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Kastendiscriminatie in het nieuws

november 2006


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Reactie op Kanpur: Uitzinnige Dalit bendes (The Times of India, 30-11-2006)
Heiligschennis Ambedkar standbeeld in UP leidt tot geweld in Maharashtra (The Times of India, 30-11-2006)
Nationale prijzen voor gevecht tegen onaanraakbaarheid (Indian Catholic, 29-11-2006)
Universiteit start centrum voor studie van sociale uitsluiting (The Hindu, 29-11-2006)
Meeste misdaden tegen Dalits in Uttar Pradesh (ZeeNews.com, 29-11-2006)
Hoorzitting over landrechten van Dalits in Rajasthan (The Hindu, 28-11-2006)
Dalit vrouwen maken radio (The Hindu, 20-11-2006)
De veiligheid van Dalits belangrijk voor overheid (The Indian Express, 15-11-2006)
Geweldsdelicten: Staat verwijst naar MP (Ahmedabad Newsline, 14-11-2006)
Dalit drummers spelen voor verloren eer (The Times of India, 13-11-2006)
Ministers finaliseren actie voor Dalits (The Hindu, 12-11-2006)
Apathie van Dalit partijen na moord op Dalit familie (NDTV.com, 8-11-2006)
Commissie voor link quota en populatie (The Hindu, 8-11-2006)
Nagpur gespannen na moord op Dalits (NDTV.com, 8-11-2006)
Dorp verstilt na moord familie (Indian Express, 8-11-2006)
Dalits protesteren na moord familie (The Hindu, 7-11-2006)
In UP meeste geweld tegen Dalits (The Times of India, 7-11-2006)
Dalits dreigen met satyagraha tegen ban tempeltoegang (The Pioneer, 2-11-2006)
Dalit onderdrukking in Nepal (The Himalayan Times, 1-11-2006)


The Times of India, 30-11-2006

Reactie op Kanpur: Uitzinnige Dalit bendes
In verschillende delen van Puna en Pimpri zijn massa's demonstranten op de voet die met vandalisme regaeren op de vernieling van een standbeeld van Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in Kanpur te Uttar Pradesh. The situatie verergerde toen de bendes winkels, bussen en auto's met stenen begon te bekogelen. De politie heeft traangas verspreid om de bende uiteen te jagen toen het probeerde een politieauto in brand te steken.
Kanpur echoes in city

PUNE: Several areas in Pune city and Pimpri were rocked by stone-pelting and vandalism on Wednesday as a reaction to the desecration of a statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Dalit activists stoned Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Transport (PCMT) buses as well as private vehicles in various parts in the afternoon.
A PMT driver and an autorickshaw driver were among those who suffered minor injuries. The situation at Bhatnagar and Gandhinagar in Pimpri took a turn for the worse around 8 pm as irate mobs stoned shops, civic buses, trucks and cars.
The police fired teargas shells to disperse a mob at Bhatnagar when it tried to set ablaze a fire tender and police vehicles.
At least eight cars and six trucks were damaged in the area. As many as 30 vehicles, including cars and trucks, were damaged in violence at Pimpri chowk. A few vehicles were also set ablaze.
In Pimprigaon, two PCMT buses were damaged in the stone-pelting. At Ambedkar chowk on Aundh road, mobs stoned two private buses.
A truck was set ablaze in Nigdi. The mob violence spread to Sangvi, where a few municipal buses were stoned and shops were forced to pull down their shutters.
Most shops in Sangvi, Kalewadi, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Bhatnagar closed by 6 pm. In Pune city, violence was reported from Dhole-Patil road, near Neelayam theatre in Sadashiv Peth and Dias Plot in Gultekdi.
About 15 cars and several two-wheelers were targeted on Dhole-Patil road in the evening. Four PMT buses and a private bus were damaged in stone-pelting at Dias Plot around noon.
Similarly, four cars and a school bus were damaged near Neelayam theatre. Shopkeepers on Dhole-Patil road and Dias Plot downed their shutters after mobs started pelting stones.
While minor stone-pelting incidents took place at Seven Loves chowk, Dandekar bridge, Ambilodha, Vishrantwadi, Khadki and Bopodi areas, rasta rokos were staged on the Pune-Mumbai road near Khadki railway station and Ambedkar chowk on Aundh road.
Tension prevailed in these areas till late in the night. PMT driver Mahadeo Harpale and rickshaw driver Makdum Pathan sustained minor injuries in the stone-pelting at Dias Plot.
The Nigdi, Pimpri, Bhosari, Swargate, Khadki and Bund Garden police stations registered cases for damage caused to public and private property.
Some of the miscreants involved in the violence have been identified, the police said. Speaking to reporters, police commissioner D.N. Jadhav said the violence was spontaneous.
The rioters came out on the streets no sooner had they seen the news of the desecration in Kanpur on the news channels, he added.
Deputy commissioner of police (zone II) A.D. Shinde, who was holding additional charge of zone III on Wednesday, said various measures have been taken to control the violence.


