12h June 2013
To
We the undersigned strongly condemn the blatant attempt by the Kerala police to intimidate five colleagues from the field of film and media by filing fabricated cases against them for ‘rioting’, ‘unlawful assembly’ and ‘public obstruction’ (IPC Sections 143, 147, 149 and 283 ).
These five individuals- K.P.Sasi, noted filmmaker and activist, I. Shanmukhadas, film critic, Prasannakumar T.N., film activist, Shafeek, journalist and Deepak, filmmaker and film society activist- were participating in a peaceful protest on February 11 at Thrissur, Kerala, along with many others, outside the venue of the Vibgyor Film Festival 2013 against the concept of capital punishment and the summary execution of Afzal Guru.
The peaceful protest which lasted for an hour, in no way disturbed public order or caused communal unrest. For this act of democratic expression, these fraudulent and trumped charges have been filed against them.
It is indeed shocking that the Kerala police should deny citizens their basic right to peacefully protest against the death penalty, which 97 nations across the world have abolished. As per Amnesty International data, over 2/3 of the countries of the world (140) are now “abolitionist in law or practice”. In India, there has been an alarming resurgence of the death penalty, which needs to be questioned and protested against by all those who stand for social justice and human rights. This crude act of intimidation by the state needs to be condemned by all and we appeal to the Chief Minister of Kerala ensure that the Kerala police to withdraw these false and malicious charges immediately.
Anand Patwardhan, Filmmaker, Mumbai
Anjali Monteiro, TISS, Mumbai
K.P. Jayasankar, TISS, Mumbai
Nivedita Menon, JNU, New Delhi
Rahul Roy, Filmmaker, New Delhi
Saba Dewan, Filmmaker, New Delhi
Shilpa Phadke, TISS, Mumbai
Kamayani Bali Mahabal, Human rights activist, Mumbai
Shohini Ghosh, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Amar Kanwar, Filmmaker, New Delhi
Ajay Bhardwaj, Filmmaker, New Delhi
Anivar Aravind, IT Engineer, Bangalore
Bishaldeb Halder, TISS, Mumbai
Charu Gargi, Filmmaker, Estonia
Lynne Henry, Filmmaker, Mumbai
P Baburaj, Film maker, Trivandrum
Pankaj Rishi Kumar, Filmmaker, Mumbai
Rakesh Sharma, Filmmaker, Mumbai-Goa
Sanjay Mohan, Journalist, New Delhi
Shoba V. Ghosh, Mumbai University
Suhasini Mulay, Filmmaker, Mumbai
Suma Josson, Filmmaker, Mumbai
Vivek Monteiro, Trade Unionist, Mumbai
Yousuf Saeed, Filmmaker, New Delhi
( If you agree add your endorsements in comment section )
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June 12, 2013 at 9:09 am
Endorsing
June 12, 2013 at 10:21 pm
I too endorse this petition.
June 13, 2013 at 3:10 am
in solidarity….endorsing
June 13, 2013 at 1:05 pm
endorsing
June 13, 2013 at 10:05 pm
The charges against these friends of mine are false, unfounded and maliciously fabricated. I was present on the occasion. The Constitution of this country gives every citizen right to opinion. They have expressed their opinion on the question of death penalty. I too oppose death penalty.There are millions in this country who oppose death penalty. No government has any right to act against the Constitutional rights of a law abiding citizen.
June 14, 2013 at 9:46 am
Endorse this petition…in solidarity, Benny Benedict, Chetana
June 14, 2013 at 10:46 am
In solidarity!
June 14, 2013 at 10:53 am
Endorsing
June 14, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Endorsing!
June 14, 2013 at 2:26 pm
I too endorse this petition
June 14, 2013 at 6:16 pm
I endorse the petition and join in the protest.
June 14, 2013 at 8:15 pm
I endorse this statement.
June 14, 2013 at 10:09 pm
Endorsing this petition
June 14, 2013 at 11:22 pm
I endorse this statement.
June 15, 2013 at 12:05 pm
We endorse the petition and join in the protest.
Sanjay Joshi
for National Initiative for Cinema of Resistance, Jan Sanskriti Manch
June 15, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Endorsing the statement
June 15, 2013 at 6:11 pm
Endorse it completely