Tura, July 7: An 84-year-old priest from the Jesuit community who worked tirelessly for generations among the Adivasi tribals of Jharkhand helping them fend off multinational companies that were out to grab their mineral rich lands and was subsequently put in jail ought to have made little impact among the people of the north east.
Only that it was not to be!

Crossing borders and barriers, citizens of the north east- in particular the liberals and Christian devotees that make up the largest segment of the population in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram, rallied in support for Jesuit priest Father Stan Swami, who was thrown in jail by the Modi government’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) over unconfirmed and unproved allegations of links to anti-national elements.

The anger is directed at the judiciary for its refusal to grant a reprieve to the aging priest despite several attempts at seeking bail, and more so, at the central government headed by Narendra Modi and his deputy Amit Shah who allowed the sedition charge of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to play out, at the cost of the ailing priest and many hundred adivasi activists currently lodged in prison.

Garo Hills has rallied behind Father Stan who died in judicial custody and its citizens are demanding answers and accountability.

UAPA as a way to silence dissent

According to Auxiliary Bishop of Tura, Rt Rev. C J Jose, “Father Stan’s death has raised many questions on the working of the country’s judicial system and the manner in which bail is granted.”

“He was transferred from Ranchi in Jharkhand to Mumbai in Maharashtra, kept in an overcrowded prison and denied any of the basic amenities including a straw and sipper needed by him to sip water on account of his Parkinson disease. He was deprived the right to medical assistance and even life,” a visibly moved Bishop Jose recalled.

According to the bishop, the age-old judicial belief of “Bail is the norm, not jail” was clearly violated when it came to the imprisonment of Father Stan Swami.

His words echo across the Region where people have been keeping abreast with the happenings concerning Father Stan Swami.

The largest Christian denomination in Garo Hills- the Garo Baptist Convention has issued a statement expressing their shock and dismay over the manner in which the elderly priest was treated by authorities and his subsequent death in judicial custody.

“Together with the Christian forums- North Eastern India Christian Council and United Christian Forum of India, we demanded his release and even conducted candle light vigils.

The government’s use of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act is targeted against critics of the government,” alleged church leaders from Garo Hills as the momentum builds against the BJP government’s misuse of the law to silence its critics.

Demand to repel UAPA

Church elders across Garo Hills, from Auxiliary Bishop C J Jose, GBC General Secretary Rev. Janang R Sangma and one of Garo Hills most senior pastors, retired Rev. Wetterfield R Marak demanded that the truth be told and the draconian law of UAPA be totally removed as it infringed on the rights of every Indian citizen.

“The most glaring example of the violation of one’s genuine rights was that of the case of Father Stan who died under prison conditions. As a human being we all condemn it.

Christians being a minority are being targeted by such terrible acts,” worried church leaders point out.

Leaders from across several church denominations in Garo Hills are demanding that the truth be told in regards to the case of Father Stan against whom no evidence was found of any anti-national stir being raised.

Agatha’s plea for Fr. Stan

Tura Lok Sabha MP Agatha K Sangma was one of the first political leaders to move the central government after the arrest of Father Stan Swami, last year.

“The way he was treated by the NIA despite his old age and health problems , the government should have considered his condition. As a nation we need to condemn what happened to Father Stan Swami,” Agatha Sangma had said on hearing of the demise of the Jesuit priest on Monday.

Agatha had raised the imprisonment of Father Stan with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a separate meeting, this year, but Shah had refused to commit anything.

“During my meeting with the union home minister relating to a different matter I had raised the arrest of Father Swami and his imprisonment. There was no outcome,” Agatha recalled and said it was high time for a relook into the way the judicial system functioned.