Thursday, July 31, 2014

Jonathan Baud's Arrest In Kerala; International Community's Intervention Sought


An Appeal to International Community



The Arrest of the Swiss citizen Jonathan Baud who came to Kerala on tourist visa, by Kerala police on flimsy grounds, is highly discriminative and with ulterior motive. After the arrest in order to justify the same Kerala police is fabricating canards, that Jonathan has link with Maoists and he has come to attend the memorial meeting organized by Maoists to show the respect towards the Maoist Guerilla fighter Sinoj who became martyr in an accidental explosion took place on june 16th of 2014. The police also alleged that Jonathan addressed the meeting hence violated Foreigners Act.The police has taken a case against him and incarcerated in the dungeon hole named Iringalakkuda Sub Jail,Thrissur District,Kerala.

I was the Chairperson of the Sinoj Memorial Committee that organized the meeting and was a main Speaker. As the Chairperson I wish to state that Jonathan was neither an invitee to the meeting nor a speaker. And he did not addressed the meeting as the police was trying to depict with a sinister view.

According to Jonathan, he came to the meeting only out of curiosity as he is a left lenient person.He got the information of the meeting from an English Daily News Paper. He listen to the speeches delivered in the meeting up to the end. In the meantime he also purchased some English handbooks. As the meeting was formerly over Jonathan himself approached the organizers and expressed his wish to introduce himself to the audience who was started disbursing. Out of the same curiosity as the Chairperson I agreed to his longing. He introduced himself and expressed that he also share our sorrow caused by Sinoj’s martyrdom. It was only a casual talk,any humanitarian from any corner of the World can express.

The police and the state which is a culprit in granting V.I.P treatment to the Italian marines who had violated the international water laws as well as Indian laws and shot two fishermen to death is now taking a different approach to meet their narrow political ends. It is deplorable. And I/We regret for the unfortunate faith met out with Jonathan, though created by state , and request to the progressive and democratic forces and personalities of International Community to intervene in Jonathan’s affair and put pressure on the India/Kerala governments and see that his release from the Jail unconditionally.

M.N Ravunni

Vice President, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners

Kerala,India

09249713184

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