[Reader-list] FW: [uttorshuri] Torture to death of a tribal leader, Mr Choles Ritchil of Bangl
Swadhin Sen
swadhinsen at hotmail.com
Thu Apr 5 20:59:38 IST 2007
Swadhin Sen
Archaeologist
&
Assistant Professor
Department of Archaeology
Jahangirnagar University
Savar, Dhaka,
Bangladesh.
Phone: 880 02 7708774
>From: "Robin Khundkar"
>Reply-To: uttorshuri at yahoogroups.com
>To: uttorshuri at yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [uttorshuri] Torture to death of a tribal leader, Mr Choles
>Ritchil of Bangladesh
>Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2007 13:21:38 -0400 (EDT)
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>Torture to death of a prominent tribal leader, Mr Choles Ritchil of
>Bangladesh:
>An Appeal to the Heads of Delegations of the 14th SAARC Summit
>Asian Centre for Human Rights
>
>pdf version
>http://www.achrweb.org/urgent_action/UA-BD0207.pdf
>
>I. An appeal for justice. 1
>II. Background on repression against indigenous Garos and the role of
>Choles Ritchil 2
>III. Arrest of Mr Choles Ritchil on 18 March 2007. 3
>IV. Torture to death of Mr Choles Ritchil. 3
>V. Evidence of torture. 4
>VI. Failure to register the First Information Report. 4
>VII. Request for action. 5
>
>
>
>
>I. An appeal for justice
>
>Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) urges the heads of the delegations
>(members and observers) participating in the 14th Summit of the South Asian
>Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to intervene against torture
>to death of prominent tribal leader, Mr Choles Ritchil in the custody of
>the joint forces [1] of Bangladesh stationed at Khakraid under Modhupur
>Police Station, Tangail District on 18 March 2007. Mr Ritchil was tortured
>to death, among others, by Warrant Officer Jamal, 2nd Lt. Minhaj, and
>Sergeant Shahadat under the instructions of Major Toufiq Elahi of Khakraid
>army camp.
>
>Mr Ritchil's dead body, which was handed over to the family members on 19
>March 2007, bore torture marks like eyes plucked, testicles removed, anus
>mutilated, two hand palms smashed, nails of 3 fingers of the right hand
>removed etc.
>
>Though deceased Ritchil's wife, Sandha Rani Simsang, had filed a complaint
>with the Modhupur Police Station on 20 March 2007, no First Information
>Report (FIR) has been registered as of 2 April 2007. Many NGOs in
>Bangladesh such as Ain o Salis Kendro, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers
>Association (BELA), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST),
>Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), Adhikar, Forum of
>Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB), Centre for Sustainable
>Development (CFSD), Action Aid and Nijerakori demanded registration of the
>FIR. But, because of the fear of reprisals from the joint forces, no
>further action has so far taken to approach the judiciary against the
>police for their failure to register the FIR.
>
>The caretaker government of Bangladesh has failed to take appropriate
>actions against the culprits.
>II. Background on repression against indigenous Garos and the role of
>Choles Ritchil
>
>Mr Choles Ritchil hails from Beribaid village under Modhupur Upozila under
>Tangail District. Beribaid village is one of the oldest villages in the
>area established over 300 years ago. It presently has 82 Garo families with
>a population of 520 persons. Mr Ritchil was one of the prominent leaders of
>the Garo indigenous people in the area.
>
>In 2003, the government of Bangladesh announced a plan to create an
>Eco-Park in Modhupur forest and started erecting a wall around 3,000 acres
>of Modhupur forest without seeking the consent of the Garo people living in
>the area. About 25,000 indigenous Garo people faced eviction because of the
>Eco-Park. On 3 January 2004, thousands of Garo people staged a peaceful
>protest against the Eco-Park. At Jalabada village, the police and the
>forest guards resorted to indiscriminate firing, killing one Garo, Piren
>Snal on the spot and injuring 25 others including women and children. [2]
>
>After the incident of 3 January 2004, the Forest Department postponed
>implementation of the Eco-Park. But the officials subsequently filed more
>than 20 false against the indigenous Garos. [3]
>
>Mr Choles Ritchil, who was one of prominent indigenous leaders to oppose
>the Eco-Park, was implicated in all these false cases.
>
>After the declaration of the state of emergency on 11 January 2007, the
>Forest Department officials restarted the construction of the controversial
>boundary wall for the Eco-Park. Indigenous Garos under the leadership of Mr
>Choles Ritchil again protested. The Forest Department had to suspend the
>construction of the wall but this had further enraged the Forest Department
>officials.
