PUCL Statement on Repression on FTII students in Goa “Government’s action has damaged democratic credential and tarnished image of India”
Tags: Protests, IFFI, Goa, Film Festival, Student protests, Section 144, FTII, Panjim, Dissent, Democracy
Related Issue: Right to freedom of speech and expression, Right to movement, Right to Protest, Right to Dissent, Right to Assembly peacefully without arms, Right to form unions, Right to Information
PUCL strongly condemns the Government of Goa and the organisers of the 46 th IFFI (International Film Festival of India), 2015 for the harsh security crackdown on students of the FTII who had gone to Goa to participate and interact with reputed film makers and other professionals participating in the film festival. What is shocking is that the Government of Goa imposed Section 144 for the whole of Panjim, with the specious argument that they feared that protests by the FTII students around IFFI would “tarnish the image of country”.
The Chief Minister is on record saying that there is no “right to protest”.
The police and administration, in support of the organisers, went about brazenly denying entry to students who had formally enrolled to attend the festival. The extreme security paranoia of the police and organisers and the absurd lengths they went to clamp down on students is revealed by the fact that they detained a student for the “crime” of wearing a T-shirt with the name of FTII emblazoned upon it. The Government in a ridiculous over- reaction to a peaceful protest by two FTII alumni at the end of the inaugural function of IFFI, not only arrested the students with numerous charges filed against them – ranging from impersonation as guests at the IFFI inaugural to criminal trespass to use of criminal force on public servant in the course of public duty – all for the `offence’ of merely holding posters and shouting slogans, even as they were sought to be roughed up by some goons. Such undemocratic and repressive strong arm tactics was unleashed so as to prevent, intimidate and silence the students from reaching out to experienced film makers from around the world to share details about their 139 day protest against the forcible imposition by the Central Government, of Mr. Gajendra Chauhan, as Director of the prestigious FTII. The students have been protesting the appointment arguing that not only is Mr. Chauhan not accomplished or worthy of appointment to such a post but also does not have the experience. A large number of Indian film makers have supported the agitation demanding that the Central Government withdraw the appointment. The students have been continuously facing repression for voicing their legitimate concerns about appointment of unqualified persons, without due process, to the posts of chairperson and governing council members to the Board of FTII, the premier film-makers’ training institution in the country and this pattern looks set to continue, with no end in sight. The government has abjectly failed to address any of their concerns. The repressive acts of the government affected not only the FTII students, but also other citizens of Goa. With Section 144 in place, the civil rights of ordinary citizens were curtailed. Worse, on 21 November, 300 people were arrested for gathering for a peaceful protest demanding justice for Bismarque Dias, an activist, whose death in suspicious circumstances, has been sought to be casually dismissed by the State as a death by drowning, without appropriate inquiries. The protestors had a right to peacefully voice their demand, indicative of the lack of faith in the state government’s machinery to deal with it in a fair and impartial manner. Even bystanders who had nothing to do with the protest were mercilessly dragged, abused and bundled into police vans.
The arbitrary imposition of Section 144, without any credible threat to law and order, is an abuse of power and unjustifiable curtailment of citizens’ democratic rights and civil liberties. The Right to Dissent and Protest is an inalienable part of the Fundamental Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression. Without dissent, there can be no democracy. It is this authoritarian behaviour of the Government of Goa and the festival organisers in front of the international media and delegates that has caused serious damage to the democratic credentials of India and tarnished the image of the country.