Summary
Since the
taking over of the interim government and the declaration
of the state of emergency in January 2007, there were
nearly 100 extra-judicial killings and thousands of
arbitrary arrests allegedly committed by the interim
government in the name of anti-crime or anti-corruption
actions. Victims range from activists, political party
members and journalists.
On 10 June 2007, the European Union ambassador Andreas
Michaelis, the head of a European Union rights team
expressed the union's concern over the alarming situation
when the delegation ended its four-day visit to the
country. In his statement, he stated that "it is
vital that human rights violations are vigorously
investigated and adequately punished," stressing
that "respect of human rights gains particular
importance during a state of emergency."
Local organizations, together with other international
human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International
and Human Rights Watch, have alerted the society with
cases of extra-judicial killings, tortures and arbitrary
arrests. Local source revealed that although several
legal cases have been brought against the Rapid Action
Battalion (RAB), an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism
force, for most of which there were witnesses, none of
these cases have ever been brought to trial, but are
being kept on the back burner.
According to local sources, 2 rights activists, namely
Shahidul Islam, the Director of the development and
rights non-governmental organization "Uttaran",
and Ranglai Murong, elected chairman of Ujanipara under
Sualok Union Council, have been tortured and detained
since January 2007. There is no further information about
their safety, but with the alarming case of Mr. Cholesh
Richil, who was tortured to death in March 2007, the
local source is concerned with the personal safety of
these 2 individuals.
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Action Requested
Reiterate the state's obligation on human
rights violations as stated by the European Union rights
team by writing letters to request the Bangladesh
government to:
Ensure immediate release of
Shahiudal Islam and Ranglai Murong and other
arbitrarily detained people.
Conduct an impartial inquiry into
cases of extra-judicial killings, tortures and
arbitrary arrests and publicize the results of
investigations.
Prosecute people responsible for
extra-judicial killings, tortures and arbitrary
arrest in the spirit of justice.
| Send
letters to: |
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Mr.
Mainul Hossain
Advisor of Ministry of Law, Justice &
Parliamentary Affairs
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Office of the Chief Advisor
Tejgaon, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
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Fax:
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+880
2 8113243 or
+880 2 8111490 |
| Send
copies to: |
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Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed
Chief Adviser
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Office of the Chief Advisor
Tejgaon, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
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Fax: |
+880 2 8113243 or
+880 2 8111490 |
Mr. Nur Mohammad
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Bangladesh Police
Police Headquarters
Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
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Fax: |
+92-51-9205833 |
Professor Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
Attn: Mr. Safir Syed
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
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Fax: |
+92-42-9203224 |
| Diplomatic representatives of Bangladesh in
your country. |
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Sample
Letter
We are writing to express our grave
concern for the rampant cases of extra-judicial
killings, tortures and arbitrary arrests in
Bangladesh since the taking over by the caretaker
government. According to various reports, nearly
100 extra-judicial killings and thousands of
arbitrary arrests allegedly committed by the
armed forces and law enforcement agencies have
taken place. We'd also like to bring your
attention to 2 arrested rights activists and
human rights defenders, Ranglai Murong and
Shahidul Islam who were both arrested in January
and tortured in detention in Banderban and
Satkhira respectively.
While your government's determination to reduce
greatly the level of crimes and corruption is
much appreciated, we also share the grave concern
of the European Union rights team on the flagrant
violation of human rights. We humbly remind you
of the fact that Bangladesh has acceded to the
International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment (CAT): article 9 of ICCPR states
that "no one shall be subjected to arbitrary
arrest or detention"; article 2 of CAT
states that "No exceptional circumstances
whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of
war, internal political instability or any other
public emergency, may be invoked as a
justification of torture."
We appreciate the government's response to the
death of Cholesh Richil by calling for exhumation
of the body and investigation by a one-member
impartial committee. Therefore, we further hope
that the government will kindly consider these
requests:
- Ensure
immediate release of Shahiudal Islam and
Ranglai Murong and other arbitrarily
detained people.