>
>On 10 February 2007, the Joint Forces personnel including Warrant Officer
>Jamal, 2nd Lt. Minhaj, Sergeant Shahadat raided Beribaid village in search
>of Mr Choles Ritchil. Not finding Mr Ritchil, the Joint Forces personnel
>detained Mr Protab Jamble, Mr Biswajit Simsang, 10th grade student (son of
>Mr Ritchil), Mr. Prem Kumar Sangma, 10th grade student, Mr Nosil Ritchil, a
> relative of Mr Ritchil and Nokul Chandra Burman (41) working at Choles
>Ritchil's house. All of them were beaten mercilessly and received medical
>treatment at Health Complex, Modhupur from 11 to 13 February 2007.
>III. Arrest of Mr Choles Ritchil on 18 March 2007
>
>At about 1:30 pm on 18 March 2007, Mr Choles Ritchil was arrested by a
>group of 6 plainclothes personnel belonging to the Joint Forces at Kalibari
>under Muktagacha Upozila. Mr Ritchil was coming from Mymensingh town in a
>microbus accompanied by 3 indigenous persons namely Mr Piren Simsang, Mr
>Tuhin Hadima and Mr Protab Jamble.
>
>Following their arrest, the Joint Forces personnel made telephone calls and
>about 40 law enforcement personnel in two lorries arrived. The security
>forces took them to nearby Khakraid army camp at about 2:00pm.
>
>In the army camp, while Mr Choles Ritchil and Mr Protab Jamble were in kept
>one room, Mr Piren Simsang and Mr Tuhin Hadima were taken to another room.
>IV. Torture to death of Mr Choles Ritchil
>
>According to the eye-witnesses (names withheld for security reasons), Mr
>Choles Ritchil was tied to the grill of a window and mercilessly beaten by
>nine law enforcement personnel.
>
>At one stage Major Toufic Elahi entered the room and ordered the junior
>officers “to size up Choles” and torture began again.
>
>The Joint Forces personnel used pliers to press the testicles of Mr Choles
>Ritchil and put needle on his fingers. They poured hot water into his
>nostrils. He was then was hanged upside down and brutally tortured. He
>vomited blood again and again and fainted many times. At one point of time,
>one physician in uniform accompanied by Mojor Toufic Elahi came into the
>room. Mr Choles Ritchil was taken out of the army camp.
>
>Some of those who tortured Mr Chales Ritchil were identified as Warrant
>Officer Jamal, 2nd Lt. Minhaj, Sergeant Shahadat and Major Toufiq Elahi.
>
>All other detainees i.e. Mr Protab Jamble, Mr Piren Simsang and Mr Tuhin
>Hadima too were tortured. While Mr Piren Simsang and Mr Tuhin Hadima were
>released at about 5 pm on 18 March 2007, Mr Protab Jamble was released from
>Khakraid army camp at about 10 pm on the same day, as he was given medical
>treatment because of severe torture.
>V. Evidence of torture
>
>Mr Ritchil's dead body was handed over by the Superintendent of Police
>(officiating) of Tangail District and the Assistant Superintendent of
>Police of Gopalpur Circle of Tangail District to Ms. Jita Ritchil (aunt of
>Mr Ritchil), and Kholes Ritchil (elder brother of Mr Choles Ritchil) along
>with Rev. Father S. Tolentino and other indigenous leaders at about 2:00 pm
>at the Jalchatra Corpus Christi Church compound on 19 March 2007.
>
>Mr Ritchil's burial took place at Beribaid village at about 1 pm on 20
>March 2007.
>
>Before the burial, as per religious customs, Choles Ritchil's dead body was
>given a bath. Those who performed the religious bath (name withheld for
>safety reasons) reported the following torture marks:
>
>“Choles's two eyes plucked, testicles removed, anus mutilated, two hand
>palms smashed , nails of 3 fingers of the right hand removed, left hand
>thump finger nail removed, two palms had holes, upper right hand had severe
>would, several blood stains on the back part of the body, in both thighs
>middle part there had been two holes, back part of the body had several
>black marks, several deep marks of wounds on both lower legs, there had
>been black marks on feet, no nail on thump of right foot, all fingers of
>two hands were broken.” VI. Failure to register the First Information
>Report
>
>Mr Choles Ritchil is survived by his wife Sandha Rani Simsang (28), son
>Biswajit Simsang (15) and three daughters: Priyanka Simsang (13), Konka
>Simsang (10) and Tiromoni Simsang (6).
>
>On 20 March 2007, Choles Ritchil's wife Sandha Simsang had filed a
>complaint at the Modhupur Police Station but as of 2 April 2007, Modhupur
>Police station has not registered any case.
