- அவசரவேண்டுகோள்... உடனடியாக..!
முருகன், சாந்தன், பேரறிவாளன் ஆகியோரின் தூக்குதண்டனை எந்த நேரத்திலும் நிறைவேற்றப்படகூடும். மூவரினதும் வாழ்வின் நாட்கள் நிமிடங்களாகவும், செக்கன்களாகவும் சுருங்கிக்கொண்டே போகின்றன.
கலகம் அடக்கும் காவல்துறையும், மத்திய ரிசேவ் ஆயுதக்காவல் பிரிவும் குவித்து வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார்கள். சட்டம் - ஒழுங்கை காரணம்காட்டி நாளையோ மறுநாளோகூட தண்டனையை நிறைவேற்ற ஆளும்தரப்பு அவசரம் காட்டுகின்றது.
தாமதிக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு கணமும் அவர்களை தூக்குகயிறு நெரிப்பதற்கு நெருங்கிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது.
பேரறிவாளனின் தாயின் கதறல் எமது எல்லோரினதும் தாயினதும் கதறலாகவே நாம் கேட்கவேண்டும். இந்த தள்ளாத வயதிலும் அந்த தாய்படும் வேதனை நம் தாய்படும் வேதனை என்றே நாம் துடிக்க வேண்டும்.
நாம் ஒருகணமும் தாமதிக்காமல் உடனடியாக செயற்படவேண்டும். இந்த தூக்குதண்டனையை நிறுத்தும் சட்ட அதிகாரம் உள்ளவர்களிடமும், தூக்குதண்டனைக்கு எதிரான சர்வதேச நிறுவனங்களிடமும் இப்போதே நீதிகேட்டு மின்னஞ்சல்களையும், தகவல்களையும் அனுப்புவோம்.
சாத்தியமான அனைத்து வழிகளையும் பயன்படுத்தி இந்த மூவரின் தூக்குதண்டனையை நிறுத்த இப்போதே முயல ஆரம்பிப்போம்.
காலம் மிகவேகமாக நழுவிக்கொண்டிருக்கிறது.
நாளை என்றும் பின்னர் என்றும் ஒத்திப்போடாமல் இப்போதே,
இந்த நிமிடமே மின்னஞ்சல்கள், தொலைநகல்கள் அனுப்புங்கள்.
மின்னஞ்சல்கள், தொலைநகல்கள் அனுப்ப வேண்டிய முகவரிகள்.
President Prathiba Patil
Fax: (0091) 11 230 172 90 or 230 178 24
presidentofindia@rb.nic.in
---------------------------------------------------
Home Minister P.Chidambaram
Fax: (0091) 11 230 942 21
hm@nic.in
---------------------------------------------------
Prime minister Manmohan Singh
Fax: (0091) 11 230 195 45 230 168 57
manmohansingh@sansad.nic.in
---------------------------------------------------
Tamil nadu CM Jayalalitha
011 91 44 281 33510
011 91 44 24992255
011 91 44 24991414
011 91 44 24992121
cmcell@tn.gov.ins
| Rajiv Ghandy Assassination: Abolish the Death Penalty in India and Save Innocent Tamils! |
To: President and Government of India
The background:
==============
On 21st May 1991 the Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandy was killed by a suicide bomber as he was speaking to an election
rally in Sriperumputhur in Tamilnadu. The young Tamil woman died with him. Within three weeks, the Indian intelligence
service reached the conclusion that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were responsible and cited the 1987 agreement
between the Indian and Srilankan Government and the resulting Indian military intervention in Sri Lanka as the apparent
motive for the assassination.
In a political atmosphere charged with communal hysteria, a special unit (SIT) of the intelligence service was created to
investigate the background of the assassination. In May 1992, it filed charges against 41 Tamil people in a lengthy report
citing 1180 "material objects" and 1477 documents. Of the 41 accused people, 12 were dead and 26 had spent many months in
prison without charges.
The charge:
========
The conspiracy was supposedly masterminded by the deceased Sivarasan. Those charged with the assassination died at the scene
of the crime (or) committed suicide facing imminent arrest.
The trial and the punishment:
=====================
The threads of the conspiracy incriminating them were woven from retracted confessions made by 17 of the accused in police
custody. Such confessions made in the absence of a magistrate or third persons such as an advocate would not be acceptable as
evidence under the Indian Penal Code. However, this was a special case, being tried under a special law. The "Terrorism and
Disruptive Act (TADA)"overrules normal jurisprudence. It allows any confession "made to the police not lower in rank than a
SP". A confession becomes an important evidence, as it is considered inherently true, made in a fit of remorse. Yet how do we
explain that these bouts of remorse that compelled the prisoners to make damning statements against themselves did not last
beyond the period of police custody? A clue to the mystery lies in the story of the twenty seventh accused. Shanmugam is
reported to have made his confession on the very day of his arrest on 17th July 1991. The police would have us believe that
the honest prisoner managed to escape immediately after. Having successfully evaded the powerful Special Investigative Team,
Shanmugam was found "dead by suicidal hanging" in a neighbouring park the next day.
