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The Wire
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
UNPO, Indigenous People's Org Condemn Indian Govt's Travel Ban on Naga Human Rights Activist
New Delhi: This past April 7, well-known Naga human rights activist Neingulo Krome was stopped at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport from leaving the country to attend a conference in Kathmandu. The Indian government's action has come at a time when the Naga peace talks have reached a deadlock. Sources told The Wire that Krome, secretary general of Naga People's Movement for Human Rights, was to speak at a conference held by the Asia Indigenous People's Pact (AIPP) in Kathmandu. In February 2020, Krome, a former executive member of AIPP, was also prevented from leaving the country for Bangkok at the Kolkata airport. Condemning the Indian government's travel restrictions on Krome 'without any valid explanation or legal justification', AIPP, in a statement issued on April 17 said, 'AIPP views these actions as arbitrary, unjust, and deeply troubling. Preventing individuals from travelling without legal due process is not only a violation of fundamental human rights but reflects the arbitrary exercise of power by the authorities.' Calling upon the government to 'immediately clarify the legal grounds for travel restrictions' on him, the statement said, 'In a democratic country like India, no fundamental right – including the right to travel abroad – can be curtailed by the state without due process of law. The right to travel abroad is a fundamental facet of personal liberty and is protected under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.' Also Read: NSCN Founder's Son Leaves For Myanmar to Join Dissident Naga Leaders, Blames GOI For 'Hypocrisy' 'We call upon the concerned authorities to cease harassment of Indigenous human rights defenders without valid reasons and due process of law.' In a statement issued on the matter this April 16, United Nations and People's Organisation (UNPO) said, 'This marks a continuation of restrictions imposed on his freedom of movement in 2020 and exemplifies a broader trend of restrictions on civil society and indigenous rights defenders in India.' 'UNPO condemns this incident as a serious infringement on fundamental rights and a reflection of the broader, systemic clampdown on human rights defenders and civil society actors in India, including those representing indigenous and minority communities such as the Naga people.' The statement said aside from attending the conference in Kathmandu, Krome was also travelling 'to access medical treatment'. 'Restriction on Krome's movement raises serious concerns' Stating that Krome has been a speaker at various UN fora for several years, the UNPO statement said, 'The restriction on Mr. Krome's movement raises serious concerns about the state of civic space and democratic engagement in India. In recent years, there has been a marked intensification of legal and administrative measures affecting non-governmental organisations, community leaders, and human rights defenders.' 'These include the use of counter-terrorism legislation, limitations on foreign funding under the Foreign Contribution Act, crackdowns on human right defenders. The cumulative effect of these measures has been to curtail the capacity of civil society actors to participate meaningfully in domestic and international dialogue,' said the UNPO statement. The Socialist Party (India) has also condemned the government preventing the Naga activist from travelling out of the country. In a statement, its general secretary Sanjeev Pandey and national committee member Alice Achumi said 'Neingulo Krome is well known for advocacy of Naga and indigenous people's rights. It is reprehensible that Government of India instead of implementing the Framework Agreement of 2015 signed with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isac-Muivah) is trying to impose travel restrictions on activists like Neingulo Krome. It is obvious that the government is trying to cover up its failure in implementing the Framework Agreement, 2015 and doesn't want activists to criticize its failure.' The statement demanded that the government 'conclude the Naga peace process to the satisfaction of Naga people at the earliest.'
