Japan's obstructionist position on illicit trade protocol

Japan's obstructionist position on illicit trade protocol

Negotiations toward a protocol on illicit tobacco trade to the global tobacco treaty, formally known as the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), were held earlier this month.

The illicit tobacco trade makes up approximately 10 percent of global tobacco sales and costs governments between 40-50 billion dollars (27-34 billion euros) every year.

"Transnational companies benefit in a number of ways from the illicit trade in tobacco," said Kathyrn Mulvey, Director of International Policy, Corporate Accountability International (CAI).

While many countries voiced their commitment to a protocol that will require tobacco corporations to assume responsibility for their supply chains, provide financial disincentives to the illicit tobacco trade, and prevent government collaboration with the tobacco industry, Japan earned the first Marlboro Man Award of the protocol negotiations.

The Marlboro Man Award, bestowed by the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT), exposes and challenges countries for espousing treaty positions that benefit the tobacco industry at the expense of public health.

The award is named after Philip Morris's notorious advertising icon, which has played a central role in spreading tobacco addiction globally. On the strength of the Marlboro Man advertising and promotional campaign, Marlboro became the world's leading cigarette brand, and Philip Morris/Altria (soon to split into Philip Morris USA and Philip Morris International) became the world's largest and most profitable tobacco transnational.

In its opening comments during the above illicit tobacco trade negotiations, Japan questioned the value of a potential protocol and suggested that the illicit tobacco trade could be tackled at the domestic level and through existing trade and intellectual property agreements. The Japanese government owns a 50% stake in Japan Tobacco, the world's third largest tobacco corporation, and was sharply criticized throughout the FCTC talks for advocating positions that served the interests of Big Tobacco.

"Tobacco industry interference poses a huge threat to implementation of the global tobacco treaty," said Mulvey.

"Governments and civil society must be vigilant to ensure that this vital protocol is not derailed."

"Considering that Japan Tobacco's products are being smuggled into West African markets like Nigeria, we're concerned that the Japanese government has a conflict of interest in these negotiations," says Akinbode Oluwafemi of Environmental Rights Action Nigeria, also a NATT member.

“Reversing this entirely preventable epidemic [tobacco epidemic] must now rank as a top priority for public health and for political leaders in every country of the world” had said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO to mark the release of the Global Tobacco Epidemic Report (2008) of World Health Organization released earlier this month.

But without holding tobacco corporations accountable and monitoring them stringently to ensure that effective tobacco control policies work with the utmost impact, reversing the global tobacco epidemic shall remain a daunting challenge.

Tobacco corporations across the world have been not only aggressively protecting and promoting their tobacco markets, particularly in the developing countries, but also trying their best to either abort or weaken the public health policies that begin to take shape in countries around the world.

Alert monitoring of tobacco corporations and holding them accountable for violating existing health policies in present and the past will help reduce the tobacco use globally.

Published in

The Assam Times, Assam, India (21 February 2008)

The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea (21 February 2008)

Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal (21 February 2008)

Scoop Independent News, New Zealand (21 February 2008)

Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India

Japan's obstructionist position on illicit trade protocol

Japan's obstructionist position on illicit trade protocol

(To read this posting in hindi language , click here )

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GENEVA---Negotiations toward a protocol on illicit tobacco trade to the global tobacco treaty, formally known as the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), opened yesterday. While many countries voiced their commitment to a protocol that will require tobacco corporations to assume responsibility for their supply chains, provide financial disincentives to the illicit tobacco trade, and prevent government collaboration with the tobacco industry, Japan earned the first Marlboro Man Award of the protocol negotiations.

The award, bestowed by the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) , exposes and challenges countries for espousing treaty positions that benefit the tobacco industry at the expense of public health. The award is named after Philip Morris's notorious advertising icon, which has played a central role in spreading tobacco addiction globally. On the strength of the Marlboro Man advertising and promotional campaign, Marlboro became the world's leading cigarette brand, and Philip Morris/Altria (soon to split into Philip Morris USA and Philip Morris International) became the world's largest and most profitable tobacco transnational.

In its opening comments, Japan questioned the value of a potential protocol and suggested that the illicit tobacco trade could be tackled at the domestic level and through existing trade and intellectual property agreements. The Japanese government owns a 50% stake in Japan Tobacco, the world's third largest tobacco corporation, and was sharply criticized throughout the FCTC talks for advocating positions that served the interests of Big Tobacco.

"Tobacco industry interference poses a huge threat to implementation of the global tobacco treaty," said Kathy Mulvey of Corporate Accountability International , a NATT member. "Governments and civil society must be vigilant to ensure that this vital protocol is not derailed." Throughout negotiations on the FCTC from 2000 to 2003, NATT presented the Marlboro Man Award based on the previous day's negotiations.

"Considering that Japan Tobacco's products are being smuggled into West African markets like Nigeria, we're concerned that the Japanese government has a conflict of interest in these negotiations," says Akinbode Oluwafemi of Environmental Rights Action Nigeria, also a NATT member.

Contact: Bryan Hirsch, Corporate Accountability International , +41 76 547 3476

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Tobacco giants accused of 'collusion' over cigarette smuggling

GENEVA (AFP) --- Tobacco giants Philip Morris, British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco actively collude with cigarette smugglers to gain a foothold in lucrative developing markets, campaigners alleged on Wednesday.

"Transnationals benefit in a number of ways from the illicit trade in tobacco," said Kathyrn Mulvey, director of international policy with the lobby group Corporate Accountability International (CAI).

This includes establishing a brand presence in new markets, and getting more people addicted to cigarettes -- particularly children because smuggled tobacco is so cheap, she told journalists.