>
>Many prominent NGOs in Bangladesh such as Ain o Salis Kendro (ASK),
>Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Bangladesh Legal Aid
>and Services Trust (BLAST), Association for Land Reform and Development
>(ALRD), Adhikar, Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB),
>Centre for Sustainable Development (CFSD), Action Aid and Nijerakori
>demanded registration of the FIR. However, as of 2 April 2007, no further
>action has been taken to approach the judiciary against the police for
>their failure to register the FIR. ACHR believes that the atmosphere of
>fear created by the security forces who act as law unto themselves prevails
>over.
>VII. Request for action
>
>It is unfortunate that an appeal has to be made to the heads of the
>delegations participating in the 14th SAARC Summit to request registration
>of a First Information Report against the torture to death of a prominent
>tribal leader to allow the law to take its own course. The registration of
>an FIR is the first step towards ensuring justice.
>
>If the care-taker government of Bangladesh is serious about respect for
>human rights, it must take appropriate actions against such blatant
>violations of the right to life. ACHR fervantly appeals to the heads of
>delegations of the 14th SAARC Summit to intervene with the delegation of
>the government of Bangladesh to:
>
>
>Order a judicial inquiry into the killing of Mr Choles Ritchil;
>Order registration of the First Information Report by the Modhupur Police
>Station;
>Order suspension of the Warrant Officer Jamal, 2nd Lt. Minhaj, Sergeant
>Shahadat, Major Toufiq Elahi and other security personnel of Khakraid army
>camp to ensure a free and fair inquiry;
>Order exhumation of the dead body of Choles Ritchil for autopsy by
>independent panel of doctors;
>Award compensation of Taka 10 lakhs (one million) to the family of the
>victim;
>Provide safety and security to Ms Sandha Rani Simsang and her family
>members and other witnesses against intimidation by the Joint Forces; and
>Cancel the Eco-park project in Modhupur forest.
>
>
>SAARC MEMBERS
>
>1. H.E. Mr Hamid Karzai
>President of Afghanistan
>C/o - H.E Mr. Masood KHALILI
>Embassy of Afghanistan
>50F, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri
>New Delhi-110021
>
>2. H.E. Fakhruddin Ahmed
>Chief Advisor to the Interim Administration of Bangladesh
>C/o: H.E. High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India
>EP-39, Dr. S. RadhaKrishnan Marg, Chanakyapuri
>New Delhi-110021
>
>3. H.E. Khandu Wangchuk
>Prime Minister of Bhutan
>C/o - Embassy of Bhutan
>Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri
>New Delhi-110021
>
>4. H.E. Dr Manmohan Singh
>Prime Minister of India
>Prime Minister's Office
>South Bloc, New Delhi-110011
>
>5. H.E. Mr Pranab Mukherjee
>Foreign Minister of India
>Ministry of External Affairs
>South Bloc, New Delhi-110011
>
>6. H.E. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
>President of Maldives
>C/o - High Commission of Maldives
>B-2, Anand Niketan
>New Delhi-110021
>
>7. H.E. G P Koirala
>Prime Minister of Nepal
>C/o H.E. Ambassador of Nepal to India
>Barakhamba Road, New Delhi - 110001
>
>8. H.E.Mr Shaukat Aziz
>Prime Minister of Pakistan
>C/o- H.E. High Commissioner of Pakistan to India
>2/50-G, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110 021
>
>9. H.E. Mahinda Rajapakse
>President of Sri Lanka
>C/o: Sri Lankan High Commission
>27, Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021
>
>OBSERVERS
>
>1. H. E. Taro Aso
>Foreign Minister of Japan
>C/o- H. E. Mr. Yasukuni Enoki
>Ambassador of Japan to India
>50-G Shantipath, Chanakyapuri,
>New Delhi-110021
>
>2. H.E. Song Min-soon
>Foreign Minister of Republic of Korea
>C/o - H.E. Ambassador of Republic of Korea to India
>Chandra Gupta Marg, Chanakyapuri
>New Delhi 110021
>
>3. H.E. Richard Boucher
>US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia
>C/o: H.E. Ambassador David C. Mulford
>Embassy of the United States of America
>Shantipath, Chanakyapuri
>New Delhi - 110021
>
>4. H.E. Li Zhaoxing
>Foreign Minister of China
>C/o: H.E. Sun Yuxi
>Ambassador of China to India
>50-D, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021
>
>5. H.E. Mr. Francisco da Câmara Gomes
>Ambassdor of European Commission to India
>65, Golf Links, New Delhi-110 003
>
>
>
>
>
>
>[1] . Joint forces consist of Bangladesh army, police and other
>para-military forces.
>
>
>[2] . Indigenous World 2005, International Work group for Indigenous
>Affairs, Copenhagen, Denmark
>
>
>[3] . Indigenous World 2006, International Work group for Indigenous
>Affairs, Copenhagen, Denmark.
>
>
>
>
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