Human rights activist Stan Father Swamy has died. He was 84 years old and in jail since October last year under the stringent anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Here we look at the life of the activist, the case against him was and the courts observation in the matter. We will also quote people appearing in news articles.
Stan Swamy hailed from Trichy, Tamil Nadu. He had been working with Adivasis in Jharkhand since 1971.
A Google custom search for news on Stan Swamy between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017 returned just one article that had his name in it. He is quoted as saying:
“The socio-economic condition of particularly vulnerable tribal communities is extremely pitiable. They have little access to health, education, employment and housing. Religion is a very delicate matter and we should respect people’s decision. The government never bothered to fulfil their basic needs, 70% tribal women are anaemic and 80% children below five are malnourished. Why is the government so excited when they want change to their religion?”
Elgar Parishad & Bhima Koregaon case
On December 31, 2017 a meeting was organised in Pune called Elgar Parishad. Police said that speeches at this meeting was partly responsible for the violence the next day at Bhima Koregaon where people were observing the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima Koregaon. Stan Swamy was an accused in the Elgar Parishad case.
“I believe that the state’s failure to implement the Constitution is leading to this Adivasi assertion of their right to self-governance, through their gram sabhas and Pathalgadi. The answer is not a war on Adivasis, and more guns and bullets against them, but to understand their grievances through dialogue. I wrote a post on Facebook about Pathalgadi, and I was booked for that.”
READ STAN SWAMY’s INTERVIEW TO THE CARAVAN
On October 8, 2020, Stan Swamy was arrested by India’s premier terror investigation agency, the NIA, and taken to Taloja central jail. He became the oldest person to be accused of terrorism in India.
“He has been working among the tribals for decades. It’s against the principles of Indian Constitution to arrest those who raise their voice against the butchering of democratic rights of the tribals. There are allegations that the arrest was a move to muzzle the voices of dissent”
Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala chief minister
On October 22, Stan Swamy’s interim bail application on medical grounds denied by NIA Special Court judge Dinesh E Kothalikar.
“The true character of a state is perhaps best exposed by its choice of enemies.”
Harsh Mander, human rights activist
Times of India reported that the NIA was relying on a letter supposedly written by Stan Swamy to base its case against him.
The Straw and Sipper case
This case had generated a lot of social media heat with many decrying the time it took to give Stan Swamy a straw and sipper without which he could not drink water because of Parkinson’s disease.
- On November 6, 2020, Stan Swamy asked for a straw and sipper from the NIA Court. The NIA says he falsely claimed that they had taken it.
- The Court tells NIA to file its reply on the next day of the hearing, which was November 26, 2020.
- On the day, NIA tells it never had it. The court later tells jail authorities to give Stan Swamy a straw and sipper.
In 2021
Collective interest of community will outweigh the right of personal liberty…. he was carrying out activities further in the objective of the organisation (CPI[Maoist]) which is nothing but to overthrow the democracy of the nation,
Dinesh Kothalikar, NIA special Court judge denying Stan swamy bail on March 22
Patrick Henry told the Virginia Convention, way back in 1775: “Give me liberty, or give me death.” Stan Swamy has said something similar to the high court when he insisted he should get interim bail and declined to be hospitalized for his ailments, preferring to die in jail, if necessary. Sad.
Madan B Lokur, former Supreme Court judge
On May 30, Stan Swamy tested positive for Covid-19.
On July 5, at 1.30pm, Stan Swamy died of a cardiac arrest.
(I hope) human sense would prevail
Stan Swamy
News Of Today 
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