DRISHTIPAT UPDATE : Concern over torture of local journalists

I. Drishtipat Update

II. Summary of Events Since Ms. Raj’s Arrest

III. Action Requested: Send Appeal

IV. SAMPLE APPEAL LETTER THAT CAN BE SENT

Drishtipat Update Dec 19th

On 7th December, 2002, Shahriar Kabir, noted journalist and leading member of a national campaigning body for accountability for war crimes committed during the bangladesh war of independence, was arrested without warrant. He was first held in police custody for three days and then on human rights day (10th December) transferred to Dhaka Central Jail, and then again, to Gazipur Jail, about an hour's ride from Dhaka.

On 12th December, Kabir was also shown as arrested in the sedition case pending against two European journalists working on a programme for the British Channel Four Television. This, despite the fact that both foreign journalists have already been released and deported from Bangladesh and prior to their deportation, the Government of Bangladesh has stated that there are no sedition charges pending against them!

On the same day police sought to extend his remand for a further seven days, but the CMM refused this and sent him to Dhaka Central Jail. The prayer for remand is now due to be heard in court on 30th December.

The two Channel 4 Journalists, Zaiba Malik and Bruno Sorrentino, were released and deported on Dcember 11th, 16 days after they were arrested on the Bangladesh/India border at Benapole. Pricilla Raj, a freelance journalist/researcher (Bangladeshi, 31) was arrested the same day while driving back to the capital after seeing off Malik and Sorrentino. Saleem Samad, Bangladesh representative of Reporters sans Frontiers, was arrested from a house in Uttara, Dhaka on 29th November. Both Pricilla Raj and Saleem Samad are now held in Dhaka Central Jail. Both have reportedly been tortured -- it is alleged that Pricilla has been given electric shocks and Saleem Samad has been beaten. On 15th December, the Court denied their applications for bail, for the third time.

On 18th December, The High Court granted ad-interim bail to writer Shahriar Kabir, columnist Prof Muntasir Mamoon, Awami League leader Shafi Ahmed and NGO activist Pricilla Raj. However, apart from Pricila, all of them have been sent to jail under the special powers act. Pricilla, in the meantime, is still in jail even 4 days after getting the bail.

I. DRISHTIPAT UPDATE on Dec 11th, 2002:

Fifteen days since being arrested on the serious charges of sedition and treason, Priscilla Raj and Saleem Samad remain locked up in Dhaka Central Jail. Latest reports today indicate that authorities have decided on release of the two foreign journalists, Zaiba Malik and Bruno Sorrentino, followed by their deportation. While any such turn of events is welcome, Drishtipat is particularly concerned about the welfare of the Bangladeshi journalists, Ms. Raj and Mr. Samad.

Further, in the aftermath of the bomb blasts in Mymensingh over the holiday weekend in Bangladesh, dozens of opposition politicians and several journalists have been detained. Journalists Shahriar Kabir and Muntassir Mamoon have been arrested without warrant, along with prominent opposition politicians such as Tofail Ahmed.

While we do not endorse the entering of the foreign journalists illegally, in the interest of free press that currently exists in Bangladesh, we urge that they should be freed and above all, the local journalist and the interpreter be released along with foreign journalists without delay.
 

II. THE FOLLOWING IS THE SUMMARY OF EVENTS SINCE MS. RAJ'S ARREST:

• · On November 26th, 2002, Ms. Raj was produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and was remanded to police custody for five days. Her lawyers were denied access to the relevant case documents. Ms. Raj was denied access to her lawyers and to her family members. These are all fundamental violations of Ms. Raj's rights under the Bangladesh Constitution.

• On November 26th, Ms. Raj was transferred to the custody of the joint investigation cell, constituted by Criminal Investigation Department (CID), National Security Intelligence (NSI), Defence Forces (DFI) and Special Branch (SB) for interrogation.

•· On December 2nd, the High Court issued directives to the government to allow the accused persons access to relevant case documents, their lawyers (Ms. Raj and Mr. Samad are being represented by Syed Rezaur Rahman and Amirul Islam) twice a week and their relatives for supplying clothing, food and water. However, in jail and in the joint investigation cell, Ms. Raj was denied access to case documents, lawyers and family members and subjected to intense interrogation and electric shock treatment. She was interrogated by Police Officer Kohinoor, infamous for his role in the brutal police assault on female students at Dhaka University earlier this year.
· Although ordered by the court, the authorities failed to produce Ms. Raj at her hearings scheduled on December 2nd and December 4th. On December 2nd, a signed "confession", purportedly made by Ms. Raj, was released by the authorities.

•· On December 5th, Ms. Raj was finally permitted to meet her lawyers and a relative. She detailed the torture she has undergone. Reliable sources indicate that marks could be observed left from the electric shocks on Ms. Raj's arms and legs. Other sources report that Mr. Samad has also been tortured.

•· On December 9th, Ms. Raj and Mr. Samad were produced in front of the Metropolitan Magistrate. Observers reported that Ms. Raj appeared to be quite sick and in poor physical condition. Daily Prothom Alo and Daily Janakantha report that Ms. Raj told the court that her Dec 2nd confession was made after physical torture and mental duress. Nevertheless, the court denied petition for bail yet again for both Ms. Raj and Mr. Samad.

Ms. Raj's was contracted as an interpreter for two days for Channel 4 journalists Zaiba Malik and Bruno Sorrentino. Ms. Raj's work was limited to translation; she was not involved in the substantive work of the journalists.

It is extremely urgent that we continue to appeal to the Government of Bangladesh, other diplomatic missions in Bangladesh and other relevant bodies to release all four prisoners of conscience immediately and without further harm. We also hope that Channel 4 will stand by their pledge of legal and financial support to Ms. Raj and Mr. Samad.

We urge you to not only sign the Drishtipat petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/dp002/petition.html, but also to send a personal appeal to representatives of the Government of Bangladesh, diplomatic missions in Bangladesh and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

H.E. HoD Esko Kentrschysnkyj
Delegation of the European Commission
House # 7, Road # 84, Gulshan,
Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
Tel : 884730-2, 607016, 871464
Fax : 88-02-883118
E-mail : eudelbgd@bd.drik.net