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Killing Us Slowly: Human Rights Abuses and The Physician Who Fought Against Them

Killing Us Slowly: Human Rights Abuses and The Physician Who Fought Against Them. Revathi Ravi, MSII. Convention Against Genocide. “ killing of members of any racial, ethnic, national or religious group because of their membership in that group

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Killing Us Slowly: Human Rights Abuses and The Physician Who Fought Against Them

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  1. Killing Us Slowly:Human Rights Abuses and The PhysicianWho Fought Against Them Revathi Ravi, MSII

  2. Convention Against Genocide • “killing of members of any racial, ethnic, national or religious group because of their membership in that group • causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group • inflicting on members of the group conditions of life intended to destroy them…”

  3. Chhattisgarh, IndiaPopulation:20,795,956Economy:Billai Steel PlantRailway ZoneAluminum PlantNational Thermal Power Corporation

  4. Hunger • India: 33% - BMI of less than 18.5 • Scheduled Tribes: > 50% • Scheduled Castes: >60% • Famine = 40% or more (WHO) • Allowed for Malnutrition for Majority of Population

  5. The Poor are consuming less over time….. And the wealthy are consuming more.

  6. Resources • Minerals • Iron • Diamonds • Land/ Forest Wealth • Extreme hunger and small resource base…

  7. Adivasis/Peasant Farmers • Agriculture Livelihood • Sustain life if left alone

  8. Chhattisgarh Government • Push and displace the poor from this land • Place them in camps • 644 villages • 350,000 people • Andhra, Orissa • Roaming, Forests

  9. Military Campaign • “Aim”: Maoists • Communist Party of India • Claim: poorest of India – Adivasis and Dalits • “Peoples” War • Method: Violence – armed struggle • Influence over poor people

  10. Targeting the Maoists On their forehead? No… Collateral Damage

  11. Indiscriminate Killing • Displace • Rape • Murder

  12. Salwa Judum • Translation: “Purification Hunt” • Armed villagers and children • Citizens “fighting the Maoists” • Villager vs. Villager

  13. Dr. Binayak Sen • 1978 Central Villages in India • 1981 Chhatisgarh, Iron miner community • 1990 Adiwasi tribals • People’s Union of Civil Liberties

  14. Activism • PUCL and Human Rights Organizations • Conclusions: • Government planned • Government trained • Government funded Government denies everything…

  15. Murder • State government AND Federal Militia

  16. Charge • Care for a Prisoner • Permission from jail superintendent and commissioner • Direct Supervision • Alleged with “Passing Notes”

  17. Arrest • Media Propaganda: Fled the country • Visited Commissioner • Arrested • Increased Charges in Jail

  18. A World Outraged • "The fake encounters, rapes, burning of villages and displacement of adivasis [indigenous tribals] in tens of thousands and consequent loss of livelihoods have been extensively chronicled by several independent investigations. Dr Sen's arrest is clearly an attempt to intimidate PUCL and other democratic voices that have been speaking out against human rights violations in the state” – Noam Chomsky

  19. Petition • 22 Nobel Laureates • Former Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh • Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights • R.R. Keithan Gold Medal by The Indian Academy of Social Sciences (ISSA)

  20. “I am been accused of waging war on the state, which is an absolute ridiculous charge, because I have never even held a gun in my hand” • No Convictions • No real allegations

  21. Solitary confinement • Deteriorating Health • Supreme Court of India: May 2009 • No medical reasons

  22. Today • Ongoing Trial • Wants to go back • End of Maoist Violence • End of Government Assault • Peaceful Talks “How can I Not…”

  23. Peace needs to prevail, violence is not in anyone’s interest

  24. “I think, we must all try, to love one another… not that squishy type...but come together"

  25. Health Care Professionals • Privilege and Responsibility • Global commitment

  26. Inequity “Right thinking people who are sensitive to issues of human rights, need to recognize this situation, and decide how they relate to these tendency”

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