"Documents do show industry complicity in this deadly business," Mulvey added.

The World Health Organisation is meeting in Geneva to debate a new protocol on the illicit tobacco trade to the existing Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

"This week, governments have a new opportunity to prioritise health over trade and commercial interests, and hold tobacco transnationals accountable for the harms they cause," Mulvey said.

The illicit tobacco trade makes up approximately 10 percent of global tobacco sales and costs governments between 40-50 billion dollars (27-34 billion euros) every year, CAI said in a statement.

In African countries such as Nigeria, the rate is even higher at between 10 and 16 percent, said environmental and health activist Akinbode Oluwafemi.

Smuggled tobacco constitutes a "serious public health issue in Africa," he told journalists.

In Nigeria, a pack of smuggled cigarettes can be less than half price.

"It's cheaper than sweets, cheaper than any other item," Oluwafemi said.

Companies such as British American Tobacco are now seeking to portray themselves as anti-smuggling, with BAT offering to supply logistical support and even vehicles to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

However, these moves ignore the company's "long history of smuggling into Nigeria," which was documented in a probe by Britain's House of Commons, Oluwafemi said.

CAI said that only a strong protocol to the WHO treaty would be effective in holding companies to account.

"If history is any indication, the tobacco industry will take every opportunity to undermine the treaty's implementation," Oluwafemi warned.

The WHO said last week that tobacco use could kill more than one billion people around the world this century unless governments and civil society act to reverse the epidemic.

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(To read this posting in hindi language , click here )

Dalit Aarthik Adhikaar Aandolan

Dalit Aarthik Adhikaar Aandolan(DA3)

Dharna 27 -28 Feb 2008

Mass Rally29th Feb 2008

Jantar-Mantar, New Delhi

Chalo Parliament

19 Feb 2008

Dear Comrade,

The process of Budget making and the formulation of schemes and programmes do not get the voice of common people. The marginalized communities like SCs, STs, Women and Minorities are purposely driven out of the whole economic development .The Budget which will be presented on 29 February is not our budget, We boycott this Budget. We invite you to take part in the Dharna on 27 and 28 February 2008 which will be followed by the mass rally on 29 Feb.2008 at Jantar Mantar, Delhi under the Banner of SCs/STs Budget Hissedari Aandolan.

This event is the latest in the series of rallies focusing on the challenges that Scheduled Caste (SC) community is facing in the new economic environment. The aim of this rally is the social protest against the discriminatory behaviour of Union of India and States/UTs with the SC community in non allocation and non implementation of Scheduled Caste Sub Plan. In the last year there was a SCSP gap of Rs. 20280 croes of rupees – in one year alone. That too in the plan allocation only. Similarly all States and Union Territories have denied the legitimate amounts to SCs which is thousands of crores. This year there is bound to be another Rs. 45,000 crores of rupees. This is real untouchability being practiced by the Union Govt and the states in total. This is only in the allocations amounts. The actual release of the demands and the actual expenditure spend directly on the families and individuals is abysmally low.

We demand an immediate enquiry by the CAG and action against all those who are willfully causing this denial and exclusion.

Your participation will support our movement and realize the budget making from the below.

Your confirmation by return mail or by phone will be highly appreciated.

Contact Ashutosh (9958890171, ashutoshkumarvishal@gmail.com) for the further details.

Jai Bhim

Paul Divakar, National Convenor, NCDHR

--
Tanveer Kazi
National Secretary(Advocacy)

National Campaign On Dalit Human Rights
8/1,2nd Floor, South Patel Nagar
NEW DELHI-110008 ( INDIA)

Ph/ Fax:- 91-11-25842249/ 25842250

Mobile:- 09958797401
Email:- tanveer@ncdhr.org
tankazi@gmail.com

Website:- www.dalits.org

North-East India: Where Army Generals become Governors

North-East India: Where Army Generals become Governors

Nava Thakuria

The appointment of the former Indian Army chief General Joginder Jaswant Singh (retired) as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh state on 24 January 2008 has raised some vital questions in the minds of the conscious citizens of the Northeast.

The former Indian Army chief, Mr Singh retired last year and has now been sworn in as Arunachal Pradesh's Governor by the Indian President Ms Pratibha Patil.

Mr Singh, who was honoured with Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) during his four decades service in Indian Army, has joined two serving Governors in the insurgency stricken Northeast India, who are also from the Indian Army background.

Lieutenant General (retired) Ajai Singh, PVSM, AVSM took over the responsibility as the Governor of Assam state from another Lieutenant General (retired) four years back. The former Assam Governor Mr SK Sinha was transferred to Jammu and Kashmir. Another Lieutenant General (retired), who has been serving Mizoram state is MM Lakhera, PVSM, AVSM, VSM. On the other hand, the state of Tripura has a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) official Dinesh Nandan Sahaya as its Governor.

Thus four States (out of eight) in Northeast have their Governors from the background of 'Man in Uniform' – the Indian Army or Police!

A chief minister in India is identified as the head of a State government and the Governors are recognized as the Constitutional heads of the State. The Indian Constitution has given most of the political power to the chief minister, but the Governors are also empowered with some special powers under various provisions of the Constitution. While, a chief minister (with his council of ministers) of a State is directly accountable to its citizens, the Governors are normally made accountable to the President of the country only.

The Governor, under the provisions of the Indian Constitution, enjoys the right to be kept informed of all major decisions adopted by the State government. Moreover, the governor appoints the chief minister and also appoints the council of ministers of the State following the advice of the chief minister. In fact, every minister in the state cabinet takes oath from the Governor. Similarly, the governor summons the state legislature and also dissolves the legislative assembly. He addresses the legislature. Each and every bill passed by the state legislature must be endorsed by the governor before it turns out to be a state law. In a particular situation, the governor can send a report to the President of India that may invite President's rule after dissolving the State Legislative Assembly.

