NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JULY 5
84-year old Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy, who was under treatment in a Mumbai hospital, died around 1.30 pm on Monday (July 5, 2021).
Fr Stan Swamy passes away pic.twitter.com/gNmWIz3IeS
— JohnDayal (@JohnDayal) July 5, 2021
He was arrested on October 8, 2020 by the NIA in connection with Elgaar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case and for plotting unrest in the country. He was among 16 persons arrested in the case. He was kept in Taloja jail. All the arrested persons in the case were slapped with stringent UAPA that ensured that they did not get bail.
"What is happening to me is not unique to me. It is a broader process taking place across the country. Ready to pay the price for it": Father #StanSwamy had said in a video message before his arrest pic.twitter.com/Ow7LGeXBnr
— NDTV (@ndtv) July 5, 2021
Swamy had applied for interim bail on grounds of pandemic and citing Parkinson’s disease. He had sought bail arguing that he was arrested for challenging the arrests of thousands of adivasi youths labelled as “naxals and there was no evidence that he was involved with CPI(Maoists). However, his bail plea was rejected.
Others arrested in Bhima-Koregaon case are Jyoti Raghoba Jagtap, Sagar Tatyaram Gorkhe, Ramesh Murlidhar Gaichor, Sudhir Dhawale, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson, Arun Ferreira, Sudha Bharadwaj, Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha, and Hany Babu. They are all in jail.
EU, UN human rights Rapporteur’s call death of Father Stan in custody “devastating”
European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore, and United Nations Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders Mary Lawlor have reacted to the passing away of Swamy.
Tribal and advisasi defender Father Stan Swamy – jailed for 9 months on unfounded allegations of sympathy for a Maoist conspiracy to overthrow the Indian state – is now fighting for his life. I urge the Indian government for his immediate release. @MaryLawlorhrds #StandWithStan
— UN Special Rapporteur on poverty and human rights (@srpoverty) July 5, 2021
“The news from India today is devastating. Human rights defender and Jesuit priest Fr Stan Swamy has died in custody, nine months after his arrest on false charges of terrorism. Jailing HRDs is inexcusable,” Ms Lawlor said in a tweet.
India: I am very saddened to hear that Fr #StanSwamy has passed away. A defender of indigenous peoples’ rights. He was held in detention for the past 9 months. The EU had been raising his case repeatedly with authorities. https://t.co/DNpNa1r8cq
— Eamon Gilmore (@EamonGilmore) July 5, 2021
Eamon Gilmor retweeted Ms Lawlor’s tweet, with comment, “India: I am very saddened to hear that Father Stan Swamy has passed away. A defender of indigenous peoples’ rights. He was held in detention for the past 9 months. The EU had been raising his case repeatedly with authorities.”
“Institutional Murder”: Welfare Party of India
In a press statement, Welfare Party of India, termed the demise of Fr Stan Swamy in custody “institutional murder.” Here is the full statement of the party released by the party.
“The Welfare Party of India expressed deep anguish at the sad demise of Fr Stan Swamy, and called it an institutional murder.
“Dr SQR Ilyas National President of Welfare Party of India said the nation grieves the death of Fr. Stan Swamy who was the victim of the state manufactured terror and was
incarcerated under terrorist charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for his alleged role in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon and Elgar Parishad case only to curb his tribal rights activism.
“He was arrested and subjected to harrassment at the age of 84 and was suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
“He was even denied bail on medical grounds and finally under the direction of Bombay High court was shifted to Holy Family hospital where he breathed his last.
“Dr Ilyas alleged that the Modi government has Fr. Stan Swamy’s blood on its sleeve. He further demanded the release of all political prisoners across the nation incarcerated only to curb dissent.”
Former executive director of Amnesty International Aakar Patel thanked Eamon Gilmore, saying “thank you for what you are doing”. Patel was, in September 2020 arrested by Gujarat police on charges of promoting enmity between community, and then released.
SIO calls Father Stan’s death a “state-sponsored murder“
Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), condoling the death of Swamy, described it as “state-sponsored murder” that “exposes government and judiciary’s inhuman face.”
In a statement the SIO said “The state-sanctioned murder of 84-year-old priest and human rights activist Father Stan Swamy has exposed the inhuman face of the government, its investigative agencies and even the judiciary. He was arrested on trumped up charges in a bogus conspiracy case and was denied bail as well as basic amenities in prison despite his old age and worsening health condition.
“Father Stan has been killed in judicial custody not because of any crime he committed, but because his ceaseless fight for justice was making the powers that be uncomfortable. Once again, this case has highlighted the fundamentally unjust nature of UAPA and other draconian laws. All laws that allow the state to imprison people without due process must be struck down.
“Father Stan’s death should serve as a wake-up call for our criminal justice system. The courts should call out the farce of Bhima Koregaon, Delhi Riots and other such hollow ‘conspiracy’ cases and acquit all political prisoners in a speedy trial. We also demand that all the elderly and severely ill undertrials languishing in jails should be released on bail as soon as possible. This includes many of the senior activists and lawyers who have been arrested on fake charges in the Bhima Koregaon case.
“We are deeply anguished by Father Stan’s killing and offer our deepest condolences to his family and near and dear ones. We hope that his fight for the rights of India’s tribal population continues with even more vigour.” (Courtesy: indiatomorrow.net)
