahhh, a “Democracy” !

    The BIGGEST WAVE OF SUICIDES IN WORLD HISTORY has occured in this “democracy” that is India !!!

    Between 1997 & 2007, the number of Indian farmer suicides has been….. 182,936 !!!

    Yes ….. 182 THOUSAND, 9 hundred 36 !!!

    So says the Indian Home Ministry’s National Crime Records Bureau’s own figures !

    These HORRENDOUS figures are ACTUALLY vastly lowered down, for they leave out countless more farmer suicides …. like the innumerable suicides by WOMEN FARMERS whom the “democratic” Indian government doesn’t count as “farmers” but as “farmers’ wives” … & so leaves out of the category ENTIRELY !!

    Imagine, then, the actual UNIMAGINABLE figure !!!

    Two- thirds of these suicides happened in 5 states …. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra, MP, & Chattisgarh.

    The “Naxalite” belt !

    Whom is the “terrorist” who forced these wretches to suicide ?

    The Naxalites ???

    Oh, no !

    It was the NEOLIBERAL AGRICULTURAL POLICY of the “democratic” Indian government which deliberately uprooted MILLIONS of farmers from food crop to cash crop cultivation …..under the government’s disastrous POLICY OF “EXPORT – LED GROWTH” !!

    The suiciding farmers were ( a ) overwhelmingly deep in debt , & ( b ) overwhelmingly cash crop farmers ….. growing cotton, coffee, sugarcane, vanilla, pepper, etc …

    Cash crop cultivation DEMANDS higher cultivation costs … FAR GREATER loans …. CRUSHING debt burdens … & life & death at the mercy of the turbulent prices of the global market dominated by the ruthless multinational corporations !!

    The rise in farmer debt bondage coincided with the government’s introduction of the WTO’s neoliberal cashcrop dominated path to rural India’s destruction.

    In Andhra, 82 % of farm households are in the toils of debt.

    This is the price village india is paying … for the enrichment of the Indian & multinational ELITE.

    Whom is the “terrorist” here, the destroyer of an entire traditional rural world ?

    And whom is the cause of the fury & the rising of the indigenous peoples & peasantry which we later come to hear of as the Naxalite Revolution ?

  21. Our world is in great trouble du to human behavior founded on beliefs myths and customs that are causing the destruction of Nature and climate change. This Savage and destructive economic development that does not respect life or nature will destroy human beings; we can now deduce the most simple science of reality – the wave structure of matter in space. By understanding how we and everything around us are interconnected in Space we can then deduce solutions to the fundamental problems of human knowledge in physics, philosophy, metaphysics, theology, education, health, evolution and ecology politics and society.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsPBVNecOMo&fe

  22. Our world is in great trouble du to human behavior founded on beliefs myths and customs that are causing the destruction of Nature and climate change. This Savage and destructive economic development that does not respect life or nature will destroy human beings; we can now deduce the most simple science of reality – the wave structure of matter in space. By understanding how we and everything around us are interconnected in Space we can then deduce solutions to the fundamental problems of human knowledge in physics, philosophy, metaphysics, theology, education, health, evolution and ecology politics and society.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsPBVNecOMo&fe

  23. Our world is in great trouble du to human behavior founded on beliefs myths and customs that are causing the destruction of Nature and climate change. This Savage and destructive economic development that does not respect life or nature will destroy human beings; we can now deduce the most simple science of reality – the wave structure of matter in space. By understanding how we and everything around us are interconnected in Space we can then deduce solutions to the fundamental problems of human knowledge in physics, philosophy, metaphysics, theology, education, health, evolution and ecology politics and society.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsPBVNecOMo&fe

  24. Mr. or Ms. A. S.

    Perhaps your definition of Democracy (government by the people – power vested in the people exercised by them or by their elected agents under a free election) differs from Random House, Webster,Miriam and the rest of the world. India is a democracy. They even have 3 separate branches (exec., legislative and judiciary) and two major parties (INC – similar to Democrats in the U.S. and BJP – similar to Republicans).

    Perhaps your definition of Terrorism is different as well. Maybe your knowledge of the Naxalites and known activities is limited. OR perhaps your radical and warped political ideology either excuses the actions as an "ends justify the means" type thing or because of your ideology you are in denial.

    The one thing that is obvious, you are not from India.

