Hotline Asia Urgent Appeals -- UA011026(10)

Action Requested || Sample Letter || Background

Summary

Offices of various Non-Government Organizations (NGO) providing education and health services, and houses of social workers were attacked, burnt and demolished in the Northwestern Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan near the Afghan border on 8 October 2001, by the people protesting against the US-led air strikes on Afghanistan. The attackers, alleged to be workers of a fundamentalist organization, caused damage to the NGOs, the homes and property of their workers and families worth millions of rupees. There were also serious threats to their lives.

The police have not taken any action against the attackers and have also not registered the complaint against the culprits who are still at large.

Please write polite letters to express your concern about the attacks, asking the authorities to:

1. Provide protection to the social workers and their families;

2. Provide compensation for the damage of the offices and houses; and

3. Register an FIR (First Information Report) against the culprits, arrest them and bring them to justice.

Sample Letter

Background

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the USA, agitation started all over Pakistan, particularly in the provinces of the Northwestern Frontier Province (NWFP), Baluchistan and the city of Karachi, in favour of Osama bin Laden, the main suspect in the attacks, and Afghanistan, for sheltering bin Laden.

During the agitation, fanatics and clerics tried to attack many government offices and important places to show their faithfulness to their religion. In the NWFP, particularly the cities of Takhat Bhai, Dir, Bajor and Sawabi, some of NGOs were also targeted and attacked. These NGOs are accused of working for the USA and Western countries; an accusation to justify that attacks were carried out for their religious cause. Taking advantage of the situation, some local people, who had personal grudges against activists in the NWFP, attacked NGO offices and homes of the workers, causing great damage. In the case of social worker Zakia Rehman from Takht Bhai in particular, it is alleged that some local people, using the justification of loyalty to their religion, carried out acts of personal revenge. After the attacks, the workers continued to be threatened.

The local administration and the police have reportedly remained passive in these incidents. They did not register the complaint in First Information Report (FIR) against the culprits, nor are they ready to do so, even after the victims have pointed out the culprits' names, allegedly to please the local people and the fundamentalists in the area. This greatly hinders victims' approach to justice.

Details of the damage and affected organizations:

1. Women and Children Welfare Organization (Takht Bhai-Mardan):
On 8 October 2001, a mob attacked the office of the Women and Children Welfare Organization in Takhat Bai, destroying office equipment and furniture. Some culprits from the local village, who were armed with rifles, attacked the house of Zakia Rehman, a social worker and General Secretary of the organization. Zakia and her father were confined to a room at gun point, while their belongings were looted and house set on fire. They had to escape for their lives. Inspite of the list of names of the culprits and details of the damage being provided to the authorities, the police have neither registered the report, nor are they showing any readiness to register it. Damage is estimated to be approximately Rs.1.6 million (about US$25,900).

2. Salik Rural Development Foundation (Takht Bhai-Mardan):
According to the workers of the Salik Rural Development Foundation in Takhat Bai, their office was attacked on 8 October 2001 by a violent mob comprising members of the NWFP dominating religious party, Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam (Congregation of the scholars of Islam ) or JUI and local clerics. The Women's Industrial Training Center, the Salik library, a park, and a hospital were demolished and office equipment, furniture and vehicles were set on fire. The damage is estimated to be worth about Rs. 7 million (about US$113,600). The house of Jehanzeb, one of the social workers, was also set on fire. He claims that the damage is worth Rs.3.5million (about US$56,800).

3. Swabi Welfare Organization (Sawabi):
Five of the offices of the Swabi Welfare Organization were demolished on 11 October 2001. The local administration reportedly warned them to close their offices and houses and move to a safe place, refusing to take any responsibility in case of any mishap. On the same day their offices were attacked and they had to flee for their lives. Cultivated fields were also destroyed.

4. Human Survival Development Center (Bajor):
The Human Survival Development Center is an organization working for rehabilitation of the victims of mines and advocacy of human rights. According to the workers at the center, about one hundred workers of JUI, equipped with batons and iron rods, attacked their office on October 8, 2001. The attackers shouted slogans, accusing the workers of being American and Jewish Agents. They destroyed everything in the office and took away valuables. The workers are still facing threats to their lives. The police are reportedly not ready to cooperate with the victims nor provide them any safety.

5. Women Social workers in Dir:
Lives of Women social workers in Dir are also at risk from the fanatics. Instead of being protected, they reportedly have been warned by the government to remove boards from their offices and move to a safe place for the meantime. At the moment, the workers are very apprehensive.

Please remember to send copies of your letters to Hotline Asia for monitoring purpose.
Thank you for Your Continued Support!!