Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) informed you on 22 September 2005 that a peoples tribunal hearing on starvation and government neglect will be held at Bankim Niwas in Jalangi, Murshidabad, West Bengal on September 23 and 24, organized by the Howrah-based Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (Masum) and ourselves (for further details AS-96-2005).
Since 2002 the erosion of the Padma river bank has increased, resulting in a loss of fertile land and destitute villagers. Although the local government has been aware of the situation, till now little has been done to help those affected. The AHRC has previously reported on numerous cases of starvation deaths and hunger in the area, as well as other parts of India (To see some of these reports, please view: HU-07-2005, HA-21-2005, HA-15-2005, HA-13-2005). These have largely occurred due to corruption and the callousness of state officials.
Accordingly, the AHRC and Masum have established this peoples tribunal to hear the concerns of people in the area. However, threats and intimidation have already occurred against those wishing to attend and those assisting with the functioning of the tribunal in Jalangi. In the last two to three days, members of the Communist Party of India Marxists (CPIM) in Royerpara Village have publicly critcised the tribunal and told local villagers that its existence is a scam. Led by Santhosh Roy, the CPIM group, including Johadul Islam, Amjad Ali and Abu Bakkarsarkar has threatened local villagers telling them that they would be being watched and anyone who attended the tribunal would not receive government assistance. The group also told the villagers that it was the CPIM that was the authority of the area and that the villagers should remember this.
In a further incident, nine volunteers who had gathered in Uttar Ghoshpara Village this morning (September 23) were confronted by a group from the CPIM. The volunteers were threatened due to their involvement with the tribunal and one of them, Ms. Tia Khatoon was forcibly taken by CPIM member, Mr. Johadul Islam and driven back to her family home. There she was told not to return to the other volunteers and not to further involve herself with the functioning of the tribunal. The other volunteers who were threatened were Bikis Haznant, Nuresha Biwi, Rabiya Biwi, Kohinoor Biwi, Ranjona Biwi, Pakhin Katoon, Dilrupa Katoon and Ranjona Biwi (there were two persons with the name Ranjona Biwi). The volunteers were told that if they wanted change in the area that they were to approach the CPIM, since it was they who were the authority in the area. As a departing warning, the CPIM group told the volunteers that neither they nor their families would receive any assistance should they continue to work for the tribunal.
Such threats against persons choosing to participate in or work for the peoples tribunal in Jalangi are entirely unacceptable and must be remedied without delay. We ask that you write to the Chief Minister of the Government of West Bengal, Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee regarding this matter. As the tribunal is taking place today, we remind you of the urgency of your intervention. Please ask Mr Bhattacharjee to take immediate measures to stop this form of threat and intimidation against those who are involved with the tribunal. Please also ask him to ensure that disciplinary action is taken against those CPIM members who have already made such threats.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Mr. Bhattacharjee
INDIA: Threats made against local population and volunteers involved in peoples tribunal
I write to voice my anger about the threats made against a local population and volunteers involved in the peoples tribunal hearing on starvation and government neglect being held at Bankim Niwas in Jalangi, Murshidabad, West Bengal today and tomorrow, which has been organized by the Howrah-based Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (Masum) and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) based in Hong Kong.
According to the information I have received, despite the tribunal having only started this morning (September 23) threats and intimidation have already occurred against those wishing to attend and those assisting with the functioning of the tribunal in Jalangi. In the last two to three days, members of the Communist Party of India Marxists (CPIM) in Royerpara Village have publicly critcised the tribunal and told local villagers that its existence is a scam. Led by Santhosh Roy, the CPIM group, including Johadul Islam, Amjad Ali and Abu Bakkarsarkar has threatened local villagers telling them that they would be being watched and anyone who attended the tribunal would not received government assistance. The group also told the villagers that it was the CPIM that was the authority of the area and that the villagers should remember this.
In a further incident, nine volunteers who had gathered in Uttar Ghoshpara Village this morning were confronted by a group from the CPIM. The volunteers were threatened due to their involvement with the tribunal and one of them, Ms. Tia Khatoon was forcibly taken by CPIM member, Mr. Johadul Islam and driven back to her family home. There she was told not to return to the other volunteers and not to further involve herself with the functioning of the tribunal. The other volunteers who were threatened were Bikis Haznant, Nuresha Biwi, Rabiya Biwi, Kohinoor Biwi, Ranjona Biwi, Pakhin Katoon, Dilrupa Katoon and Ranjona Biwi (there were two persons with the name Ranjona Biwi). The volunteers were told that if they wanted change in the area that they were to approach the CPIM, since it was they who were the authority in the area. As a departing warning, the CPIM group told the volunteers that neither they nor their families would receive any assistance should they continue to work for the tribunal.
Such threats against persons choosing to participate in or work for the peoples tribunal in Jalangi are entirely unacceptable and must be remedied without delay. I therefore request you, in your capacity as the Chief Minister of the Government of West Bengal to immediately intervene in this matter. Given that the tribunal will take place only today and tomorrow, I trust that you will appreciate the extreme urgency in your intervention. I ask you to take immediate measures to stop this form of threat and intimidation against those who are involved with the tribunal. I also ask you to ensure that disciplinary action is taken against those CPIM members who have already made such threats.
The Government of West Bengal has already failed those people who wish their voices to be heard at the tribunal. I ask that you do not fail them again by ignoring this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND A LETTER TO:
Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Chief Minister
Government of West Bengal
Writers Buildings, Kolkata - 700001
West Bengal
INDIA
Tel: +91 33 2214 5555 (O) / 2280 0631 (R)
Fax: +91 33 2214 5480 / 2214 1341
Email: cm@wb.gov.in , cm@writerscal.gov.in
PLEASE SEND COPIES TO:
1. Mr. Naren Dey
Minister of Food and Supply
Government of West Bengal
Writers Buildings
Kolkata - 700001
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 2252 2628
2. Mr. Subhas Awasthi
Director General of Police
Government of West Bengal
Writers Buildings
Kolkata-1
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 2214 4498 / 2214 5486
Email: padgp@wbpolice.gov.in
3. Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen
Chairperson
West Bengal Human Rights Commission
Bhabani Bhavan, Alipore
Kolkata - 700027
INDIA
Tel: +91 33 4797259 / 5558866
Fax: +91 33 4799633
Email: wbhrc@cal3.vsnl.net.in
4. Mr. Jean Ziegler
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food
c/o Mr. Carlos Villan Duran
Room 4-066, OHCHR, Palais Wilson,
Rue des Paquis 52, Geneva
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9300
Fax: +41 22 9179010
Email: sect.hchr@unog.ch
5. Mr. Gian Pietro Bordignon
Country Director
World Food Programme
2 Poorvi Marg, Vasant Vihar,
New Delhi - 110057
INDIA
Tel: +91 11 2615 0001
Fax: +91 11 2615 0019
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
