This diary covers the unfolding situation of the illegal arrest, torture, continuing detention and fabrication of charges against two human rights defenders, Leitanthem Umakanta Meitei and Yengkokpam Lamgamba Meitei (also known as Thabi). The first diary regarding these two can be found
here.
Kossacks responded in force to the first diary. I posted it a little after midnight on the day that Umakanta was arrested. At about 5am I went to catch a couple hours of sleep and when I woke up, to my great surprise, the diary was #1 on the recommended list, where it stayed the whole day. That day the embassy of India was receiving so many calls regarding the two activists that they stopped answering their phone. The diary and Dkos even made the media in India. Alot has happened since then.
A little background - Thabi was arrested at his home on the morning of August 23rd. Umakanta was arrested at his home on August 24th by a combined force of the Assam Rifles and the state police. The two are well known and highly respected human rights activists. Umakanta is a lawyer, as well as the Secretary General of the Threatened Indigenous Peoples Society (TIPS) and spokesperson for Apunba Lup, a coalition of 34 human rights organizations in Manipur, India. Thabi is the Publicity Secretary for TIPS.
Following the arrests, protests erupted around Manipur demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the two men. Internationally, the arrests also garnered attention:
human rights defenders, NGOs, lawyers and intellectuals from all over the world have bombarded the state and Central governments with letters and e-mails expressing concern over the arrest
A few days later, police registered a report claiming that the two had connections with the "underground organization" KYKL, which is a secessionist group in Manipur. Civil society organizations throughout Manipur called the allegations ridiculous, calling them the frontrunners -
"in the State making all efforts to highlight rampant violation of human rights before the international community."
Calls for an investigation into allegations of torture were sent out by:
Amnesty International
Land is Life
Asian Human Rights Commission
Cultural Survival
All Manipur Bar Association
United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders
UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights and Funamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples
and more....
In Manipur, calls for their immediate and unconditional release have been made by pretty much every human rights organization, women's organization, students organization and civil society organization, including:
Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur
Sega Road Leimajam Leikai Women's Welfare Association
Heingang United Clubs' Organisation
Kongpal Laihiden Lamjing Meira Paibi Women's Welfare Association
Luwang-shangbam Godown Leikai Women's Welfare Association
the Kanglei Youth and Rural Reformative Organisation
All Manipur Bar Association
Universal Mothers' Organisation
Naoria Kendra Women Welfare Association, Mongsangei
Indian Confederation of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples
The Indigenous Peoples Forum, North East India
The All Manipur Joint Action Committee For Prevention of Terrorist Activities
Kuki Inpi Manipur
The localities of Porompat Thawanthaba Leikai, Imphal East
MasumIndia
The protests have been going on daily since the 24th, and they continue to grow.
On August 29th Umakanta was brought before a judge. The police weren't able to produce any evidence to substantiate the charges against him, and the judge ordered him released on 10,000 rupees bail (about $216). Umakanta told the judge that he had been tortured several times while in custody and that the police had falsified a court document (the arrest memo says they picked him up at 9:30am, when in reality it was 4am). Umakanta told the judge that the charges were completely false and that he would not post bail and would not leave custody until he and Thabi were released unconditionally. He said that if the arrest was illegal, and there is no case presented against him, why should he be required to pay bail. The judge then sentenced him to 15 more days in custody and, amazingly, did not order an investigation into allegations of torture.
Three days later Thabi was brought before a judge. Again the police could present no evidence and again the judge ordered him released on 10,000 rupees bail. Thabi told the judge that he had been severely tortured while in custody, that the charges against him were false and that he and Umakanta should be released unconditionally. He too refused to post bail, and the judge gave him 15 days more in custody.
The good news is that they are being held at Sarjiwa Central Jail, and are not in the custody of their torturers. Amnesty International, The Asian Human Rights Commission and Land is Life have all released their second urgent action alerts regarding the case. The people in Manipur continue their protests.
This is not the first time that Umakanta has suffered for his human rights work. In September of 2004 he delivered a 140 page report concerning human rights violations in Manipur to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. A few days later, he was detained and tortured before being released without charges.
According to the report of the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Ms. Hina Jilani:
On 15 September 2004, the Special Representative, together with the Special Rapporteur
on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people and the Special
Rapporteur on torture, sent an urgent appeal concerning Umakanta Meitei, an indigenous and
human rights defender from Manipur. According to the allegations received, on 9 September
2004 at approximately 2.30 p.m., he was arrested without charge by a Manipur police commando
of the Central Reserve Police Force, Indian Reserve Battalion, as he was leaving his residence.
After being threatened with a gun and blindfolded, he was beaten and taken to jail. He suffered
injuries to his head, legs and chest. Umakanta Meitei was reportedly released the same day at
approximately 7.30 p.m. In view of the allegations of detention and ill-treatment, concern is
expressed that he was targeted for his work as a human rights defender and may be at risk of
torture or other forms of ill-treatment.
Torture, falsified court documents, no evidence..... The facts, coupled with the intense scrutiny being given the case by the people of Manipur and international organizations, leads me to believe that all charges will be dropped against the two and they will be released without condition. Hopefully soon. Another round of emails, phone calls and faxes will ensure that justice is achieved and that the allegations of torture will be investigated and that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions.
The people at Dkos have had an important role in this campaign. Please stay with it a few more days.
please do what you can today
.
SEND APPEALS TO:
Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh
Chief Minister, Manipur
Government Secretariat
Imphal 795 001,
Manipur
India
Fax: + 91 11 2611 1803
Email: cmmani@man.nic.in
Salutation: Dear Chief Minister
Shivraj Patil
Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
104 - 107 North Block
New Delhi 110 001
India
Fax: + 91 11 2309 2979
Embassy of India
2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 939-7000, 202.939.9831 202.939.9832
Fax: (202) 265-4351
Thank you all.