SANGRAM thanks and appeal

[Guest guest]

Dear all, All of you must be wondering where i had disappeared to. The truth is that the investigation instituted by the CM was on and strategically i felt that we should try and keep a low key till the report is out. It has been very difficult but all your good will and solidarity has helped me to maintain some balance and i thank you all deeply for the same. The efforts of all our letters have resulted in the inquiry and the NHRC taking action.

Two major events

1. The endorsement by the Inquiry Officer in chikodi.[encl]

2. The order of the NHRC[ encl]

{ Through out all this Madhu Bhushan AWHRC and others continue to pressurise at Bangalore. meet DIG Bhaskar, Home Sect AR Infant, ADDL IG MD Singh, NCW chair, Karnataka chair, Addl IG Law and order Subhas Bharani, etc. Shaleen Rakesh from NAZ heroically follows up with NHRC and NACO and NCW.]

M.D. Singh in Bangalore accepts that the enquiry is over and `disiplinary action' will be taken by the IG in Belgaum. Madhu feels we need to put pressure on the Government to suspend the police officer otherwise they may just reprimand him and leave it. Please send to the CM at cm@... and NCW at member_secretary@... and Justice Sujatha Manohar [NHRC] at smanohar@...

also please do not forget to address it to them saperately. this draft is for the CM. The draft is at the end of the page! this is the events date wise for your information.

Land bought in Nippani by VAMP – 11/1/2002

Following Monday – 14/1/2002 Holiday due to Makar Shankranti

Monday 21/1/2002 – VAMP members decided that the Monday meetings held in Sangli will shift to their own premises in Nippani.

Monday 28/1/2002 - The first meeting was held in Nippani.

Monday 4/2/2002 – The second meeting was held and we were informed that the local residents will not allow the meetings to continue through Mr. Pandurang Bise and Corporator Mr. Khambe.

Monday 11/2/2002 - Met Vijay Shetge corporator, MLA Kaka Patil and CPI Khot.

Monday 18/2/2002 - Shabana's life is treathned in the early hours and CPI Khot's unbearable threats.

Monday 18/2/2002. My e-mail to friends, feminists and AIDS activists.

Tuesday 19/2/2002. Solidarity poured in.

Wednesday 20/02/2002. - The press Conference in Kolhapur.

20/02/2002. - AWHRC and Vimochana and 16 organisations in Bangalore submitted memorandums to NHRC, and NCW.

21/02/2002 - petition to The C.M. Mr. S.M. Krishna by SANGRAM.

22.02.2002 - Petition to SP Belgaum and IG Bangalore.

22/02/2002 - Report of the press conference by the corporators in the daily tarun Bharat - allegations

1. Meena has actually bought the land and

2. She is a brothel owner who hopes to run the brothel with the help of Shabana.

23/02/2002 - Our press conference in Mumbai.

26/02/2002 - Press reports in daily Tarun Bharat of the morcha by the women and men from the colony and the photo of CPI Khot accepting a memo that I'm a veshya and the HIV/AIDS work is a sham and a front to run the brothel.

1/03/2002 - The CM's e-mail.

2/03/2002 - Intellectuals meet in NIPPANI [ about 150 persons] to support SANGRAM/VAMP. They have issued a written statement.

6/03/2002 - NHRC passes the order encl.

9/03/2002 - Neil, Shahikant and I depose in front of the IO, Chikodi.

12/03/2002 - Shabana, Bandi and Kamalabai depose.

15/16 /03/2002 - Khambe and others depose and Shankar Bise who saved Shabana's life called and informed me he could not speak the truth because he was scared for his life.

18/03/2002 - We meet the SP and are informed the inquiry is over and report sent to bangalore.

19/03/2002 - I am given the endorsement. encl.

26/03/2002 - M.D. Singh in Bangalore accepts that the enquiry is over and `disiplinary action' will be taken by the IG in Belgaum. Madhu feels we need to put pressure on the Government to suspend the police officer otherwise they may just reprimand him and leave it.

1. Endorsement issued by DSP Shivanand.

2. NHRC order.

No.41/2002. Office of the

Dy.Supdt.of police,

Chikodi Date:17/03/2002.

ENDORSEMENT

Please refer your petition dated:22/2/2002 regarding not taking cognizance of the complaint by the local police and misbehavior of CPI Nippani with Smt Shabana

Kazi & others. As you know, I have been entrusted with the said enquiry. During the course of the enquiry. I have come a cross complaint said to have been filed on 18/02/2002 before the PSI Nippani Town. Since the complaint was not addressed to any body and was not bearing the signature of the originator, the PSI has not taken cognizance. Therefore, you are here by requested to appear before the PSI Nippani Town and file a written complaint. He has already been directed to receive the complaint and take action as per the law.