A fair trial?:
========
In May 1993, two years after most of the arrests and a year after the charge sheet was filed, the trial was opened in the
high security prison-cum-court in South Indian Tamil Nadu. From the 1014 witnesses originally registered, 288 were selected.
They were referred to through numbers, their identity was kept anonymous. The trial was held "in camera", out of public
scrutiny.
The judgement dismissed all seventeen statements that the signatures had been obtained under threat and coercion. It
disregarded allegations of illegal custody of many of the accused before they were presented in court, which would normally
give rise to reasonable doubt that coercion was used. Yet Shanmugan’s mysterious death raises urgent questions on the
conditions in police custody in which "voluntary confessions" are routinely made.
On the 28th January 1998 all 26 men and women were condemned to death by hanging. Their individual culpability and motive was
inferred on the basis of general observations which would apply to a majority of the Tamil community.
The judge openly justified this "Rarest of Rare cases" as a future deterrent and sentenced the 26 to death. If the acquittal
by the supreme court of 19 of the 26 condemned to death brings into question the politically biased and prejudiced conditions
under which the death sentence for the 26 were passed, it is also so that the insistence on carrying out the death sentence
on four of the 26 shows that vengeance takes primacy over reason and justice. The fact that two of those condemned to death
(Nalini and Perarivalan) are Indian Tamils is clearly a message to the 50 million Tamils in Tamil Nadu that merely having an
acquaintance or speaking to a supporter of the Tamil Tigers from Sri Lanka is enough to put your life in danger.
Evidence?:
=======
The whole legal process has been marked by no real evidence connecting any of the 26 to the murder of Rajiv Ghandy. The
circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution only proves that certain of the accused knew those who the Indian state
accuses of carrying out the murder. There is absolutely no evidence to point to a conspiracy for any of the accused. In fact
the ‘evidence’ that the Indian state presents to prove that Sivarasan (see above) was the mastermind behind the murder shows
exactly the opposite. A message relied upon by the Prosecution to prove conspiracy has Sivarasan supposedly saying: "We three
only are aware of the plan." This message, presented by the Prosecution, which explicitly restricts knowledge to three
individuals, (all three since dead) is incredibly used to implicate those facing the death sentence now!
A Perarivalan Mother requests your support to get justice for her son who has been wrongly jailed for last 20 years from the
age of 19:
===============================================================================================
http://youtu.be/ALFHSC9bAp4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALFHSC9bAp4&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7Hbdt6vWDw
http://www.hang-hanging.com/
http://perarivalan.blogspot.com/
A plea from death row – A.G. PERARIVALAN:
=================================
Every time when I fail in my fight for truth, I regain my confidence by remembering those words of William Penn. I have a
special sense of pride on being on the side of truth.
How shall I introduce myself? As the only son of a poor school teacher who instilled ethics in hundreds of students? Or as
the son of a mother who taught me that morality and humanism are the two eyes of life? I don’t know. Though I would like to
introduce myself like this, I have already been introduced in a way that I did not like. That is: A.G. Perarivalan, a death
convict in Rajiv Ghandy murder case. Yes, it is my identity, I cannot avoid it.
It was a great tragedy that a man roaming on the streets 20 years ago was suddenly portrayed as a terrorist and murderer. I
have never imagined that empathising with fellow human beings’ sufferings and joining the effort to wipe their tears would be
considered murderous. I have never been involved in killing anyone, let alone Rajiv Ghandy. I have never harboured such a
thought. My love for Thanthai Periyar’s thoughts and anti-Brahminism were the first weapon for the oppressing forces to
portray me as a murderer; my never ending interest in our Eelam Tamils’ struggle was the second.
At the age of 19, I was tortured by investigative agencies and was portrayed as a bomb-making specialist by the media just
because I had a diploma in electronics and communication. But K. Rahottaman, the chief investigation officer in the Rajiv
case, who retired in 2005 as DSP, said they had no evidence.
Of the 26 persons arrested in the case, 17 have recorded confessional statements under TADA. All the 17 confessional
statements were recorded by CBI SP Thiagarajan. Thomas Vergese, Assistant SP, resigned because his superior, Thiagarajan,
forced him to close the Sister Abaya murder as a suicide case. Sixteen years later, in 2009, the Sister Abaya case was
investigated and her murderers were arrested.
