Widespread condemnation of Dr Binayak Sen’s Solitary Confinement

PRESS RELEASE, 11 April 2008

Health and human rights groups from India and abroad have strongly condemned the unwarranted imposition of solitary confinement on renowned humanitarian activist Dr Binayak Sen by the Chattisgarh government since 15 March 2008 at the Raipur Jail.

Though Dr Sen’s status as a regular prisoner has now been restored, following widespread protests against the move, activists have called for a thorough official investigation of the fact that he was kept in isolation for nearly a month.

Police officials in Raipur have justified their action by claiming Dr Sen was kept in isolation ‘for his own security’ but failed to explain the nature or source of the threat to him as a regular prisoner.

According to a petition signed by hundreds of medical professionals, former colleagues and supporters of Dr Sen (http://www.petitiononline.com/Solitary/petition.html) solitary confinement not only violates the Indian Penal Code but also all axioms of justice and fairplay. Dr Sen has been kept in prison for the past eleven months under the Chattisgarh State Public Security Act, on false charges of aiding outlawed Maoist activity.

“Confining a person of Dr Sen’s stature to solitary confinement is very likely to be seen as vengefulness on the part of agents of the state and an obvious attempt to break the morale of a courageous critic” it said. Along with his work on public health for over three decades Dr Sen was also a human rights activist, being the national Vice President of the Peoples Union of Civil Liberties.

The petition, which calls for Dr Sen’s immediate release, also pointed out that such treatment was completely unwarranted as Dr Sen is an undertrial and not convicted of any crime and even convicted persons are protected by law from any cruel and unusual punishment. Quoting an Amnesty International document on the subject the petition said the imprisonment of a person in total isolation is not acceptable under international human rights standards.

The petitioners also expressed deep concern over the impact of such solitary confinement on the physical and mental health of Dr Sen, who during the course of his imprisonment has already lost much weight according to the jail records.

Dr. Sen is a respected physician much honoured for his self-sacrificing commitment to social causes and his unflinching defense of civil rights. An alumnus of the Christian Medical College and of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, he has received has received many awards for his public service. In December 2007, the Indian Academy of Social Sciences conferred on him the R. R. Keithan Gold Medal, as an “indefatigable defender of human rights and Gandhian social activist of rare courage and dedication”. Currently, he has been nominated for the Jonathan Mann Award 2008, the highest international award for health professionals excelling in human rights activities.

For further information contact:

Satya Sivaraman satyasagar@gmail.com Ph: 9818514952
Sabu George sabumg@vsnl.com Ph: 9810619901

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