However, there are plentiful examples in India, where the difference of opinions between a chief minister and Governor has made the political equation sour. The Governors are usually kept above the public sphere. But at times, the Governors virtually shed negative influence in the socio-political development of a state. In reality, those Governors serve the vested interest of some strong lobby of the Union Government, which is against the spirit of the constitution.

The repeated appointment of the Army Generals as the Governors of many Northeastern States raises the vital question, whether New Delhi prefers to maintain a second epicenter of power in the States, notwithstanding for the interest of the Nation.

The Northeast has a volatile stew of militant organizations, most of them ethnically based. According to some counts, there are as many as 35 such groups in the region, some of them Islamist. Armed groups use the jungles of southern Bangladesh and northern Burma as their hideouts and training camps. The land-locked region has slowly turned into a land of extortion, explosions and assassinations by the militants. New Delhi is definitely worried with the development and many times it has gone trouncing the elected State governments of the region, whenever the question of territory has emerged.

One classic example that reflects the attitude of New Delhi towards the people of Northeast is the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) which has been in affect in the region for five decades now.

The AFSPA empowers the security forces to arrest people without warrant, and use excessive force (including shooting or killing, even if the lives of the members of the security force are not at imminent risk). It facilitates impunity because no person can initiate legal action against any member of the armed forces for anything done under the Act, without permission of the central government.

It will be a very difficult task to find an example anywhere in the democratic world, where a draconian law like AFSPA could continue for such a long period even after mass uprising against it.

New Delhi had earlier ignored the recommendations of a recent committee to repeal the black law. The Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission (2004), which organized public hearings in various parts of Northeast, recommended the repeal of AFSPA, but the government was not convinced.

So whenever there is news of the appointment of a retired General as a Governor in Northeast, the pertinent question that arises is whether New Delhi always prefers to treat the region as a war zone?

As in a battlefield, the central government seems to make it a habit not to take the State governments into confidence in case of counter insurgency operations. And hence, the region has been poured with the ex 'Man in Uniform' as the constitutional heads of the States, so that New Delhi continues to enjoy the last say in managing the troubled zone, where larger section of conscious population still nurture anti-New Delhi sentiment even after 60 years of India's Independence.

Nava Thakuria

(The author is a Guwahati (Northeast India) based independent journalist and can be contacted at navathakuria@yahoo.com)

Published in:

The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea (18 February 2008)

News Blaze

Radio Asha: Audio capsules in hindi/ urdu on people’s movements

Radio Asha: Audio capsules in hindi/ urdu on people’s movements

Episode 1

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To listen, click here

Radio Asha is dedicated to give a voice to the most unheard in development discourses. The episode 1 (10 minutes) of Radio Asha brings to you the following three issues in hindi/ urdu languages:

1) The sad demise of social activist and Gandhian Baba Amte

2) The kidnapping of the daughter of social activists in Bhadohi

3) The Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008 report of World Health Organization

Tune in to Radio Asha, listen while walking, cooking, gardening… to download on your computer/ mobile phone/ MP3 players/ iPods, click here or go to:http://www.archive.org/download/RadioAsha14February2008/RadioAsha1.mp3

Thanks

Radio Asha

WHO's MPOWER and corporate accountability may reverse the tobacco epidemic

WHO’s MPOWER and corporate accountability may reverse the tobacco epidemic

The Global Tobacco Epidemic Report (2008) of World Health Organization underlines not only the evidence-based fact that tobacco epidemic is worsening but also recommends a comprehensive package of six-effective tobacco control policies – clubbed as ‘MPOWER’ that have demonstrated results in helping countries stop the diseases, deaths and economic damages caused by tobacco use.

However the global tobacco epidemic stands starkly apart from other conventional disease control programmes because of an aggressive tobacco industry that is hell-bent on protecting and expanding its markets globally, particularly in the developing countries of Asia and Africa. The six-effective tobacco control policies recommended under the MPOWER package doesn’t include holding tobacco corporations accountable specifically, although it is inherent in each of them!

The MPOWER package includes:

M: stands for ‘monitor’ tobacco use and prevention policies (not the tobacco corporations). Assessment of tobacco use and its impact must be strengthened.

P: stands for ‘protect’ people from tobacco smoke. All people have a fundamental right to breathe clean air. Smoke-free places are essential to protect non-smokers and also to encourage smokers to quit.

O: stands for ‘offer’ help to quit tobacco use. Services to treat tobacco dependence are fully available in only nine countries with 5% of the world’s population. Countries must establish programmes providing low-cost, effective interventions for tobacco users who want to quit.

W: stands for ‘warn’ about the dangers of tobacco use. Despite conclusive evidence, relatively few tobacco users understand the full extent of their health risk. Graphic warnings on tobacco packaging deter tobacco use, yet only 15 countries, representing 6% of the world’s population, mandate pictorial warnings (covering at least 30% of the principal surface area) and just five countries with a little over 4% of the world’s people, meet the highest standards for pack warnings. More than 40% of the world’s population lives in countries that do not prevent use of misleading and deceptive terms such as ‘light’ and ‘low tar’.

E: stands for ‘enforce’ bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Partial bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, do not work because the industry merely redirects its resources to other non-regulated marketing channels. Only a total ban can reduce tobacco consumption and protect people, particularly youth, from industry marketing tactics. Only 5% of the world’s population currently lives in countries with comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

R: stands for ‘raised’ taxes on tobacco. Raising taxes and therefore prices, is the most effective way to reduce tobacco use, and especially to discourage young people from using tobacco. Only 4 countries, representing 2% of the world’s population, have tax rates greater than 75% of retail price.

