[ubuntu-in] Petition to PM to Ratify Convention Against Torture

[Ramnarayan.K]

Hi,

This is def off topic but i am sure it is relevant to all of us. Would
appreciate your taking time to read and sign this.

Please read the following mails regarding India's shocking lack of
ratification on convention on torture. Till date there are less than 1000
signatures to this petition to the Indian PM - I request you to please sign
the petition and forward it to as many indians as you can.

ram
Munsiari

From: Women's Centre <womcentr at bom7.vsnl.net.in >
Date: Jul 10, 2007 7:08 PM
Subject: [nccindia] Petition to PM
To: nccindia at yahoogroups.com

 Friends,
there are only around 451 signatures  in the petition asking for
ratification by the govt of India of the Convention Against Torture. Its to
be submitted to the Prime Minsiter in August.
 As you must have seen, 4 boys have been picked up in Maharashtra recently,
including one Arun Fereira from Mumbai, accused of being 'Naxalites' &
waging war against the state etc.; there are reports from lawyers & others
that they have been cruelly tortured in police custody.
Here torture is an investigative tool it seems; at times, the
'investigation' is so intense that it becomes custodial death.
As in the case of Yunus, picked up in connection with a blast in a bus in
Ghatkopar here. Then we had the Mumbai train blasts, leaving at least me
shaken. This vicious circle goes on and on. 'Terrorism' is investigated only
in connection with the Muslim community, in each and every case. Torture is
used for questioning those arrested for suspected Naxalism.
We all remember the results of the torture of women in Bengal, held as
Naxalites; the horror of it was part of our feminist conciousness in the mid
1970s.
There is no way out, except to commit ourselves to international standards
of basic civilization.
Our PM who grew so emotional over Kafeel's parents in B'lore must realise
that, & accept that human rights standards should be upheld in all cases;
there should not be such torture during investigations. Its a shame that
India has not ratified this convention even in the 21st century.
 Many of you must have signed the petition I am sure; those who have not
yet, please take a minute off to sign it, & to get others to do so. Regards,
Ammu Abraham
--------------
Dear friends,

Amnesty International expresses its support for victims of torture and
ill-treatment, past and present. As of June 26, the International Day
in Support of Victims of Torture, Amnesty International India is
intensifying its work against torture and other cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment by launching a campaign against torture and
ill-treatment in the 'war on terror'.

India has signed, but not ratified the Convention against Torture. It
is one of only 8 countries that have not done so. Amnesty
International India has on several occasions expressed grave concerns
over the fact that torture and ill-treatment continue to be endemic
throughout India and continue to deny human dignity to thousands of
individuals.

As a part of its campaign against torture and other cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment, Amnesty International India has started an
on-line petition, collecting the signatures of those who stand by our
cause. The petition seeking ratification of the Convention Against
Torture, will be submitted to the Prime Minister of India in August.

Please take a minute to sign our online petition by clicking on the link
below

http://www.petitiononline.com/aic122/petition.html


We would appreciate it if you could pass on the message to people you
know, and help spread awareness for a common cause- Stop Torture.


Best regards,

Amnesty International India

~~
Joe Athialy
Campaigns and Communication Coordinator
Amnesty International India
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