PHM-Exch> Trial of Dr. Binayak Sen in India ends this week

[Claudio Schuftan]

*PHR salutes his work and calls for his freedom   **(excerpts)*


The trial of celebrated Indian pediatrician Binayak Sen, a tireless advocate
for the poor and marginalized in India’s Chattisgarh State, *ends on Friday,
*<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dr-Binayak-Sen-case-Court-to-deliver-verdict-on-Dec-24/articleshow/7125220.cms>

*
*

* December 24<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dr-Binayak-Sen-case-Court-to-deliver-verdict-on-Dec-24/articleshow/7125220.cms>
*. A judge is expected to deliver a verdict in this widely-watched case that
is marked by unsubstantiated allegations and intimidation of human


rights advocates.


Dr. Sen with a small patient

Physicians for Human Rights and dozens of other human rights and medical
organizations have *repeatedly
called*<http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/news-2008-05-20.html>
 for the release of the doctor who is being tried for alleged


conspiracy against the State. Dr. Sen was arrested in 2007, detained for two
years, and released on bail in May 2009. In 2008, he was *awarded the
Jonathan *<http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/statement-2008-5-20.html>

*
*

*Mann Award for Global Health and Human
Rights<http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/statement-2008-5-20.html>
* by the Global Health Council. Sen was unable to attend the ceremony in
Washington that year but


 his wife, Dr. Ilina Sen, received the honor on his behalf.


PHR calls on those involved in the decisions related Dr. Sen’s plight to
recognize that the case has involved innuendo and politicized charges from
the very

beginning. Many following the trial, including Indian journalists for major
national newspapers have described the trial as “farcical.”


Informed observers have repeatedly stated that the arrest and trial of Dr.
Sen is an effort by Chattisgarh authorities to vilify and intimidate those
who


advocate for the poor and marginalized tribal populations in India. Sen has
been charged for his alleged involvement with prisoners who are part of the


banned Communist or Maoist parties. Chattisgarh has experienced years of
violence between armed Maoist groups and Salwa Judum, an armed anti-Maoist


movement with suspected state support.


Dr. Sen denies the accusations against him stating that his visits to the
prisons were constantly supervised by prison authorities, as required by the
Jail

Manual. Dr Sen has always condemned violence. He has always insisted that
violence will not solve any problems. He has been speaking up for poor

people. He has been trying to remind civil society that we have a
responsibility towards all, not some, and that has been an unpopular act.


In the early 90′s, Dr. Sen, along with his wife, Ilina, founded a non-profit
health and human rights organization, Rupantar, which trained community
health

workers and reached dozens of villages. In 2002 Dr. Sen was elected
Vice-President of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), one of
India’s leading

human rights organizations.

PHR urges health professionals and their institutions around the world to
call for the release of Dr. Sen so that he can return to his remarkable
work
supporting the poorest of India’s poor.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://phm.phmovement.org/pipermail/phm-exchange-phmovement.org/attachments/20101221/74016d1b/attachment.html>