The Times of India, 30-11-2006

Heiligschennis Ambedkar standbeeld in UP leidt tot geweld in Maharashtra
Uit verschillende delen van de staat Uttar Pradesh komen berichten van geweldadige incidenten als protesten tegen de vermeende heiligschennis van het standbeeld van B R Ambedkar in Kanpur. Het is de tweede dag van de ongeregeldheden. Er is een nachtklok ingesteld in gebieden waaronder Nanded en Pimpri in Pune.
De plaatsvervangend Chief Minister, R. Patil, heeft de politie opgedragen alle noodzakelijke middelen te gebruiken om de rust te bewaren.
Statue desecration sparks violence in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Incidents of violence were reported from various parts of the state as protests against the alleged desecration of B R Ambedkar's statue in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur continued for the second day on Thursday.
Curfew was imposed in many parts including Nanded and Pimpri area in Pune, which witnessed violent protests following the desecration of the statue on Wednesday.
In the metropolis, protests were reported from Worli area on Thursday morning. Protestors pelted stones and damaged passing vehicles, police said.
In Nanded town of Marathwada region, authorities imposed curfew from 5 am on Thursday as a "precautionary" measure in view of Wednesday's violent protests in the town.
The curfew would continue till 7 pm, Nanded Superintendent of Police Fatehsinh Patil said. So far, eight people have been injured in incidents of stone-pelting over the statue desecration, he said.
Curfew has also been imposed in Pimpri area of Pune following violent protests, state police control sources said.
There were also reports of trains being stopped near Pune by the protestors.
Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil has asked police to take necessary measures to ensure that the law and order situation in the state remains under control, a home department official said.
Small groups of 15-20 people continued to protest against the Kanpur incident in Dalit-dominated pockets in the north and north-east parts of Mumbai, police said.
Incidents of stone-pelting and road-blocks were reported in suburbs like Kanjur Marg, Mulund, Bhandup, Navghar, Chembur, Kurar and Worli, they said.
At least 10 vehicles, including some BEST buses, were damaged when irate mobs attacked them on Wednesday.
There have also been calls for a bandh, given by some Dalit organisations in the city.
Similar incidents were also reported from the neighbouring Thane district, police said.
However, no casualties had been reported.
In Aurangabad, police fired one round in the air on Wednesday night to disperse a crowd of 1,000 Dalit protestors demonstrating at Mukundwadi area of the city.
According to police, the protestors gathered on Jalna Road in Mukundwadi at around 9 pm and subsequently some of them began pelting stones at vehicles passing by.
A police team, which reached the spot by around 10 pm, failed to pacify the protesters, who then turned their ire against the police contingent.
In the ensuing melee, six persons, including sub-inspector and a constable, were injured, prompting the police to fire in the air.
The injured were admitted to a city hospital.


Indian Catholic, 29-11-2006

Nationale Prijzen voor gevecht tegen onaanraakbaarheid
Het Ministerie voor Sociale Rechtvaardigheid heeft nationale prijzen in het leven geroepen ter ondersteuning voor opmerkelijk werk in het uitroeien van onaanraakbaarheid en het bestrijden van wreedheden tegen kastelozen.
Meira Kumar kondigde het besluit van haar ministerie aan op een persconferentie op 28 november. Zij verklaarde verder dat het ministerie aan amendementen werkt om de bescherming van kastelozen te garanderen binnen de Burgerrechten wet uit 1955 en wet ter Preventie van Wreedheden uit 1989.
De onlangs ingestelde toekenning moet de kennis over mensenrechten bevorderen en vergroten. De belangrijke ontwikkeling zou helpen onaanraakbaarheid en wreedheden tegen Dalits uit te roeien. Dit zal vanzelfsprekend ook vrede, veiligheid en sociale gelijkheid onder de Dalits bevorderen, aldus Meira Kumar.
National award for fighters of untouchability

NEW DELHI (ICNS) -- The Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment has instituted national awards for outstanding work in eradicating untouchability and combating atrocities against scheduled castes.
Union Meira Kumar, announced her ministry’s decision at a press conference on Nov. 28. She stated the ministry was working on amendments to ensure the protection of Scheduled Castes under Civil Rights Act, 1955 and Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal Ministry for implementation these acts for providing relief and rehabilitation to the SC/ST victims of atrocities.
The newly instituted awards aim to promote and increase awareness on human rights among the masses. The significant step would help eradicate untouchability and combating offences of atrocities against. Such a situation would naturally promote peace, security and social equity among the dalit masses, she said.
The national awards would be an annual feature and would be given to NGOs/Human right activists for the year 2007, for rendering yeomen services in eradicating untouchability and combating offences of atrocities against SCs.
There shall be four awards every year, one each for Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western regions of the country. The award to individual activist shall carry 200,000 rupees and to an Institution shall carry an amount of 500,000 rupees.
Award would be open to all Indian NGOs and Human Rights Activists without any distinction of discrimination on grounds of race, sex, caste or creed.
The Selection Committee constituted for the purpose would consider the nomination of the NGOs and the Individual Human Rights Activists for recommendation of the Award.
For the year 2007, the nominations are, however, to be received up to 31st January, 2007. Modalities and other details of the Scheme are available at the website of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (www.socialjustice.nic.in).


The Hindu, 29-11-2006

Universiteit start centrum voor studie van sociale uitsluiting
De Afdelingen van politiek en toekomststudies van de Universiteit van Kerala hebben voorstellen ingediend bij de Universitaire Commissie van Toelagen (UGC) voor het opzetten van centra voor studie van sociale uitsluiting en inclusief beleid. De centra zullen zich concentreren op sociale uitsluiting van Dalits, tribals en sociale minderheden.
Het door de commissie voorbereide rapport stelt dat het Hoger Onderwijs bijzonder geschikt is voor het bestuderen en leren begrijpen en van sociale uitsluiting. De UGC heeft daarom beslist onderzoek naar de kwestie van sociale uitsluiting te ondersteunen, aangezien dit zowel theoretisch evenals beleidsbelang heeft, aldus het rapport.
Enkele zeer belangrijke doelstellingen van de centra zijn het conceptualiseren van discriminatie, uitsluiting en groepsvorming gebaseerd op kaste, etniciteit en religie; het ontwikkelen van inzicht in de aard en de dynamica van discriminatie en uitsluiting; contextualisering en problematisering van discriminatie, uitsluiting en groepsvorming; het ontwikkelen van inzicht in discriminatie op empirisch niveau; and het formuleren van beleid dat de rechten van getroffen groepen dient te garanderen en daarmee een bijdrage te leveren aan het afschaffen van uitsluiting en discriminatie.
University may set up centre for study of social exclusion (door G. Mahadevan)

