Daily Online Alochona: [vinnomot] Rights denied in a climate of impunity :One year of Emergency

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

[vinnomot] Rights denied in a climate of impunity :One year of Emergency

Rights denied in a climate
of impunity
Abul Kalam Azad

Indefinite suspension of the people's fundamental rights under a state of emergency, arbitrary actions by the military-controlled interim government, instances of alleged torture and death in custody, covert and overt attempts to curb media freedom induced a climate of fear in society in the past one year, rights activists say.
   The situation turned so grave that even the human rights organisations hesitated to speak up against rights violations, they say.
   'The year 2007 was a big blow to human rights, freedom of expression and conscience,' Shahriar Kabir, a writer and rights activist, says.
   The way the government suppressed people's right to express their opinions freely, restrict their freedom of movement, assembly and thought as well as register protest against injustice was unprecedented, he adds. 'Blanket arrest, detention without trial, etc were matters of grave concerns.'
   During the political regimes people at least had the right seek bail and defend themselves in a court of law but now lawyers do not dare take up such cases, he observes.
   The joint forces detained about 4.5 lakh people – half of them on suspicion – in the drive against crime and corruption, which began immediately after the interim government came to power, according to official statistics.
   Thousands of the detainees were allegedly subjected to torture and harassment in custody and later put behind bars prior to their trial.
   In many cases when the courts granted the accused bail the government did not release them and brought fresh charges or obtained stay orders against the bail.
   In August, after violence spread across the country following the alleged manhandling of a Dhaka University student by an army personnel, the government implicated 86,000 people, including students and teachers, in 53 cases.
   Two dozens teachers and students of Dhaka and Rajshahi universities were arrested on charge of violating Emergency Powers Rule. Four RU teachers were released only after being convicted in a case while the rest are still in jail.
   AAMS Arefin Siddiqui, a professor of mass communication and journalism at Dhaka University, believes the media faces a huge challenge due to pressure and intimidation by the government machineries, detention of journalists and their harassment.
   These are meant to suppress the voice of media so that it cannot criticise the government for its irregularities and extra-constitutional actions, he says.
   Some journalists were beaten by members of the joint forces on the night of August 22 while they were returning home from work.
   'The people are in a hostage-like situation because of the prolonged emergency. They do not feel safe making comments – personal or political – about the actions of the government,' Arefin says.
   Sultana Kamal of Ain O Salish Kendra believes incidents of human rights violation took place in different ways through the first year of emergency.
   The people, especially the rights activists, should take the issue to the government and put pressure on it to check further violation and ensure freedom of expression and thought, she says.
   Withdrawal of the state of emergency is a prerequisite for democracy, says Sultana, a former adviser to the caretaker government.
   Violation of human rights occurred during the previous governments; however, under the interim government, it has assumed ominous proportions, she adds.
   Various local and international rights organisations expressed concern over deteriorating rights situation and stressed the importance of respecting human rights through the year.

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1/17/2008