Amnesty International on ARBITRARY ARRESTS of Opposition in Bangladesh

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PUBLIC STATEMENT


23 February 2010

For immediate release

AI Index: ASA 13/005/2010



BANGLADESH: POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ARBITRARY ARRESTS HAMPER IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION OF CAMPUS VIOLENCE



The government of Bangladesh must refrain from arbitrary mass arrests, which appear to have been directed only at the opposition student activists. Criminal investigations must be impartial, regardless of the suspect’s political affiliation or party membership. Moreover, the authorities must ensure that the detainees are brought promptly before a court and allowed to challenge the legality of their detention, that they are not at risk of torture or other ill-treatment, and that they have access to their lawyers, families, and proper medical care.


Last week more than 300 supporters of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of the opposition party Jamaat-e-Islami, were arrested in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong and other cities. The majority of them were picked up from dormitories or rented accommodation in and around university campuses. It is not known if any of them have been charged with a recognizable criminal offence.


The arrests followed a wave of violence at major university campuses in Bangladesh, where rival student activists of the ruling Awami League party and opposition parties have fought each other over control of university halls of residence. At least four students, one from Dhaka, two from Rajshahi, and one from Chittagong universities have been killed in the midst of these clashes since early February.


The death of the first student on 2 February at Dhaka University was due to violent clashes between two rival factions of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League. No members of this group appear to have been investigated for his death. The government’s apparent reluctance to investigate in this case further highlights the political motivations underlying its response to the violence at the universities.


Bangladesh Chhatra League members have also been involved in clashes with the Islami Chhatra Shibir at Rajshahi, Chittagong and other university campuses. While members of the Islami Chhatra Shibir have been the main targets of the mass arrests, Bangladesh Chhatra League activists have continued to clash and attack opposition supporters, with no accountability.


Amnesty International acknowledges the responsibility of government authorities to prevent violence at the university campuses and bring those responsible for the killings to justice. However, the one-sided manner in which the police have carried out the arrests so far indicates that criminal investigations into the violence are unlikely to be impartial or fair.


Raids on student residences have been carried out at random and any Islami Chhatra Shibir supporters found there have been detained. People have reportedly been arrested arbitrarily as police have made no efforts at the time of arrest to separate ordinary student members of the Islami Chhatra Shibir from those suspected of involvement in the attacks.


The majority of the detainees are being held in jails. More than 70 of them are detained at the Dhaka Central Jail; up to 100 at the Rajshahi Central Jail; and up to 70 at the Chittagong Central Jail. More students have been picked up from other cities. According to reports, lawyers were not allowed to meet them, so they have effectively been deprived of the right to appoint legal counsel and apply for release on bail.


Between 30 and 35 of the Islami Chhatra Shibir detainees are reportedly in police custody under interrogation. Torture in police custody is widespread in Bangladesh. Detainees in police custody have no access to lawyers or family visits during the period of their remand even though there are legal provisions for such access.


The government’s politically motivated response to the violence has allowed attacks by members of the ruling party’s student wing to continue, including against news reporters covering these attacks. Bangladesh Chhatra League activists attacked and injured 11 journalists working for different Bangladeshi dailies who were covering Bangladesh Chhatra League’s incidences of beating of other students on the Rajshahi university campus on 11 February.


Background


Violence at university campuses is a frequent occurrence in Bangladesh. Groups involved in the violence are student wings of the main political parties. These student groups are mainly Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL, affiliated to the Awami League, which has the majority of seats in Parliament but rules in coalition with 13 much smaller parties); Islami Chhatra Shibir, (Shibir, affiliated to Jamaat-e-Islami, currently in opposition), and Bangladesh Chhatra Dhal (BCD, affiliated to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, currently in opposition). These groups have in the past reportedly kept arms and have used violence leading to deaths and injury of people. Political parties have pledged, but failed, to disarm them. None of the political parties has condemned the violence carried out by their own members, while often only blaming their opponents for the violence.

