The Jesuits form Belagavi, the members the members of Belgaum Diocese, the religious congregations, social organizations with our collaborators and the Civil Society have set a protest in front of the DC Office at Belagavi in regards to the arrest and under taking Fr. Stan Swamy into the NIA Custody under the sedition case.
They expressed their deep shock over the charges of the connection with the Elgar Parishad event that preceded the caste based violence at the Bhima Koregaon near Pune Maharashtra. They said the Fr. has been accused of personal links with the banned extremist group of Maoists.
The protesters said Fr. Stan Swam, who is now 83 years old has long waged a battle against the promoters of the developmental paradigm which is at the cost of environment and the tribals (the indigenous community) who are closely connected with the Jal, Jungle and Jameen. More than four decades Stan is working with and for the poor tribals, accompanying them closely by defending, propagating and protecting their rights enshrined in the Constitution of India. Stan has professed his commitment through peaceful means of expressing dissent while advocating any form of injustice done to the vulnerable Adivasis by State and police under the banner of the Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan a people’s movement against the displacement.
They further adding many of his works said after his arrest on the evening of October 8. 2020 Stan was taken to Mumbai and charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, under which bail is denied to the accused. Stan being old with poor health and having cooperated with the long hours of interrogation had expressed a couple of days before his arrest, his unsuitability to travel to Mumbai in case of arrest, through a recorded video. The Govemment’s SOS during the pandemic clearly mentions that people above 65 should not venture out unless it is necessary. The high handedness of the NIA arresting the 83 years old Fr. Stan who is suffering from several morbidities, exposes the grave nefarious design of the ruling dispensation besides being totally, insensitive and inhuman.
Joining the nationwide protest in support of Stan, we hereby condemn his arrest and demand his immediate release along with all those who are arbitrarily incarcerated for championing the cause of the poor and the exploited. We are immensely grateful to all people of goodwill, civil society members and institutions who have come out overwhelmingly in support of Stan to express their solidarity in a concerted way.
