Visitors: 466The Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International is seriously concerned about the continuous detention of journalist ‘Ali al-‘Abdullah, whose two-and-a-half year sentence for his dissident writings and peaceful opposition activities expired in June 2010. Abdullah now faces new charges of ‘disseminating false information’ for an article he wrote in prison. He appeared before […]
Visitors: 380The extension of the Internet into virtually every branch of social and economic activity has led to growing public policy interest and sometimes concern as to how the Internet is managed and whether there is adequate accountability-not least in terms of respect of applicable laws. This development contrasts with the technological and academic origins […]
Visitors: 287When Mahatma Gandhi was requested to provide a message for a conference on human rights, Gandhiji said that the message should first be taken for human duties before taking for human rights. Obviously, rights and duties have to go together. Certainly, one cannot lay claims for right, if he would not match it with […]
Visitors: 272 by Goldy M George Conflict in Interest: Planning, Commissioning and Development In the early 1950s India embarked on a program of planned industrial development. Borrowing planning concepts from the Soviet Union, the government tried to stimulate development through massive investment in the public sector, imposing a system of tight controls on foreign ownership […]
Visitors: 372Maria Amelie, Russian-born writer and asylum seeker, was arrested and faces deportation from Norway after drawing attention to her situation in her book, Illegally Norwegian. The Norwegian PEN Centre has taken up her case and has issued the following Action Alert. Oslo, 13. January 2011 Writer detained, faces deportation On the evening of Wednesday […]
Visitors: 383Pinar Selek, writer, sociologist and founder of the Amargi Women’s Solidarity Cooperative, will be tried in Istanbul on 9 February 2011, on charges of which she has already been acquitted twice. If she is found guilty, she faces 36 years in prison. The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International is seriously concerned […]
Visitors: 350Recent events following the flawed presidential elections in Belarus have seen the continued detention, maltreatment and impending prosecution of a number of writers and journalists, including members of the Belarus PEN Centre. In response to this situation, the President of PEN International, John Ralston Saul, PEN’s International Secretary, Hori Takeaki, and the Chair of […]
Visitors: 407 Shri K.G. Kannabiran, former President PUCL, eminent lawyer, writer and the most active civil liberties activist, passed away on December 30, 2010. One of the pillars of the civil liberties movement in the subcontinent has left us in the twilight of 2010. An irreparable loss that the civil liberties movement in the subcontinent […]
Visitors: 241 The undersigned from different oragniasatiosn and individuals made a protest before the only official unit for Chattsigarh state; that was a tourist information center and having an information officer for the same on 31st December 2010. We assembled in front of their office (AE-324, Salt Lake City, Sector- 1, Kolkata- 700064) and made […]
Visitors: 266 The undersigned from different oragniasatiosn and individuals made a protest before the only official unit for Chattsigarh state; that was a tourist information center and having an information officer for the same on 31st December 2010. We assembled in front of their office (AE-324, Salt Lake City, Sector- 1, Kolkata- 700064) and made […]
Visitors: 2371 January 2011 People’s Union for Civil Liberties, strongly condemns Gujarat Government’s campaign of calumny against and attempt to frame under false charges human rights defender Teesta Setlavad, of Citizens of Justice and Peace, lawyer M.M. Tirmizi, victims survivors of Lunwada massacre and media person Rahul Singh for exposing Gujarat Police’s callousness and cruelty […]
Visitors: 2591 January 2011 People’s Union for Civil Liberties, strongly condemns Gujarat Government’s campaign of calumny against and attempt to frame under false charges human rights defender Teesta Setlavad, of Citizens of Justice and Peace, lawyer M.M. Tirmizi, victims survivors of Lunwada massacre and media person Rahul Singh for exposing Gujarat Police’s callousness and cruelty […]
Visitors: 34731 January, 2011-In the wake of the welcome and peaceful move towards democracy in Tunisia, PEN International notes with great concern the violent response to antigovernment protests elsewhere in the region, notably Egypt, but also in Yemen. “PEN International warmly welcomes the democratic developments in Tunisia,” said John Ralston Saul, President of PEN International. […]
Visitors: 351 We have been listening and reading about Dr Sen’s court decision since the day it has been pronounced. But since the original decision is in Hindi and is 92 pages long, hence many would be possibly have got the opportunity to read and understand it. I hope, u appreciate the fact that the […]
Visitors: 308Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) strongly condemn the judicial verdict of rigorous life imprisonment against Dr. Binayak Sen. By this act Indian state and its machineries again prove their scant respect for humanitarian laws and its international obligations for the same. Binayak’s conviction challenged the judiciary and its related components, such as, investigation, prosecution […]
Visitors: 284 Within a few years of the independence of Bangladesh, the dreams and aspirations of the leaders of the freedom movement were shattered with murder of the founder of the nascent nation. Autocratic military rule replaced democracy, and religious, cultural and political intolerance began to flourish. Recently, however, some bold changes have been initiated […]
Visitors: 417The Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International (WiPC) protests the continuing detention of Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, editor of the online press agency Net Press, who was arrested on 17 July 2010. He is charged with treason on the basis of an article in which he suggested that the Burundian security forces would not be […]
Visitors: 339 by L.P. Semwal (SJS) and Edwin Willemsen (FFT) Why a new approach for the development of India’s farmers is needed Although India is rapidly transforming itself into an open, more efficient and rapidly developing market-driven economy, in rural areas such transition has been lacking or progressing painfully slow for most farmers. Marginalized and […]
Visitors: 345PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee is deeply concerned about the one-year prison sentence handed down to Kuwaiti writer, journalist and blogger Mohammed Abdulqader al-Jassem on 22 November 2010 for an article he wrote on his blog, Al-Mizan, criticising the country’s Prime Minister. PEN International considers that he is targeted solely for the peaceful […]
Visitors: 282 New Delhi, The Deputu Chairman of Rajya Sabha K. Rehman Kahn emphasising upon the importance of education and its advantages said that after sixty years of India independence the Muslims are in a regrettable position but we are ourselves responsible for it because we did not take account honestly on the educational front. […]
Visitors: 262It is often said that it takes years to build reputation but it can be wiped out in one stroke by a bad behaviour. This appears to be true both for the individuals as well as the nations. In the last one year, so many scams have taken place in India that now the […]
Visitors: 241 Today, Fri 03rd Dec 2010 leading newspapers have a report on the ‘so called action’ proposed to be taken against some dozen Babus (IAS, IPS, IFS) of Maha-rashtra. It seems a ‘notice’ is to be issued and the concerned officers are to respond on ‘source of funds’, ‘failure to inform on controversial actions’ […]
Visitors: 351 I am concerned at the thinking of the WHO which is reported in The Eco Times, Mumbai, Mon. 22nd Nov 2010 under the heading: LEVY ON FOREX TRADE COULD FUND HEALTH SCHEMES IN INDIA … from Geneva. (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/Levy-on-forex-trade-could-fund-health-schemes-in-India-WHO/articleshow/6971225.cms) A similar report also appears in The ToI, Mumbai. Basically the report brings out the […]
Visitors: 342Whenever I think of this year, the image that comes to mind is that banner of 50 emblematic cases on the pages of Because Writers Speak Their Minds. We had no way of knowing, when we started to build that list a year ago, that it was not only a rich collection of historical […]
Visitors: 355LONDON, 15 November 2010 – The Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International is delighted at news that Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the Burmese National League for Democracy, has been released from house arrest. “The global community of writers within PEN International joyfully welcomes Aung San Suu Kyi as she appears from […]