INDIA Women Political Prisoners — Indira's Betrayal
Indira Ghandi, India's P.M. has done much to enhance the country's image - an image carefully preserved until the emergency of June 26,1975. Seeing a woman as a figurehead of the second most populous nation in the world, many people assumed that Indian women are emancipated in relation to their sisters in other Third World countries. Unfortunately, Mrs. Ghandi has never been representative of more than a tiny elite among Indian women. She and a few other women in eminent positions are far removed from the peasant and working class women who form the bulk of the population.
There is another more typical face of Indian womanhood of whom 80% are poor peasant women, who are the victims of an oppressive, unenlightened, corrupt society, from girls who are victims of rape, girls forced into prostitution, women driven to dangerous abortions, to the sale of women in acute poverty, and those persecuted for marrying outside their caste to the daily oppressive life of the 'Harijan' women, and those of minority groups and of lower castes. The relation of the Brahmin (highest caste) and the 'Harijan' is clearly illustrated by the following incident. In a rural area of E. Tanjore, in 1972, untouchable women could not walk on the same road at the same time as the Brahmins. Through the organization of a woman's movement, by the CP (M), untouchable women had gained confidence to do this. The landlords and the Brahmins of the community were enraged by this blatant revolt against all caste rules. As a token of 'revenge', to set an example and to maintain their class position, 44 women and children were put in one hut and burned alive. (Minority Rights Report).
In such oppressive and tragic circumstances, it is not surprising that 'Harijan' women are extremely militant when aroused. Already, Indian women have played a significant role in two major agrarian upheavals: The Telengana uprising in 1947-8, and the Naxalbari uprising in 1967
The Naxalites were a group of people who took up armed struggle initially in the Naxalbari region of West- Bengal against oppressive landlords and moneylenders, who hold the peasant in penury. The government retaliated with intensive repression which resulted in the arrest of thousands of political militants.
Long before the declaration of the 'Emergency', in June 26th, 1975, there were approximately 60,000 political prisoners, mainly Naxalites, held under the vilest prison conditions for periods of up to 7 years without trial.
Many of these political prisoners are women. 30% would not be an overestimate
A case in question is Mrs. M.K. Gore, born 1928, member of the National Committee of the Socialist Party and member of the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra for the Socialist Party. Leading member of the Anti-Price Committee. Arrested 21 December, 1975. Presumed to be held in Adola District Prison, under M&4 (Maintenance of Indian Security Act) legislation. Reportedly kept in solitary confinement, (Amnesty International Report).
The Campaign for the release of Indian Political Prisoners (CRIPP), which is sponsored by, among others, Audrey Wise MP., Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, Race Today. The Campaign has recently produced a 50 page brochure (Land of Political Prisoners) documenting the conditions and treatment of these political detainees.
They are horrific!
Conditions
Behind the facade of elegant flower beds, in Calcutta Presidency Jail, lie the quarters of the prisoners. "Stinking drains run along the walls of each room... breeding ground for flies and mosquitoes". There is only one tap for 150-200 prisoners which in dry season provides only a trickle. Consequently skin diseases are widespread. Food consists of chick peas "copiously mixed with gravel dirt, cockroaches and dead worms". Political Prisoners are kept in bar fetters continuously. They consist of an iron bar some 50cm. long, the bar being connected to another one connected to the waist. The eventual result of these fetters on for years, is permanent disability and deformity. To quote Mary Tyler, the English schoolteacher, who was detained for 5 years in an Indian jail until recently released by the Indian Government in the wake of international publicity: "Among the worst physical difficulties are overcrowding, confinement to cells, keeping of prisoners in fetters, sometimes beating and torture,
poor food and lack of water. Mental difficulties are due to long solitary confinement, long detention without trial, lack of facilities to fight one's case in the courts, deliberate withholding of evidence, and prevention of seeing one's family and visitors."
Torture
This is commonplace and varies from cigarette burns on the body to electrical shock treatment on the genitals. The "All Bengal Women's Association" reported on forms of torture and sexual abuses of women prisoners. After arrest and the usual form of police interrogation, often including beatings with hands and rifle butts, suspects are detained in jail. After one month in prison, girls undergo further interrogation. They are stripped naked and made to lie on a table where they are burned with cigarettes on all soft parts of the body, accompanied by all unimaginable humiliations. f they fail to answer questions satisfactorily, an iron ruler is inserted into the rectum. As a result of repeated torture, the rectum and vagina become one. Twenty days later the same treatment is repeated.
Deaths
Amnesty International has documented 88 cases of prison deaths which is no doubt, a gross underestimate. It is known that many amongst the deaths are women, although figures, of course, are difficult to obtain.
To bring about the strongest international pressure, the Campaign seeks to coordinate its activities on a wide front. Given the existent situation in India, the fundamental strategy for mounting a campaign lies in the first instance outside India, particularly, in countries where a certain level of democratic rights exist, facilitating the mounting of such campaigns.
The activities and aims of the campaign:
- To provide maximum publicity through various channels such as publications, demonstrations, meetings at Trade Councils, universities and women's groups etc. .
- To obtain funds for publications, medicines, literature, in response to requests of prisoners; defense and support for wives and children of prisoners who in very many cases are the only breadwinners of the families.
- Organize legal defense. Lawyers in the Indian sub-continent are restricted from defending many cases because of the existing situation of isolation due to lack of international awareness and lack of finances.
- To send a team of people, jurists,M.P.,s women's representatives etc., to India to further investigate the atrocious conditions of these political detainees.
Proposals
In light of the activity CRIPP has and is undertaking, publicize and procure the release of political prisoners and thus to enforce the Indian State to end tortures and killings.
What you can do
- Set up a group in your own country to campaign for the release of these political prisoners, which can coordinate activities with the London based CRIPP - for example, on the planned demonstration of 26th June, 1976.
- Subscribe to the brochure (50 pence including postage).
- Organize public meetings with speakers from the CRIPP.
- Send donations to CRIPP 22 Boundary Road, London N.W. 8. U.K.
It is clear that only the strongest international pressure brought to bear on the Indian Government will have an effect.
LET OUR SISTERS IN INDIA KNOW THAT WE ARE WITH THEM MENTALLY IF NOT PHYSICALLY AND THAT WE WILL NOT FORGET THEM.
Unite behind the Campaign's three basic demands:
• IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS END TO ALL FORMS OF TORTURE IN PRISONS AND OTHER PLACES OF DETENTION
END THE PRISON KILLINGS.
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