- Conduct an
impartial inquiry into cases of
extra-judicial killings, tortures and
arbitrary arrests and publicize the
results of investigations. (It is noted
that none of the departmental
investigations carried out are brought to
public notice.)
- Prosecute
people responsible for extra-judicial
killings, tortures and arbitrary arrest
in the spirit of justice.
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Background
The recent
upsurge in reported extrajudicial killings by security
forces began on 11 January 2007, when the first caretaker
government head proclaimed a state of emergency and
resigned. After weeks of violent protests, elections
originally set for 22 January were indefinitely postponed
and a new civilian caretaker government, backed by the
army, sworn in. Since t he country is in the state of
emergency, political rallies and other political
activities were banned.
According to the Human Rights Watch, the killings have
been attributed to members of the army, the police, and
the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite anti-crime and
anti-terrorism force.
Under the state of emergency, the military has arrested
thousands of people on allegations of corruption and
other crimes, but many have been denied their right to
due process. Some have been tortured. There have also
been attempts by the authorities to control the media,
with editors being privately summoned to impose self
censorship.
Cholesh Richil
His death is a prominent case that still haunts the
country.
Mr. Richil, an outspoken leader of the Garo indigenous
community is reported to have died in custody on 18 March
2007, following torture carried out by the Joint Forces
(army and police) personnel. Since 2003 Garo activists
have been campaigning against the construction of an
"eco-park" on their ancestral land on the
grounds that it would deprive them of their land and
means of livelihood.
According to credible reports documented by local human
rights groups, Cholesh Richil was arrested by Joint
Forces personnel on 18 March 2007 and taken to Modhupur
Kakraidh temporary army camp, north of the capital Dhaka.
He was arrested under the pretext of possessing illegal
weapon. However no weapons were found with him and
observers suspect that the real motive behind his arrest
was his active involvement in the campaign against the
"eco-park".
After Cholesh Richil's body was handed over to the Garo
community church on 19 March, his family observed
multiple bruises, nails missing from his fingers and
toes, and cuts and scratches consistent with blade
wounds. His testicles had reportedly been removed.
On 6 May 2007, Bangladeshi newspapers reported the
formation of a one-member judicial commission to
investigate the death of Cholesh Richil. His body was
exhumed. In the past such commissions have been formed in
response to public outrage about instances of human
rights violations.
Shahidul Islam
He is the Executive Director of Uttaran, a
non-governmental organization working for the social and
economic empowerment of the poor and disadvantaged
communities in the western districts of Khula, Satkhira,
Tala. He was arrested from his training center and taken
into custody on 27 January 2007.
Uttaran staff members later reported that they heard
Shahidul being beaten inside the a temporary army camp
near the Tala B. Dey Boy's School in Satkhira District.
Several days later when Shahidul Islam was allowed
visitors, he was found to be severely beaten on the legs
and back and his leg broken, as he was accused of
possessing illegal weapons. He was later sent to Satkhira
Sadar Hospital for treatment and returned to Satkhira
District Jail where he remains to date.
Ranglai Murong
A notable and committed elected chairman of Ujanipara
under Sualok Union Council, Ranglai Murong who has
received an award for his service to the indigenous
people, was arrested on 23 January 2007 allegedly by
members of the Joint Forces.
On 23 February 2007, Ranglai's relatives were informed
that he was critically injured and was at the Banderban
Sadar hospital. One of the relatives, after visiting him,
found he was unconscious and was being given oxygen. His
arms and feet were in chains and 2 army members and 2
policemen were guarding him. His uncle, Sakrone Murong
was permitted to take care of Ranglai for a week since 24
February in the hospital. Sakrone testified that
Ranglai's back was all bruised, his chest was brutally
hit and he could not move from one side to another and
could not speak at all for more than a week. He was later
transferred to the Banderban jail hospital and was
reported to be still in the hospital as of 17 May 2007.
Source:
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
The EUbusiness
The Daily Star (Bangladesh)
Asian Human Rights Commission
UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights
Local source
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