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Work of art to rubble': Austin reevaluating public art program, addressing concerns
AUSTIN (KXAN) — After concerns were raised about elements of the city of Austin's Art in Public Places (AIPP) program, the city is reevaluating it. 'Created in 1985, by action of Austin City Council, the City ordinance establishes 2% of eligible capital improvement project budgets as a set-aside commitment to commission artists or purchase art for City-owned property and facilities,' the AIPP website reads. As part of the AIPP reevaluation, city staff said they would look at the program's public-private partnerships, public art requirements and accessibility, use of funds, solicitation and artist engagement, barriers to local artists' participation, and stakeholder engagement. 'We appreciate the City Council's leadership in this effort and will provide updates on our assessment and program improvements. ACME looks forward to collaborating with the City Council, artists, and the community to uphold the integrity and impact of Austin's public art program,' said Austin's newly created Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) in a Wednesday memo. One set of concerns was about the artists selected for large-scale art contracts at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, leading to reevaluation of those contracts. Three contracts for artwork at AUS, totaling $10.6 million, were initially scheduled for discussion at the March 27 Austin City Council meeting. But ACME withdrew those items from the agenda. Agenda items on art at Austin airport removed from next council meeting The three contracts would go to: Saya Woolfalk, Jim Campbell and Yvette Mayorga. According to biographies for those artists online, Woolfalk is based in New York, Campbell in San Francisco and Mayorga in Chicago. 'Phase I of the public art plan has been temporarily paused to ensure meaningful participation from Austin-based artists. ACME, in partnership with AUS leadership, is reassessing the selection process to better reflect Austin's unique cultural identity,' the memo said. City staff said a revised process would be presented to the city council within a month. This year's South by Southwest was the last before the Austin Convention Center closes for a massive expansion and reconstruction process. Some Austin artists raised concerns about what was being left behind. Several pieces of art at Convention Center deemed 'infeasible for relocation' 'Four pieces were identified as infeasible for relocation due to site-specific design constraints, but artists were given the opportunity to reclaim their work where possible,' said an Economic Development Department public information officer earlier this month. 'For artworks that cannot be saved, we are documenting them to honor their cultural significance.' Margo Sawyer, who made 'Index for Contemplation,' a piece of art identified as 'infeasible for relocation,' called the city's process 'very opaque' at a Tourism Commission meeting earlier this month. John Yancey's 'Riffs and Rhythms,' which has been in the convention center since 1996 is another artwork set to be destroyed with the building. 'In contradiction to this assertion, I have secured a bid on my own and have a company lined up to do the installation for $40,000. However, there are currently no funds to pay this company,' Yancey told the Tourism Commission earlier this month. 'Consequently, on or about May 1 the city is still scheduled to reduce this valuable work of art to rubble and toss it into the dumpster like so much garbage.' But ACME's memo appears to backtrack on that. 'ACME has taken immediate steps to preserve and relocate these pieces. Based on input from artists, stakeholders, and the Tourism Commission, ACME is actively exploring meaningful alternatives to ensure these culturally significant works remain accessible to the public,' the memo reads. KXAN has reached out to the city of Austin to understand the change in stance. You can read the city of Austin's memo on the subject here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Several pieces of art at Convention Center deemed ‘infeasible for relocation'
AUSTIN (KXAN) — This year's South by Southwest will be the last before the Austin Convention Center closes and the city starts its massive expansion and reconstruction process. But some have expressed concern about the art in that building that won't be saved. 'Four pieces were identified as infeasible for relocation due to site-specific design constraints, but artists were given the opportunity to reclaim their work where possible,' a public information officer for the Economic Development Department said. A memo from the city stated staff analyzed more than 200 individual pieces of art in that process. One of the few pieces that won't be saved — by the city of Austin at least — is John Yancey's 'Riffs and Rhythms' which has been in the convention center since 1996. 'With color and vibrant presence, this work celebrates the multi-culture phenomenon of the various genres of Texas music,' Yancey told council members. 'Riffs and Rhythms' is one of the many pieces of art commissioned by the city under its Art in Public Places program. But it's artists who pay the price, literally, to save art when a piece of work is deemed 'infeasible for relocation', as is the case here. That, or the art is destroyed. According to a memo, Yancey was able to submit a removal plan to the city last month which was accepted — the art will be removed by Yancey and a contractor. But Yancey says not everyone has that option. 'In most cases artists cannot possibly afford to hire the conservators, expert crews and heavy equipment at their own expense to reclaim their work as is stated in the outdated policy,' he said. 'For artworks that cannot be saved, we are documenting them to honor their cultural significance. The AIPP deaccession process follows established City policies, ensuring transparency and artist involvement at every stage,' a public information officer for the Economic Development Department said. Austin City Council Member Zohaib 'Zo' Qadri put forward a resolution to help artists, and the city, avoid this moving forward. The resolution passed on consent last week. 'It will allow for flexibility for the use of funds for maintenance, it'll allow for relocation and conservation, storage, deaccession and reinstallation of artwork,' Qadri said. Qadri said it will also require the city to notify artists much sooner of their responsibilities in situations like this. He said the changes will not benefit the four pieces of art impacted in the Convention Center. 'Obviously it was a difficult situation where some artists were able to reclaim their work and others weren't and that's a situation that I think stung most importantly the artists, the ones that weren't able to claim it, but it was something that me and my colleagues were like, you know, 'we can't go back in time, but moving forward we need to make sure that this doesn't happen again,'' Qadri said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
