IAN STILLMAN

BANGALORE INITIATIVE FOR RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE (BIRD)

PRESS RELEASE 25 June 2002

An appeal to free Ian Stillman, a deaf British citizen

A delegation consisting of Dr. Ken R.Gnanakan, P.N.Benjamin, Bishop R. Paulraj and Dr. Thomas George met and handed over an appeal addressed to Prime Minister A.B.Vajpayee, to free Ian Stillman, a deaf British citizen, who has been languishing in the Kanda jail near Shimla for the last two years, to Union Minister Uma Bharati on 24 June in Bangalore.
The minister told the delegation that she was moved by the plight of Stillman and she would do everything possible to help him out. She also asked the delegation to inform Stillman’s wife to personally meet her (Uma Bharati) in New Delhi.


P.N.BENJAMIN
Coordinator
Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue (BIRD)


June 24, 2002To: Respected Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpaiyeecc: Respected Home Minister, L.K. AdvaniPer kind favour : Respected Union Minister, Uma BharatiAn appeal to free the deaf Briton from jailWe write this appeal on behalf of Ian Stillman, a deaf British citizen, whohas been languishing in the Kanda jail near Shimla for the last two years.He was arrested for allegedly possessing 20 kilos of cannabis and sentencedto 10 years in jail. His appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed on May6.Stillman came to India in 1972. Appalled by the plight of the deaf people inIndia he decided stay back in South India and work for them. He wanted toprove to the world that given the right training, there was nothing the deafpersons could not do.August 2000, when Ian was on a trip to Manali forsetting up IT camps for deaf people, the police arrested him under theNarcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act for the aforesaid crime.Here are the facts which we would request you to consider. Ian got a liftfrom an Israeli tourist who was going back to Manali. When the policestopped the car the Israeli ran away. The taxi driver and his assistant werewitnesses but the court declared that they had turned hostile. More than200 British MPs have recently petitioned the Indian government for Stillman's freedom.Ian Stillman's health is reportedly failing. The phantom pain in hisamputated leg has resurfaced and he suffers from diabetes. The doctors havewarned him that he could lose his other leg too. As he languishes in jail,he reads whatever he can lay his hands on and is well on his way to writinga children's book.Ian Stillman longs to get back to the deaf camp he opened in Kanyakumari andthe Nambikkai, and the Foundation set up in Chennai in 1978. We appeal tothe Government of India to show mercy on Ian Stillman and free him fromprison and permit him to resume his work among the deaf persons.We urge your timely action to set Stillman free and help him continue hisnoble work.Dr. Ken R. GnanakanChristian Alliance for Communal Harmonyand ACTS MinistriesMIG 54, KHB Colony, Koramangala, Bangalore 560 095.P.N.BENJAMINCoordinator,Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue(BIRD)43/2 Promenade Road, Bangalore 560 005Bishop Elia Peter,Methodist Church, BangaloreBishop S. PaulrajChurch of South India, Triuchirapalli, TamilnaduDr. Thomas GeorgeAsian Council for Communal Harmony







PRESS RELEASE 25 June 2002

Appeal to free Ian Stillman, a deaf British citizen

A delegation consisting of Dr. Ken R.Gnanakan, P.N.Benjamin, Bishop R. Paulraj and Dr. Thomas George met and handed over an appeal addressed to Prime Minister A.B.Vajpayee, to free Ian Stillman, a deaf British citizen, who has been languishing in the Kanda jail near Shimla for the last two years, to Union Minister Uma Bharati on 24 June in Bangalore.
The minister told the delegation that she was moved by the plight of Stillman and she would do everything possible to help him out. She also asked the delegation to inform Stillman’s wife to personally meet her (Uma Bharati) in New Delhi.


P.N.BENJAMIN
Coordinator
Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue (BIRD)