NEWSLETTER: GHRD's Monthly Newsletter

Volume 7:67, September 23 2011.The Hague
During August and September GHRD has been busy kick starting some amazing events: our international campaign FIGHT MODERN SLAVERY and the Grundtvig project “Building bridges for a multicultural Europe” here in The Hague. High on the human rights agenda was the torture of 22 minority students in Bangladesh during a peaceful demonstration and the safety of our human rights defenders.
Urgent appeals and announcements BANGLADESH: PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT: Government security forces deny assault of 22 Jumma students during a peaceful student procession for constitutional recognition of indigenous people  BANGLADESH: URGENT APPEAL: Police fail to react or investigate when human rights defender Shahanur Islam assaulted [UA-BA-25-08-2011]  Police fail to investigate attack against Advocate Shahanur Islam, GHRD’s local partner in Bangladesh GHRD regrets to inform you of an unprovoked physical assault on our local observer and human rights defender Advocate Shahanur Islam on August 24, 2011 in Dhaka. It is concerning that, despite numerous international appeals for increased security for Mr Islam, the police failed to come to the scene of the assault. Read more  New partnership with EUNOMAD   GHRD is proud to announce we are now official partners of the European Network on Migrations and Development (EUNOMAD). The network consists of a number of NGOs working through this network platform on migration and development. Educational and awareness activities Panel session: The role and possible impact of NGOs in the creative/ art approaches to Peace, Justice and Human Rights   GHRD representatives were part of a panel discussion for the Peace and Human Rights Education International Summer school of the University of Utrecht. Read more   Publications Fight Modern Slavery brochure Find out more about GHRD’s campaign Fight Modern Slavery. Access the brochure here    Head Office Laan van Meerdervoort 70 2517 AN The Hague The Netherlands Phone: +31 70 345 69 75 Phone: +31 70 345 34 11 Fax: +31 70 392 65 75 Cell: +31 6 164 94 311 Bank details: ABN AMRO 417 943 024 The Hague The Netherlands NL69ABNA0417943024 BIC : ABNANL2A ANBI status       Opening of Grundtvig Project: Building bridges for a multicultural Europe   On 18th of September, GHRD begins our one week Grundtvig project ‘Building bridges for a multicultural Europe’, a week of workshops, debate and discussion on migration and cultural integration in Europe here in The Hague. Read more about the Grundtvig Project   GHRD launches our FIGHT MODERN SLAVERY campaign in Katmandu   GHRD’s partner in Nepal – MAITI, kick started our Fight modern slavery campaign on the 6th of September, the Nepalese Anti-Human Trafficking day, with a day of awareness raising dramas, sing alongs, rallies, a door to door informative campaign and a screening of the documentary SOLD: A child trafficked. For information on the campaign please email: sold@ghrd.org Read more about the launch   Read more about the campaign  Jumma students tortured by the police due to demonstration   22 indigenous Jumma students were beaten and tortured by the police in Khagrachhari, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh on the 7th of August during a peaceful demonstration of 900 students of Khagrachari College for constitutional recognition of their indigenous status. The police have denied all wrongdoing and have threatened the protesters. See press announcement here   Update on arson attack against indigenous Jumma in Chittagong Hill Tracts   In February and April this year, hundreds of indigenous Jumma people were attacked and around a hundred houses and one school were bunt to ashes in the Chittagong region of Bangladesh. Months later, the majority of those attacked, around two thirds, are still living in temporary shelters. Read more  Press conference on Minority Rights in Pakistan   GHRD wishes to congratulate our partner organization Human Rights Focus in Pakistan which held a successful press conference on the existing issues regarding minorities in the country. Read more  GHRD needs continued support to maintain our human rights monitoring activities and aid projects in South Asia. If you believe in our cause and would like to support our activities, please donate via our website.

Police failure to investigate unprovoked attack against Advocate Shahanur Islam, GHRD’s local partner in Bangladesh

On the August 24, GHRD’s local observer and human rights defender, Advocate Shahanur Islam, was subjected to an unprovoked physical assault in Dhaka, Bangladesh.  

 

While at this point there is no suspicion that the attack is related to his human rights work, GHRD is appalled that despite international calls for increased protection of Mr Islam, the police failed to come to the scene of the assault. 

Due to the recent death threats received by Mr Islam, it is concerning that the police failed to come to the scene of the assault, despite numerous international appeals for increased security for Mr Islam. The police have also failed to register a First Information Report (FIR) or investigate the assault. Despite several calls from Mr Islam at the time of the assault, the police failed to arrive and, as a result, none of the witnesses were interviewed.

GHRD strongly urges the authorities to take the threats made against Mr. Islam seriously and to fully and immediately investigate this recent assault as well as death threats made against Mr. Islam earlier in 2011.

Update on arson attack against indigenous Jumma in Chittagong Hill Tracts

In February and April of this year, hundreds of indigenous Jumma people living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh were attacked and around one hundred houses and one school were burned to ashes.

Seven months later and the majority of those attacked, around two thirds, are still living in temporary shelters – a big concern now that it is rainy season. Despite stated government commitment to help the victims and a fact finding investigation conducted by the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh (NHRC), little has been done in practice to help the victims.

