The Hindu : Front Page : Life term violates fair trial standards: Amnesty

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Sunday, Dec 26, 2010
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Life term violates fair trial standards: Amnesty

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: Amnesty International has said the life sentence handed down to rights activist Binayak Sen by the Raipur sessions court violates international standards of fair trial and has warned that it is likely to “inflame” tension in the conflict-affected area.

Describing the trial itself as “politically motivated” and calling for the charges against Dr. Sen to be dropped, Sam Zarifi, Amnesty's Asia-Pacific director, said in a statement: “Dr. Sen, who is considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, was convicted under laws that are impermissibly vague and fall well short of international standards for criminal prosecution. Instead of persecuting Dr. Sen, the authorities in Chhattisgarh should be acting to protect the people of the region from the abuses committed by Maoists, as well as state security forces and militias.”

“Drop the charges”

He said the sentence would “seriously intimidate” other human rights activists working to provide a peaceful outlet for people's grievances, especially those of the Adivasis. “Life in prison is an unusually harsh sentence for anyone, much less for an internationally recognised human rights defender who has never been charged with any act of violence. The State and federal authorities in India should immediately drop these politically motivated charges against Dr. Sen and release him.”

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