Thiagarajan had tried to produce false documents to save some of the accused. Any need to mention how he would have got
confessional statements in the Rajiv Ghandy case?
The ‘killer’ image painted on me is slowly fading now. When the investigation report by the multidisciplinary monitoring
committee (MDMA) that was constituted by orders of Jain Commission comes out, many truths will come to light. With the help
of TADA, an Act which is against human rights, a terrifying story was foisted upon innocents like me.
If the death penalty can be given to a man for buying two ordinary 9 volt battery cells, if 20 years of his youth can be
robbed, I sincerely doubt there is justice in the world. The Tamil book I wrote about the hidden truths in my case, An Appeal
from Death Row, has been published in six editions and sold 11,700 copies. The letters written by retired SC Justice and
human rights activist V.R.Krishna Iyer to the PM, Sonia Ghandy and the CM of Tamil Nadu were victories after a long and
painful struggle.
The letter by retired Justice H Suresh of Mumbai High court, the letter by a member of the Assembly from my native place, and
the support being given by my school teacher, village people soothed my broken heart. I want to ask those who love Rajiv
Ghandy and those who criticise him, do you really want an innocent man to be hanged? I hope people like you who are humane
and follow the path of justice will not agree.
Please lend your ears to the voice of truth raised by a man who has no political influence and money power. If the truth I
told you touch the bottom of your heart, let your strong voices be raised for my freedom. Let justice prevail.
Courtesy:
======
http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/please-hear-my-voice/15032/
My Prayer:
=======
I had not committed any offence according to law. Also I am innocent according to justice. Still more than the justice is on
my side the fact that the diseased had occupied a high position only dominated and decided the fate of this case.
I may be asked that if I had raised all the above points in my review petition, the Judges might have realised the truth. The
fact is that my advocate in his review petition argument had placed more points than I have mentioned above.
We have stated in our review petition about my innocence and injustices inflicted on me. Still justice had been denied.
The tragedy is that justice Wadhwa in his order regarding the review petition had stated "Mr.Natarajan who appeared for the
convict review petitioners submitted that he was not challenging the findings of guilt of the petitioners and was confining
the review only on the questions of award of death sentence.”
I am confident that you will understand if you go through my written review petition. I had full hope in the justice of the
Supreme Court.
But I was disappointed in the worst possible manner. I hope that you would not consider this as my allegation against
judiciary.
I can confidently state that in my case, the truth is that there was an error of judgement by court. Also I know, that
generally world will accept only the statement of Court.
I am much bothered to establish the truth with intellectuals and human rights activists in you at last. I can confidently
state that even though you could not sign my release order, if at any moment, you realise that I am innocent, that itself
would be a victory for my release.
You are aware of the big opposition to TADA. Also you know that the reason for the opposition is sec. 15 of TADA Act related
to confession statements.
My case was filed under this horrible Act. It is highly distressing to know that though in the end the Court had declared
that we were not terrorists and TADA was inapplicable to this case, the Court had upheld the section of TADA related to
confession statement and had awarded the maximum punishment of death sentence only on the basis of confession statement. The
painful fact is that numbers 12,15 had demanded our life as the price for their game.
Hence I could painfully recall the following rules of Lenin when I came to know of the judgement of Supreme Court.
"Judges had supported worst possible crimes in the world. Hence, just because both the sides of a case are heard by judges,
don't think truth will come out".
Many times only the personal whims and fancies made the future of many a question mark. In the past there were many examples
to this. In the past when Kehar Singh was hanged brutally, none raised their voice. But today I have realised that my
position is not like this. I am happy to state it here. The voices raised for me encouraged me. They show the seed of
confidence about my future.
This representation of mine is no hollow emotional outburst. They are the truths in the mind of the person who is innocent. I
have belief that ultimately truth will triumph. The facts happened within the four walls shall be known to many. This
representation is its result.
Sometimes in my long struggle for justice this letter might cause the joining of many more hearts of human love. Hoping for
the same, I am writing this eagerly.
My prayer is kindly consider this letter with an open mind and judge strictly according to law.
Kindly look at the sacrifices and commitment of a mother fighting for justice to her son for nine years. Truth must triumph
atleast for her perseverance to get justice. Kindly help.
To me, there is no prior example of a person who sought for justice after the confirmation in the Supreme Court. Still I
plead. To that extent I had suffered injustice. Kindly wipe out my sufferings.
Let suffering end with me. Let justice be equal to all when the sun rises the next morning. Let the murder of innocents using
law end. I conclude this representation for justice citing the quotation of Thiruvalluvar who had given a common code for the
world.
