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"CHARITY WORKER JAILED ON 'FALSE' DRUGS CHARGE"
So read the headline in the Times (Monday June 25, 2001). A sense of outrage pervaded the whole story. 50 year old Ian Stillman, a member of the well-known Carey Baptist Church in Reading, England has been deaf since childhood. He has lived and worked in India for thiry years and was appointed two years ago as an adviser to the Indian government on disability. How concerned his friends are, like Pastor Bud Mort the Welsh minister to the deaf, a well-known figure at the Leicester Banner of Truth ministers' conference. One of his sisters, Alison Stillman, was one of the first people to talk about Jesus Christ with Dr John Ling of Aberystwyth (author of "Responding to the Culture of Death")
Ian Stillman was arrested last August whle travelling in a taxi which was stopped at a police roadblock as he slept in the back of the vehicle. He was forced to march to a police station despite discomfort from his artificial limb - he lost a leg in a motorcycle accident two years ago.
His interrogation at Manali, Hamachal Pradesh, went on for hours. His sister, Elspeth, said, "He coldn't lipread what was going on. he was forced to sign documents in Hindi, a language he doesn't understand, and he kept asking the police to telephone someone he knew localy to come and help him. They didn't so he was all alone. he didn't know why he was being held, but the police suddenly produced a green bag containing 20 kilos of cannabis and said it belonged to him. He did not know whether to laugh or cry."
The following day, without food or rest, he was dragged before a magistrate who remanded Mr Stillman to the prison in Kulu, 40 miles away, where he shared a 23 ft by 12 ft cell with 35 other prisoners.
For ten months he survived in silence in Kulu jail waiting for his trial. his wife lives more than 2,000 miles away in Kanyakumari, southern India, so can rarely visit him. the couple met in 1972 when she was teaching at a school for the deaf where Mr Stillman spent a gap uear after studying industrial design in Guildford.
Judicial experts have condemned the trial as 'a shameful farce.' There were no fingerprints. the taxi driver and a travelling companion were produced as prosecution witnesses and yet vouched for mr Stillman's innocence. Steven Jajobi of Fair Trials Abroad, said, "What happened was a prolonged, disgraceful and sadistic episode against an innocent man. this is the worst miscarriage of justice I have ever dealt with."
Mr Stillman was moved last week to a jail near Simla. His sister Elspeth and her husband, Jerry Dugdale, take turns to make the arduous trip as Mr Stillman's elderly parents are too frail. On a recent visit to India as Home Secretary the presnet Foreign Secretary, Mr jack Straw, urged the authorities to choke off the supply of drugs from towns such as Manali where the cannabis plants sprout up on the road outside the police station.
Ian Stillman has been revered for pioneering charity initiatives such as the Nambikkai Foundation, which he started in 1978 to help deaf youths in Kanyakumari, southern India. Next month, senior Indian ministers, British diplomats and others will gather in madras for a conference on Mr Stilman's latest initiative, Deaf Child India. His sister said: "Our hope is that someone may notice the founder is missing and ask why."
His wife, Sue, has just written this letter: " I just do not know what I have to say. There are no words to say how I am; it really is hard to describe. We waited anxiously for the verdict; I was so sure that Ian was coming out - not only me, but all who knew about Ian's case. He had waited patiently for 9 months for the end of the trial - but it is hard to know why God allowed this unfair trial and injustice.... It felt as if the ground under my feet gave way when we heard the verdict, but I do believe there is a purpose for God doing some great thing for us, especially for Ian, for our work and for the nation. God is saying to me: "Do not give up, do not be afraid, for I am with you, wherever you go, I am your God;I will uphold you with my righteouuus right hand, I myself will come to help you and save you" I am confident and waiting patiently every day.
Please keep praying for Ian in prison, for Lennie exposed to the difficulties and dangers of staying near Ian, for Anita not understanding really what is going on and for me to have strength and energy. Please also pray for God's control over the whole situation and for the new High Court dealings with the new advocate and judge.
Briefly, at Nambikkai they are operating in survival mode and we need prayer for direction and guidance for the future; Ian is very concerned about Nambikkai at the moment.... My work with Deaf Child India is progressing well and we are hosting a national conference in July so there is a lot of thinking and planning to be done God bless you all, to be a blessing to others."
Sue.
Ian has been moved to 'Kanda' Jail near Shimla. This is good news as there are usually 6 - 8 other foreigners there for Ian to interact with and the conditions are an improvement as the jail is both newer and cooler (altitude c.7500 feet). The Foreign Office played a big part in this success which reflects the increased interest that they are now taking in Ian's case. Lennie has moved to Shimla to be close to his father and will pass on details of jail conditions/visiting/mail arrangements etc. as soon as possible.
Since the verdict, the previous decision to keep a low profile for the case has been reversed. To help with this we have been in contact with various organisations about the verdict with the result that 'Fair Trials Abroad' have taken up the case. This charity, founded in 1994, is run by a lawyer, Stephen Jakobi and "seeks to help citizens from the European Union accused of a crime in a country other than their own, to assert their rights to due administration of justice." The result is that the case is being launched in the media next Monday morning, on BBC Radio, BBC Breakfast news and in the Times. As you are aware, Ian and Sue have found this a difficult decision to make as there is little control on the direction of the press, should the story be picked up by other media.
