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* * * * * * *URGENT APPEAL - 05/06/2009* *India - Shillong Meghalaya State<http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2039> * *Harassment, assault and threats against human rights defender *<http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2039> *Ms Hasina Kharbhih <http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2039>* Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender, Ms Hasina Kharbhih, was assaulted and threatened on her way to the District Council Court in Shillong Meghalaya, on 28 May 2009. Hasina Kharbhih is the team leader of Impulse NGO Network which works to combat human trafficking in North East India. Dear Friends, Thank you for signing up to take action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk. Every day Front Line receives information about human rights defenders in danger and each week we ask the members of the urgent appeal network to take action on behalf of one defender. Action by members of the network is a very simple and effective way of sending a message to governments that they have an obligation to respect the rights of human rights defenders. All you have to do is either cut and paste the letter or print out the attached version and sign and post it off. Remember to add your own name and address. If you receive a reply please send a copy to Head of Communications, Front Line, 81 Main St., Blackrock Co Dublin. If you would like information on other cases you can log onto the Front Line web site at *http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/act* *Your action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk can make a real difference.* *Take Action* *Please copy the enclosed letter and send it to the address provided. You can also print out the text only version of the letter attached, sign it and post it off.* President Pratibha Patil, Office of the President, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi 110 004, India. Your Excellency, I am deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender, Ms Hasina Kharbhih, was assaulted and threatened while she was on her way to the District Council Court in Shillong Meghalaya, on 28 May 2009. Hasina Kharbhih is the team leader of Impulse NGO Network, a local human rights organisation based in Shillong that works to combat human trafficking in North East India. On 28 May 2009, Hasina Kharbhih and one of her colleagues were on their way to the District Council Court in Shillong, Meghalaya, for the hearing of a case concerning harassment and threats against her, when she was stopped, threatened and physically assaulted. Since there was a traffic block in place on the way to the court, Hasina Kharbhih had to get out of the vehicle she was travelling in and walk to the court. In front of the court, the accused in the case, Bethswa Dympep, who was accompanied by her mother and a man, stopped her and threatened her and her colleague, saying that if they continued with the case, Hasina Kharbhih would face terrible consequences, and that Impulse NGO Network would be shut down. When Hasina Kharbhih responded saying that the court would decide on such matters, Bethswa Dympep assaulted her. Bethswa Dympep's mother also verbally abused the human right defender. Hasina Kharbhih immediately reported the incident at Lumbiengri Police Station. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered and then, following the advice of the police, she was taken to the local hospital where she was treated for injuries sustained in the assault. Later that evening, Bethswa Dympep called a press conference at the Shillong Press Club where she accused Hasina Kharbhih of assaulting her. She also announced that she is backed by a national business group and that she will ensure the closure of Impulse NGO Network. Thus far, Bethswa Dympep has not been arrested for the assault on Hasina Kharbhih despite the fact that it was in direct violation of bail conditions previously set. Bethswa Dympep has been the subject of investigations by Impulse NGO Network since early 2008 for her involvement in the trafficking of young girls from Shillong to Goa for escort jobs. In June 2008, Hasina Kharbhih received the first of many threatening calls, demanding that her organisation stop investigating all cases involving Bethswa Dympep. A few days before the assault, Hasina Kharbhih's website was also hacked and the contents of the website were destroyed. I am concerned for the physical and psychological security and integrity of Hasina Kharbhih, and believes that she is being targeted as a direct result of her work in defence of human rights, particularly her work to combat human trafficking from North East India to Goa. I urge the Indian authorities to: 1.Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the assault and threats against Hasina Kharbhih, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice; 2.Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological security of Hasina Kharbhih and all other members of Impulse NGO Network; 3.Ensure that all human rights defenders in India, carrying out their legitimate work in defence of human rights, are able to operation free of restrictions and reprisals. Yours sincerely -- W A Laskar Freelance Reporter and Human Rights Activist with Barak Human Rights Protection Committee, http://bhrpc.net.googlepages.com 15, Panjabari Road, Darandha, Six Mile, Guwahati-781037, Assam, India Cell: +919401134314 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