“Whatever be the nature of a thing getting the truth in that thing is reason.”
Let justice be won.
=====
The Supreme Court, rightly held that as against the accused, including Arivu, the TADA charges were not sustainable. However,
the Judges said that the accused could be convicted under S.302 Indian Penal Code together with S. 120-B, etc. for
conspiracy. What is the evidence for the charge of conspiracy? The evidence clearly indicated that if at all there could be
any conspiracy to kill Rajiv Ghandy, it was confined to Dhanu, Sivarasan and Suba. As far as the rest of the accused who have
been convicted by the Supreme Court, the only evidence was respective confessional statements recorded under TADA, which
could not have been admissible in evidence in respect of charges under the Indian Penal Code! The only other evidence against
Arivu was his buying a 9-volt battery cell.
It appears that Justice Wadhwa had observed (at page 87 of his judgement) that "no complaint was made before the trial court
that confession was the result of any coercion, threat or use of any third degree methods or even playing upon the psychology
of the accused."
This was contrary to the fact that such complaints were all on record. However, this also shows how naive the judges were in
that they could think that the accused would so voluntarily make a statement confessing their guilt, as if the atmosphere in
a police station could be so free and fair!
Arivu, when he was arrested, was a 19 year old boy. He is now 40 years and his behavior in the jail has been exemplary. He
has continued his education to become a Bachelor of Computer Applications.(BCA). He is the only son of his aged parents. He
has been in jail for 20 years with a sword handing over his head, which in itself is the worst violation of human rights.
I recall what Mrs. Gladys Staines, when told of the death of her husband and two children at the hands of bigots, could say:
"May God forgive them". Such is her nobility. It appears that Mrs. Sonia Ghandy has also categorically stated that she does
not want these accused to be hanged. It is for the President to exercise his power of clemency. In the case of A.G.
Perarivalan, he rightly deserves this power of clemency be extended to pardon him and release him. Twenty years of
imprisonment is too long a suffering for conviction of a crime based on slender and not so credible evidence.
JUSTICE H. SURESH
Former Judge, Bombay High Court
(for the foreward written in 2006)
=====
PERARIVALAN is now under sentence of death in the Vellore Jail. His soul is precious, his values noble, his jail life has not
made him a criminal. Indeed, he redeems his colleagues and his book is evidence of the noble work of the man.
He has made an appeal against death sentence. I agree with him that death sentence is no longer valid in putting an end to
murder.
Life is dear and given by God. Man, as Ghandyji put it has no right to take it away. I support this stand and hope that like
many other countries India too will abolish death sentence.
“Death Penalty is nothing but a judicially sanctioned murder, executed on a planned date and time.”
V.R. KRISHNA IYER
Former Justice of Supreme Court
2006 July 31.
=====
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Send E-mail to Indian Government:
---------------------------------
Her Excellency Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil
President of India
presidentofindia@rb.nic.in
Sri M.Hamid Ansari
Vice-President of India
vpindia@nic.in
His Excellency Mr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
manmohansingh@sansad.nic.in
Mr. P.CHIDAMBARAM
Home Minister of India
hm@nic.in
Hon'ble Mr. Justice S.H. Kapadia
Supreme Court of India
supremecourt@nic.in
Smt.Sonia Ghandy
soniaGhandy@sansad.nic.in
President, Indian National Congress
Shri L.K. Advani
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
advanilk@sansad.nic.in
Smt.Meira Kumar
speakerloksabha@sansad.nic.in
Hon’ble Lok Sabha Speaker
His Excellency Thiru Surjit Singh Barnala
Governor of Tamil Nadu
govsec@tn.nic.in
Dr. J. Jayalalitha
Chief Minister of the state of Tamil Nadu
cmcell@tn.gov.in
Hon. Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan
National Human Rights Commission of India
chairnhrc@nic.in
=====
Hey everyone,
I wanted to see if I could get your quick help. I just started a petition on Change.org titled (Plea to cancel the death sentence wrongly given to innocent Tamils (Rajiv Ghandy Assassination), and I'd love your support.
http://www.change.org/petitions/plea-to-cancel-the-death-sentence-wrongly-given-to-innocent-tamils-rajiv-ghandy-assassination
We ask People to sign here to Save Justice and Abolish the Death Penalty in India.
SAVE THE JUSTICE IN INDIA
Sincerely,
தங்களின் இந்த பதிவின் லிங்கை எனது பதிவில் கொடுத்துள்ளேன் நண்பரே
பதிலளிநீக்குhttp://maayaulagam-4u.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_3522.html