Urging India Govt. to Respect Human Rights

GRINSO
Shiva Hari Dahal (GRINSO).
int'l@grinso.mos.com.np

APPEAL OF URGENT ACTION
=======================

Mr Rongthong Kuenley Dorji, a prominent pro-democracy Bhutanese
leader and Chairperson of the United Front for Democracy in Bhutan
(UFD) was arrested by the Indian police from Gautamnagar, New Delhi
on April 18, 1997. Mr Dorji was arrested under the Foreigner's
Registration Act which restricts the movement of foreigners in the
Indian territories.

On April 19, 1997, Dr Arun Kumar Singh of Bhutan Solidarity/India on
behalf of Mr Rongthong Kuneley Dorji filed a habeas corpus at the
Delhi High Court. After several rounds of hearings on different
dates, the Delhi High Court Bench comprising Justice Arun Kumar and
Justice N.G. Nandi on May 14, 1997 directed the Government to
release Mr Rongthong Kuneley Dorji, on furnishing bond/sureties. On
the basis of this order, a request was made by Bhutan
Solidarity/India to Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO)
to release Mr Dorji the same day.

However, ignoring the Delhi High Court's order the FRRO has held Mr
Dorji under area-restriction for the next 15 days. The order issued
by Mr Dharmendra Kumar, Foreigners Regional Registration Officer,
New Delhi, says that: "the Hon'ble Court had directed FRRO to
consider the aspect of allowing Mr Dorji to enter into a bond with
or without sureties... Counsel for Mr Dorji has also produced two
persons, namely Dr Arun Kumar Singh and Mr A.S. Verma who have
offered themselves to be the sureties for Mr Dorji... Meanwhile the
restriction order imposed upon Mr Dorji expires on May 17. In view
of the facts the extradition proceedings are pending against Mr
Dorji, a court of law and verification of two persons who have
offered, themselves to be sureties for Mr Dorji is under way and the
condition which existed at the time of issuing the previous
restriction order continue to be the same and the Ministry of Home
Affairs has also conveyed the request of the Ministry of External
Affairs that Mr Dorji, Bhutanese national, may be kept under
restriction for a further period of 15 days. Therefore, in view of
the above, ... in pursuance of Government of India, ... impose
restriction on the foreigner named Mr Rongthong Kuenley Dorji".

The ill-intention and unconstitutional act of the Government of
India to impose restriction on Mr Dorji, by ignoring the order of
the honorable Delhi High Court, has shocked to the human rights
communities and has ignored democratic values and norms. In this
circumstance, we urge the Government of India to immediately release
Mr Dorji, to respect norms and values of human rights and democracy.


Appeals to:

Mr I. K. Gujral
Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs
Office of the Prime Minister
South Block
New Delhi 110001, India
Fax: +91 11 301 9817


Mr Indrajit Gupta
Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
North Block, New Delhi 110001, India

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