To focus on Dalits, tribal people and social minorities

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The departments of politics and futures studies of the University of Kerala have submitted proposals to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for setting up centres for study of social exclusion and inclusive policy.
The commission has invited applications for the purpose and offered full funding. The centres will focus on social exclusion of Dalits, tribal people and social minorities.
While there will be a one-time grant of Rs. 5 lakh for buying equipment, annual grants will be Rs. 37.5 lakh.
Though the university forwarded the UGC's letter inviting the applications to six teaching departments, only two responded.
The scheme document prepared by the commission says that institutions of higher learning are the primary space where exclusion can be studied, understood and first transcended.
"The UGC has, therefore, decided to support research on the issue of social exclusion, which has theoretical as well as policy importance," the document reads.
Some of the key objectives of the centres will be conceptualising discrimination, exclusion and inclusion based on caste or ethnicity and religion; developing an understanding of the nature and dynamics of discrimination and exclusion; "contextualising" and "problematising" discrimination, exclusion and inclusion; developing an understanding of discrimination at an empirical level; and formulating policies for protecting the rights of the affected groups; and eradicating exclusion and discrimination.
The centres, the document says, are expected to offer MA and M.Phil. programmes in social exclusion studies; build databases on social exclusion; carry out analyses based on socio-economic data generated by various Government agencies; organise periodic conferences and seminars on social exclusion; establish links with organisations fighting social exclusion; and offer short-term orientation programmes for political leaders, parliamentarians, government officials, trade unionists and media persons.
The UGC's assistance will be available for the first five years. However, if the university gets sanction for the centres now, funding will be on only till the end of the 10th Plan period. Continued funding in the 11th Plan period will be subject to a performance review.
The commission has stipulated that each university form an advisory committee, headed by the Vice-Chancellor, to oversee the implementation of the programmes and policies of these centres.


ZeeNews.com, 29-11-2006

Meeste misdaden tegen Dalits in UP
Uttar Pradesh registreerde vorig jaar 4397 gevallen van zogenaamde wreedheden tegen Dalits, het hoogste aantal in het land.
De vice-voorzitter van de Nationale Commissie voor kastelozen vertelde journalisten dat er afgelopen jaar 26.127 misdaden tegen Dalits in heel India zijn geregistreerd. "Het gaat om 669 gevallen van moord, 1172 verkrachtingen en 258 gevallen van kidnapping."
Dalit atrocities highest in UP

Chandigarh, Nov 29: Uttar Pradesh registered 4397 cases of alleged atrocities against Dalits last year, the highest in the country, a top official said on Wednesday.
A total of 26,127 cases of Dalit atrocities were recorded last year across the country, vice chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes Fakirbhai Vaghela told reporters here.
"From UP we have got maximum number of complaints at 4397. The pendency of trials of such cases in this state is also the highest at 25,996 as of last year. Out of a total of 26,127 cases of atrocities (countrywide), 669 cases were of murder, 1172 of rape and 258 of kidnapping," he said.
Vaghela said that 288 cases of atrocities were registered in Haryana and 140 in Punjab.
Among the bigger states, he said West Bengal had the lowest number of such cases, though he did not give any figure.
He said that no case was reported or was pending in courts in Chandigarh.
Vaghela said there is a huge pendency of cases pertaining to atrocities in different courts in the country and last year's figure of cases in which trial was pending was 87,467.
"What is even more a matter of concern is the conviction rate, which is 29.8 per cent countrywide. However, West Bengal, where the cases of atrocities are also less, has a good conviction rate at 50 per cent," he said.
To a question, he said the commission has raised with the centre the issue of giving more teeth to it.
"Even though we have various powers like that of a civil court, in our last meeting we had proposed several measures to the centre which would further give us more teeth," he said.


The Hindu, 28-11-2006

Hoorzitting over landrechten van Dalits in Rajasthan
Het groeiend aantal gevallen waarbij leden van hoge kasten met geweld het land van Dalits afnemen en de maffiose technieken waarbij land dat de Scheduled Castes en Tribes toebehoort in handen komt van hoge kasten, kwamen aan het licht tijdens een hoorzitting in Rajasthan waar deze gevallen werden besproken. Het 'Centre for Dalit Rights' (CDR) en andere Dalit groepen hadden de hoorzitting georganiseerd om het land van Dalits terug te kunnen eisen.
Public hearing on land rights of Dalits in Rajasthan

Forcible occupation by dominant castes brought to light

JAIPUR: The growing instances of dominant caste persons forcibly taking over the land belonging to Dalits and the land mafia transferring the land of Scheduled Castes and Tribes through clandestine and fraudulent methods were brought to light at a public hearing on Dalits' land rights here on Sunday.
The Centre for Dalit Rights (CDR) and other Dalit groups, which organised the public hearing, resolved to reclaim the land rightfully belonging to SC and ST communities in Rajasthan and demanded that the Government acquire the surplus `benami' land and distribute it to landless Dalits for cultivation.
CDR chairperson P.L. Mimroth noted that the greed of higher castes to grab the land of Dalits was a major reason behind as many as 252 cases of atrocities and discrimination against Dalits in the State during the past two years. He said the State Government had failed to protect agricultural land of Dalits despite strict revenue laws being in force.
Members of a "jury'', headed by the former Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court, Justice M.L. Shrimal, observed after hearing 13 cases that a strong will of the State was required to protect the land rights of Dalits and expel trespassers and land-grabbers even by amending the revenue laws, if needed.
The majority of the 74 cases brought to the public hearing pertained to influential people belonging to higher castes first encroaching upon Dalits' land and then transferring it in their name through forged documents. A land dispute in Habibwala village in Dausa district even led to the brutal murder of a Dalit Raigar youth.

Documents

A Dalit victim, Jinsiram Bairwa, of Luharkheda village in Karauli district could not get possession of his land taken over by Gujjars despite a court order in his favour. In another case, the Land Allotment Committee of district administration in Biwai village of Dausa district gave title deeds of land plots previously occupied by Dalits to dominant caste persons.
Dalits activists attending the public hearing pointed out that whenever the State Government allots land to Dalits, the relevant documents are not given to them, which weakens their rightful claim. Even if the entitlement is in the name of Dalits, they are not in de facto possession.
When Dalits mortgage their land to banks and cooperative societies for getting loans and fail to make repayment on time, the banks and cooperative bodies sell the land in auction without waiting for the mandatory period. There are many cases in which the higher caste people purchase Dalits' land in the name of some Dalit person and reap the benefit.
The dominant caste people often encroach on parts of Dalits' land in their neighbourhood taking undue advantage of their ignorance of the field boundaries and price of land owned. When Dalits, who borrow money from higher caste villagers, are unable to return it, the upper caste people grab their land.
A demand was made at the end of the public hearing to amend the Benami Transaction Act, 1989.


