Dr. Binayak Sen: Human Rights Activist or Terrorist?
by A human rights activist from Eastern India is facing a very long time in prison on treason charges despite stating categorically that he doesn’t condone the violence used by Maoist groups against innocent civilians. Why has the world abandoned Binayak Sen? Is he a human rights activist or terrorist?
Has the world abandoned Binayak Sen?
Not much hullabaloo has surrounded the arrest and continued detention of Binayak Sen like what the world witnessed when Chinese Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo. Is Binayak Sen a criminal or comrade? Why has the international community abandoned him? Why aren’t the usual noise makers saying anything? Only Noam Chomsky has been vocally supportive of him while the rest have their mouths either glued or facing a different direction.
Who is Binayak Sen?
Binayak Sen is an Indian pediatrician, activist and national vice president of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). He was born on the 4th of January 1950. In 2007 he was arrested and detained for supporting Indian militant communist groups popularly known as Naxalites. These Maoist groups are considered terrorist in most parts of India but to the eastern states of India, they are liberators fighting for a better life.
Image by freebird (bobinson|ബോബിന്സണ്) via Flickr
A court found him guilty of receiving a post card from a Naxalite leader
After languishing in prison for nearly 2 years despite having applied for bail, Binayak was finally granted bail on the 25th of May 2009 but on Christmas Eve, 2010, a court sitting in Raipur found him guilty of associating with Naxalites, a treasonable offence in mainland India.
Image by freebird (bobinson|ബോബിന്സണ്) via Flickr
Binayak Sen does not support the Naxalites
Dr. Binayak Sen is on record saying he does not support the Maoist groups in India, he has said time and again that he does not approve their violent ways, but despite the doctors plea, phony evidenced was presented claiming his constant touch with leaders of the outlawed groups.
Amnesty International seems to have gone deaf and dumb
Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience but despite the status, nothing much is forth coming from their London offices. Western democracies who normally shout themselves hoarse whenever a Chinese is arrested and sentenced have gone dumb as if they haven’t heard about the good old doctor.
Is Binayak Sen a terrorist or human rights activist?
Does this mean Binayak is guilty as charged? Does it mean they agree to the life sentence he faces for receiving a post card from a leader of an outlawed group? To many in the eastern parts of India, he is a human rights activist and not a terrorist. He is a comrade fighting for a better life for his people. Who shall we believe? The people demonstrating against his incarceration or the Indian government authorities?
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Post CommentUma Shankari
On January 12, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Thanks for the update and the info. I need to read up more on this. Quite a shame.
Ashwath Komath
On January 12, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Shilaho, let me give you credit for 2 things, one: is because of your research. I think this article is quite well researched and definitely well presented.
2: You have tried your level best to maintain neutrality and it a very admirable trait of yourself
however, let me also tell you that the naxalites are people who take up arms against the indian government. We agree that you have a right to protest, but not with the threat of violence.We also have proof regarding their affiliation with known terrorist groups. So at least in my opinion, naxalites are terrorists and people who support them are not patriots.
webseowriters
On January 12, 2011 at 2:10 pm
Their are different stories about him, I don’t know which one is true.
yes me
On January 12, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Another good share here Jimmy cheers
Michal Dorcak
On January 12, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Interesting article. This is the first time I hear of this man. Though, from what I read here, I see no valid reason to imprison him. Receiving a post card is hardly a crime and willing cooperation with terrorists.
By the way, I think that Amnesty International remains silent because they do not really care about human rights, but about politics.
lxdollarsxl
On January 12, 2011 at 2:45 pm
as you stated my friend there are many around the world who have been called ciminals, but to quote yourself previously ”
Liu Xiaobo’s Nobel Peace Prize seems to have created a hullabaloo that will last an entire lifetime. Is the little Chinese the world’s first prisoner? Doesn’t China have a right to arrest and detain people who break its rules as a country? Isn’t the west being hypocritical?” furthermore i think it is hypocritical to say this and then bang on about how no one cares about the gentleman this is about.
Jimmy Shilaho
On January 12, 2011 at 3:13 pm
I feel for Binayak because the west made noise about Liu and none about him. Why?
leoforex
On January 12, 2011 at 3:26 pm
nice post
lxdollarsxl
On January 12, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Ashwath Komath said it all, apart from a few supporters many believe him to be a terrorist – that i think is why the media and others have not been bringing his case to the fore. Who says Amnesty International is not working behind the scenes? many of these cases get further with quiet diplomacy and pressure.
bigpapadan
On January 12, 2011 at 7:31 pm
One of the wonderful things about this site is the multi-cultural diversity. I admit, as a sheltered American, I had not heard of any of this, not the man, not his charges or the influence of Maoist influence in India. I will definately search out more about this. Thanks Jimmy; and, another possiblity is the aforementioned Noble prize. We seem to pay more attention to the more notable figures.
LCM Linda
On January 13, 2011 at 12:12 am
First time to hear about him.
albert1jemi
On January 13, 2011 at 3:03 am
Thank for sharing
SharifaMcFarlane
On January 13, 2011 at 9:36 am
I didn’t know about this. I want to see how this develops.
Starpisces
On January 13, 2011 at 11:24 am
Me too, never heard of him…. but feel miserable for him….
serowa
On January 13, 2011 at 2:22 pm
The West is never about human rights but about where they can exert their power based on their interests. India is a friend of the West so they will not rattle their peace. I do not knw much about Dr Binayak, but hope he recieves the justice he deserves.
Mark Gordon Brown
On January 13, 2011 at 8:26 pm
I tend to not ever believe official stories until they are proven to be false and replaced by some other official story
CA Johnson
On January 13, 2011 at 8:34 pm
This is very interesting. I havent heard anything about this story until now so I dont know what to believe.
gaby7
On January 14, 2011 at 6:20 am
In this world, some amount of violence becomes a necessary evil when voices of reason are ignored by the establishment! I do not know this man well, but from what I read here, he is the defender of the voiceless and some cowardly, yet powerful men are trying to silence him!