HOTLINE ASIA
Urgent Appeals Update 2008: 3
ACPP expresses deep condolences to the victims and family members of the recent cyclone that struck Myanmar / Burma on 3 May, as well as the earthquake in Sichuan, China on 12 May 2008.
Let us be in solidarity and pray for all people still struggling for survival, the aid and rehabilitation workers who are concerned and working for resolution of the situation, and especially those who are still struggling for truth and justice.
Updates included in this issue:
SUA080414(2) - INDIA
UA080125(1) - CHINA
SUA071108(5) - PAKISTAN
SUA070416(1)- JAPAN
UA061229(10) - INDIA
UA061019 (7) - PAKISTAN
UA031128(11)- CHINA
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SUA080414(2)
Stop Solitary Confinement of Dr. Binayak Sen - INDIA
According to an online petition for the release of Dr. Binayak Sen, he has been released from solitary confinement, but still in a regular prison. He has been in solitary confinement since 15 March 2008 although he was not yet tried in court.
14 May 2008 marks the first anniversary of his arrest under the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2006 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Acts, and there have been a lot of solidarity expressed in various forms within and outside India, all demanding for his immediate release from jail:
-- Candle light vigil in Bangalore on 14 May;
-- Artists for Human Rights in Delhi on 14 May a protest by artists, poets and cultural workers demanding the release of Dr. Sen and other political prisoners;
-- Coordinated actions planned in 13 cities outside India (10 North American and 3 European cities) on 13 and 14 May, by 37 organizations, student groups and local peace and justice groups – activities range from Global Days of Action to highlight the situation, to request the repeal of repressive laws and disbanding of the Salwa Judum, and organizing petitions asking for Dr. Sen’s release and urging the government to stop harassment of human rights activists: over 4000 signatures were collected from all over the world; and
-- Artists for Human Rights in Chennai on 29 May to celebrate the conferring of the prestigious Johnathan Mann award for Dr. Sen’s dedicated service in providing medical care to indigenous peoples of Chattisgarh and his committed struggle against human rights violations.
However, the harassment on human rights activists continues: it was reported that another activist with Peoples' Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Chhattisgarh, Ajay TG, has also been arrested recently in early May 2008 under the same draconian laws.
In response to the unlawful arrest of Dr. Binayak Sen, Hotline Asia issued SUA070706(2) in July 2007 to request the dropping of all charges against Dr. Sen and call for his immediate release. The UA also urged the government to stop the harassment of other activists. With the news that Dr. Sen was sentenced to solitary confinement in March, Hotline Asia issued SUA080414(2) to again call for his release.
More information about Dr. Binayak Sen: http://www.aidboston.org/FreeBinayakSen/bsen.htm
Latest campaigns: http://www.binayaksen.net/
Sources:
Committee for the Release of Dr. Binayak Sen (Janaarogya Andolana Karnataka – JAAK)
Free Binayaksen campaign (http://www.binayaksen.net)
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UA080125(1)
Release Human Rights Defenders, Stop Harassment on Their Families - CHINA
Hu Jia was convicted of “inciting subversion of the state power” on 3 April 2008. A Beijing intermediate court told Mr. Li Jinsong, Hu’s lawyer, that Hu had decided not to appeal. Under Chinese law, Hu had 10 days after the initial verdict to appeal, but Li was prevented from meeting him on 13 April 2008, the last day for him to lodge an appeal. Li last talked to Hu on 4 April 2008, when the activist indicated it would be futile to appeal.
Hotline Asia issued UA080125(1) in January 2008 to urge for the release of several human rights defenders, including Mr. Hu Jia, as their detention or imprisonment is arbitrary.
Source:
AFP
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SUA071108(5)
Immediate Withdrawal of Emergency and Unconditional Release of Political Detainees - PAKISTAN
The first act of the new Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani immediately after his election in parliament was to order release of all judges arrested during the state of emergency in November 2007. His inaugural speech also promised to seek a United Nations inquiry into the assassination of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto. Gillani was expected to form a new government, open to the cooperation with Nawaz Sharif’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N.
However, Pakistani lawyers are expected to stage a “long march” street protests starting 10 June for the re-instatement of judges removed by President Musharraf. Despite the promise to re-instate the judges, the new government missed its 2 self-imposed deadlines and appeared to be unraveling over the issue.
After imposition of Emergency in Pakistan on 3 November 2007, Hotline Asia issued SUA071108(5) to support local movements in urging the government to withdraw the emergency, lift curbs in media and release all activists, judges and political workers arrested.