The Hindu, 20-11-2006

Dalit vrouwen maken radio
Een viertal Dalit vrouwen is opgeleid om zelf lokale radio te maken. Het is het eerste volwaardige Community Radio Station dat is opgestart door een NGO, de Deccan Development Society (DDS). De directeur van DDS ziet het als democratisering van de Indiase radiogolven. "De radio van het volk is een werkelijkheid".
Dalit women set to air programmes (door K. Venkateshwarlu)

"We will talk about virtually everything that touches the community"

MACHNOOR (Medak district): A quartet of Dalit women, sing "jagadam pata", a song on a fight between a local landlord and a Dalit tenant, which unfolded in their village of Machnoor. In the adjoining room of the domed studio, 'General' Narsamma moves the knob on a mixer, occasionally helped by Algolu Narsamma.
* Studio includes 100-watt FM transmitters reaching out to 100 villages
* "It will herald democratisation of India's airwaves"
These Dalit women are all set to broadcast their hour-long programme from the country's first full- fledged Community Radio Station set up here by a non-governmental organisation, Deccan Development Society (DDS). The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal to licence them on November 16. There are at least three such community radios set up but all of them depend on AIR for broadcasting.
But for the licence, everything was in place with UNESCO providing part of the funds.
The studio building was made with locally available low cost material, two 16 and 4 channel mixers and stereo recorders, two 100-watt FM transmitters with a coverage area of 30 km radius reaching out to 100 villages, were already set up.

Tuning in: 'General' Narsamma at the Deccan Development Society Community FM Radio Centre at Machnoor (photo: K. Ramesh Babu)
"Licence for the community radio was denied all these years citing security reasons. Now that the policy got the Cabinet nod we are immensely happy.
It will herald democratisation of India's airwaves. People's radio has become a reality", said P. V. Satheesh, Director of DDS. "It bridges the gap as mainstream media has no space for them", observed Vinod Pavarala, Dean of Communication, University of Hyderabad.
Making radio programmes has been a child's play for these tape-recorder wielding Dalit women, as they have canned 500 hours of them so far. "It's our radio and we will broadcast programmes made by us for our benefit. We will talk about seeds, crop diversity, organic farming, health, hygiene, women's problems and sending children to school, virtually everything that touches the community," said `General' Narsamma brimming with confidence.
There is expectation that the radio tailored to community needs would not only lend voice to the voiceless marginalised community but revive interest in the dying oral folk traditions like "Bichapola patalu."


The Indian Express, 15-11-2006

De veiligheid van Dalits belangrijk voor overheid
De Indiase overheid zal zich buigen over het verzoek om meer bescherming aan Dalits en minderheden te verstrekken in dorpen waar zij in de minderheid zijn en zich onveilig voelen. Vice-premier Patil reageerde hiermee op een verzoek van enkele leiders om Dalits van wapens te voorzien. Dit gebeurde tijdens een persconferentie in Amravati, de stad die nog altijd in rep en roer is na de moord van vier leden van een Dalit familie op 29 september. De politie moest geweld gebruiken om de protestanten uiteen te jagen.
Security for Dalits on govt’s mind, says Patil

NAGPUR, NOVEMBER 15 : Once again refusing to have linked Naxalites with protests against the Khairlanji incident, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today said the government will think over the demand to provide security to Dalits and minorities at villages where they are in minority and feel unsafe.
Patil was reacting to a query over demand from some leaders to provide arms to Dalits, at a press conference at Amravati city today. The city was on the boil over the killing of four of a Dalit family at Khairlanji village in Bhandara district on September 29. Police had to cane-charge rioting protestors near Amravati Collectorate on Tuesday, and later open fire when the violence continued.
One person who was injured is critical and is in the Government Medical College here.
Patil visited the city today and met with district officials. He also announced probe by a judicial magistrate on the police firing. “Action will be taken against even those who caused yesterday’s violence,” Patil said.


Ahmedabad Newsline, 14-11-2006

Geweldsdelicten: Staat verwijst naar MP
In Gujarat leidt slechts 3% van de gemelde misdaden tegen Dalits tot een veroordeling. De deelstaat wil van haar buren leren hoe het beter kan. Er wordt daarom een team ambtenaren naar Madhya Pradesh gestuurd om daar te bestuderen hoe die staat een percentage van 16% weet te bewerkstelligen. Gujarat verklaart zijn lage veroordelingsgraad met de stelling dat de misdaden tegen Dalits in Gujarat vooral verbaal geweld en kleine overtredingen betreft, terwijl er in andere staten meer verkrachtingen en moord voorkomen.
Atrocity cases: State looks to MP

Conviction rate poor, Gujarat to take lessons to see cases don’t hang fire

Gandhinagar, November 14: With Gujarat’s paltry three per cent rate of conviction in atrocity cases scheduled to come under the National Scheduled Caste Commission’s scanner next week, the State Government has decided to look to neighbouring Madhya Pradesh for some lessons on ensuring that such cases do not hang fire.
While officials at the Secretariat are busy perparing notes and explanations sought by the Commission, the State Government has decided to send a team of senior officials to Madhya Pradesh to study its high conviction rate — 16 per cent — in cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs).
One of the reasons behind State’s poor track record in atrocity cases is that most of them pertain to offences like minor verbal or physical abuse, said officials adding that other states deal with more serious crimes like rape and murder.
“Owing to the minor nature of the offences here, the lack of evidence become s a huge impediment and the cases drag on in courts.
The delays result in low conviction rate.
The team of officials would study what can be done to increase the rate of conviction and expedite police investigation,” said a senior official of the Social Welfare Department.
Meanwhile, National SC Commission vice chairman Faqirbhai Vaghela said that the commission would visit Gandhinagar on November 24, and seek a detailed report from all State Government departments on action taken for the upliftment of SCs.
“The low rate of conviction in atrocities against SCs is a worrying trend. We need to see why this is happening,” Vaghela said over telephone from Delhi.
A day before the commission meets the government, it’s members would interact with local MPs, MLAs, OBCs and the general public to hear their views on the issue of SC welfare.
The Commission would mainly review the Special Component Plan (SPP) in this connection.