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Report of Turksih Human Rights Organization on Bangladesh "War Crime" trial

Chairman of the Oppressed (Mazlumder) Ahmet Faruk Unsal have made a statement in order to put an end to the ongoing Following irregular Judgments to acting as a legal political party in Bangladesh, the Islamic Jamaat

War Crime Trials of the Jamaat-e Islami in Bangladesh violate the Rights of the opponents



Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke of the establishment of the International Criminal Court for crimes allegedly committed during 1971 Bangladeshi War of Independence in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on 24 September Friday 2010. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke of the establishment of the International Criminal Court for crimes allegedly committed during his speech at the 1971 Bangladeshi War of Independence of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday 24 September 2010. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stated that the prosecution of war crimes would correspond to the spirit of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court which Bangladesh ratified. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stated that the prosecution of war crimes would correspond to the spirit of the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court which Bangladesh ratified. Prime Minister's Hasina's claims are unfounded. Prime Minister's Hasina's claims are unfounded. According to Rome Statute the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court does not cover any crimes over 39 years. According to the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court the jurisdiction to cover not does any crimes over 39 years. Furthermore, war crimes files of those who cooperate with Pakistan Army during the war of separation of Bangladesh -then called East Pakistan - from united Pakistan were examined in the years 1972 and 1973 in Bangladeshi courts and issue was solved following the recognition of Bangladesh by Pakistan in 1974. Furthermore, those who cooperate with war crimes files of Pakistan Army during the War of the separation of Bangladesh-then called East Pakistan - from united Pakistan were examined in the years 1972 and 1973 in the Bangladeshi courts and issue was solved Following the recognition of Bangladesh by Pakistan in 1974. None of the accused today have been charged with nor convicted of that day. None of the accused have been charged with nor convicted of that day today. In addition, four of the five arrested top-level manager of the Jamaat were students during 1971 Bangladeshi War of Independence and one had joined Jamaat in 1973. In addition, four of the five top-level manager of the Jamaat were arrested during student '1971 War of Independence and one Bangladeshi Jamaat had joined in 1973.



3 prominent leaders of Jamaat, President Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami, Vice President Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee, and the Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid were arrested on 29 June 2010 on charges of exploiting people's religious values. Three prominent leaders of the Jamaat, Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami President, Vice President Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee, General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and the Secretary, were arrested on 29 June 2010 on charges of Exploiting people's religious values. On 29 July 2010 while those people were in detention, Bangladesh War Crimes Tribunal declared it had has the jurisdiction to judge crimes allegedly committed in 1971 and issued arrest warrants for On 29 July 2010 while those people were in detention, Bangladesh War Crimes Tribunal declared it has had the jurisdiction to judge crimes allegedly committed in 1971 and Issued Warrants for arrest the leaders of the community without any reasonable cause. The leaders of the community without any reasonable cause. It is published in all the dailies and electronics media that they are being tortured in custody. It is published in all the dailies and electronics media, that they are being Tortured in custody.



Awami League was in power in Bangladesh in the years 1972-75 and 1996-2001 periods, but no action was brought against current defendants in that period. Awami League was in power in Bangladesh in the years 1972-75 and 1996-2001 periods, but no action was brought against defendants in that current period. In fact, leaders of Awami League acted together with the opposition leaders currently being tried on charges of war in the mass demonstrations to strengthen democracy in 1980's and later 1990's. In fact, leaders of the Awami League acted together with the opposition leaders currently being tried on charges of war to strengthen democracy in the mass demonstrations in the 1980's and later 1990's.



A common belief is that the trial of alleged war crimes after 39 years is an operation of political intimidation to suppress legitimate opposition against the government of Awami League, instead of removing the protection on criminals, the true meaning of revealing human rights violations and establishing the justice. A common belief is that the trial of the Alleged war crimes after 39 years of political intimidation is an operation to suppress legitimate opposition against the government of the Awami League, instead of removing the protection on Criminals, revealing the true meaning of human rights violations and establishing the justice. In addition, these discussions further aggravate the country's socio-economic backwardness. In addition, these are further aggravate the country's socio-economic backwardness Discussions. Prevent any kind of investment and stability. Prevent any kind of investment and stability. All these developments show that in fact the people of Bangladesh is real loser. All These Developments in fact show that the people of Bangladesh is the real loser.



MAZLUMDER believes that to inspire not to violate the rights of opponents and put an end to ongoing improper trials against Jamaate Islami acting as a legal party and calls international community to contribute positively to the process. MAZLUMDER believes that not to violate the rights of opponents and inspired to put an end to the ongoing trials against improper Jamaate acting as a legal Islamic party and calls international community to contribute positively to the process.



Best Regards Best Regards



Ahmet Faruk ÜNSAL Ahmet Faruk ÜNSAL

Chairman of MAZLUMDER Chairman of the Oppressed
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