“Reversing this entirely preventable epidemic must now rank as a top priority for public health and for political leaders in every country of the world” said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO in the summary.

But without holding tobacco corporations accountable and monitoring them stringently to ensure that every component of MPOWER works with the utmost impact, reversing the global tobacco epidemic shall remain a daunting challenge.

Tobacco corporations across the world have been not only aggressively protecting and promoting their tobacco markets, particularly in the developing countries, but also trying their best to either abort or weaken the public health policies that begin to take shape in countries around the world.

“Big Tobacco's interference in health policy is one of the greatest threats to the treaty's implementation and enforcement. Philip Morris/Altria, British American Tobacco (BAT) and Japan Tobacco (JT) use their political influence to weaken, delay and defeat tobacco control legislation around the world. While the industry claims to have changed its ways, it continues to use sophisticated methods to undermine meaningful legislation” had said Kathy Mulvey of Corporate Accountability International at the recent meeting last year on the global tobacco treaty – the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

FCTC, or the first public health and corporate accountability treaty, is a testimony that more than 150 countries globally are committed to decimating the global tobacco epidemic. The WHO’s MPOWER package of six-effective tobacco control policies gives a road map to reduce tobacco use.

The alert monitoring of tobacco corporations and holding them accountable for violating existing health policies in present and the past will complement the impact of the MPOWER package in reducing tobacco use globally.

Published in:
Media for Freedom, Nepal (14 February 2008)
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand (14 February 2008)
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India (15 February 2008)
Indigenous Herald, North-East India (17 February 2008)

Microbicide poster sessions

What people working with AIDS, know about Microbicides? A poster presentation by Maria Ines from FEIM Argentina made a striking remark to the focus and recognition which potentially powerful prevention options like microbicides get in the AIDS community. Argentina which has three times more HIV positive women than men and the highest rate of MTCT in Latin America (6-9%), has a poor level of awareness and commitment towards female controlled prevention options like Microbicides, says Maria.

She interviewed delegates at the 5th National Congress on AIDS in Argentina. 61.4% of the interviewed participants had a university degree and 33.3% of them worked in public hospitals as health care providers.To her question "Do you know any AIDS prevention method exclusively for woman'?s use?" 2.4% of women and 5.4% of men respondents, named Microbicides. When specifically asked "Do you know Microbicides?" 24% of women respondents and 29.7% of men respondents, replied in the affirmative.

Dr.Charles J.N.Lacey, Faculty member of the Imperial College, London, had a poster presentation on "PRO 2000 achieves potentially protective levels against HIV in cervico-vaginal secretions." He said that there was no evidence of systemic absorption of PRO 2000. He also marked out the caveats in his research and said that participants were healthy women who were neither sexually active nor menstruating, and whether systemic absorption can take place in other contexts is not known. He also pointed out the factors that may affect or alter the concentrations of Microbicides required for effective prevention during vaginal coitus. He said more research is needed to evaluate microbicide efficacy during female arousal, which may cause additional dilution effects. The mechanical effects of coitus in removing microbicides bearing vaginal secretions needs to be looked at further, although there was a MRI?? study presented at Microbicides 2002 in this regard, recently in Antwerp, Belgium.

Another interesting poster presentation was of Dr. JM Brown titled "The Acceptability of Vaginal Microbicides Use and Study : Men and Women in Malawi and Zimbabwe".One of the Malawi male participants said, "I notice a increase in vaginal fluid, and feel good having sex when vagina is wet. I thought vaginal passage was tight and with more fluid. It increases friction, which enhances sexual act. Sexual pleasure while using gel is much more than while using condoms because gel facilitates body to body contact? Another female Malawi participant said "gel increases the heat during penetration and makes sex more enjoyable".
Addressing a big debate on intravaginal practices among women in Malawi and Zimbabwe, Dr.Brown said that most of the female participants agreed "It is unhygienic not to finger cleanse". She quoted a women participant who said "I broke the rules when it came to finger cleansing because if I don't finger cleanse, I won?t even be able to go anywhere. I feel as if everyone can see that I didn't wash, as if I am having discharges. So I didn't agree with it and broke the rule!?

There was another poster presentation on intravaginal practices (IVP) by H.Jones of the Population Council - Intravaginal practices by Phase II Carraguard trial participants in South Africa. Jones reported what IVP can mean to trial participants - cleansing the inside of the vagina, wipe/dry??, tightening or warming during sex, lubrication during sex, control of menstrual flow, treatment of infections, prevention of pregnancy or STI's or the induction of abortions.

Cleansing, drying and tightening practices are common in 11 countries in Africa, Indonesia, Thailand, Qatar, Dominian Republic, Haiti and US. IVP are most likely more widespread than currently documented, said Jones.

Commenting on the relationship between HIV/STI's and IVP, Jones said that there are three potential mechanisms for IVP that affect the risk of contracting STI's which include that IVP's may dry or irritate cervical and vaginal mucosa increasing the likelihood of epithelial disruption (but there is no evidence), they may interfere with healthy vaginal flora like lactobacilli (studies have shown douching increases the risk of BV (bacterial vaginosis) and BV is linked to HIV, and lastly they may interfere with the acceptability and efficacy of barrier methods including microbicides.