The Times of India, 13-11-2006

Dalit drummers spelen voor verloren eer
Tijdens het India Social Forum zijn Dalit drummers uit Tamil Nadu, actief om hun kunstuiting levend te houden en met het drummen respect af te dwingen voor hun gemeenschap. In de klassieke Tamil Nadu maatschappij waren zij de koning's boodschappers. Ze leidde legers naar het slagveld en waren betrokken bij alle onderdelen van het menselijke leven, van geboorte tot dood.
Hun rol is echter minder belangrijk geworden en ze spelen alleen nog tijdens begrafenissen en religieuze festivals. Vijf jaar geleden vormden ze de Tamil Nadu Antieke Percussionisten Unie (Tapu), die inmiddels al uit 2000 leden bestaat.
"De heropleving van deze kunstvorming is voor ons verbonden aan de bevestinging van de rechten van de spelers" aldus Father E.S. Jose, een drijvende kracht achter de oprichting van de Unie. "We willen eerlijk loon en erkenning voor deze muziekvorm die bekend staat onder de namen Pariyattam en Tappattam."
These Dalit drummers play for lost dignity (door Amit Bhattacharya)

NEW DELHI: Amid the overdose of earthy colours and worthy causes at the ongoing India Social Forum in the capital, this small group draws attention the moment it starts performing. Their beat is impeccable, their energy infectious.
These are Dalit drummers from Tamil Nadu, fighting to keep alive an ancient art form and through it, struggling to win dignity for their community. In ancient Tamil society, they were the king's messengers.
Called pariyee, meaning "strong men", they lead armies into battlefield their war drums raising the battle pitch. They were intimately linked with every occasion of life, celebrating the joys and sorrows of a person from womb to tomb.
Each occasion had a distinct beat and tenor. Today, however, they beat along a lonely path. Their traditional role has diminished, now mainly restricted to playing in funerals and during festive and religious occasions. Even their skills are derogatorily called "funeral art".
But these Dalits are now organising.
Five years ago on May Day, they formed the Tamil Nadu Antique Percussionists' Union (Tapu), which now boasts of 2,000 members.
Says Chennai-based Father E S Jose, a moving force behind the union's formation, "For us, revival for this art is linked to assertion of the performers' rights. We want just wages and due recognition for our form of music which is called Pariyattam or Tappattam."
Jose says there are an estimated 1.5 lakh Dalit drummers in the state. Tapu wants to bring most of them within its fold. "Our dream is to hold a procession of 1 lakh drummers performing with gusto through the streets of Chennai," he adds.
These skin instruments are among the oldest musical instruments in the world, says Jose. "These drums were organically linked to all facets of Tamil life in ancient times. They would also protect the community.
For instance, news of a breach in an embankment would be quickly relayed to the village through a specific beat. In the post-Aryan society, these drummers became untouchables. A slavish custom was devised to pay them their wages. These things must change."


The Hindu, 12-11-2006

Ministers finaliseren actie voor Dalits
Nog voor de bijeenkomst met de industrie, waar een gedragscode voor Affirmative Action in de private sector zal worden besproken, is een groep ministers op 14 november bijeen gekomen om de laatste hand te leggen aan hun aanbevelingen.
De bijeenkomst is extra belangrijk in het licht van de recente uitspraak van de rechtbank over het buitensluiten van de "creamy layer" wanneer het gaat om reserveringen.
Een andere groep ministers die zich met Dalit zaken bezig houden hebben geadviseerd dat de overheid minimaal 30% van haar uitgaven besteeds bij Dalit ondernemers.
De industrie sector heeft aangegeven bereidt te zijn reserveringen te hanteren, maar bij voorkeur op vrijwillige basis.
GoM to finalise action for Dalits on Tuesday

New Delhi, Nov. 12 (PTI): Ahead of its meeting with the industry chambers to prepare a code of conduct on Affirmative Action for the private sector, a Group Of Ministers (GoM) would be meeting on November 14 to finalise their recommendations.
The meeting assumes significance as it is being held against the backdrop of the apex court's order on excluding the creamy layer in reservation as also Government's effort for affirmative action to provide quotas to SCs and STs in the private sector.
Headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, the GoM on reservation of posts and services for SCs, STs and OBCs includes Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Steel Minister Ramvilas Paswan, Law Minister H R Bhardwaj, Tribal Affairs Minister P R Kyndiah and Social Justice Minister Meira Kumar.
Another Group Of Ministers on Dalit Affairs headed by Pranab Mukherjee, which held several rounds of discussions on economic and social empowerment of SCs/STs, has recommended among other things that at least 30 per cent purchases of the Government be made from enterpreneurs belonging to SCs/STs and in the setting up of industries, schools, hostels in the areas dominantly inhabited by Dalits.
The GoM meeting on November 14 may adopt these proposals and finally recommend it to the Nair Committee meeting next day for Affirmative Action.
The November 15 meeting comes in the backdrop of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's observation that the industry must take steps on affirmative action for a more inclusive society.
Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar has held several rounds of talks with industry captains under the leadership of Ratan Tata on providing reservation in the private sector.
The industry had expressed its unwillingness to provide reservation but had voiced readiness for affirmative action on a voluntary basis.
Considering that the process to reach a "consensus" on the issue of reservation in private sector was time-taking, the government may consider the offer made by industry that includes providing scholarships, training in skilled areas and opening schools.
In order to concretise the suggestions and actions in this regard into a time-bound action programme, the Prime Minister had constituted a coordination committee under the chairmanship of his Principal Secretary T K A Nair.
Secretaries of the ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment and Tribal Affairs and Departments of Personnel and Training and Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) were the members of the committee.
Sources said the November 15 is expected to discuss a code of conduct on affirmative action that could be progressively adopted by the industry and to formulate a way to compile information on SCs and STs.
In the wake of ambiguity from the private sector, Centre is understood to have sought certain clarifications as to how they could increase the "capabilities" of the SCs/STs, funding of Ashram Schools for the STs, development of infrastructural facilities including schools, hostels, funding of students for higher studies and hunt for talents including sports among the community.


