India – Nine months in a cell at 84 on terrorism charges: Father Stan is dead
The drama of the Jesuit held in a cell for having defended tribal populations. He had contracted Covid. Only a few days before he was transferred to hospital.
Father Stan Swamy did not make it: the 84-year-old Jesuit died today after nine months of detention on charges of terrorism for his commitment in favor of tribal peoples. Since the end of May, the priest had been in the Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai, where - when his health was deeply undermined by Parkinson's and Covid's disease - the judges had allowed him to be transferred from Taloja prison. As his condition worsened, yesterday the elderly Jesuit was transferred to the intensive care unit, while an appeal to obtain his release was still being discussed in court. In the end, however, death came.
The announcement was made in a statement by the provincial of the Jesuits of India, Father Stanislaus D'Souza, relaunched by the Asianews agency, which explicitly titled it "Stan Stawmy killed by 9 months in prison". "Stan Swamy to eternal rest with the author of life who had entrusted him with the mission of working among tribals, dalits and other marginalized communities so that the poor might have life and have it in abundance. The Society of Jesus," continues Father D'Souza, "is committed at this time to carrying on the legacy of Fr. Stan in his mission of justice and reconciliation. Details about the funeral will be announced soon."
Despite his advanced age and an advanced stage of Parkinson's disease, Fr. Swamy was arrested on October 8 by the National Investigation Agency in Jarkhand, where he has spent his entire life defending the rights of local tribal peoples threatened by economic interests.
Along with 15 other activists, the Jesuit was accused of contacts with Maoist guerrillas as part of the investigation into clashes that took place in 2018 at the commemoration of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon. Fr. Swamy has always denied these allegations, claiming that some documents were included as false allegations against him in computers seized from him.
On several occasions, judges in Mumbai have refused his request for release on bail.
Only after he contracted Covid-19 in prison did the judges finally agree to his transfer to Holy Family Hospital.
In a dramatic hearing on May 22, refusing an initial admission to a public hospital, he had said he was asking for release so he could die among his people. "During these eight months," he had claimed, "there has been a slow but steady regression of every function of my body. The Taloja prison has brought me to a condition where I am unable to write or walk on my own. I am asking you to consider why and how this deterioration of my health has occurred. I may suffer, perhaps even die very soon if the deterioration of my condition continues. But whatever happens I want to be able to be among my people."
Source. AVVENIR
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