Therefore Jones recommended that Phase III trials must explicitly instruct the women participants not to insert anything vaginally between the insertion of gel and sexual intercourse. Marianne Callahan of CONRAD and Lee Claypool of USAID who had a poster presentation on C31G and Carraguard microbicide product leads also spoke on male tolerance of Microbicides. Marianne said that they have conducted four studies involving men, and the fifth one is underway currently. The previous four studies were with microbicide candidates PRO 2000, buffer gel, cellulose sulphate and C31G. The fifth one, which is currently going on, is with polystyrene sulphonate. There was no major or serious side effect of microbicides reported by men, and only minor irritations including tingling and stinging were reported.

Bobby Ramakant-CNS

20 years old daughter of social activists kidnapped from Bhadohi

20 years old daughter of social activists kidnapped from Bhadohi

Jayashankar Pandey, Asha Parivar

A 20 years old daughter of social activists V.K. Rai and Pushpa Rai, associated with Centre for Environment and Rural Technology (CERT), was kidnapped on the morning of 5 February 2008 from Bhadohi in Sant Ravi Das Nagar of U.P.

She was on way to her college, Kashi Naresh Rajkiya Snatakottar Mahavidyalaya in Gyanpur, the district headquarters, where she is a student of B.A. II year. A case has been registered at Kotwali, Gyanpur under section (u/s) 303 and 366 on the evening of 5 February 2008.

V.K. Rai and Pushpa Rai have been recently involved in raising the issue of Santoshi, daughter of a carpet weaver, who has been sexually exploited for many years by a powerful carpet manufacturer Ghulam Rasool. Santoshi also has a 2.5 years son from Ghulam Rasool and is presently pregnant with another baby. She has been the victim of Ghulam Rasool’s sexual exploitation since she was 13-14 years. When she delivered the first baby, she was given a place to stay by Ghulam Rasool. However, last year Ghulam Rasool’s sons found out about Santoshi and expelled her from that house. She now lives in a makeshift bamboo-hay structure. She insisted that Ghulam Rasool should marry her. When he refused, she went and complained to the authorities. A FIR has been registered against Ghulam Rasool for raping a minor.

V.K. Rai and Pushpa Rai had instituted a fact finding mission in this matter and were helping Santoshi fight for her rights. They had also announced a sit-in outside Santoshi’s present habitation and in front of Ghulam Rasool’s residence on 7 February 2008 along with other social organizations. Two days before this dharna their daughter was kidnapped. They believe that Ghulam Rasool is responsible for this act.

The Rai family is spending sleepless nights imagining worst possible things with their daughter. They deserve all our support in this hour of grief. We hope that their daughter will return to them soon. We are in continuous communication with the administration and police and they are making their best possible effort to trace her.

Jayshankar Pandey

Asha Parivar

Chandauli (presently in Bhadohi)

Mobile: 9839716248

Right to life should overrule creative liberties of Shahrukh Khan

Right to life
should overrule
creative liberties of Shahrukh Khan

Indian film-star Shahrukh Khan’s explanation of his right to ‘creative liberties’ to justify portrayal of tobacco use in Indian cinema has sparked a huge row with India’s health minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss’ appeal to film-stars to refrain from using tobacco on-screen and also in public places.

Tobacco is reported to kill more than a million people in India alone every year. It is a well-known cause of life-threatening ailments. It has also been proven in many studies that most of the tobacco use begins before the age of 18.

It is indeed a moral imperative on the Government of India to protect the right to life and good health of its young citizens, especially from public health and social justice point-of-view.

“One of the easiest ways to significantly bring down number of children and youth who get initiated to tobacco use in India, without any budgetary allocation for this public health exercise, is to remove depiction of tobacco use in films and TV”, had rightly said Dr Ramadoss at the last World Conference on Tobacco or Health in USA.

One of the major influences on the uptake of teen tobacco use is the glamourisation of tobacco use in movies and on television. This has been well documented by comprehensive research studies in India and US.

In an earlier study done by World Health Organization and Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2003 it was revealed that 76% of Indian movies had tobacco use shown in them. In 1991, where 22% of top box office movie hits had lead characters using tobacco on-screen, in 2002, this escalated to 53% tobacco use depiction by lead characters in Indian movies. This study also demonstrated that 52.2% of children in India who had their first smoke were influenced by tobacco use depicted in movies.

A repeat follow-up study conducted by WHO and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India on top box office movie hits during 2004-2005 demonstrated that tobacco use depiction in movies has become more aggressive as compared to previous years. During 2004-2005, 89% of all movies analyzed contained tobacco use on screen and 75.5% movies depicted leading stars using tobacco on screen. Moreover 41% of movies screened had clear and distinct tobacco brand placement.

Dr Ramadoss says categorically that stopping depiction of tobacco use in films is an evidence based public health measure, and that is what he has been strongly advocating since May 31, 2005.

India, says Dr Ramadoss, has the world's largest film industry rolling out over 900 films per year. Through cinema theatres, these movies reach 60 million people and through cable television network, they further reach another 70 million people in India. "Influence of cinema is paramount in India" says Dr Ramadoss.

Dr Ramadoss had also said "film and tobacco industry are hands-in-glove involved" and suggested big pay-offs too.

The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 came into effect since May 31, 2003. Explaining the amendments notified on May 31, 2005, Dr Ramadoss had said that movies showing tobacco use will be given 'A' certificate on the condition that the characters using tobacco on screen agree to do a disclosure stating tobacco hazards clearly either before, middle or before the end of that movie.

Health warnings in the same language as that of the movie would start scrolling up 1 minute before the use of tobacco is depicted in movies and will end not before another minute after the depiction of tobacco use stops in that movie.