NDTV.com, 8-11-2006

Apathie van Dalit partijen na moord op Dalit familie
De brute verkrachting en de moord van een Dalit familie in Maharastra heeft velen geschokt. Maar de politieke Dalit partijen hebben zich stil gehouden, en waren zelfs bijna onzichtbaar tijdens de recente verontwaardiging over het incident. Het duurde ruim een maand voordat de publieke verontwaardiging begon. Dat de Dalit politieke partijen niet van zich hebben laten horen, lijkt te betekenen dat zij hun positie als belangenvertegenwoordiger voor Dalits aan het verliezen zijn. Er is sprake van politieke versplintering. Politieke Dalit partijen lijken meer bezig met het vormen van allianties dan het echte werk.
Dalits face apathy in Maharashtra (door Supriya Sharma)

Wednesday, November 8, 2006 (Mumbai): The brutal rape and murder of a Dalit family in Maharashtra, which is the birthplace of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar and of Dalit politics, has shocked many.
But Dalit political parties have been silent, almost invisible, during the recent outrage over the incident.
"A girl was raped in a village near Pune, and she killed herself. So around 2000-4000 people silently mobilised in Mumbai and travelled to the village," said Namdeo Dhasal, Dalit poet and writer.
Dhasal remembers another era, the early 70s, when the Dalit movement in Maharashtra had an edge.
Groups like the Dalit Panthers were potent and poets like him also doubled up as activists.
"When the government failed to respond to atrocities against Dalits, we took matters in our own hands. We went to the concerned village to ensure justice was delivered and the guilty punished," said Namdeo Dhasal, Dalit poet and writer.
"At that time, no one in the Dalit movement was bothered about contesting elections or winning seats," he added.
Now, in Vidarbha, it took more than a month for protests to break out, with the main Dalit parties choosing to remain largely silent. The reasons are not far to seek.
Maharashtra is where Ambedkar began his politics and his foray into the electoral arena through the Republican Party of India (RPI) founded in the early 50s.
But Ambedkar's demise left a void of leadership and it was not long before infighting set in.
In less than a decade, the RPI split and over the years, the splintering continued professedly over ideological issues. But most believe it was driven more by personal ambitions of leaders.
By the 90s, there were as many as five factions of RPI, led by by Ramdas Athavale, Joginder Kawade, RS Gavai and Ambedkar's own grandson Prakash Ambedkar.
Almost all of them flirted with the Congress and later the NCP.
In 2004, in the state assembly elections, Athavale's party was given four seats to contest by the NCP, while Gavai was given two by Congress.
At the end, in a state with 13 per cent Dalit vote, the RPI managed to win just one seat.
But Samar Khadas, who covers Dalit parties for a Marathi newspaper, says it's hardly surprising.
"Lumpenisation has set in Dalit politics. Majority of Dalit leaders have become power hungry, busy forging profitable alliances," said Samar Khadas, Loksatta.
But the larger crisis is not just the lack of political leadership, but also the fading of the once sharp Dalit voice that filled in the political vacuum at one time.
"I admit no work is being done at the grassroots level anymore, not by politicians, not even by writers like me," said Dhasal, Dalit poet and writer.
The recent incident only shows that something has gone wrong with Dalit assertion, and that too in the state where it all began.


The Hindu, 8-11-2006

Commissie voor link quota en populatie
De Nationale Commissie voor Scheduled Castes heeft geadviseerd alle op reserving betrekking hebbende wetten boven het rechtelijk ordeel te stellen door hen toe te voegen het Negende Programma van de Grondwet.
De “Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes” zijn niet alleen economisch achtergesteld. Zij worden ook gediscrimineerd wanneer ze het econmisch iets beter hebben. Reservering moet daarom gekoppeld worden aan de populatie. De commissie voor kastelozen gaat dit standpunt promoten bij de volksvertegenwoordigers zodat het vertaald kan worden in wetgeving.
Commission for linking quota to population

For keeping all reservation-related laws beyond judicial review

NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has recommended keeping all reservation-related laws beyond judicial review by putting them in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
It has also sought a separate bill to render "null and void" the recent Supreme Court judgment, suggesting exclusion of the "creamy layer" from the ambit of reservation.
Sharing the highlights of the Commission's first annual report — presented to the President on July 13 — with the media here on Tuesday, Commission Vice-Chairperson Fakirbhai Vaghela described as "unfortunate" the Supreme Court order on the "creamy layer."
The concept was linked only with reservation for the Other Backward Classes, where the criterion was based only on economic backwardness, he said.
"The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes are not only just economically backward. They also face discrimination and oppression even if economically better-off."
Reservation, he said, should be linked to population. The five-member Bench judgment could be challenged before a larger Bench or made ineffective through legislation. The Commission would now approach the elected representatives to put pressure on the Government to bring in legislation in Parliament.
* Supreme Court order "unfortunate"
* Seeks speedy passage of Bill
The Commission stressed the need for speedy passage of the Bill on Reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Posts/Services to improve their representation and bring uniformity in the implementation of the reservation policy and simultaneously provide for punitive measures against non-implementing organisations and individuals. The Bill is pending with the Ministry.
Among the other major recommendations made in the report, now with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Commission favoured extension of reservation in promotion at all levels, including groups A and B, clearing of backlog and shortfall in Scheduled Castes in services by launching special recruitment drives in a time-bound manner.
The Department of Personnel and Training should calculate the backlog and select Schedule Caste candidates from among the available eligible lot called for interview, thereby doing away with the criteria of "not-found suitable." On the economic and social development front, the Commission said the State Governments should ensure that allocations under the Special Component Plan were in the ratio of Schedule Caste population and funds were utilised properly under the Special Central Assistance scheme.
Proper coaching and training should be imparted to the SC candidates to equip them for competitive examinations.
New primary schools should be opened in areas having a high concentration of the SC population.
Making a special mention of the atrocities against Scheduled Castes in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Vaghela said the State topped the list and the issues were more in the nature of confrontation over land grabbing by OBCs. The cases showed an increase in the past five years.