    India is not without flaws (suicides and farmers indebt) —- but the answer isn't a lawless terrorist militia killing innocent civilians, police and destroying infrastructure. Maoist, Communist, Naxalite TERRORISTS contribute to the problem – are not fighting to fix anything.

  25. Dear Be Honest,
    A democracy that does not value the lives of its citizens and committed injustices against his people is not a true democracy.
    What matters the branches (exec., legislative and judiciary) taht a government had?
    Who loves his country believed that the birthplace is the best place in the world, and that's not true, maybe we should think like the farmers, the land of their birth deserves all the love in the world, and that is true ".
    All democracies have failed, for putting the interest of the country to the values of humanity.

  26. Our world is in great trouble du to human behavior founded on beliefs myths and customs that are causing the destruction of Nature and climate change. This Savage and destructive economic development that does not respect life or nature will destroy human beings; we can now deduce the most simple science of reality – the wave structure of matter in space. By understanding how we and everything around us are interconnected in Space we can then deduce solutions to the fundamental problems of human knowledge in physics, philosophy, metaphysics, theology, education, health, evolution and ecology politics and society.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsPBVNecOMo&feature=related

  27. My additional comments are not being posted. Perhaps there is a delay or I am just being silenced.

  28. "Be Honest": I don't see your other messages either in moderation or posted here. You are not being silenced as long as you abide by the terms of use. There must be some technical issue. So feel free to disagree, but don't use insults (which you have not done).

    If you read my post carefully, I spoke about the Chhattisgarh government NOT the Government of India. The constitution states that law and order is a state subject.

    One correction to "Be Honest" regarding India's political system: there are not exactly three branches. The executive is subservient to the legislative as is the case in all parliamentary democracies. In other words, the executive can only be in power if it maintains the confidence of the legislature. That is not the case in countries like the US where they operate separately. The judiciary on the other hand in India is very independent. There is also a very powerful election commission in addition to the very powerful role that state governments play as I mentioned in the last paragraph.

    There are many wonderful features of the Indian system of government. But, there are many flaws in the way that it's implemented for a variety of reasons which would take up several large reports and commissions. It's all the more reason why Indians must criticize and improve their country so it can rightfully be a model for the world. The more criticism the better, I say.

  29. Mr. or Ms. A. S.

    Perhaps your definition of Democracy (government by the people – power vested in the people exercised by them or by their elected agents under a free election) differs from Random House, Webster,Miriam and the rest of the world. India is a democracy. They even have 3 separate branches (exec., legislative and judiciary) and two major parties (INC – similar to Democrats in the U.S. and BJP – similar to Republicans).

    Perhaps your definition of Terrorism is different as well. Maybe your knowledge of the Naxalites and known activities is limited. OR perhaps your radical and warped political ideology either excuses the actions as an “ends justify the means” type thing or because of your ideology you are in denial.

    The one thing that is obvious, you are not from India.

    India is not without flaws (suicides and farmers indebt) —- but the answer isn’t a lawless terrorist militia killing innocent civilians, police and destroying infrastructure. Maoist, Communist, Naxalite TERRORISTS contribute to the problem – are not fighting to fix anything.

  30. Govind ji is the best blogger I have ever seen! He has a great quality of writing posts like his last comment (Absolutely nobody can call it biased)!

    I also strongly agree with most of what "Be Honest" said. You are correct in most respects.

    I also agree with some points of others especially those of Elisabeth Simón and a. savage

  31. Dear Be Honest,
    A democracy that does not value the lives of its citizens and committed injustices against his people is not a true democracy.
    What matters the branches (exec., legislative and judiciary) taht a government had?
    Who loves his country believed that the birthplace is the best place in the world, and that’s not true, maybe we should think like the farmers, the land of their birth deserves all the love in the world, and that is true “.
    All democracies have failed, for putting the interest of the country to the values of humanity.

  32. My additional comments are not being posted. Perhaps there is a delay or I am just being silenced.

  33. “Be Honest”: I don’t see your other messages either in moderation or posted here. You are not being silenced as long as you abide by the terms of use. There must be some technical issue. So feel free to disagree, but don’t use insults (which you have not done).

    If you read my post carefully, I spoke about the Chhattisgarh government NOT the Government of India. The constitution states that law and order is a state subject.

