Kerala To Observe Hartal Demanding Abolition Of Death Penalty On Nov. 11

By Anti Death Penalty Collective

09 November, 2015
Countercurrents.org

A democratic hartal will be observed on November 11th in Kerala demanding the death penalty be abolished as recommended by the National Law Commission Report. The other demands are declaration of a moratorium on death penalty in the country, passing of a motion in the State Assembly to pass a bill in Parliament to abolish death penalty, and protection of human rights of prisoners in our jails.

It was on November 11, 1944 that death penalty was abolished Tiruvitamcode, and the hartal is intended to evoke and pay homage to Kerala’s tradition of tolerance and humanism. The hartal is committed to the protection of democratic rights of the citizens. Excepting essential services like hospital, newspapers etc, the hartal will be observed in a peaceful manner from 6 AM to 6 PM by closing commercial, educational and official establishments, avoiding vehicular traffic etc. We request all people to freely and democratically participate in the same.

This is not a hartal that is organized centrally and imposed from ‘top to bottom’, instead through voluntary public participation. During the last few months, the Organising Committee had campaigned all over the State, and support groups formed at the regional level to spread the message among the people and the hartal is organized through their active participation and initiative. Organisations like Adivasi Gotra Mahasabha, NCHRE, PUCL, Progressive Artists & Writers Collective etc and publications like Padabhedam have assured their formal support to the hartal.

The basic objective of this hartal is to remember and reassert the long tradition of renaissance and to rally the people behind the demand for abolition of death penalty. In the coming years too, November 11 – the day on which death penalty was abolished – will be observed as a Anti Death Penalty Day.

We appeal to all the democratic forces in this country who are struggling against fascist tendencies in our society to join hands to attain our objective.

GEORGE
Convenor, Hartal Organising Committee
Anti Death Penalty Collective

Our E-mail : [email protected]