GHRD is particularly concerned that the government has not thus far conducted a full and impartial investigation, nor have they arrested any of the identified perpetrators. No investigations into the role of the border guards of Bangladesh in the attacks have been made. The fact finding investigation conducted by the NHRC is a positive step forward. GHRD looks forward to seeing the results of this investigation and encourages the NHRC to continue to lobby the government to create positive change in the CHT region.

URGENT APPEAL: Concerns regarding the situation of human rights lawyer Mr Shahanur Islam

Ms. Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Gona Bhaban, Old Sangsad
Bhaban, Tejgaon, Dhaka
Bangladesh

Re: Concerns regarding the situation of human rights lawyer Mr Shahanur Islam

Your Excellency

I am writing to you on behalf of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), which, through the national Bars and Law Societies of the Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area, represents more than 1 million European lawyers. In addition to membership from EU bars, it has also observer representatives from a further eleven European countries’ bars.

The CCBE, through its Human Rights Committee, places great emphasis on respect for human rights and the rule of law. The CCBE is particularly concerned by the situation of human rights defenders in the world.

The CCBE writes to express its serious concerns over the situation of Mr Shahanur Islam, a lawyer and general secretary of the Bangladesh Institute for Human Rights (BIHR), who has received death threats in Bangladesh.

The CCBE is informed that on 9 January 2011 Mr Islam undertook a fact-finding mission on the violation of minorities’ rights in the Bania/Jhargaon area of Thakurgaon district. During this mission Mr Islam and his two fact-finding officers were physically attacked, threatened with arms and all their belongings were looted, namely mobile phones, video cameras, a laptop computer, documents and cash.

In February 2011, one of the perpetrators of the January attacks, Mr Hamidur Islam, was arrested and imprisoned, but he was released on bail from custody after five months. On July 24 2011, Mr Shahanur Islam received a phone call from Mr Hamidur Islam, identifying himself and threatening death if he did not withdraw his police complaint. Mr Shahanur Islam informed the police about the stated threats, however no action was undertaken to ensure his safety or to start an investigation on the mentioned death threats.

The CCBE is informed that throughout the procedure, Mr Shahanur Islam has encountered countless difficulties in obtaining support and assistance from the police. When he tried to file a complaint for the aggression, Mr Shahanur Islam faced the refusal of a police officer. We believe that there has been an overall failure of the police and governmental authorities to ensure Mr Shahanur Islam’s safety and physical integrity. There are suspicions of political interferences in Mr Shahanur Islam’s case.

In this context, the CCBE wishes to draw to your attention the following Articles of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990):

Article 16 states that: 

Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economics or other sanctions for any action taken in
accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.

Furthermore, Article 23 states that:

Lawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly. In particular, they shall have the rights to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights and to join or form local, national or international organisations and attend their meetings, without suffering professional restrictions by reason of their lawful action or their membership in a lawful organisation. In exercising these rights, lawyers shall always conduct themselves in accordance with the law and the recognised standards and ethics of the legal profession.

In view of the above, the CCBE respectfully urges you to take immediate and effective steps to ensure the physical and psychological safety of Mr Shahanur Islam, in order to preserve the independence and integrity of the administration of justice, and guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Bangladesh are able to conduct their professional duties without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.

Yours sincerely,

Georges-Albert Dal

President 

PRESS RELEASE: Government security forces deny assault of 22 Jumma students during a peaceful student procession for constitutional recognition of indigenous people

22 indigenous students beaten and tortured by the police in Khagrachhari, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh

Police authorities have denied any fault after physically attacking and indiscriminately beating 22 Jumma students during a peaceful demonstration of 900 students of Khagrachari College for constitutional recognition of indigenous people in Bangladesh on the 7th of August 2011. GHRD’s local partner, Advocate Shahanur Islam went to the spot to investigate the physical assaults and beatings – taking eye witness and victim statements. GHRD was the first human rights organisaton to investigate the event. The police have denied all wrongdoing and have threatened that if such a peaceful demonstration were to occur again, protestors can expect even worse retaliation by the police and could lose their careers. Given the denial of fault by the police authorities, it is no surprise that no case has been filed or registered with the authorities.

As the procession left from the college compound gate, upwards of 60 policemen, including the Assistant Superintendent of the Khagrachari Police and the Officer in Charge of the Kotowali Police Station, created a barrier to direct the flow towards Chengis Square. There, they suddenly attacked the students with batons, kicking and slapping them. 22 students were injured, among which four were severely injured. As the procession was heading back, officers and army men surrounded the college gate and the hospital, they picked out one student, and indiscriminately beat him, resulting in severe injuried.

This gross human rights violation cannot be tolerated. The right to peaceful assembly is an undeniable human right and the police actions are a clear violation of Bangladesh’s commitments under international human rights treaties. The events reported above were just one of the many cases where the government showed clear intention to bring a halt to the voice of the indigenous people fighting to have their fundamental rights recognized. GHRD and Justicemakers Bangladesh demand that a full and impartial investigation into the police misconduct is required and that those responsible are punished.