Solidarity Picketing in front of POSCO Headquarter and Joint Press Statement by Comrades in Korea

After last months crackdown on Anti-POSCO demonstrators in Orissa, some Comrades in South Korea took the initiative of organizing a picketing demonstration infront of POSCO Headquarter in Seoul, South Korea.

Later in the day a Joint Press Statement was also released and circulated. The press statement was prepared under the aegis of Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS), Gong-Gam (Public Interest Lawyers' Group), Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). The statement was also endorsed by All Together (Students' Organization), Citizens' Forum for Corporate Social Responsibility, Centre for Corporate Social Responsibilty, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy along with individual activists.

New Socialist Initiative is in solidarity with this action by comrades in Korea.

Below is an English translation of the original Press Statement in Korean along with few images of the picketing:

Images from "No More Bhopals: An Evening of Protest, Songs, Poetry" in Delhi

This evening a demonstration was held in Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to protest against the recent shameful Court Verdict on the Bhopal Gas tragedy of 1984. 

More than 150,000 people left severely disabled – of whom 22,000 have since died of their injuries – in a disaster now widely acknowledged as the world’s worst-ever industrial disaster.Now after 26 years of untold sufferings and historic fight for justice for the Bhopal tragedy the Court Verdict is : to two years imprisonment and a fine of Rs. one lakh each under section 304(a), ..... and Union Carbide to pay a paltry Rs. 500,000.

Around 300 activist turned up at the demonstration and recited poems, sang song of freedom and justice and shouted slogans.

Few activists also put together an impromptu skit depicting the deplorable nexus between TNCs, Indian big capitalists and the Indian State. Later, a die-in action was also performed in memory of those who died and salute to those who continue to struggle and suffer.

Among others New Socialist Initiative, National Alliance for People's movement, Delhi Solidarity Group were the organization which took part in the demonstration. Prominent civil society activists including Achin Vaniak, Surrendra Mohan, Vrinda Grover, Himanshu Kumar, Swami agnivesh addressed the gathering.

Below are few images from the demonstration:

Woman Paraded Naked by CPM led Kangaroo Court for 'Alleged' Sexual Misconduct in Tripura

Yet another woman was paraded naked in India, this time around in the Northeastern State of Tripura on the 5th of this month. What came as a shock in this particular case was also the fact that this heinous crime against humanity was perpetrated by cadres and elected panchayat  leaders of Communist Party of India (Marxist).

The so-called "free and fair" media of "Great Indian Democracy" utterly failed to find space even for a snippet/soundbite in their newspapers, broadsheets and 24x7 New channels. Even more shocking is that until now not even a single progressive political organization has come out with a statement.

However, the horrible incident was given some minimal coverage in Guwahati and Kolkata Editions of  The Telegraph and some local vernaculars. Below is a reproduction of the incident:

A Tripuri woman was beaten up and paraded naked through her village by panchayat members in Dhalai after a kangaroo court accused her of sexual misconduct last Saturday.

The 30-year-old wife of a farmer, villagers said, “were spoiling young boys with sexual bait” in Jayanti Bazar village.

Last Saturday, when the mother of two was feeding her children around 12pm, panchayat member Bangalaxmi Debbarma came to her house and asked her to appear in the house of panchayat chief Bidyamohan Debbarma.

Protest Against "Witch Hunting" of Activists in Gujarat in the Pretext of Tackling Maoism

Today there was a demonstration in front of Gujarat Bhawan in New Delhi to protest against ongoing "witch hunting" of activist by the State in the pretext of tackling Maoism. The protesters also submitted a Memorandum to the Resident Commissioner of Gujarat Government in Delhi, though not without some minor scuffle with Delhi and Gujarat Police as the Bhawan is located in Prime minister's high security zone.The demonstration saw participation by activists mostly from New socialist Initiative, Stree Adhikar Sangathan , National Alliance of People's Movement, People's Union for Democratic Rights.

Below is the background to the protest and also some images:

Protest Against the Terrorism of Israeli State for the "Viva Flotilla Palestine" Massacre

There were two protests in New Delhi against the "Viva Fotilla" massacre on 2nd June (Wednesday). The 1st protest march started from India Gate C Hexagon (Shahjahan Road end) towards the Israeli Embassy called by many left organization including New Socialist Initiative and Progressive students Union (JNU unit) among others.... 12 noon.

The second protest happened in Jantar Mantar at the Parliament Street by Palestinian Refugees and Palestinian students ... 11 am onwards [Please mind that they are not allowed anywhere near the Israeli embassy .... they might be deported from India] 

Revolutionary Salute

New Socialist Initiative (NSI)

Below are few images from the protest: