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South Asia --
Action Alert!
Bangladesh Anti-landmine Activist Arrest related to Assam Civil War? by Sophia Barkat Arrest of Activist An active member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) has been arrested, without charges, and is in prison in Bangladesh. "Rafique Al Islam has been detained for nine days without charges. A hearing of his case -- originally scheduled for Sunday 29 August -- was held on Saturday 28 August. His family and lawyer were not informed of this change, and thus were unable to prepare his defense. On 29 August he was remanded into the custody of the Rapid Action Battalion for the purpose of interrogation for five days. Another hearing is scheduled for later this week," reports ICBL. (See www.icbl.org) Why? Is Bangladesh breaking some landmine agreement it has signed with the UN? What was he investigating? Bangladesh Government Compliant On May 7, 2000, Bangladesh signed the Mine Ban Treaty. It was ratified on September 6, 2000 and enacted on 1 March 2001. In April 2003, it reported that "national implementation legislation was in its final stage of preparation". In July 2003, the United Nations wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that this was about to become part of a Constitutional Bill. Bangladesh’s existing Penal Code does not allow civilians to possess of any kind of "explosive substance," including antipersonnel mines, and now the Parliament hopes to ban the nation from using it too. ( See www.icbl.org) The Problem is not with the Government's use. Rabab Fatima, Counselor, Bangladesh Mission to the UN, Geneva stated that Bangladesh has never produced or exported antipersonnel mines, nor "acquired any new arsenal in recent years." Military officials have repeatedly told Landmine Monitor that the Bangladesh Army has never used antipersonnel mines. In its statement to the Fourth Meeting of States Parties, Bangladesh asserted, "The Bangladesh army is a not user of landmines." The land border between Bangladesh and Burma is contaminated with mines laid by the Myanmar (Burmese) forces. However, Myanmar forces are not known to have planted new mines on the border since 2001. The cause for alarm? More than half a dozen underground parties, identifying themselves as Marxists and Maoists, are active throughout the country and some of them are reported to be using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). According to Landmine Monitor (Report 2002, p. 99) two armed Bangladeshi groups, the Prity group and the United People’s Democratic Front, were known to have used booby-traps and IEDs. It should be noted that the United People's Democratic Front is linked to it’s namesake Assamese political organization in India, recently labeled a terrorist group, though it insists it is fighting for Assam’s Independence from India. (See www.satp.org/) The United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) was formed in March 1999 with the merger of two terrorist outfits in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, the Karbi National Volunteers (KNV) and Karbi People’s Front (KPF). Assam and Bangladesh share the same border. So where’s the problem? UPDS apparently signed a cease-fire agreement for one year with the Assamese Union Government on May 23, 2002. However, this led to a split in the UPDS with one faction deciding to continue with its subversive activities while the other commenced negotiations with the Government. Currently, there are two factions: pro-talks and anti-talks. On May 16, 2004, the UPDS (Anti-Talks) re-christened itself as the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) and its armed wing as the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Resistance Force (KNPR). Bangladeshis trafficking landmines to Assam? Indeed it is known to have grown with the active assistance of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and reported to have procured arms and ammunition from Bhutan and Bangladesh. But India and Bangladesh have signed a treaty in 1971 that would allow Indian Military to march right through Bangladeshi borders in the event of civil war in Assam. Where does this leave Indo-Bengal relations? At the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in September 2002, Rabab Fatima, also said, "Our decision to become a party to the Convention was guided by a genuine humanitarian commitment that we made against real national security concerns and defense requirements...As the only country in South Asia to have unilaterally committed to the Convention, we are acutely aware of our vulnerability in national defense terms...We believe universalization remains central to the realization of the objectives of the Convention. We call upon those countries that have not yet joined the Convention to consider doing so, the sooner the better." With the Treaty with India legal and binding it seems like the Government of Khaleda Zia is in the hot seat. Assam’s Civil War Assam has been fighting for it’s independence from India for a long time and this is no new issue. It started first with the signing of the Yandaboo Treaty between Man (Myanmar) and the British on 24 February 1826. With that Assam became a British colony. Soon after Assam began it’s war of independence against the British to restore it’s lost independence. At that time the 'liberation struggle of Assam' was united with the Indian freedom struggle under the principle of 'line of united struggle'. The Assamese hoped for security in the alliance, but instead it’s politicians opted for sharing the Indian flag. This left the southern region of Assam, which was greatly influenced by the War of Independence of Bangladesh, it’s neighbor, to seek it’s own independence. Since 1985 there has been an active civil war in Assam, though it has not been documented by mass media. And from May 15th, 1996 till November 30th, 2000, as many as 5860 militants of different groups have been captured and 842 hardcore terrorists have been killed by the Indian State Government in Assam. The Assamese rebels have nothing in the caliber of the Indian Army. Assam’s Police, PMF and Army have labeled the separatists as terrorists. Groups like ULFA, NDFB, NSCN, DHD, UPDS were named. (See globalsecurity.org/) Human Rights Violations While there were numerous allegations of human rights violations directed against security forces, public attention has begun to focus on the actions of insurgents of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and