Sources:
AsiaNews
International Herald Tribune
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SUA070416(1)
Renounce Revisions to Article 9 of the Constitution - JAPAN
Despite the widespread national discomfort surrounding Japan’s military ambitions in orbit, the Diet enacted the “Basic Space Law” on 21 May 2008, a law enabling Japan to use the outer space for national defense purposes on 21 May 2008. Members of Parliament who are opposed to the bill says it is a break with Japan’s constitution by allowing the Ministry of Defense (MoD) to seek the “promotion of security” in the outer space. They can now be free to engage in “star wars” military planning.
Any extension of the MoD’s powers is viewed with grave suspicion by the majority of Japanese, who support the war-renouncing Article 9 of their constitution.
In the “Global Article 9 Conference” on Japanese pacifism, its organiser, Tatsuya Yoshioka, told more than 10,000 delegates that Article 9 “is a treasure of the world”, and called for the international community to join in fighting the “proposed rearmament of Japan.”
Hotline Asia issued SUA070416(1) in April 2007 urging the government to withdraw the bill calling for referendum on constitutional revision.
Sources:
Times United Kingdom
The Asahi Shimbun
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UA061229(10)
Provide Appropriate Permanent Shelters to Tsunami Survivors in Andaman and Nicobar Islands - INDIA
Hotline Asia issued UA061229(10) at the second anniversary of the 2004 Asian tsunami to highlight the local struggle of tsunami victims at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for participatory process in rehabilitation. Their peaceful protest in November 2006 was met with tear gas and lathi charge by the police and Indian Reserve Battalion, injuring over 100 people. The UA requested authorities to uphold their obligation under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) to provide adequate housing through a participatory process that suits the needs of the people in Andaman and Nicobar Islands taking consideration of their unique social, cultural and traditional way of life.
According to the Hindustan Times Mumbai, three years through the 4-year rehabilitation program launched in 2005-2006, more than 60% or Rs 60,000 million (appprox. USD 1.42 million) remained unutilized. In the past 3 years, only a total of Rs 35,000 million (approx. USD 833,333) have been spent. The main reasons were stated as logistic measures, issues of land acquisition, environmental clearances and controversies in the rehabilitation operations, according to a senior official.
Ahead of the March 2009 deadline, the state governments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, as well as the Union Territories of Pondicherry and Andaman Nicobar Islands, have sought for extension to complete the planned projects. However, the appeal was rejected by the Empowered Group of Ministries headed by the Home Minister Shivraj Patil which monitors the implementation of the rehabilitation work; this means that the funds may lapse after the deadline.
Source:
Hindustan Times Mumbai
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UA061019 (7)
Sincere Efforts Required to Locate 9 Missing Family Members of Mr. Manu Bheel - PAKISTAN
Shabbir Kaimkhani, one of the three co-accused arrested by Sanghar (Sindh) police had been granted bail by the court, while investigations are still on-going and while bail applications of the other accused, Azeem Khaskheli and Juma Machi, are still being considered. Azeem Khaskheli was the driver of Abdul Rehman Mari’s vehicle in which Manu Bheel’s family members were kidnapped in 1998.
In this regard, Manu Bheel, along with peasants demonstrated outside the Hyderabad (Sindh) Press Club on 27 May 2008. They carried placards and banners with slogans calling the government to ensure release of his family and provide a lawyer to Manu Bheel at government expense to represent him in court.
They also urged that the prime accused of the case, Abdul Rehman Mari, and his henchmen involved in this case should not be granted bail or released until his family members are freed.
Hotline Asia issued UA061019(7) in October 2006 urging the government of Pakistan to recover the nine family members of Mr. Manu Bheel, a Hindu bonded labourer. The hostages who were reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint on 2 May 1998 from village Goth Waryam Memon deh 13 district Mirpurkhas included Kheero Bheel (Manu’s father), Akho (mother), Talal (brother), Mautan (wife), Momal and Dhanee (daughters), Chamman and Kanjeen (sons) and Karto (relative).
Sources:
NCJP Hyderabad Office
The Dawn (local newspaper)
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UA031128(11)
Release Defenders of Housing Rights - CHINA
Mr. Zheng Enchong says his months of house arrest intensified in February when he suffered several police beatings. He feared it would not end until the Beijing Olympics is over in August, if at all. With the Olympics coming, he said, "I think they're just looking for an excuse to give me trouble."
A spokesman for Shanghai's police, or Public Security Bureau, denied police were monitoring Zheng and said they had no reports of him being beaten. The police office in Zheng's district in Shanghai would not answer questions.
Mr. Zheng, a property rights lawyer was sentenced to imprisonment on charges of "illegally providing state secrets to entities outside of China" on 28 October 2003. Hotline Asia issued UA031128(11) to call for an end to any form of harassment to lawyers.
Source:
Associated Press
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