Exposure to tobacco use in movies is clearly linked to youth tobacco use. Simply put, more must be done to ensure that tobacco use in movies is removed from films seen by our nation's youth. We have within our power one simple and effective way to jump start the decline in youth tobacco use - delete tobacco use in films from the list of influences that rob our youth of longer and healthier lives by removing tobacco use from movies, unless they clearly depict the negative health effects. Together we can ensure that movies continue to entertain and inspire our children and youth, and at the same time, save countless lives from tobacco addiction and premature death. The right to life must overrule the right to ‘creative liberty’ of film-stars.

Published in:

Assam Times, Assam, India (7 February 2008)

Media for Freedom (8 February 2008)

Scoop Independent News, New Zealand (8 February 2008)

Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India (9 February 2008)

The Statesman, India (13 February 2008)

The Seoul Times, South Korea (13 February 2008)

National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) extends support to CSMMU doctors' agitation

National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) extends support to CSMMU doctors' agitation

5 February 2008

The ongoing Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University doctors' agitation in Lucknow demanding remuneration comparable to that given in other states and other prestigious medical institutions of the country raises the crucial question that in an era of privatization is it reasonable to expect doctors to work for what is the lowest pay scale in the country?

It is appalling that the doctors at CSMMU are paid even lower than the UGC pay scale which means that a Professor at Lucknow Medical College gets a lower pay than a Professor at an ordinary Degree College. A doctor’s work is certainly more important and worthy of respect than other professions. Even with its limited resources CSMMU offers one of the best quality medical service at affordable cost for the poor population of not just Lucknow city but even neighbouring rural areas and districts.

It would be a pity if some of the best doctors serving here have to go and work for a better remuneration at private hospitals or abroad where they’ll become inaccessible to the poor population of our country. We believe that it is government’s responsibility to make affordable health care available to its entire population and good quality doctors are certainly an important factor in this.

The UP government must consider the demand of doctors of CSMMU seriously and give then a package similar to that of other states, like Karnataka, so that doctors do not feel discriminated against and can continue to concentrate on giving good quality medical treatment to ordinary patients.

The UP government must take into consideration that even among the states in India which do not allow private practice – Uttaranchal, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh – UP offers the lowest pay to its doctors. The doctors of CSMMU certainly deserve a better deal.

(Arundhati Dhuru) (S.R. Darapuri) (Sandeep Pandey)

Social activist IPS (retd.) Social Activist

National Alliance of People's Movements

NAPM

RESOLUTION: Immediately release Dr Binayak Sen from detention

RESOLUTION: Immediately release Dr Binayak Sen from detention

(This resolution was passed at the Third National Convention of Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP) during 1-3 February 2008 in Nagpur, India)


The Third National Convention of the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace expresses its deep sense of anguish and outrage at the continued detention of Dr.Binayak Sen by the State of Chhattisgarh under draconian laws, which deprive its victims of the basic rights enshrined in the Constitution of India. Dr.Sen is the General Secretary of Peoples' Union for Civil Rights, Chhattisgarh, a member of the Medico Friends Circle, and one of those who has played a leading role in founding the CNDP. Dr.Sen, a medical doctor by profession, has not only dedicated his professional life to serve the medical needs of the poor and the needy in one of the most backward areas of the country but also is one with inexhaustible energy and enthusiasm for all the other causes to which he has expressed his commitment. Dr.Sen has been an unrelenting champion of human rights, a crusader against economic & social exploitation of the tribal population, a steadfast campaigner against bureaucratic corruption, and a staunch opponent of communalism. Above all, Dr.Sen is an unswerving activist for the cause of disarmament and peace.

Dr.Sen graduated with distinction from the prestigious Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, and later completed his MD there in 1974. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to society, in 2004, Dr.Sen received the Paul Harrison award for lifetime work of medical care in the service of humanity, an award given annually by the CMC to one of its alumni. It is this medical professional and social activist, who has been recognised as "a role model for the students and staff of CMC", who was arrested on 14 May 2007 allegedly for "unlawful activities", which were supposedly "threatening public security". Dr.Sen has been detained since then on utterly infounded charges. In wilful violation of the basic rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India, the State of Chhatisgarh is hell bent on detaining Dr.Sen by hook or by crook because it is terribly fearful of Dr.Sen's persistent activities, which would have totally exposed the misdeeds and misdemeanours of the State Government and its hangers-on.

It is a crying shame that one of India's most dedicated and committed medical practitioner and social activist should be languishing in jail in solitary confinement for the past several months and denied basic rights that are otherwise available to political prisoners. Dr.Sen has not only been denied the opportunity to use his professional expertise to treat other co-prisoners in the overcrowded jail – who have little access to adequate medical needs – but also he has no way of preventing deterioration of his professional skills due to prolonged disuse. What is equally worse is the fact that Dr.Sen has been denied adequate access to everyday news and information, which are vital to an intellectual of his stature and calibre in this age of information.

The Third National Convention of the CNDP, hereby, calls upon all concerned citizens of this country to join us in seeking the immediate release of Dr.Binayak Sen, who is a victim of gross injustice. If we fail to vehemently contest and vociferously oppose the arbitrary violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India and fail to put an end to such blatant violations without further delay, we would be guilty of slowly and surely aiding and abetting the destruction of democracy in this country.

The CNDP wishes to take this opportunity to express its wholehearted solidarity and support to Dr.Sen's partner, Dr.Ilina Sen – a member of the National Co-ordination Committee, CNDP – and their two daughters in this hour of trial and pledges to do all it can to rally wider support to ensure the immediate release of the honourable and respected Dr.Binayak Sen.

Peace is doable.

