WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS DAY - 2005:

- "Torture never be an instrument to fight terror"

It is wonderful that we have the opportunity to celebrate the “World Human Rights Day - 2005" which was established in 1948, Fifty-seven years ago by United Nations.

Manitham's vision is, every individual in a society enjoys all the rights as per in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights prohibited all forms of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

The 21st century has seen the abuse of the word (Terrorism, by many governments, and under the guise of preventing it, the State (Police and armed forces) have systematically carried out numerous acts of state terrorism such as arbitrary arrest, cordon and search of homes at midnight, mishandling females of all ages, solitary detentions and several forms of unspeakable physical and mental torture. Free access to legal services is also denied in most cases. All most victims are all ages, from 10 to 90. The pain and suffering is not only on the victims but also on the whole family for days, months and in some cases, years. The financial ramifications and other consequences are also of monumental proportions for families who are economically disadvantaged, and causes ruin. Most of the victims are innocent of any wrongdoing, and even if victims have violated any laws, there needs to be due process, than terror tactics, which is in practice. It is also very difficult to prove against police officers since they are in stone wall evidence and cover-up their acts.  MORE...

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POLICE TORTURE :

- Manitham Action - Coimbatore Collector Office in Tension on 30-11-2005

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APPEAL FOR SUPPORT :

- Manitham Evening Education Center [MEEC]

Manitham dedicate to solve on this problem and started 2 centers named as "Manitham Evening Education Centers" [MEEC] at Pamban, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. One at Chemmaththoppu Seashore area and another at Kamaraj Nagar area. There are two batches in each area and more than 300 students, both boys and girls at present are getting good education. Some of these children are from the family of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.

Manitham appointed two dedicated lady teachers for this. One male supervisor has been appointed to care of the day to-day affairs and coordinating students. Manitham has to look after all expenses including Teachers salary, supervisor's salary and other miscellaneous expenses. MORE...

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RESPONSE TO MEDIA :

- Manitham's response to "SANGOLI" Official Magazine of MDMK  [To Read in Tamil]

National Engineering Environment Research Institute [NEERI] has submitted a 300 paged report regarding the project. Manitham is anxious about the visible lapses in the NEERI report. NEERI should have made an elaborate study about the pros and cons about such a mighty project before submitting such a report. It is unfortunate that NEERI has overlooked significant factors like the chances for future natural calamities after having monitored their past occurrences. It should have taken into consideration a study of the fury of nature that took place during the past 100/150 years. Manitham holds that the report of NEERI is not totally satisfactory. Manitham hence recommends the project to be reviewed once again by experts drawn from other nations of the World. - MORE...

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CHILD RIGHT :

- Corporal Punishment to Children - Principal lady officer arrested on tip off from MANITHAM

"Two minor girls, Selvi and Suganthi confessed to Manitham on 23rd June, 2005 that they have been tortured by Mrs. Banu Kamal [a] Banumathi, aged about 45, a Christian Malayalee, and the Principal Officer of 'Amma Old Age Home' [AOAH]. A spot investigation was immediately called off by Manitham, headed by its Executive Director, G.Subramanian and by Advocate Murugasen, a member of Manitham. The investigation revealed that unlawful acts were possible in that case. This was reported over mobile to Mr. Pon Manickavel, Superintendent of Police [Rural], Coimbatore. A team of police from Vadavallui [Navavoor jurisdication] arrived and took the girls for a direct enquiry with the S P Rural. After thorough enquiry, police detained and arrested Mrs. Banu Kamal, on 24-06-2005.

- CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOL : Action to be initiated on the right culprit - FURTHER FACTS

1. Fee to be collected, as per Corporation Rules is only Rs. 32/- for Tamil Medium students. But actual fee collected is Rs. 405/- which is unethical and totally unwarranted.
2. Fee to be collected for English Medium is Rs. 32/- + Rs. 200/- as per Corporation Rules. But the Head Master collects Rs. 1,200/-. This is in total disagreement to the government policy of free education to the poor.
3. The Head Master of the School concerned is in-charge for two Schools - Corporation Higher Secondary School, Siddhapudur and Corporation Higher Secondary School, Rathinapuri, [both in Coimbatore] for the past 3 years. This shows the nexus between Corporation Educational Officer [Incharge], Coimbatore and the Head Master. This is not practiced anywhere in Tamil Nadu State. MORE...

