"Devastating...": EU, UN Human Rights Reps On Stan Swamy's Death

Jharkhand and Kerala Chief Ministers Hemant Soren and Pinarayi Vijayan posted messages of tribute, as did Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

The death of Father Stan Swamy - the 84-year-old Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist arrested and jailed last year under draconian anti-terror law UAPA in connection with the Elgar Parishad case - has triggered a flood of messages on social media from political leaders, intellectuals and other activists. India: I am very saddened to hear that Fr #StanSwamy has passed away. A defender of indigenous peoples' rights. He was held in detention for the past 9 months. The EU had been raising his case repeatedly with authorities. https://t.co/DNpNa1r8cq On 3 Nov 2020, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, @fernanddev & I sent a letter to the Indian Government on the arbitrary detention of #humanrightsdefender Fr. Stan Swamy. This letter is now public. Our concerns in full: https://t.co/hHNzSiOcB6@EU_in_India@EamonGilmorepic.twitter.com/v3jL8836K2 Heartfelt condolences on the passing of Father Stan Swamy.He deserved justice and humaneness. Shocked to learn about the demise of Father Stan Swamy. He dedicated his life working for tribal rights. I had strongly opposed his arrest & incarceration. The Union Govt should be answerable for absolute apathy & non provision of timely medical services, leading to his death. Among those to have spoken out are Eamon Gilmore, the European Union's Special Representative for Human Rights, and Mary Lawlor, a United Nations Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders. "The news from India today is devastating. Human Rights Defender and Jesuit priest Father Stan Swamy has died in custody, nine months after his arrest on false charges of terrorism. Jailing HRDs is inexcusable," Ms Lawlor tweeted. She attached a link to a YouTube video in which Stan Swamy explains his work.