<*>[Attachment(s) from Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) included below]
Dear friends,
I am forwarding this mail for your kind attention
regards
Shahanur Islam
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
Embargoed until 00.01 on 12 November 2009
Bangladesh: Fair trials needed to ensure justice for victims of mutiny
The Bangladesh government must ensure justice for the victims of the
February 2009 BDR mutiny by ensuring that all suspects receive a fair
trial, Amnesty International said in a report released today.
Looking for Justice: Mutineers on trial in Bangladesh carries testimony
from family members of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) accused of participating
in the mutiny. These reports suggest that scores, possibly hundreds of BDR
personnel had suffered torture, for possible involvement in the mutiny.
Nearly all were denied the opportunity to seek the assistance of a lawyer
for weeks or months.
Amnesty International condemns the unlawful killings, hostage taking and
other human rights abuses committed during the mutiny and calls for the
perpetrators to be brought to justice. The government of Bangladesh has an
opportunity to reinforce trust in the rule of law by ensuring the civilian
courts, which will be trying the accused, deliver justice.
"The mutiny was brutal and led to the killing of civilians, and army
officers who died in horrific circumstances. It's vital that the government
of Bangladesh brings the perpetrators of these crimes to justice in a
manner that is compatible with international law," said Abbas Faiz, Amnesty
International's Bangladesh Researcher.
Following the mutiny, thousands of BDR personnel were confined to barracks
and denied all contact with the outside world. Reports soon emerged as
family members began to meet the detainees, alleging that scores, possibly
hundreds of BDR personnel had suffered human rights violations, including
torture, for possible involvement in the mutiny.
"Looking for justice" documents the methods of torture used including
depriving suspects of sleep over a number of days, subjecting suspects to
beatings and the use of pliers to crush testicles, inserting needles under
suspect's nails and administering electric shocks.
"The reports of torture that Amnesty International has received are
consistent with the previously documented torture and ill treatment of
detainees in Bangladesh. It's not good enough for the authorities to deny
that torture isn't taking place. There needs to be greater accountability
on this issue." said Abbas Faiz.
At least 20 BDR personnel died in custody between 9 March and 6 May 2009
alone. BDR sources claimed that four of them committed suicide, seven died
of heart attacks and another nine died from diseases. By 10 October 2009,
the total number of BDR Personnel who have died in custody has risen to 48.
Amnesty International welcomes the Supreme Court's clarification that army
courts martial have no jurisdiction to try BDR personnel accused of mass
killings and other criminal offences during the February 2009 mutiny.
The government must also reconsider its decision to use Speedy Trial
Tribunal because the time limit these courts impose for the completion of
the trial may lead to a miscarriage of justice.
Amnesty International urges the government of Bangladesh to ensure that:
- Those suspected of committing crimes must be brought to justice under
internationally recognized fair trial standards which include the right to
family visits and access to lawyers.
- All allegations of torture must be investigated and the perpetrators
brought to justice in fair trials. Amnesty International opposes the death
penalty in all cases, regardless of the nature of the crime, and urges the
Bangladeshi authorities not to seek the death penalty.
- the government must examine the capacity of the judicial system and
if necessary seek assistance from relevant international bodies, to ensure
that the criminal justice system has the competencies and resources – and
the judges have the necessary training to conduct the trails of such a
large number of BDR defendants in accordance with the international
standards of fair trail.
- Bangladesh should ratify the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment, and designate or establish National Preventive Mechanisms in
accordance with the Protocol.
Background
Large-scale mutiny at the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters in Dhaka on
25 February 2009 brought fears of an emerging BDR coup and a possible
violent counter offensive by the army. The mutineers killed at least 74
people, including six civilians (three women and three men) and 57 army
officers seconded to work as BDR commanders, one army soldier, and nine
Jawans (lowest BDR rank). Thousands of BDR personnel accused of these
killings are now in detention awaiting trial.
Ends
Public Document
****************************************
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in
London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 or email: press@amnesty.org
International Secretariat, Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X
0DW, UK www.amnesty.org
Shaista Aziz
Press Officer
Asia Pacific
+44 (0)207 413 5871
Mobile: +44 (0)7904398103
Or
Abbas Faiz
Asia Pacific Regional Program - South Asia
International Secretariat
Amnesty International
1 Easton Street, London WC1X 0DW, UK
Tel: + 44 20 7413 5652 afaiz@amnesty.org
(See attached file: Bangladesh.Mutiny.Amnesty Internatinal Report.pdf)
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA13/006/2009/en/bc5ff8c4-464a-4292-9410-4a2ccb9493dc/asa130062009en.pdf
Working to protect human rights worldwide
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--
Shahanur Islam Saikot
LL.B (Hon's); LL.M (Law & Justice)
Advocate
Programme Manager-Legal & Human Rights
Bangladesh Institute of Huamn Rights (BIHR)
Flat # B-17, 27, Bijoy Nagar, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Email: saikotbihr@gmail.com, bihr@bangla.net
Cell: + 88 017 20308080, Ph: +88 02 9349851, Fax: + 88 028352166
www.bihr-bihr.blogspot.com, www.brct.org
<*>Attachment(s) from Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR):
<*> 1 of 1 File(s) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/attachments/folder/1879438057/item/list
<*> Bangladesh.Mutiny.Amnesty Internatinal Report.pdf
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