NAGPUR DECLARATION: 3rd National Convention of Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP)

NAGPUR DECLARATION

Issued at the Third National Convention of Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace

o Resist Indo-US Nuclear Deal!
o Free South Asia Of Nuclear Danger!
o Abolish Nuclear Weapons Worldwide Now!
o Resist Mindless Drive for Nuclear Power!

The Third National Convention of the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP), India is held from 1st to 3rd February 2008 in Nagpur, which has a glorious tradition of mobilising for peace and justice. The two earlier conventions were held in Jaipur in 2004 November and in Delhi four years earlier. It bears reiteration that the CNDP was founded to consolidate the nationwide protests conducted in response to the May 1998 nuclear weapon tests by India, and then Pakistan. The CNDP opposes these tests and the acquisition of nuclear weapons by any country including India. It may be recalled that the era of nuclear threat began with the mindless atomic bombings of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the USA on 6th and 9th August 1945.

We, the assembled delegates at the Convention representing the peace movements in India and coming from various corners of the country, most emphatically reaffirm our firm conviction in reaffirmation of the Jaipur Declaration and our foundational Charter 2000: "Nuclear weapons are means of mass destruction regardless of who wields them. They are weapons of genocide. They can impose horrendous suffering on victims across generations. They destroy the ecosystem. The damage they do is lasting and incurable. The sheer scale and character of the devastation they can cause makes them a profound and distinctive evil. For this and other reasons, the possession, use, or threat of use of nuclear weapons is absolutely immoral." We also with equal emphasis reemphasise "that the use, threat of use, or possession of, and even preparation for making, nuclear weapons is immoral, illegal, and politically unacceptable under "any circumstances"." Not only that, "nuclear deterrence" is absolutely "abhorrent to human sentiment since it implies that a state if required to defend its own existence will act with pitiless disregard for the consequences to its own and its adversary's people.''

We again note with great concern the profoundly destabilising effects of the nuclear blasts in May 98. These have been most graphically and irrefutably demonstrated through an extremely dangerous (undeclared) border war in less than a year followed by a ten month long eyeball to eyeball massive confrontation all along the international border and the LoC. These confrontations were laden with the very real threats of nuclear exchange. Despite this experience and much opposition from the peace movements and civil society, the rulers of these two resource-starved countries persist with their pernicious nuclear weapons programmes, which are a tragic diversion from addressing vital social needs. Though there have been no further blasts since 1998, in the teeth of massive waves of international censure, the continuing flight tests of the Agni and Hatf missiles show that the race for developing nuclear warhead carrying missiles goes on unabated.

The recent political turmoil in Pakistan has graphically underscored the horrifying possibilities of nuclearisation of South Asia spearheaded by India's ugly ambitions. Nevertheless, the most dangerous development since the last CNDP convention has been the Indo-US Nuclear Deal, which is (still) in the process of operationalisation. Starting with the July 18 2005 joint statement issued by George Bush - Manmohan Singh in Washington DC, the process of trying to fashion and complete a deal has aggravated the nuclear danger both globally and also regionally. It, on the one hand, severely undermines the prospects of global nuclear disarmament by (selectively and arbitrarily) legitimising India's nuclear status and, in the process, the possession of nuclear weapons by the existing Nuclear Weapon States - both recognised and unrecognised - and also the aspirations of other actual and potential aspirants. On the other, it would also further intensify the arms race between India and Pakistan - both nuclear and conventional. Pakistan, in fact, made a strong plea for a similar deal. And the brusque refusal by the US, instead of dissuading it, would only further inflame its passions and thereby turn the dangerous nuclear mess in South Asia all the more dangerous. Furthermore, the consequent shift in focus in favour of highly expensive nuclear power, as and when and if at all the deal comes into operation, will significantly distort India's energy options at the cost of efforts to develop environmentally benign and renewable sources of energy. This deal is also an utterly reprehensible move to bring India closer to the US orbit as a regional ally to facilitate the execution of its global imperial ambitions. The CNDP remains unwavering in its consistent and high-pitched opposition to this deal.

With this deeply disturbing background in mind, the Convention further resolves as under:

I. Nuclear Weapons Free Region in South Asia

The CNDP, in active collaboration with other peace movements in the South Asian region and the Pakistan Peace Coalition in particular, will work towards a Nuclear Weapons Free Region in South Asia. It will also try to promote the idea of Nepal as a 'nuclear weapon-free-nation' on the lines of Mongolia and Austria to initiate and reinforce move in that direction. CNDP will also similarly work towards declaration of the whole of erstwhile state of Kashmir, both under Indian and Pakistani control, as a zone of peace.

This move is expected to provide a clear focus and strong momentum to the peace movements in the region and reinforce the forces of peace and radically bring down the nuclear danger by working on a concrete and workable action plan. This is also expected to deeply affect the global mindset and provide a strong, if not decisive, push towards universal nuclear disarmament - our central and abiding goal

A regional convention of the peace activists from the region will be convened in the near future to work out a collective charter.

II. Global Convention on Nuclear Disarmament

The CNDP, in tandem with the essence of Rajiv Gandhi action plan for "A World Free of Nuclear Weapons" - which was submitted to the United Nations on June 9 1988, will work towards a global disarmament convention, under the auspices of the UN, in collaboration with global peace movements towards this objective. The CNDP, in this context, notes with serious concern the total eclipse from the agenda of the UN of the McCloy-Zorin accord on general and complete Disarmament, which had been adopted by the United nations General Assembly on December 20 1961.The CNDP urges the UN to forthwith reinitiate action on the same.

