UN MOURN ON THE DEMISE OF FATHER STAN SWAMY, A LONG-STANDING ACTIVIST

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) mourned and expressed its condolences over the death of Father Stan Swam, a long-standing activist.  The UN body urged India to release prisoners who are detained without sufficient legal basis, including those who were arrested just for having critical views.

It further said that the Indian Government should ensure that nobody is detained for exercising their fundamental duties.

Liz Thorsell, spokesperson of UNHCR, while expressing grief on the demise of the human rights defender, noted that Father Stan was in pre-trial detention without bail. He was a long-standing activist, working for the indigenous people and other marginalized groups. He was in Taloja prison and contracted Covid 19, and his bail application was rejected by the NIA court. He died as Bombay HC was considering his bail application.

High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet and the UN's independent experts have repeatedly raised concerns and cases of Stan Swamy and other 15 Human Rights defenders associated with the 2018 incident, urging their release from the pre-trial detention. The High Commissioner also showed concern over using the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1987 (UAPA) concerning the Human Rights Defenders.

Recently, the European Union's Special Representative for Human Rights and United Nations Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders also showed their feeling of sadness and disturbance at the demise of the human rights activist.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal