Public Meeting on Communal Violence Bill 2009

Public Meeting on Communal Violence Bill 2009
A Remedy worse than the Malady

Presided by:
Adv Yusuf Muchhala (Association for Protection of Civil Rights)

Speakers:
Justice Hosbet Suresh (Retired Judge-Bombay High Court)
Teesta Setalvad (Citizens for Justice and Peace)
Prakash Ambedkar (Bhartiya Republican Party-Bahujan Mahasangh)
Maulana Hafiz Athar Ali (All India Ulema Association)
Adv Saumya Uma (Human Rights Activist)
Mohammed Siraj (Movement for Peace and Justice)
Dolphy Dsouza (Bombay Catholic Sabha)

Venue:

Date: 26th March 2010 Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Our Lady of Victories School Hall, next to Sitladevi temple, Lady Jamshedji Rd, Mahim, Mumbai-16


The need for a law on communal violence emerged from a brutal record of recurring violence in our country, the increasing occurrence of sexual
crimes during communal conflagrations, and complete impunity of state and non-state actors for mass crimes. The reasons are many - lack of
political will to prosecute perpetrators, State complicity in communal crimes, lack of impartial investigation, and lack of sensitivity to
victims experiences. The Government of India, as part of the commitment to the UPAs Common Minimum Programme of the first tenure,
is all set to pass the Communal Violence Bill this session of the Parliament.

We, as concerned citizens, endorse the need for a law on the issue. However, we are convinced that this Communal Violence Bill 2009, if
passed, will not only be weak but also dangerous. It will not only fail to secure justice for communal crimes, make the victims and minorities
more vulnerable during communal conflagrations but will actually strengthen the shield of protection enjoyed by those who plan and
sponsor these crimes, including public officials. Citizens groups for the last 5 years have highlighted the various flaws in the bill and had
suggested amendments. But the basic flaws still exists in the version 2009 of the CVP Bill.

We are left with no choice but to take this issue to the masses who have voted a Secular government in the Centre with a hope to witness a
country free of communal hatred, to the victims who are yet to get justice even after decades of despair and watching the perpetrators
enjoying complete impunity. We invite you to the Public Meeting to be a part of the movement of sensitizing the representatives about the gravity of the issue and the
need to legislate the Act with amendments suggested by the various citizens groups.


Organised by:
The Bombay Catholic Sabha, Movement for Peace and Justice,Citizens Initiative for Peace, BUILD, Assoc for Protection of Civil Rights, All India Ulema Council, Jamat-e Islami Hind, All India Ulema Assoc.,
Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind, Milli Council, Focus on the Global South, Ekta (Committee for Communal amity), Centre for Study of Society and Secularism and others concerned.

Thanks & God bless+

-Lourdesion Communication Cell
email - lourdesioncomcell@hotmail.com