The projected global disarmament convention would chart out a clear and unambiguous road-map towards universal, complete and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament within a defined time-frame. This would also enforce, in the run up to the final goal, all nuclear weapon states - declared and undeclared, immediately commence on progressively lowering down the operating statuses of their nuclear weapons, continue with the moratorium on explosive nuclear tests, freeze the programmes for developments of upgraded nuclear warheads and delivery/interception systems, freeze production of fissile materials, provide negative security assurance to all non-nuclear states outside of any "nuclear umbrella", credibly commit to "no-first-strike" and such other measures in consonance with the goal of nuclear disarmament.
The CNDP will proactively coordinate with various sections of global anti-nuke peace movements and unwaveringly work towards this goal.

III. Intensification of Struggles against Ignoring Safety and Hazardous Impact of Nuclear Power
The, yet to be operationalised, Indo-US nuclear deal has radically fired up the fantasies of the Indian nuclear establishment. Undeterred by its appalling past performance in terms of power production and also safety records, it is all set to embark upon a very ambitious plan of setting up mega nuclear plants dotting the entire coastal belt criminally unmindful of severely traumatic social and potentially disastrous ecological impacts. The CNDP, in keeping with its consistent track record and the mandates of its founding Charter, will actively collaborate with the grassroots people's movements, many of whom are its constituent members, to resist such mindless moves - singularly lacking in transparency and accountability, and provide all necessary and possible assistances in this regard.

IV. Demand for End of US Occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, Just Resolution of the Palestine Issue to Ensure Global Peace and Facilitate Nuclear Disarmament

The ugly ambitions of the US ruling elite to establish its unilateral dominance over the whole of the globe by foregrounding its awesome military might, including its nuclear arsenal, to compensate for the increasing inadequacies of its otherwise huge diplomatic/political clout and economic muscles has emerged as the most major threat to the prospects of global nuclear disarmament. The wars on and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan are vital components of this grand project, also known as the Project for the New American Century (PNAC). The continuing US support for the apartheid Zionist regime of Israel and its inhuman oppression of the Palestinian people is just another facet of this ugly venture.

Consistent with the goal of global nuclear disarmament, the CNDP demands immediate withdrawal of occupation forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. The CNDP also solidarises with the legitimate struggles of the Palestinian people. The CNDP consequently commits itself to actively associate, in all possible manners, with all global, regional and local moves in these directions.

V. Other Related Issues

The CNDP clearly recognises that the spurts in national-chauvinist, majoritarian and militarist ideologies and political practices under whatever political banner, and the state at times playing a role of an active facilitator, by their very nature pose a major threat to anti-nuclear peace movements in India.

The CNDP hence rededicates itself to fight all these pernicious tendencies in all its manifestations in collaboration with other forces fighting for a just, peaceful and harmonious order.

Consistent with its core values, the CNDP reiterates its demand that Indo-Pak peace process be accelerated. It also demands visa-free travel facilities all over the SAARC region towards this goal. It furthermore demands 10% progressive cuts in the so-called "defence" budgets of all the countries in the region. The CNDP commits itself to ally itself with all regional efforts towards these goals.

Three dalit activists arrested under Gangsters Act in UP

Three dalit activists arrested under Gangsters Act in UP

The Gangsters Act was slapped on three dalit activists in Malwabar Mushahar basti of Deoria (Uttar Pradesh) causing their eventual arrest by the Deoria police. Ram Chander, Prasad and Kailash were the three dalits arrested on the night of 27 January 2008.

These three dalit people were chargesheeted after being caught ‘red-handed’ making illicit liquor and police recovered three drums of it as well on site of arrest.

There is more than what meets the eye. Social activist and documentary film-maker Vidya Bhushan Rawat points out the grave economic hardships and extreme impoverishment which has put this community in an extremely vulnerable situation.

“There is no denying fact that rural poor take to illicit liquor all over the country. It is not their failure but abject failure of the state” said Rawat.

The police arrested these three people near mid-night. The conditions prevailing in the Mushahar basti are such that there is no activity after 8pm. The police version doesn’t look convincing to those who have been to this village.

The illicit liquor trade is not managed by the poor dalit labourers but by the influential liquor-lords or brick-kiln owners who often are themselves or close to those sitting in political corridors.

“In June 2007, I passed through this basti during my padyatra and found more than 200 children in the village with no access to any formal or informal education. There were electric polls in the village since the past 10 years but no electricity. The ‘Mushahars’ are one of the most discriminated among the Dalit community. During the British regime, the police would arrest them for petty theft and declared them as criminal tribe”.

Without any reasonable employment opportunities, the landless mushahars also do not have the numbers to influence the political climate of their village. It is sad that in today’s politics in UP, caste identity has attained a pivotal role to move equations.

The members of mushahar community are also not receiving any benefit from the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).

In summers, one could see even the children asking for ‘Tadi’ (toddy, the illicit liquor).

An elderly woman, Ramrati, who lost her husband many years ago, has been mobilizing the community against making of illicit liquor. Ramrati wanted all ‘Mushahar’ children to study. However her happiness was short-lived as the police slapped Gangsters Act and arrested her only son Ram Chander.

“Why should the Gangsters Act be imposed against the most discriminated among the discriminated?” asks Rawat.

Please do write to Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and other authorities against this asking her to ensure that her officers do not torture the 'arrested' people and forcefully reveal the 'truth'.

Ms Mayawati,

Chief Minister of Uttar-Pradesh,

Chief Minister's Secretariat,

Lucknow

Other telephone numbers:

SP Deoria : 05568-241400

DIG Gorakhpur range : 0551-2333442

for any further details, our representative in the area is Mr Ram Chandra Prasad at 09450482908

(Photo credit: www.bail.com)

Published in:
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India (6 February 2008)
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand (6 February 2008)