As regards acton against Sri Satish Khot CPI Nippani, for the alleged misbehavior with the petitioners enquiry report has been submitted to the higher authorities for suitable action.

As regards giving protection to members of VAMP for conducting AIDS/HIV awareness program the local police has been instructed to give necessary protection for conducting awareness programs provided members of VAMP conduct, awareness programs without causing hindrance, nuisance, annoyance to the citizens of Nippani Town and do not indulge in any illegal activities.

[sng. by Shivanand].

Dy.Supdt.of Police,

Chikodi.

To,

Smt.Meena Saraswati Seshu,

General Secretary SANGRAM Sangli.

2. The NHRC order.

NATONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

( LAW DIVISION )

SARDAR PATEL BHAVAN,

SANSAD MARG,NEW DELHI.110001

Tel No:011-3361611,3361671

Fax.No.:011-3366537,3340016

Telegraphic Add : "HUMANRIGHTS"

Home page:http://nhrc.nic.in/

Case No.629/10/2001-2002

NOTICE

To,

THE CHIEF SECRETARY

GOVT.OF MAHARASHTRA,MUMBAI

WHEREAS the complaint /intimation dated 20/02/2002 received from AWHRC/VIMOCHANA in respect of NGO VAMP & SANGRAM was placed before the Commission on 04/03/2002

AND WHEREAS upon penising the complaint the commission has passed the following order.

Issue notice to the Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police Maharashtra & Karanatka as well as to the S.P.Belgaon for reply within two weeks.

In the meanwhile the SP, Belgaon is directed to provide necessary protection to the members of the organisation and all those persons carrying on the HIV/AIDS prevention programme.

NOW THEREFORE TAKE NOTICE that you are required to submit the requisite information/report within 2 weeks from the date of receipt of this notice.

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that in default the Commission may proceed to take each action as it deems proper.

Given under my hand and seal of the Commission, this the day of 06 March,2002.

(BY ORDER)

ASSISTANT REGISTRAR (LAW)

Encl: Copy of the complaint

Note – 1.The information / report shall be furnished only by the authority which is called

upon to do so.

2.Please quote the Case No.reffered above in all future correspondece/reports.

CC to : The Secretary(Law & Order)

GOVT OF KARNATAKA,BANGALORE

AWHRC/ VIMOCHANA

33/1-9,33/1-10,THYAGRAJ LAYOUT,M.S.NAGAR

POST,JAIBHARATHI NAGAR,

BANGALORE,KARNATAKA.

ASSISTANT REGISTRAR (LAW)

Finally the draft!!! Sorry for doing this to you all, but please send it. it seems to really help. Thanks a million.

in solidarity,

meena saraswathi seshu

SANGRAM/VAMP.

To

The Chief Minister,

Shri S M Krishna,

Sub: Harassment of AIDS activists in Nippani district of Karnataka by local police and politicians.

Sir,

We, the undersigned members of organisations in India and the world are heartened and encouraged at your prompt and effective response to the harassment, by police and local politicians, of activists of SANGRAM and VAMP, both organisations which have been in the forefront of the decade long anti-AIDS campaign in Karnataka and Maharashtra, India.

We have learnt that a senior police official DSP Shivanand, Chikodi, conducted an inquiry into the police behaviour against Ms Shabana Kazi, the general secretary of VAMP and Ms Meena Saraswathi Seshu, geneal secretary of SANGRAM. According to a statement issued by the AWHRC in Bangalore, the Additional Inspector General of Police, Mr M D Singh has stated that 'disciplinary action' will be taken against the Nippani Circle Inspector Satish Khot for threatening to sexually assault and rape Ms Kazi. Copy of the endorsement receveived by Ms. Seshu is enclosed.

This is a reassuring step and gives us some hope that local activists in Nippani will be allowed to work without fear of their life and liberty. However, we are anxious that the state ensures stringent action against the concerned police officer that acts as a sufficient deterrent to such behaviour. We believe that this can only happen if the police officer is suspended, pending an official enquiry. He must also be transferred, so that he is unable to misuse his influence and power in the area.

This is the only way a message will be sent to the law-enforcers, down the line, that justice must be done, and seen to be done, towards all victims, from whichever class, caste, community or group they belong to.

Sir, the struggle to combat AIDS is a long, bitter and difficult one. The battle against AIDS calls for courage and fortitude from all sections of society. We earnestly request you to leave no stone unturned to strengthen the hands of organisations like SANGRAM and VAMP, and their activists, in what is truly a life and death struggle.

In solidarity,