I am but a Pawn

One of the brothels of the convicted

I know it’s been over a week since the convictions of five notorious traffickers in Kolkata but I’m writing about it because a) I owe you an explanation and b) I’m still amped on them.

I had been prepping for these convictions since December 2012. I read all the reports on every hearing, on every girl, and on every related incident that happened since 2009. (See my blog post about it here). Despite this, we were a week away and I still felt grossly unprepared. I had one media contact and my press release hadn’t even been looked at by the higher ups. Things were moving at a microscopic speed, which is typical for South Asia. Then March 11^th hit, and all of a sudden, I was making contacts, calling journalists, introducing myself, making day dates, and becoming instant friends with anyone who had a byline. Everything just fell into place. My contacts went from one to 20 almost over night. MIRACLE 1.

And if that wasn’t enough to bring me to my knees in adoration to the God of Glory, He went further and brought me extremely interested and sensitive journalists who wanted to do full page spreads.

Then, the day of the sentencing came. All five convicted received ten years of imprisonment and all the victims received compensation. Now for an American mindset it is easy to think... ok great, that’s actually not a lot. But here is context for why this was SUCH a BIG deal:

NEVER before has this court convicted a brothel owner. In one day the judge convicted TWO separate brothel owners. Never before has this court seen victims testify against their accused. In one day all 11 victims (who identified their abusers in person) were awarded a virtual fortune (around $4,000). The judge literally bypassed the State, which never happens, and gave ALL the fines to ALL the girls. What?!!??? In one day all five convicted were given ten years of RIGOROUS imprisonment, which was well past their minimums. … in case you aren’t catching my drift, these sentences were truly and honestly a miracle.) MIRACLE 2.

After the announcement I stopped, allowed a couple tears to roll down my eyes; and then I started running, updating our press release, trying to contact HQ, answering emails, being the distributor of info, while simultaneously pitching my ‘friends’ in the media to tell them about this amazing miracle. I was nonstop for about three days. Well, of course I made numerous mistakes and probably did everything wrong.

Still the next day three top publications in my country not only published the story almost verbatim to how I told it, but they included pictures! Then Yahoo News picked it up and boom, we were sailing.  Then two major local Bengali papers picked it up, which is key because that’s what the average person in my city reads, and pretty soon my city was aware of the fact that notorious and powerful traffickers were paying for their crimes. MIRACLE 3. And hopefully the thought which crossed their minds were, ‘if it happened to them, it could happen to me,” because that is the reason why I do all that I do.

But here is the point of my story. This was an incident in my life which literally only happened because God himself came down and inserted miracles at every step.

So naturally, in my fallen state, I came to work on Monday beaming, prideful, and boastful. While, in contrast, my Director of Legal (the man who argued this case since 2009, the man who is The Man,) walked in with his head hanging low.

He walked up to the podium to give his devotion, and with tears in his eyes he preached to us about humility, about how God is the victor. He explained that he wanted to give up, but God made these convictions possible. And you know what, He truly meant every word.

All of a sudden tears were in my eyes as well. And I suddenly realized why I was the intern and he was my director. I have so much more to learn. I am so far away from getting it. But that is why I choose IJM because I want to surround myself with people like Sap da. Maybe one day God will grant me the wisdom to bow before his throne and acknowledge the fact that His rule and His reign is EVERYTHING and I am but a pawn.

So let us celebrate all that GOD DID! Please see the list below of a couple articles written about the convictions. Praise be to God because I am unworthy of his miracles.

The Times of India (2013.03.17) – Five traffickers get 10 years in jail

“Those engaged in the fight against trafficking have reason to be happy. A Haldia fast-track court, on Saturday, sentenced five persons to 10 years rigorous imprisonment in two separate cases for trafficking-related offences and one instance rape. Judge Somnath Chakrabarti passed the sentences on the five convicts in the afternoon...‘This is a momentous occasion for all those who have contributed to the work of justice here in Kolkata. These convictions augment the already growing desire for criminal accountability. Potential traffickers must know they will be caught and convicted,’ said Biju Mathew, field office director of IJM, lauded the judgment.”

(Also reprinted in Silobreaker.com)

The Telegraph (2013.03.17) – Milestone in trafficker fight

“Their heads hanging low, five men in their late thirties and forties convicted for trafficking were paraded into Haldia Fast-Track Court-II and herded into a grilled enclosure. Biju Mathew, director of International Justice Mission, Calcutta, which helped in the rescue operation and offered legal and mental support to the witnesses, said: ‘Convicting traffickers and brothel owners and sentencing them to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment is rare, especially in the Haldia area. But the real victory is the story behind the convictions. Those involved in the case were competent and well-equipped. The court demonstrated sensitivity to trafficking victims. It is for this reason that justice prevailed in the court today. We hope these cases will set a precedent for all of India.’”

(Also reprinted in YAHOO News India, Rediff. Real Times News, Rupee Rains News, Samachar.com, Silobreaker.com)

The Bengal Post (2013.03.17) - 5 Haldia traffickers get 10 years imprisonment

“Haldia subdivisional court on Saturday pronounced 10 years imprisonment to five accused convicted for trafficking and forcing women into prostitution.”

Christianity Today showcased the conviction of Nakul Bera and others from Kolkata on their website AND it’s featured on their homepage.