- CHILD LABOUR - By: Subramanian.G, Executive Director, Manitham [Paper submitted to National Seminar on "Strategies for Eliminating Child Labour in India". University Grants Commission-sponsored two-day, [July 21 and 22, - 2005] and organised by the Economics Department of the GRG PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore] Children are the future citizens of a country - valuable assets. It is the duty of individual in a society to see that the dreams and rights of a child are fulfilled. As per the latest ILO report, "Child Labour figures to an astounding 256 million, out of which Asia accounts for 153 million working children. In India, as per 1991 census, 14.37 million are working children (official sources). In Tamil Nadu, more than 25,000 Child Labour in Vellore, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Dharmapuri, Namakkal, Salem, Erode, Trichy, Kancheepuram, Dindigul and Chennai District alone [Tamil Nadu Sarva Siksha Abhyan Report, 2004]. MORE...

- South Asia region: report calls for law reform to end legalised violence against children - .pdf [End Corporal Punishment] - THIS REPORT AND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ENDORSED BY: MANITHAM - Click...

- CHILD - HOME

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MANITHAM MIGRANTS DIVISION [MMD] :

- Take steps for safe repatriation of Refugees - Manitham-Chennai demanded GOI in World Refugee Day

1. India should immediately sign and accede UNHRC, the 1951 Convention and 1967 protocol relating to refugees.
2. India should take immediate step for safe repatriation of the refugees who want to return from India.
3. Indian Government should allow NGO's for easy assess the refugee camps.
4. Police and Government officials restrictions on refugees should be immediately withdrawn for the safety of the Refugees. MORE...

- MANITHAM MIGRANTS DIVISION [MMD]

"Migration will be one of the major policy concerns of the 21st century. In our shrinking world, more and more people will look to migration - temporary or permanent - as a path to employment, education, freedom or other opportunities. Governments will need to develop sound migration policies and practices. Properly managed, migration can contribute to prosperity, development and mutual understanding among people. MMD exists to help migrants with all their needs and to assist governments in managing migration for the good of all.....

- aid to migrants in distress [both inland and abroad]

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ACTION BY NHRC :

- On Manitham's Petition, NHRC seeks report on 2 Tamil Scholars and other 11 Tamils hailing in Bangalore Central Prison for more than 3 years [NHRC Directs Inspector General of Prisons, Government of Karnataka to submit report within four weeks] - Read In Tamil

The National Human Rights Commission [NHRC] has directed the Inspector General of Prisons, Government of Karnataka to submit report within four weeks on the alleged arrest of 13 Tamils in Nov. 2002. A copy of the direction has also been sent to the Inspector General of Prisons, Government of Karnataka. The Commission also cautioned that if report has not filed within the prescribed time, it may proceed to take such action as it deems proper. MORE...

- Gross violation of Justice by Karnataka police and Judiciary

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RESEARCH STUDY :

- "Security Forces coercion the voter in Kashmir" [Read in Tamil]

While seeing cross border terrorism with Pakistan, Indian government should try to understand the mentality of Kashmiri people first.Also it should identify the true leaders from Kashmir soil and negotiate with them. UN & third world countries try to take part in those negotiations. 'Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru repeated his pledge in the Indian parliament [07-08-1952] that the people of Jammu & Kashmir will be given a chance to determine their future freely'. This pledge should be adopted immediately. These will lead to a peaceful settlement for Kashmir.

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URGENT APPEAL :

- CONCERNED CITIZENS OF INDIA AND SRI LANKA RE: THE DANGERS OF THE SETHUSAMUDRAM CANAL PROJECT  - Signatories

"THAT A MEGA scheme such as the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP), which undoubtedly will change the face the earth in two countries and might exacerbate the possibility of sudden natural disasters such as Tsunamis, Tidal waves or Cyclones. It could also create the conditions of slow disasters such as the destruction of the ecological system of the Gulf of Mannar (GOM) or the Palk Bay, destroy the breeding grounds for the marine life and thereby ruin the livelihood of millions of fisherman in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka or ruin the farmers of the Northern Province by gradually increasing the salinity of the ground water. [Full Appeal] [SETHUSAMUDRAM SHIP CANAL PROJECT -To Know more]
- ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY! ADOPT HUMAN RIGHTS!!! [English] - [In Tamil]

