https://theshillongtimes.com/2021/07/06/a-prophet-is-a-threat-to-the-powerful/ Walter Fernandes Shillong Times
During the four decades I have worked with him I have seen him sticking his neck out on behalf of people in the periphery. He was in the middle of the struggle of bonded agricultural labourers in Bangalore in the mid-1970s. In 1978 and many times after it we saw him joining the Dalits at Villupuram and Tanjore and elsewhere demanding their right to be human. In many of these cases the fight was within the church and many of its leaders thought that he was a divisive influence in the Church. But Stan’s struggle was for justice to the poor and for an inclusive India in which all people are equal. So he was often disliked even in the Church. But many others supported the causes he took up even when they disagreed with him on details. In all these instances Stan insisted on non-violence when many victims of injustice were demanding a violent reaction. Such a person is accused of being a Naxalite.
During most of these four decades his priority was the rights of the tribal communities of Jharkhand and its neighbouring States. The corporate sector wanted their land and the tribals as cheap bonded labour.
He went to the high court seeking the freedom of more than 3,000 tribal young persons of Jharkhand who are jailed because they demanded the rights that are theirs under various laws such as the Prevention of Tribal Land Alienation Act, and the Panchayat Extension to the Scheduled Areas Act. These laws are made and not implemented and Stan demanded that the young persons who demand their implementation be freed and that their voice be heard.
He was arrested a few days before this case came up for hearing in the high court.
Stan Swamy has laid down his life for the cause of the tribal communities struggling for their rights. Let this sacrifice of Stan and others paying the price in jail not go in vain.
The Whole Story: Father Stan Swamy- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yva7GxYLVx0 - 06 July, 2021
esuit priest and tribal rights activist Stan Swamy passed away on Monday afternoon, two days after he was placed on ventilator support in Mumbai’s Holy Family Hospital.
Incidentally, the Bombay High Court was urgently hearing his bail petition due to his deteriorating health when it was announced that he passed away at 1:30pm.
In Oct 2020, Stan Swamy was accused and arrested in the Elgar Parishad case by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from his residence in Ranchi. Other accused include Varavara Rao and Sudha Bharadwaj