II.
DRISHTIPAT APPEAL
As Bangladeshis concerned with the protection of
fundamental rights, Drishtipat members are joining voices
with many others inside and beyond the country to express
concern at the latest clampdown by our Government on
press freedom.
We feel it is extremely important for Drishtipat
to speak out on this case:
-
We are concerned at the immediate issues of the
loss of liberty of these persons, and the risk to
their personal security as they remain in police
custody without adequate access to lawyers or their
families, and, in the case of the foreign journalists,
to consular officials;
-
Most critically, we need to challenge our Government's
attempt to use this case to further restrict the
space for operation of all those who continue to
work inside Bangladesh in defence of fundamental
human rights and freedoms. It is the continuing
questioning of the arbitrary use of power by such
individuals -- in particular independent journalists
-- that keeps us on the path to democracy.
We believe that by taking arbitrary
actions to deny press liberty and infringe on the
right to free expression, the Government of Bangladesh
itself risks accomplishing exactly what it accuses
these journalists of doing, that is “tarnishing the
image of the nation”.
In a climate of escalating accusations regarding
the presence of internationally wanted terrorists
in Bangladesh, the Government of Bangladesh must refrain
from blanket denials and instead allow free and fair
journalism to confirm the validity of such claims.
-
In
addition to the dangers faced by the foreign journalists,
we recognise the increased threat to their security
that each of the arrested Bangladeshis will face
-- and beyond them other colleagues working to safeguard
open, democratic debate and discourse in Bangladesh.
III.
ACTION REQUESTED
Please
Click here and Sign the petition
AND
Send Appeals to the Bangladesh Authorities and
Press:
In your appeal:
1.
Express concern for the safety of Zaiba Malik,
Pricilla Raj, Saleem Samad and Bruno Sorrentino;
2.
Urge the authorities to ensure the persons detained
in police custody are not subjected to torture or ill-treatment;
3.
Urge the authorities to allow them access to lawyers,
family, consular officials and doctors;
4.
Urge the authorities to drop the charges against
all these persons and to direct the immediate release
of Malik, Raj, Sorrentino and Samad;
5.
Point out that infringing upon press freedoms only
serve to tarnish our nation’s positive image as a liberal
democracy, not improve it.
Where to send the appeal
Bangladesh Authorities:
Bangladesh
Press:
Hon'ble
Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia
Office of the Prime Minister
Gona Bhaban
Sher-e Bangla Nagar
Dhaka
Bangladesh
Telegrams:
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Fax: +
880 2 811 3243
Email:
pm@pmobd.org or psecretary@pmobd.org
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister
Mr Altaf Hossain Chowdhury
Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
Bangladesh Secretariat
Building 4
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Telegrams:
Minister of Home Affairs Chowdhury, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Fax:
+ 880 2 861 9667
Salutation: Dear Home Minister
Mr Muddabir Hossain Chowdhury
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
Fulbaria
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Fax:
+ 880 2 956 3362
Salutation: Dear Sir
Hon'ble Ambassador of Bangladesh
Embassy
of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Via Antonio Bertoloni
14 Rome-00179, Italy
Tel: 8083595, 8078541(PABX)
Fax: (3906)-8084853
E-mail: embangrm@mc.link.it
Hon'ble High Commissioner of Bangladesh
High Commission of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
28 Queen's Gate
London SW7 5JA
Fax: 020 7225 2130
Salutation: Dear High Commissioner
H.E. Syed Hasan Ahmed
Hon'ble Ambassador of Bangladesh
Embassy of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
3510, International Drive NW
Washington, DC 20008, USA
Fax :(202) - 244 - 5366
Salutation: Dear Ambassador
H.E. Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh
to the United Nations
Address:
821 United Nations Plaza
8th Floor New York, NY 10017
Fax 212-972-4038
E-Mail Bangladesh@Un.Int
Salutation: Dear Ambassador
Bangladesh
Press:
please cc a copy of your letter to contact@drishtipat.org
Daily Star: dseditor@gononet.com
New Nation: editor@nation-online.com
Prothom
Alo: editor@prothom-alo.com
Photo credit:
Daily Star, Inquilab, Ajker Kagoj
A fourth journalist, Saleem Samad
(Bangladesh national), local correspondent of the
international body, Reporters Without Borders, was also
arrested on 28th November.
The journalists are currently under interrogation
by the so called Joint Interrogation Command, comprising
of both police and army officials, specifically the
Special Branch, the Criminal Investigation Department,
the National Security Intelligence and the Defence
Forces Intelligence.
