British Columbia Federation of Labour Raises Voice for Saibaba
December 11, 2017
The largest labour group of British Columbia has raised voice for the
physically disabled Delhi University Professor being incarcerated in the
Indian jail since March this year.
On the International Human Rights Day, the British Columbia Fed issued a
statement calling upon the Canadians to sign petition seeking the
release of wheelchair-bound Prof. GN Saibaba who was sentenced to life
after being branded as the supporter of Maoist insurgents.
The statement that also encourages Canadians to stand up for Rohingya
Muslims and the LGBTQ community, described Saibaba as an “indigenous
rights activist” who has been raising awareness about the repression of
tribal people, Dalits or the so called untouchables and religious
minorities in India.
The British Columbia Fed President Irene Lanzinger mentioned in the
statement that there are many issues happening both locally and globally
that the federation would like to highlight. She acknowledged that the
imprisonment of Saibaba has gained attention internationally. The
statement provides a link to an online petition for Saibaba.
Saibaba was first arrested in 2014 but was released on bail following
an outcry at the world level. In March he was given life sentence and
sent back to jail where he continues to face inhuman conditions.
He has been instrumental in mobilising political actions in Delhi
against the eviction of tribal people from their traditional lands by
the extraction industry with the backing of the Indian state. Due to
police high handedness, many indigenous men and women have been forced
to join Maoist insurgents who are active in the tribal belt of the
country.
BC Fed is the first labour group in British Columbia to come out in support of Saibaba.
Earlier, Federal New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh took to the
social media to condemn the mistreatment of Saibaba by the Indian
authorities.
In the meantime, Radical Desi held an emergency rally for Saibaba last
Saturday on the eve of International Day of Persons with Disabilities in
Surrey. Among those who spoke on the occasion included Human Rights
activist and a practicing lawyer Amandeep Singh. Singh had drafted a
petition launched by Radical Desi asking for the intervention of the
Canadian government into the matter. It has received more than 1,000
signatures. Dashmesh Darbar Gurdwara Spokesman Gian Singh Gill who
encouraged the temple congregation to sign the petition also spoke on
the occasion.
So far two Canadian MPs, Sukh Dhaliwal and Peter Julian have accepted
the petition. Responding to Dhaliwal who has already submitted the
petition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has only acknowledged that it
is aware of the case and encourages India to protect human rights.
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