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MANITHAM NEWS LETTERS :

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EVENTS :

EVENTS ORGANISED : 2005
- WORLD REFUGEE DAY [Organised by Manitham - Chennai] / on Sunday, the 19th June, 2005 - 6.00 pm / Venue : "Community Hall" [Samuga Koodam], J J Nagar - East [formerly Mogapair-East], Near to J J Nagar Police Station, [back side to MMM Hospital], Chennai - 600 037, Tamil Nadu
- INTERNATIONAL WOMAN DAY / Date : 8th March, 2005 - International Women Day : Meetings
- MANITHAM & PSG College of Arts & Science [Independent In-depth Study - Coimbatore Serial Bomb Blast Victims' families]

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PRESS RELEASE :

- Take steps for safe repatriation of Refugees [Manitham-Chennai demanded GOI in World Refugee Day]

Thiru Subramanian, Executive Director, Manitham read out the Demands of the meeting:
1. India should immediately sign and accede UNHRC, the 1951 Convention and 1967 protocol relating to refugees.
2. India should take immediate step for safe repatriation of the refugees who want to return from India.
3. Indian Government should allow NGO's for easy assess the refugee camps.
4. Police and Government officials restrictions on refugees should be immediately withdrawn for the safety of the Refugees.

- TRIBUTE : MUKUNDAN C. MENON no more...- Frontier of Human Rights
- Manitham Condemns Grenade Attack on TRO Batticaloa Branch Office

- Response by MANITHAM on "Double Std on Seer arrest by Manitham?"
- Response to "Operation Cocoon" - Veerappan Encounter

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PUBLICATIONS :

- POLICE & HUMAN RIGHTS
- POTA - INSECURITY? - Challenges & Answers

Lectures delivered on : International Security Laws in various Nations, Security Laws in India, Handling of POTA in India and Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu Politics and POTA etc.

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ARTICLES :

- South Asia region: report calls for law reform to end legalised violence against children - .pdf [End Corporal Punishment]

Hitting people is wrong – and children are people too. Corporal punishment of children breaches their fundamental rights to respect for their human dignity and physical integrity. Its legality breaches their right to equal protection under the law. Urgent action is needed in every region of the world to respect fully the rights of all  children – the smallest and most fragile of people.

This report reviews law and policy in relation to corporal punishment and deliberate humiliation of children in each state in South Asia. It makes recommendations for law reform and other measures which it is hoped will be adopted at the Consultation and pursued at a national, regional and international level.

THIS REPORT AND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ENDORSED BY:
+ Manitham - Promoting Human Rights, Protecting Environment, India
 FULL REPORT...

- Press Release from 7 Human Rights Organisations - 'ftiyAk; Mjq;fKk;' - Stop Killing, Notice issued in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka -  Tamil Font
- High Tables and Small Tables - By : Kumar Rupesinghe, Sri Lanka
- "Reforming the Police"
     - Dr. P.J. Alexander, Former Director General of Police, Kerala and Director, Institute of Management in Government
     - Prof. K. Alexander, Doctoral studies on Police Reforms in Kerala
- Dust in Democracy - In Tamil
     - Mr. Pala. Nedumaran, President, Federation for People's Rights
- "Violence against Women"
     - Ms. Ajeetha Beham,Student

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IN MEDIA :

- "Police obstructs study on families of blast accused" - Subramanian, Executive Director, Manitham

About 62 families in and around Coimbatore were interviewed between December 2004 and January 2005. The team found that in most cases, women, who hardly stepped out of their homes when the men were around, had to start working to support the family. While that in itself may not be cause for any alarm, the nature of some of the 'work' does. "Atleast 20 percent of the women had took to prostitution," says Subramanian, who blames the government for the sad state of affairs. "The police and the administration know about it. But they have not done anything about it," he alleges. There were families that could not pay house rent, which are as little as Rs. 70, for months. Many parents were finding it difficult to get their daughters married, either because they had no money, or nobody was willing to marry them. "They are almost being ostracised," says Subramanian. MORE...

- POTA - INSECURITY?
- Police & Human Rights

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