<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Kamayani</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:kamayni@gmail.com">kamayni@gmail.com</a>></span><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_quote">From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Sudha Bharadwaj</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:advocatesudhabharadwaj@gmail.com" target="_blank">advocatesudhabharadwaj@gmail.com</a>></span><br>
</div><div class="gmail_quote"><span dir="ltr"><br></span></div><div class="gmail_quote">Dr. Binayak Sen's trial is drawing to a conclusion. Prosecution<br>evidence and the statements of the accused have been recorded. In his<br>
statement Dr Sen has clearly made out his case of being prosecuted<br>
maliciously with a political motive only because of his work as a<br>human rights defender. He has mentioned how evidence has been<br>fabricated and concocted by the prosecution and how an effort has been<br>made to criminalise his legitimate activities as a civil liberties<br>
activist. Now defence witnesses will be put up on the 25th and 26th<br>November, followed by arguments and then the verdict.<br><br>We all know that justice is at trial in this case. Its outcome will<br>have far reaching consequences on the space for human rights defenders<br>
to be able to raise their voice in a state where the adivasi areas are<br>witnessing unprecedented landgrab, displacement, militarization and<br>insurgency, where fascist goondas have been systematically organized<br>to attack every form of protest and dissent, and democratic activists<br>
of all hues are under threat of being put behind bars as "Naxal<br>sympathisers".<br><br>Earlier when Dr Sen was in jail, it was the national and international<br>expression of outrage against his incarceration that gave hope that<br>
even in such an atmosphere reason, fairness or public interest could<br>possibly prevail.<br><br>Once again we appeal to all those who are concerned by this issue -<br>the fraternity of doctors who put service above profit, of people's<br>
movements who are struggling to bring to life the promises of our<br>Constitution, of civil liberties activists who courageously and<br>against all odds are exposing the crimes of the State, and all those<br>citizens who refuse to accept a fascist police state - to stand in<br>
solidarity with us in this hour of trial.<br><br>I am forwarding herewith a message of Ilina Sen.<br><br><br>From: Ilina Sen <<a href="mailto:sen.ilina@gmail.com" target="_blank">sen.ilina@gmail.com</a>><br><br>We have just finished a day in court on the 2nd. The judge decided to<br>
continue the questions to the accused , and posed a set of additional<br>questions. Looks like this is finally done. We have listed 12 defence<br>witnesses, of whom notices were sent to five, but served only to one. There<br>
was a slight unease that the police, who are responsible for serving court<br>notices to witnesses, will try to delay the process, and prevent an adequate<br>defense from being put up.It has now been argued by our lawyers that<br>
notices to all defence witnesses will be issued by the court immediately,<br>and they will all be taken up in a block on the 25th and 26th of<br>November.The judge has concurred, If this process is completed on schedule,<br>
the will lead us into the arguments in early december followed , whenever,<br>by the verdict.<br><br>The defense witnesses this time will include national PUCL reps. In view<br>of the political and police pressure that continues unabated, not only on<br>
Binayak, but on other PUCL members in Chhattisgarh as well as all<br>democratic activists( notice case of Kartam Joga), we feel it may be a good<br>idea if some friends from PUCL/ other rights organizations are present in<br>
court during this time in solidarity. Sacchar Saheb had earlier told me<br>that he would like to come and be present in in court- maybe we could speak<br>to him.I am circulating this for suggestions. Pl advise how we should move<br>
ahead.<br>Ilina<br></div><font color="#888888"><br>
<p></p>
-- <br><br>
</font></div><br><br></div>