NDTV.com, 8-11-2006

Nagpur gespannen na moord op Dalits
De situatie blijft gespannen in Nagpur. Honderden Dalits schreeuwden slogans buiten het kantoor van de Maharashtra Chief Minister in protest tegen de moord op mede Dalits.
Een Dalitvrouw en drie van haar kinderen zijn door dorpsgenoten vermoord toen zij hen niet toestonden om een weg door hun gebied aan te leggen.
De staat heeft tot een onderzoek opdracht gegeven CID maar de activisten eisen een CBI onderzoek in het incident.
Ondertussen verzamelden ook honderden protestanten van de Peoples Republican Party of India zich buiten het bureau van de politiecommissaris in Nagpur.
Dinsdag waren er al hevige protesten van boze Dalits moesten de autoriteiten in enkele delen van de stad een avondklok opleggen.
Dalit killings: 44 arrested in Nagpur (door Priyanka Kakodkar/Deepti Aggarwal)

Wednesday, November 8, 2006 (Nagpur/Mumbai): Protests over the murder of a Dalit family in Maharashtra have finally had an impact with 44 people being arrested in Bhandara.
The people have been arrested for allegedly killing a Dalit woman and three children because the family refused to let upper caste villagers build a road through their fields.
Protests have been on for the past few days and on Wednesday also there were protests outside Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's office.
Following the protests and agitations, the Deputy Chief Minister has awarded a compensation of six lakhs for each victim.
The state has ordered a CID enquiry but the activists are demanding a CBI enquiry into the incident.
The deputy CM also said that he may agree to a CBI probe into the incident. Four policemen have also been suspended for dereliction of duty.
Meanwhile, hundreds of activists belonging to the Peoples Rebublican party of India also gathered outside the police commissioner's office in protest.
The agitating protestors were stopped a distance away from the Commissioner's office.
There were violent protests by the Dalits on Tuesday and authorities had to impose curfew in some parts of the city.


Indian Express, 8-11-2006

Dorp verstilt na moord familie
Een dag na de grote rellen in Nagpur, naar aanleiding van de moord op een familie Dalit, is er een angstaanjagende stilte is op Khairlanji gedaald, het dorp waar de moord plaatsvond. Niemand hier is bereid te spreken: „Wij hebben niets gezien, wat kunnen we zeggen?”.
Khairlanji is nooit meer hetzelfde geweest, nadat de familie Bhotmanges bezwaar maakte tegen mensen die hun land gebruikte om bij hun eigen grond te komen. Dit ergerde de mensen uit het dorp en zij keerden zich gezamelijk tegen hen. Surekha Bhotmange zocht de hulp van haar neef Gajbhiye, wat de dorpelingen nog verder agriveerden omdat een van hen met Gajbhiye een onenigheid had gehad over een geldtransactie. Enkele dorpelingen achtervolgden Gajbhiye en sloegen hem in elkaar. Surekha heeft vervolgens een getuigenis afgelegd die leidde tot de arrestatie van de geweldplegers.
Op 29 september werden Surekha en twee zonen en dochter om het leven gebracht.
Village quiet after it ganged up to hack Dalit mother, 3 children (door Vivek Deshpande)

Newcomers to Khairlanji, Bhotmanges had objected to people cutting across their field to get to their own

KHAIRLANJI (BHANDARA), NOVEMBER 7: A day after mobs ran riot in Nagpur, protesting the killing of four of a Dalit family, an eerie silence has descended on Khairlanji, the village in Bhandara district where the family was hacked to death. No one here’s willing to talk, not anymore: “We haven’t seen anything. So what can we say?” Policemen, who weren’t there when they were needed, simply wave you on.
In eastern Vidarbha’s paddy belt, Khairlanji has never been the same ever since the Bhotmanges, one of the three Mahar families in the village who became Buddhists, objected to people cutting across their field to get to their own. The Bhotmanges, who had land in Khairlanji, had moved in from neighbouring Ambagadh. This simple assertion of their right annoyed others in the village. Cutting across castes, they all ganged up against the Bhotmanges.
Surekha Bhotmange, a mother of three, sought the help of Siddharth Gajbhiye, a cousin from neighbouring Dhusala, in the matter and this annoyed the villagers even more because Gajbhiye had already had a fight with one of them over a money transaction. Some villagers chased and beat up Gajbhiye. The Bhotmanges, especially Surekha, stood up for Gajbhiye and testified against the villagers, leading to their arrest.
On September 29, Surekha, her sons Sudhir and Roshan and daughter Priyanka were hacked to death and their bodies thrown in a nullah. Priyanka and Roshan were stripped before they were killed. The attackers showed no mercy to even Sudhir who was visually impaired.
Bhaiyyalal, Surekha’s husband, was the only one to survive. “I was in the field when I heard people shout. When I rushed to my hut, I saw some 50-60 people attacking my family.”
Realising he couldn’t take on the mob, Bhaiyyalal fled, seeking shelter with relatives in nearby Warthi. “The local police should have gauged the seriousness of the development that led to the incident and acted to prevent it. They are at fault,” says a police officer.
Bhaiyyalal says a Gond tribal had once warned him that they would be “finished”.
“I never thought they would carry out the threat’’. Dilip Uke, Dalit activist and member of the Panchayat Samiti at the tehsil headquarters in Mohadi, maintains: “They didn’t like the fact that the Bhotmanges were being assertive about their rights. Just see how brutally were they killed.”
Bhaiyyalal says he now realises it was a mistake moving to Khairlanji. “We thought we could mingle with the upper castes in the village, but they always made us feel that we were not their equal. If we had a function, they wouldn’t eat at our place,” he says.


The Hindu, 7-11-2006

Dalits protesteren na moord familie
De moord van vier leden van een familie Dalit in district Bhandara van Maharashtra op maandag leidde tot hevige protesten van Dalits, die verschillende voertuigen in brand stoken en slaags raakten met de politie. Minstens 15 personen werden gearresteerd met betrekking tot brandstichting en geweld. De politie nam zijn toevlucht tot het gebruik van de knuppel en verspreidde traangas om de protestanten uiteen te drijven. Enkele politieagenten werden licht verwondt door bekogelingen met stenen. Het aantal gewonde Dalits is onbekend.
Dalits protest killing of family