    One correction to “Be Honest” regarding India’s political system: there are not exactly three branches. The executive is subservient to the legislative as is the case in all parliamentary democracies. In other words, the executive can only be in power if it maintains the confidence of the legislature. That is not the case in countries like the US where they operate separately. The judiciary on the other hand in India is very independent. There is also a very powerful election commission in addition to the very powerful role that state governments play as I mentioned in the last paragraph.

    There are many wonderful features of the Indian system of government. But, there are many flaws in the way that it’s implemented for a variety of reasons which would take up several large reports and commissions. It’s all the more reason why Indians must criticize and improve their country so it can rightfully be a model for the world. The more criticism the better, I say.

  34. Govind ji is the best blogger I have ever seen! He has a great quality of writing posts like his last comment (Absolutely nobody can call it biased)!

    I also strongly agree with most of what “Be Honest” said. You are correct in most respects.

    I also agree with some points of others especially those of Elisabeth Simón and a. savage

  35. Yes the executive branch in India differs from the executive branch of the U.S. in that they can be voted out on grounds of no confidence by the legislative branch.

    The legislative branch are also elected officials – answers to constituents and must be voted/elected to office. The slight difference is they can oust the executive by a vote of no confidence. Different, (standard / procedure) but somewhat similar to impeachment.

    I was addressing Mr. or Ms. A. Savage's claim that India is not a democracy and Naxalite were not the terrorists.

  36. Yes the executive branch in India differs from the executive branch of the U.S. in that they can be voted out on grounds of no confidence by the legislative branch.

    The legislative branch are also elected officials – answers to constituents and must be voted/elected to office. The slight difference is they can oust the executive by a vote of no confidence. Different, (standard / procedure) but somewhat similar to impeachment.

    I was addressing Mr. or Ms. A. Savage’s claim that India is not a democracy and Naxalite were not the terrorists.

  37. i'm not here to define "democracy" or "terrorism".

    i'm talking of something far more crucial …. the raging agrarian crisis in India.

    How many farmers killed themelves in 2009 ?

    At least 17 THOUSAND, 3 HUNDRED and 68 souls !! … a VASTLY UNDERESTIMATED official figure.

    That's the HIGHEST FIGURE for farmer suicides in SIX YEARS.

    The TOTAL official number for farmer suicides since 1997 ?

    2, 16, 500 !!

    Over 2 LAKH Indian farmers have taken their own lives in 13 years !!!!

    62 % of these deaths are in India's "Suicide Belt" … Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra, MP, & Chhattisgarh.

    The farmer suicide toll for LAST year, 2010, is estimated to be at least an additional SIXTEEN THOUSANDS SOULS !!.

    So what is the OVERALL picture in farmer suicides in India ?

    More than a QUARTER of a MILLION peasants have perished at their own hands in India since 1995 … the GREATEST tsunami of sucides in recorded human history !!!

    & "Be Honest" calls this UNPRECEDENTED wave of deaths from indebtedness mere "FLAWS" in india's "democracy" !! Just "flaws" , he calls them !!!

    One & a half MILLION souls, the families of the suicides, were DIRECTLY ORPHANED & WIDOWED by these deaths !!!

    The reasons for the suicides ?

    The truth that Indian farmers have been SIMULTANEOUSLY STRUCK by :

    a ) Lack of credit, resulting in ….

    b ) Indebtedness to moneylenders … in 10 years, 1991 – 2001, the number of farm households in debt nearly DOUBLED from26 % to 48. 6 % ……. a grossly underestimated figure !!

    c ) Disasters caused by government policies :

    A PHENOMENAL RISE in cultivation input costs.

    CRASHING PRICES for commercial crops, often RIGGED by rich traders & powerful corporations.

    Slashing INVESTMENTS in agriculture.

    The withdrawal of the banks, which remove credit AWAY FROM the farmers to CONCENTRATE ON SERVING the demands & desires of the urban Indian UPPER MIDDLE CLASS.

    Where's the system of "checks & balances" "Be Honest" talks about ????

    Rural India … the REAL india … is in UTTER IMBALANCE & turmoil, PRECISELY DUE TO the present ruling system & its policies !!

    The economist K Nagaraj, the author of the biggest study on Indian farmer suicides, says:

    "That these numbers [ of suicides ] are rising EVEN AS THE FARM POPULATION SHRINKS [my emphasis],confirms the agrarian crisis is still burning."