The aim and approach of the media campaign is to put pressure on both the British and Indian Governments to release Ian immediately on bail, drop the charges against him and then to improve the treatment of Deaf and Disabled people in India by the police, prisons and courts. The reasons for this appeal are threefold;
a.. Ian has devoted his working life to the deaf people of India for over 25 years and it is an outrage that he should be treated in this way. He is innocent.
b.. Ian's health is deteriorating rapidly due to his particular disabilities, the jail conditions and the distressing nature of the whole situation.
c.. The arrest and trial have been conducted unfairly, resulting in the unjust verdict.
Many people have asked over the past months "How can we help?" Well now is the time! To ensure that pressure is brought at the highest level on the Governments, it is vitally important that all of you write to both your MP and to the Indian High Commission, expressing your concern and highlighting Ian's case. Please may we ask that you (plus as many people as you can muster in all the groups you are part of) write these two letters as soon as possible...ideally this weekend! Timing is important so that the MP's and Indian High Commission quickly become aware of the strong depth of feeling about Ian and to coincide with the media coverage.
We have enclosed sample/suggested format letters, firstly for your MP and secondly to the Indian High Commission (both at the end of this email and as Microsoft Word attachments - if you have Word on your computer you can open the attachments and personalise them easily). You might like to use these to 'target' the main points for appeal. Please feel free to write in your own way, but it would be helpful if you could include the main points in your letters. To help us gauge the breadth of support for Ian and for us to plan ahead, we would be grateful if could send duplicates of your letters either to us or to; Fair Trials Abroad, Ham Street, Richmond TW10 7HR.
Please pray that the media campaign will focus on the points that we have discussed, that there would be no adverse effect on Ian, his family or Nambikkai and that it will bring about the desired result swiftly. Certainly from the increasing number of telephone calls we are recieving from the media already, it would appear as if things will develop swiftly at the beginning of next week. Please do try to write those letters this weekend.
We will continue to update you of any media events/times/dates etc. as soon as we know them.
Thank you
Jerry & Elspeth Dugdale
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Sample letter to your MP (same as attachment)
Mr A. N. Other, MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA.
Dear
Re: Ian Stillman
I am writing to express my concern about the plight of a British charity worker in India who has suffered a grave miscarriage of justice and whose health is now seriously threatened.
Ian Stillman has devoted his life to working among the deaf people of India for the past 25 years along with his Indian wife, Sue. His work enjoys an international reputation and has been the subject of a BBC 'See Hear' documentary. Ian (50) has been profoundly deaf since early childhood. In addition, five years ago he lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident within India.
Ian was arrested in Northern India and charged with illegal possession of cannabis at the end of August 2000 and since then has been detained in jail the conditions of which have adversely affected his health. The illicit drugs were 'allegedly' discovered in a taxi in which Ian was a passenger. The drugs were not his. He denies the charge absolutely.
Throughout the trial Ian has been isolated through both his deafness and his lack of Hindi. No provision to help overcome these difficulties was permitted. On June 2nd, Ian was pronounced 'guilty' and sentenced to ten years 'rigorous imprisonment' to the shock of his family, friends and associates. There is now serious concern for his physical health and mental well-being.
We appeal for Ian's immediate release from prison, on the grounds of his long-standing commitment to the deaf of India, his rapidly deteriorating health and due to the unfair nature of the charges and trial.
Fair Trials Abroad (Contact Stephen Jakobi Tel; 020 8332 2800) are assisting with this case and you may have already seen coverage by both the Times and the BBC amongst others.
I urge you to convey my concern to the Foreign Office, to Jack Straw personally and to bring this case to the House of Commons at the earliest possible opportunity.
Thank you in anticipation for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
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Sample copy of letter to the Indian High Commission (same as attachment)
His Excellency Shri Nareshwar Dayal
High Commission of India
India House
Aldwych
London
WC2B 4NA
Dear Sir
Re: Ian Stillman
I am writing to express my concern about the plight of a British charity worker in India who has suffered a grave miscarriage of justice and whose health is now seriously threatened.
Ian Stillman has devoted his life to working among the deaf people of India for the past 25 years along with his Indian wife, Sue. His work enjoys an international reputation and has been the subject of a BBC 'See Hear' documentary. Ian (50) has been profoundly deaf since early childhood. In addition, five years ago he lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident within India.
Ian was arrested in Himachal Pradesh and charged with illegal possession of cannabis at the end of August 2000 and since then has been detained in jail the conditions of which have adversely affected his health. The illicit drugs were 'allegedly' discovered in a taxi in which Ian was a passenger. The drugs were not his. He denies the charge absolutely.
Throughout the trial Ian has been isolated through both his deafness and his lack of Hindi. No provision to help overcome these difficulties was permitted. On June 2nd, Ian was pronounced 'guilty' and sentenced to ten years 'rigorous imprisonment' to the shock of his family, friends and associates. There is now serious concern for his physical health and mental well-being.
Ian was prepared to stand trial as he is innocent and believed his name would be cleared. However, the local judicial system has failed him, resulting in not only a serious slight on his reputation but also is now having a serious affect on both his health and work.
We appeal for Ian's immediate release from prison, on the grounds of his long-standing commitment to the deaf of India, his rapidly deteriorating health and due to the unfair nature of the charges and trial.
Fair Trials Abroad (Contact Stephen Jakobi Tel; 020 8332 2800) are assisting with this case and you may have already seen coverage by both the Times and the BBC amongst others.
I urge you to convey my concern to the Government of India at the highest authority, in order to bring about a swift resolution to this deplorable situation.
Thank you in anticipation for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully
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