the Bodo Security Force in Assam. (See globalsecurity.org) The Pakistani Connection GlobalSecurity.org reports "The problem of insurgency in the state acquired another important dimension when Assam Police gathered sufficient evidence of Pakistani intelligence agency - ISI's involvement in fomenting violence and terrorism in the State. Assam Police is in possession of evidence to prove the nexus of the top ULFA leadership with certain officials of the Pakistani High Commission in Dacca. According to the confessional statement of scores of arrested ULFA leaders, including their self-styled Vice Chairman Pradip Gogoi, presently lodged in jail, the Pakistani officials in their High Commission in Dacca arranged for their passports in various Muslim names and sent them to Karachi. During the Kargil Conflict, the ULFA issued a statement condemning the Indian Government's role in Kashmir. The language of the above statement was exactly the same as that issued by the Harkat ul Mujahideen, a Pakistan based terrorist outfit controlled by the ISI. The arrest of the four ISI operatives and agents by Guwahati Police in the middle of 1999 led to the startling revelation that a section of Muslim religious leaders and youths from Goalpara, Dhubri, Barpeta, Nalbari etc.districts have been making trans-border movement to Pakistan via Bangladesh for arms and explosive training organized by various Pakistani and Afghani terrorist outfits like Harkat-Ul-Jehad, Harkat-Ul-Mujahideen and Laskar-E-Toiba, as per the plans of the ISI. The recent arrest of Nanu Mia alias Bilial, a Bangladeshi, an activist of HuM, led to a sensational revelation that Fakaruddin alias Akram Master of Barpeta, the Amir, HuM of Assam, based in Pakistan was to come to Assam along with 20 other HuM activists to attempt a jail break to free Quari Salim and other HuM activists presently lodged in jails of Assam. This indicates the extent of the involvement of Foreign powers in the State." Assam-Bengal Alliance Assam’s connection to Bengal is very strong. They share similar languages. The region of Sylhet in Bangladesh was originally part of Assam, and later added on to Bengal by the British. While Sylhet remains with Bangladesh there are bonds on either side of the border that trace back to 1826 and before. Indeed, Bangladeshis in that region would have a close connection with Assam’s separatists. But the situation brewing in Assam has taken a regional face. Now Pakistan’s Embassy in Dhaka is said to be involved. Dhaka is the capitol of Bangladesh. Is Pakistan involved in pay-back to India and Bangladesh for 1971? The plot thickens with the arrest of activist, Rafique Al Islam. Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan, Bangkok representative of Non Violence International, the international NGO represented by Mr. Al Islam in Bangladesh, said, "Rafique Al Islam is committed to his work to implement the treaty banning landmines in his country. He has devoted himself to ridding the country of dangerous, inhumane weapons." So, what’s really going on? And why is Khaleda Zia making these arrests? Free the Activist? by Gina Coplon Newfield Please write to one or more of the officials below to speak out on behalf of our friend Rafique al Islam. I have met Rafique on several occasions, and he has always come across as a very kind person, dedicated to the landmines issue. The US Campaign to Ban Landmines (USCBL) and the ICBL have written on behalf of Rafique (to read USCBL letters, see here). We urge you to take a few minutes to write your own letter(s). Sample letter and contact information of officials are below. Thank you in advance for your help. Gina Coplon-Newfield Coordinator US Campaign to Ban Landmines Sample Letter: (Date Here) Name and Address of Official (see below for contact information) Dear ____________: I am very troubled to learn that Rafique al Islam was arrested, without charges, at his home in Cox's Bazaar in Bangladesh at 2:30 PM on Saturday, August 21 by Bangladeshi military officers of the newly formed Rapid Action Battalion, which also seized equipment and documents during the arrest. Rafique al Islam is the Coordinator of the Mine Ban Treaty Implementation and Victim Assistance Working Group for Bangladesh and an active member 1997 Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Reportedly, the Bangladeshi court has refused to give any documents related to the charges against Rafique al Islam to his attorney, refusing him due process under the law. As I understand, the Rapid Action Battalion was created to combat serious crime and terrorism. Reportedly, however, it has broad discretionary powers and little oversight. Should al Islam be remanded to its custody, the Battalion has stated its intention to have him transferred to the 'joint interrogation cell' where several deaths in custody reportedly have occurred and for which no one has been held responsible. I have learned that al Islam’s family has had trouble visiting him in prison, and they are very worried about his condition. I urge you to call for the immediate release of Rafique al Islam. Sincerely, (Your Name) (Address) Officials to Contact: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Prime Minister’s Office of Bangladesh Old Airport Road, Tejgoan Dhaka, Dhaka Division Bangladesh Fax: 011-880-2-811-3244 (or 3243 or 1015 or 1490) info@pmo.gov.bd United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Harry K. Thomas US Embassy Madani Avenue Baridhara, Dhaka 1212 Bangladesh Fax: 011-880-2-882-3744 Honorary Colin L. Powell Secretary of State US State Department 2201 C Street, Northwest Washington, DC 20520 Fax: 202-261-8577 Email: To send email, visit http://contact-us.state.gov/ask_form_cat/ask_form_secretary.html His Excellency Mr. Syed Hasan Ahmad Ambassador to the United States of America Bangladesh Embassy in the US 3510 International Drive NW Washington, DC 20008 Fax: 202-244-7830 Email: bdootwash@bangladoot.org Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations 821 United Nations Plaza, 8th Floor New York, NY 10017 Fax: 212-972-4038 Email: Bangladesh@un.int Please forward a copy of your letter(s) to mban@nonviolenceinternational.net at the Nonviolence International Southeast Asia office, which is forwarding the letters to Rafique's family in order to give them a sense of hope and support. About the Author(s): See under Our Contributors to find out about the Author(s) of this article. |
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