    This "crisis", he concludes, " has not relented, not gone away."

    What causes agrarian Revolutions ?

    Not any radical ideology or "terrorism".

    They are caused by SOCIO – ECONOMIC CRISES which the ruling System is UNABLE to solve.

    HISTORICALLY INCAPABLE of offering a solution, the System blames "terrorism", "violence", "lawlessness" for the problems it itself creates.

    It blames individuals like Dr Binayak Sen, although Dr Sen did not create the agrarian crisis …. he only serves its victims, the desperate, INCREDIBLY OPPRESSED & EXPLOITED indigenous Peoples in their hour of greatest need.

    This service constitutes his "CRIMES", to use "Be Honest's" term.

    Blaming Dr Sen won't solve the crisis …. it'll only DEEPEN it.

    & serve to show the BANKRUPTCY of urban India's power elites.

  38. What is the truest Symptom that a ruling System is in the Terminal stages of its Crisis ?

    That it invariably seeks a Scapegoat — singled out & alone, & the purer that Innocent, the better — to Sacrifice at the Altar of its own Impotence.

  39. i’m not here to define “democracy” or “terrorism”.

    i’m talking of something far more crucial …. the raging agrarian crisis in India.

    How many farmers killed themelves in 2009 ?

    At least 17 THOUSAND, 3 HUNDRED and 68 souls !! … a VASTLY UNDERESTIMATED official figure.

    That’s the HIGHEST FIGURE for farmer suicides in SIX YEARS.

    The TOTAL official number for farmer suicides since 1997 ?

    2, 16, 500 !!

    Over 2 LAKH Indian farmers have taken their own lives in 13 years !!!!

    62 % of these deaths are in India’s “Suicide Belt” … Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra, MP, & Chhattisgarh.

    The farmer suicide toll for LAST year, 2010, is estimated to be at least an additional SIXTEEN THOUSANDS SOULS !!.

    So what is the OVERALL picture in farmer suicides in India ?

    More than a QUARTER of a MILLION peasants have perished at their own hands in India since 1995 … the GREATEST tsunami of sucides in recorded human history !!!

    & “Be Honest” calls this UNPRECEDENTED wave of deaths from indebtedness mere “FLAWS” in india’s “democracy” !! Just “flaws” , he calls them !!!

    One & a half MILLION souls, the families of the suicides, were DIRECTLY ORPHANED & WIDOWED by these deaths !!!

    The reasons for the suicides ?

    The truth that Indian farmers have been SIMULTANEOUSLY STRUCK by :

    a ) Lack of credit, resulting in ….

    b ) Indebtedness to moneylenders … in 10 years, 1991 – 2001, the number of farm households in debt nearly DOUBLED from26 % to 48. 6 % ……. a grossly underestimated figure !!

    c ) Disasters caused by government policies :

    A PHENOMENAL RISE in cultivation input costs.

    CRASHING PRICES for commercial crops, often RIGGED by rich traders & powerful corporations.

    Slashing INVESTMENTS in agriculture.

    The withdrawal of the banks, which remove credit AWAY FROM the farmers to CONCENTRATE ON SERVING the demands & desires of the urban Indian UPPER MIDDLE CLASS.

    Where’s the system of “checks & balances” “Be Honest” talks about ????

    Rural India … the REAL india … is in UTTER IMBALANCE & turmoil, PRECISELY DUE TO the present ruling system & its policies !!

    The economist K Nagaraj, the author of the biggest study on Indian farmer suicides, says:

    “That these numbers [ of suicides ] are rising EVEN AS THE FARM POPULATION SHRINKS [my emphasis],confirms the agrarian crisis is still burning.”

    This “crisis”, he concludes, ” has not relented, not gone away.”

    What causes agrarian Revolutions ?

    Not any radical ideology or “terrorism”.

    They are caused by SOCIO – ECONOMIC CRISES which the ruling System is UNABLE to solve.

    HISTORICALLY INCAPABLE of offering a solution, the System blames “terrorism”, “violence”, “lawlessness” for the problems it itself creates.

    It blames individuals like Dr Binayak Sen, although Dr Sen did not create the agrarian crisis …. he only serves its victims, the desperate, INCREDIBLY OPPRESSED & EXPLOITED indigenous Peoples in their hour of greatest need.