Vehicles set on fire; police respond with lathicharge, teargas shells

Nagpur: The killing of four members of a Dalit family in Bhandara district of Maharashtra on Monday sparked violent protests by Dalits, who set on fire several vehicles and fought pitched battles with the police. At least 15 persons were arrested in connection with arson and violence, police said. The protesters set on fire several vehicles, including a police van and state transport buses, at the Indora locality here, they said.
"The police resorted to cane charge and fired about 45 teargas shells to disperse the protesters," Additional Commissioner of Police Bhushan Kumar Upadhyaya told PTI here on Monday night. He said some policemen received minor injuries in stone pelting. The number of Dalits injured in the lathicharge was unknown.
Four members of a Dalit family were allegedly killed by non-Dalits at Khairlanji in Bhandara district two months ago. The Government on Monday ordered a CID probe into the incident, Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil said in Mumbai. Trouble broke out when the protesters burnt tyres to block traffic on the busy Nagpur-Jabalpur National Highway. — PTI


The Times of India, 7-11-2006

In UP meeste geweld tegen Dalits
Uttar Pradesh heeft de dubieuze eer van het hoogste aantal misdaden tegen Dalits. Statistieken wijzen op een „confrontatie“ tussen de Scheduled Castes en de Andere Achtergestelde kasten (OBCs). Uttar Pradesh staat, met 16.8 percent (4.397 gevallen), bovenaan de lijst van misdaden tegen Dalits in India. De Scheduled Caste Commissie heeft duizenden klachten van wreedheden tegen Dalits ontvangen, meestal in verband met landkwesties. De waarnemend voorzitter van de commissie meldt dat het merendeel van het land dat van Dalits wordt afgepakt, gebeurt door Andere Achtergestelde Kasten (OBC’s). Er zijn veel confrontaties tussen deze twee groepen.
De commissie uit kritiek op de ambtenarij in verschillende staten, omdat zij er niet in geslaagd zijn om de problemen van de gemeenschap aan te pakken, vooral op het gebied van geweld en discriminatie.
UP tops in crimes against Dalits

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh has achieved the dubious distinction of reporting the highest number of crimes against dalits with statistics indicating a "confrontation" between the Scheduled Castes and OBCs.
"Uttar Pradesh tops the list of crime against dalits in the country with 16.8 per cent (4,397 cases).... The Commission has received thousand of complaints of atrocities against dalits, mostly related to land," Fakirbhai Vaghela, acting chairman of the Scheduled Caste Commission, told reporters here.
He said a majority of cases against dalits are related to land grabbing by OBCs, and not by upper castes.
"Wherever the two communities are stronger, there is confrontation. The atmosphere in the state shows that there is a confrontation between dalits and OBCs."
Vaghela, in the presence of other members of the Commission, said there were over 12000-13000 cases before the Commission related to atrocities against dalits in the state with a majority being land related cases.
He was also critical of state officials saying they have failed to come forward to address the problems faced by the community, particularly related to atrocities and discrimination.
UP is followed by Madhya Pradesh with 4,356 cases, Rajasthan (3795), Andhra Pradesh (3117) and Bihar (1824); he said and expressed concern over the low conviction rate and long pendency of such cases.
"We are equally concerned about lower conviction rate in cases involving dalits. It is as low as to 29.8 per cent, which meant 70 per cent acquittal," he said, adding that pendency of large number of dalit cases compounded their problems.


The Pioneer, 2-11-2006

Dalits dreigen met satyagraha tegen ban tempeltoegang
Een Dalit groep heeft aangekondigd op 19 november een vredig protest te voeren tegen het verbod voor Dalits om de Jagannath tempel te betreden. De voorzitter van de groep meld dat Dalits in andere delen van het district wel de tempels mogen betreden, maar dat hoge kasteleden hen dat beletten in Keradagada. Ondertussen hebben ongeveer 1200 Dalits gedreigd zich tot een andere religie te bekeren als ze de tempel niet inmogen. De politie is gevraagd de situatie te bekijken. De weigering Dalits toe te laten zorgt sinds vorig jaar voor spanning. Een groep vrouwen is toen vermoedelijk door de gemeenschap bestraft voor het ‘bevuilen’ van de tempel.
Dalits threaten satyagraha against temple entry ban

Bhubaneswar - The Ambedkar-Lohia Vichar Manch on Wednesday announced to hold a satyagraha against the prohibition of Dalits into the Jagannath temple at Keradagada in Rajnagar block of Kendrapara district.
Manch chairman Sangram Mallick told reporters here that it was an unfortunate matter in the State and the Manch would hold a satyagraha and a public meeting there on November 19.
"While Dalits are free to enter temples elsewhere in the district, upper caste people have been barring them from doing so at Keradagada," he said.
Meanwhile, about 1,200 Dalits threatened to embrace some other religion if they were not allowed into the temple. The Dalits who are peeved at being barred from entering the Jagannath temple have floated a new outfit 'Dalit Manch' to take forward their stir.
The agitating Dalits belong to Sandhapalli, Ostia, Balisinghpatnam, Sanabada, Gopalpur and Keredagarh GPs. Sources said they had decided to launch a peaceful agitation on 'Kartik Purnima'.
However, District Collector Kashinath Sahu said he had already asked the local tehsildar and police to look into the matter.
Refusal of entry to Dalits into the temple had triggered off tension in the area a year ago after some women were allegedly penalised for 'desecration,' following which the NHRC had asked the local administration to step in.


The Himalayan Times, 1-11-2006

Dalit onderdrulling in Nepal
Twee Dalits in het dorp Doti, Nepal zijn in elkaar geslagen. De slachoffers zijn de voormalig en huidige voorzitter van een Dalit landbouw beweging. Zij zijn in elkaar geslagen door hun werkgever.
Two more Dalits roughed up

Rastriya Samachar Samiti

Doti, November 1:
In yet another incident of oppression of Dalits, some so-called upper caste people of Dauda VDC in Doti have roughed up two Dalits in the village.
Dauda residents Dil Bahadur Singh, Rana Bahadur Singh and Bhakta Bahadur Singh beat up Dumbar Biswokarma and Sita Devi Biswokarma on October 28.
Dumber is the former chairman of the Doti Haliya Liberation Society and Sita Devi is its current chairman. They have been living in the house of Deel Bahadur Singh and Rana Bahadur Singh as land tillers (Haliyas).
Haliyas were liberated by the DDC at the initiative of various social organisations in the district who started advocating for the rights of the Haliyas. Talking to RSS, the victims said: “If Haliya liberation leaders are subjected to such an ill-treatment, what will be the condition of the rest of Haliyas?”


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