While the former is a minority, it is a hill tribe and is opposing the majority Meitei’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status which the ruling BJP government agreed to grant.

The situation has become so precarious that the home department of Manipur has issued ‘shoot at sight orders’, and even suspended the internet. A BJP MLA was attacked by a mob and is recovering in the hospital, there is no official death toll yet and people are scared for their lives.

The public petition started by Sarvodaya Sangam states, “we appeal to the President of India to ensure peace in the state. She belongs to the indigenous tribal community, and we expect her to empathize with the vulnerable communities of the state. We urge the President of India to restore law and order and ensure the safety of life and property. We urge to consider the imposition of Article 356 of the Constitution of India, i.e. President’s Rule in the state.  This step can ensure peace and tranquility among warring communities. The fundamental rights of every community need to be protected.”

The public petition also appeals for peace on both warring communities and wishes to spread the message of peace and to sit across the table and talk.

Kukis are unhappy with the BJP government in the state due to the multiple eviction drives on their ancestral forest lands, demolition of churches, insinuations of them being illegal immigrants from Myanmar and so on. The violence spread from Churachandpur district, a hill district, to the Imphal valley as well. Mobs have been on a rampage  burning houses and vehicles. Even Kangpokpi, Bishnupur and Moreh are under attack.

The petition can be read here.

Related:

Even as Manipur burns, humanity thrives

Demolition of 3 Churches in BJP-Ruled Manipur for ‘Illegal Construction’ causes social media uproar

Policy and jurisprudence, India’s refugee policy has taken a regressive turn

Section 144 imposed in Jamshedpur; arrests made in Bihar and Maharashtra over instances of violence during Ram Navami

Ram Navami: Violent Clashes in many states of India

The post Demand for President’s Rule in Manipur gains traction; more than 46,000 signatories appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has launched an online petition to free Hany Babu, the 55-year-old Professor, who has been accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, has been in custody since July 2020 without trial.

Unfortunately, since May 3, he has developed an acute eye infection in Taloja Jail, with little or no vision in his left eye due to the swelling. It has also spread to his cheek, ear and forehead, and he fears that it will soon impact his brain. In agonising pain, he has also not been able to nurse his eye because of water shortage and with very little access to clean water, he is being forced to dress his eye with soiled towels.

Only after incessant calls and emails from his family members and lawyer, the jail authorities managed to take him to a Government Hospital in Vashi on May 7. But due to an alleged unavailability of an escort officer, he has not been taken to the government facility for a follow up treatment.

The email sent by his lawyer to the Jail Superintendent emphasises the gravity of the situation and that even a day’s delay may lead to an irreversible deterioration leading to partial or complete loss of sight, as well as a life-threatening complication if it affects the brain.  However, in a shocking display of State apathy, he has not been able to visit an ophthalmologist after May 7.

We have humbly urged and requested the Chief Minister and Home Minister, Maharashtra to immediately direct Professor Babu’s release in order for him to avail necessary eye treatment that he is entitled to.

Join CJP’s voice in demanding his release. Sign our Change.org petition here:

Related:

Sign CJP’s petition to release political prisoners now!
Sign CJP’s petition to release Nodeep Kaur NOW
Sign CJP’s online petition to CJI Bobde to hold Kapil Mishra accountable for instigating the Delhi violence and prosecute him

The post Release Hany Babu from Taloja Jail to get proper eye treatment: CJP appeared first on SabrangIndia.

 
According to his wife Vida Mehrannia, “Ahmadreza had always travelled to Iran by invitation of state organizations, including the Red Crescent, and never experienced problems before.” ((https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/people/ahmadreza-djalali )) He has previously collaborated with Tehran University, Shiraz University and the Natural Disaster Medicine Institute in Iran. However, Dr. Djalali was under suspicion for working with the Israeli government. The Iranian authorities believe that it was the Israelis who helped Dr. Djalali get a residency permit in Sweden. Dr. Djalali was living in Sweden with his wife and two children aged 5 and 14.
 
After his arrest, Dr. Djalai was kept in custody for seven months without being allowed to seek legal counsel. According to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, “Djalali was held in solitary confinement at Evin Prison’s Ward 209, which is controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence, and interrogated for seven months before being transferred to the public Ward 7.” In fact, last December Dr. Djalali had gone on a hunger strike and has reportedly lost 18 kgs of weight. After a forced video confession and an allegedly sham trial, he was convicted for “working with enemy states”.
 
According to Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, “Ahmadreza Djalali was sentenced to death after a grossly unfair trial that once again exposes not only the Iranian authorities’ steadfast commitment to use of the death penalty but their utter contempt for the rule of law.” (https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/10/iran-prominent-academic-sentenced-to-death-after-grossly-unfair-trial/)
 
If you too would like to get Dr Djalali released, you can sign this petition. (https://www.change.org/p/hassan-rouhani-urgent-justice-and-freedom-for-ahmadreza-djalali-md-emdm-phd)
 

The post Petition to free jailed Iranian scientist appeared first on SabrangIndia.