    This service constitutes his “CRIMES”, to use “Be Honest’s” term.

    Blaming Dr Sen won’t solve the crisis …. it’ll only DEEPEN it.

    & serve to show the BANKRUPTCY of urban India’s power elites.

  40. What is the truest Symptom that a ruling System is in the Terminal stages of its Crisis ?

    That it invariably seeks a Scapegoat — singled out & alone, & the purer that Innocent, the better — to Sacrifice at the Altar of its own Impotence.

  41. There are productive, legal, and unviolent ways to improve the plight of the farmers whom are unable to climb out of debt. Terrorism, killing civilians and police, detroying infrastructure are certainly not among them. Neither is suicide.

    We can agree suicide is a tragedy Mr. Savage. Where we seem to disagree are the solutions to these problems the farmers face.

    There will always be lenders and always be borrowers. The more you educate, perhaps train to learn a new trade, and the more you advocate changing with the times and with the economy – the less vulnerable and more empowered the borrower.

    Those who really want to help?? Check out the outreach progams – many non-profit charity organizations … But also be aware of the many Government Programs and actions being taken.

    India is well into it's own developing and industrial revolution. It will only get more and more competitive and more and more difficult to realistically raise a family by effectively and efficiently growing cotton. Simple case of supply and demand.

    Back to Dr. Sen – I stand firmly by my previous comments that though he "has passionately defended the rights of indigenous peoples in his state and has saved the lives of countless children in his medical practice" it is his aiding and abeting of a known terrorist organization that landed him where he is. Very unfortunate for all involved. He has and will continue to have his day in court. In addition – ALL people of India will continue exercising the right to vote and be represented by those they elect into office. When they are not up to the task – just as in any Democracy – the people will vote them out.

  42. There are productive, legal, and unviolent ways to improve the plight of the farmers whom are unable to climb out of debt. Terrorism, killing civilians and police, detroying infrastructure are certainly not among them. Neither is suicide.

    We can agree suicide is a tragedy Mr. Savage. Where we seem to disagree are the solutions to these problems the farmers face.

    There will always be lenders and always be borrowers. The more you educate, perhaps train to learn a new trade, and the more you advocate changing with the times and with the economy – the less vulnerable and more empowered the borrower.

    Those who really want to help?? Check out the outreach progams – many non-profit charity organizations … But also be aware of the many Government Programs and actions being taken.

    India is well into it’s own developing and industrial revolution. It will only get more and more competitive and more and more difficult to realistically raise a family by effectively and efficiently growing cotton. Simple case of supply and demand.

    Back to Dr. Sen – I stand firmly by my previous comments that though he “has passionately defended the rights of indigenous peoples in his state and has saved the lives of countless children in his medical practice” it is his aiding and abeting of a known terrorist organization that landed him where he is. Very unfortunate for all involved. He has and will continue to have his day in court. In addition – ALL people of India will continue exercising the right to vote and be represented by those they elect into office. When they are not up to the task – just as in any Democracy – the people will vote them out.

  43. Mr.B Honest uses all the old mantras of Indian bureaucracy to deal with the agrarian crisis … the very mantras that are a symtom of officialdom's cocooning from reality.

    "There are productive, legal & unviolent ways.." , he intones … forgetting these bureaucratic "ways" are the very ones that result in the most violent forms of poverty among the landless, poor peasants.

    Mantras without meat OR meaning in the BARREN countryside.

    "Productive ways", he pointss out … Now see the reality.

    Corporations are taking control over agriculture.

    Controlling every major sector of agriculture … inputs, outlets, marketing, prices ….

    "There are legal ways," says mr Honest…. as the government's neoliberal "reforms" ENABLE the products of giant seed corporations like Monsanto to replace the cheap hybrids & strong traditional varieties of seeds .

    Indian states, in fact, are ENTHUSIASTICALLY PROMOTING the EXPULSION OF the local varieties & hybrids !!

    Cotton farmers will now pay Monsanto far more for seeds than they ever could have once imagined.

    Example :

    in 1991, a farmer in the presently devastated region of Vidarbha could buy a kilo of local seeds at Rupees 7 to 9.

    By 2003, a bag of JUST 450 GRAMS of hybrid seeds cost Rupees 350 !!

