[mukto-mona] Fw: INDIA: Hyderabad newspaper editor arrested in caste-related dispute (Eng+Fr)

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: RSF ASIA <asie@rsf.org>
To: asie@rsf.org
Sent: Friday, 27 June, 2008 3:32:05 AM
Subject: INDIA: Hyderabad newspaper editor arrested in caste-related dispute (Eng+Fr)

Reporters Without Borders/Reporters sans frontières

27 June 2008

INDIA

Hyderabad newspaper editor arrested in caste-related dispute

Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrest of K. Srinivas, the editor of the Telugu-language daily Andhra Jyothi, and two of his journalists, K. Vamsi and N. Srinivas, on the night of 24 June in the southeastern city of Hyderabad. They were granted bail on Thursday.

The police showed no warrant but said they had evidence of a violation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which punishes physical violence and insults against Dalits (social groups regarded as "untouchable" in the Hindu caste system).

The arrests are linked to an article accusing certain caste organisations of corruption that led to the newspaper's headquarters being attacked (http://www.rsf.org/fil_en.php3?id_rubrique=682&mois=05) on 26 May by members of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS), an organisation that defends Dalits. In the course of the violence, several employees came close to being set on fire after been splashed with petrol.

The newspaper's staff, accompanied by several journalists organisations, staged a demonstration the next day to demand the punishment of those responsible for the violence. The police said demonstrators burned posters of MRPS president Manda Krishna Madiga during the protest.

After being the target of a violent attack, the newspaper is now the victim of abusive judicial proceedings, Reporters Without Borders said, adding that the federal government should intercede to obtain the journalists' release.

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INDE

Arrestation du rédacteur en chef du quotidien Andhra Jyothi

Reporters sans frontières dénonce l'arrestation du rédacteur en chef K. Srinivas et de deux journalistes de la publication Andhra Jyothi, K. Vamsi et N. Srinivas, par la police de Hyderabad (sud-est) dans la soirée du 24 juin 2008. Ils ont obtenu une libération sous caution le 26 juin.

La police n'a présenté aucun mandat d'arrestation, mais a déclaré avoir des preuves de violation de la loi intitulée SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act qui punit les atteintes à la dignité de la personne faisant partie d'une caste inférieure.

Le 26 mai dernier, le journal a été victime d'attaques perpétrées par les membres du Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS), suite à un article publié sur la corruption de certaines castes (http://www.rsf.org/fil.php3?id_rubrique=651&mois=05). Plusieurs employés avaient failli mourir, brûlés par les assaillants. Le lendemain et en réaction à ces violences, plusieurs organisations de journalistes avaient rejoint les employés du quotidien pour manifester et demander que les auteurs de ces attaques soient punis. La police reproche aux manifestants d'avoir brûlé, pendant les protestations, des affiches montrant le président du MRPS, Manda Krishna Madiga,.

Après être victime d'une violente attaque, le journal est maintenant l'objet d'une procédure judiciaire abusive. Les autorités de New Delhi doivent intervenir pour obtenir la libération des journalistes.

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--
Vincent Brossel
Asia - Pacific Desk
Reporters Sans Frontières
47 rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
33 1 44 83 84 70
33 1 45 23 11 51 (fax)
asia@rsf.org
www.rsf.org

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