NEW DELHI - A GROUP of 40 Nobel laureates has demanded the immediate release on bail of an Indian human rights activist who was sentenced to life in prison on charges of aiding communist rebels in eastern India.
The Nobel laureates issued a statement on Wednesday expressing dismay over what they called an unjust sentence given to Binayak Sen, a 60-year-old physician and outspoken government critic. Dr Sen remains in jail awaiting a ruling on his appeal of his conviction.
'Dr Sen is an exceptional, courageous, and selfless colleague, dedicated to helping those in India who are least able to help themselves,' the laureates said in the statement, posted on a website campaigning for Dr Sen's release.
The laureates, from a range of disciplines, include Peter Agre, Richard Axel, David Baltimore, Martin Chalfie, Robert Curl, Johann Deisenhofer and Richard R. Ernst.
Dr Sen worked in tribal villages and tried to rally people to fight for their rights, often provoking the ire of authorities.
In December, a court found Dr Sen and two others guilty of sedition and sentenced them to life in prison. They were acquitted on the charge of waging war against the state, which is punishable by death. -- AP
0 Comments:
Post a Comment