    Then, a bag of 450 grams of Bt cotton seeds from Monsanto's Indian partners came to cost … NINE HUNDRED RUPEES !!

    *******

    "There are unviolent [ sic ] ways," Mr Honest assures … while an immense scarcity of water hits the farmers …. & both corporations AND indian states are PRIVATISING the water.

    *****

    "There will always be lenders & …borrowers," Mr Honest pontificates ….. while, between 1993 & 2007, THOUSANDS of rural banks closed as peasant incomes collapsed.

    ******

    "Advocate changing with the times & the economy," he airily & blithely advises …. while that very economy the poor are advised to change with, LIFTS the prices of the food grains on which MILLIONS of small farmers depend ALLMOST OUT OF THEIR REACH through speculations on the futures markets .

    HUNGER is the farmers' reality.

    Prof. Utsa Patnaik, India's top economist on agriculture, is constantly pointing out that the average poor family has about A HUNDRED KILOS LESS of foodgrains than it had only 10 years ago.

    ******

    Suicide is not the way, Mr Honest admonishes … as one case of farmer self – slaughter occurs EVERY 30 MINUTES.

    ********

    "The more you educate," he adjoins helpfully …. as many THOUSANDS of students … including many WITH SCHOLARSHIPS ….. drop out of collages to work on their parents' farms.

    *********

    "Train to learn a new trade", he commands… as MILLIONS are driven out of farming, joining the EIGHT MILLION peasants who have left farming between 1991 & 2001 to face an unknown future away from the security of their traditional ways of life & land.

    *********

    "Check out the outreach programs," he quips smartly … as cash crop prices are undercut by BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF US / EU SUBSIDIES for rich & corporate Western farmers, destroying India's cotton farming.

    **********

    "Charity organisations," he suggests …. as investments annually worth BILLIONS are cut off from the farmers.

    *******

    "Many government programs & actions," he promises …as rural health care plummets in quality & SOARS in costs.

    ********
    "India's well into its own … industrial revolution," he declares … as the commercialization of agriculture creates the very crisis that has alienated the rural landless.

    **********

    "It will get more & more competitive … Simple case of supply & demand," he cuts to the bottomline, knowing his own is safe & cushioned, while the economist K Nagaraj warns :

    "The [ suicide ] numbers LEAVE LITTLE ROOM FOR COMFORT & NONE AT ALL FOR SELF CONGRATULATION."

    As for Dr Sen, Mr Honest washes his hands like Pilate :" ….his aiding .. of terrorist[s] … landed him where he is. Very unfortunate…."

    No doubt left as to which class Mr Honest belongs … while the naked & the cold & famished whom Binayak Sen has looked after are left without one more bridge to the outside world, one more voice to speak …

    Mr Honest ends with a litttle flourish for democracy …. which he defines very simply & only as electoral democracy … as india's "parliament" fills up with more millionaires cut off from the real india … the countryside.

    & beyond, the jungle is waiting.

  44. Mr.B Honest uses all the old mantras of Indian bureaucracy to deal with the agrarian crisis … the very mantras that are a symtom of officialdom’s cocooning from reality.

    “There are productive, legal & unviolent ways..” , he intones … forgetting these bureaucratic “ways” are the very ones that result in the most violent forms of poverty among the landless, poor peasants.

    Mantras without meat OR meaning in the BARREN countryside.

    “Productive ways”, he pointss out … Now see the reality.

    Corporations are taking control over agriculture.

    Controlling every major sector of agriculture … inputs, outlets, marketing, prices ….

    “There are legal ways,” says mr Honest…. as the government’s neoliberal “reforms” ENABLE the products of giant seed corporations like Monsanto to replace the cheap hybrids & strong traditional varieties of seeds .

    Indian states, in fact, are ENTHUSIASTICALLY PROMOTING the EXPULSION OF the local varieties & hybrids !!

    Cotton farmers will now pay Monsanto far more for seeds than they ever could have once imagined.

    Example :

    in 1991, a farmer in the presently devastated region of Vidarbha could buy a kilo of local seeds at Rupees 7 to 9.

    By 2003, a bag of JUST 450 GRAMS of hybrid seeds cost Rupees 350 !!

    Then, a bag of 450 grams of Bt cotton seeds from Monsanto’s Indian partners came to cost … NINE HUNDRED RUPEES !!

