Piyush Arrested!

remember Piyush?
He is arrested for sedition!!!!
for trying to go on a peaceful cycle rally from salem to chennai via sivagangai.

This was to highlight the pathetic condition of the tribals who are being hunted by the govts (state & central) in the name of operation Green hunt.
whats their interest you ask?
The Tatas, vedantas, Jindals etc need the mineral rich forests which is the tribals' home! so this special hunt on the tribals..Govt needs to help these rich become richer right? development you see!
Piyush who visited Chattisgarh recently was witness to so many afflicted tribals (due to displacement, rape and happy-trigger-hunters).

Piyush felt bad that most of us in TamilNadu were not aware of all this and so wanted to spread the message about the atrocities committed on the tribals up there- in a peaceful manner..
But it was stopped even before he started and has been charged with sedition, a non- bailable law.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Write polite letters to the Commissioner of Police, Salem, after you have had a chance to read the contents of the pamphlet, expressing your outrage at considering pamphleteering a seditious act, and inviting him to restore your confidence that Tamilnadu still operates within the democratic framework set out by the Constitution.

2. Get people (including known names) from your city to sign a statement defending free speech, and have it faxed to the Commissioner of Police.

3. Get people who can write to write in blogs, opinion pieces in media.

Letters may be sent to:
Commissioner of Police
Salem City
Phone/Fax: +91 (0)427 2410217
mail to :spsalem@dataone.in,spsalem@yahoo.co.in

Model Message: "We are alarmed at the charge of sedition framed against Piyush Sethia for distributing pamphlets announcing the launch of a peaceful, non-violent public opinion mobilisation via a cycle rally to highlight and protest against the Government's atrocities against Adivasis in Chattisgarh. We are concerned about your office's clampdown on constitutionally guaranteed rights to free speech and expression on a day when the Republic is being celebrated. Kindly withdraw the charges, and honourably discharge Mr. Sethia."

124A. 1[ Sedition.-- Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, 2[ the Government established by law in 3[ India], a 4[ shall be punished with 5[ imprisonment for life], to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine. Explanation 1.- The expression" disaffection" includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity. Explanation 2.- Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section. Explanation 3.- Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.]