Human Rights' Defender Attacked - An Urgent Appeal For Action
Phillaur, Jalandhar (India): In an unsuccessful bid, three farm owners, allegedly in connivance with the local police on December 3, 2000 made a murderous attempt on the life of Mr. Jai Singh, a human rights activist.
Mr. Jai Singh, Regional Co-ordinator South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude (SACCS), has been actively working for the liberation of bonded and child labourers for over two decades. This was the fourth attempt to his life.
The activist alleged that the farm owners hatched a conspiracy against him as he had last month rescued two victimised farm labourers, Rohi Ram and Birbal Singh, who were being exploited under the age-old 'Siri' system.
Reacting sharply to the situation, Kailash Satyarthi, Chairperson SACCS, which has for over two decades been engaged in liberating children from servitude, said, "It is unfortunate that slavery still exists like a black spot on the face of humankind."
Condemning the incident Mr. Satyarthi, who is also the Chairperson of Global March Against Child Labour, called for an urgent action. He demanded that "It is high time that steps be taken to protect the victims of exploitation, as well as their defenders'."
Time and again incidents of violence towards the human rights activists have been reported.
"I wish to make an urgent appeal that we all should stand
together and fight this grave injustice," he added.
(For more information please contact Mr. Jai Singh, People's Vigilance
Committee on Bonded Child and Migrant Labour, Tel.: (91 1862) 22 432)