    *******

    “There are unviolent [ sic ] ways,” Mr Honest assures … while an immense scarcity of water hits the farmers …. & both corporations AND indian states are PRIVATISING the water.

    *****

    “There will always be lenders & …borrowers,” Mr Honest pontificates ….. while, between 1993 & 2007, THOUSANDS of rural banks closed as peasant incomes collapsed.

    ******

    “Advocate changing with the times & the economy,” he airily & blithely advises …. while that very economy the poor are advised to change with, LIFTS the prices of the food grains on which MILLIONS of small farmers depend ALLMOST OUT OF THEIR REACH through speculations on the futures markets .

    HUNGER is the farmers’ reality.

    Prof. Utsa Patnaik, India’s top economist on agriculture, is constantly pointing out that the average poor family has about A HUNDRED KILOS LESS of foodgrains than it had only 10 years ago.

    ******

    Suicide is not the way, Mr Honest admonishes … as one case of farmer self – slaughter occurs EVERY 30 MINUTES.

    ********

    “The more you educate,” he adjoins helpfully …. as many THOUSANDS of students … including many WITH SCHOLARSHIPS ….. drop out of collages to work on their parents’ farms.

    *********

    “Train to learn a new trade”, he commands… as MILLIONS are driven out of farming, joining the EIGHT MILLION peasants who have left farming between 1991 & 2001 to face an unknown future away from the security of their traditional ways of life & land.

    *********

    “Check out the outreach programs,” he quips smartly … as cash crop prices are undercut by BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF US / EU SUBSIDIES for rich & corporate Western farmers, destroying India’s cotton farming.

    **********

    “Charity organisations,” he suggests …. as investments annually worth BILLIONS are cut off from the farmers.

    *******

    “Many government programs & actions,” he promises …as rural health care plummets in quality & SOARS in costs.

    ********
    “India’s well into its own … industrial revolution,” he declares … as the commercialization of agriculture creates the very crisis that has alienated the rural landless.

    **********

    “It will get more & more competitive … Simple case of supply & demand,” he cuts to the bottomline, knowing his own is safe & cushioned, while the economist K Nagaraj warns :

    “The [ suicide ] numbers LEAVE LITTLE ROOM FOR COMFORT & NONE AT ALL FOR SELF CONGRATULATION.”

    As for Dr Sen, Mr Honest washes his hands like Pilate :” ….his aiding .. of terrorist[s] … landed him where he is. Very unfortunate….”

    No doubt left as to which class Mr Honest belongs … while the naked & the cold & famished whom Binayak Sen has looked after are left without one more bridge to the outside world, one more voice to speak …

    Mr Honest ends with a litttle flourish for democracy …. which he defines very simply & only as electoral democracy … as india’s “parliament” fills up with more millionaires cut off from the real india … the countryside.

    & beyond, the jungle is waiting.

  45. Well Mr. S – glad you got that off your chest.

    You are all over the map and somewhat incomprehensible.

    I will sign out now and end my half of the debate now just by saying you have no idea what "class" I belong to, where I have been and what I have done.

    I've spent more time in India than you will your whole life and am well aware of the issues. I've also done more than blog and write letters.

    Though I respect your perspective, you offer no real help or assistance other than to demonize government and business and to flame class-warfare and advocate for violence and terrorism as an ends justify the means. The Government, Business and Communities are not ignoring the plight of the farmers as you would suggest.

    Naxalite, Moaism, Terrorism is not the answer – Dr Sen — a gifted medical professional who previously donated his time and was an advocate – should have known better.

  46. Well Mr. S – glad you got that off your chest.

    You are all over the map and somewhat incomprehensible.

    I will sign out now and end my half of the debate now just by saying you have no idea what “class” I belong to, where I have been and what I have done.

    I’ve spent more time in India than you will your whole life and am well aware of the issues. I’ve also done more than blog and write letters.

    Though I respect your perspective, you offer no real help or assistance other than to demonize government and business and to flame class-warfare and advocate for violence and terrorism as an ends justify the means. The Government, Business and Communities are not ignoring the plight of the farmers as you would suggest.

    Naxalite, Moaism, Terrorism is not the answer – Dr Sen — a gifted medical professional who previously donated his time and was an advocate – should have known better.

Comments are closed.