Press Statement

For Immediate Release

14 January 2011

Delegation of BHRPC meets the UN Special Rapporteur

Guwahati, 14 January: A delegation of Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) met
‘the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders’ Ms Margaret
Sekaggya on 14 January 2011 at Guwahati and apprised her of the situation in Barak valley. As part
of her official visit in India, she was conducting a regional consultation with human rights
defenders working in North East India at Don Bosco Institute, Kharguli, Guwahati.

About 50 human rights defenders from the entire North East India gathered and presented reports
concerning situations faced by them. Sadique Mohammed Laskar and Waliullah Ahmed Laskar,
joint secretary and member of BHRPC respectively spoke about the situation in Barak valley. They
draw her attention to the double marginalisation and seclusion of Barak valley from the rest of the
country and the main land Assam, which led to the neglect of the authorities sitting at Dispur and
Delhi to the area in terms of socio-economic development, government welfare schemes and even
administration of justice turning the valley into a free play ground of corrupt politicians and
officials. In their written submissions, they presented some cases of harassment and intimidation of
human rights defenders working in the valley and beyond.

Ms Margaret Sekaggya assured them to bring the problems of the region into the attention of the
UN Human Rights Council and government of India. Regarding the cases concerning human rights
defenders, Ms Sekaggya told that she would request the authorities in India to investigate
impartially and thoroughly the complaints regarding (I) physical assault on Choudhury Charan
Gorh and Shyama Prasad Kurmi of NGO Help, Hailankandi, (II) conspiracy to implicate in false
charges and harassment of Shahidul Hoque Laskar and other members of Kishan Bikash Samity of
Banskandi, Cachar and (IV) assault and threat to Hasina Kharbih of Impulse NGO Network,
Shillong, Meghalaya.

Other prominent persons present in the consultation were UN human rights officer Mr Guillaume
Pfeifle and National Coordinator of Human Rights Defenders Alert – India Mr Henri Tiphagne and
Director of Human Rights Alert Mr Babloo Loitongbam.

Waiullah Ahmed Laskar

Information Officer
Barak Human Rights Protection Committee
Guwahati, Assam