India: Forced Evictions of Chakma families, follow up The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/ Case IND 140197.1 Follow-up of Case IND 140197 The International Secretariat of OMCT has received new information on the above-mentioned case and requests your continued intervention in the following situation in India. Brief reminder of the situation: The International Secretariat was informed by reliable sources that on 15 January 1997, over 150 Chakma families at Mpen village of Changlang district in the North Eastern Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh were threatened with forced eviction. In a notice served to the families, the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation Ltd 30 December 1996, claims that the Chakmas at Mpen violated the Forest Rules/Regulations of the State. It threatened that if the Chakmas did not vacate the area by 15 January 1997, the Forest Officials would damage all the properties including crops and houses and auction their belongings in public. The Forest Corporation stated that it would not be responsible for the loss of property and no demonstration or the right to freedom of assembly would be allowed. The Forest Corporation planned to begin plantations in the area. The Chakma inhabited areas at Mpen are agricultural lands and has little forest at the moment. The Chakmas at Mpen area have been cultivating these lands for last two decades and also paid land taxes whenever the State Government collected such taxes. The notice served by the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation Ltd fails to indicate under which specific Act/Regulation it has been served nor is it clear which specific Act/Regulation allows auctioning of properties of the Chakmas of Mpen village at Mpen. The information suggests that the proposed evictions may be politically motivated and thought to be part of moves of the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh to push the Chakmas out of Arunachal Pradesh. However, a Supreme Court judgement of 9 January 1996 directed that "except in accordance with law, the Chakmas shall not be evicted from their homes and shall not be denied domestic life and comfort therein." New information: The International Secretariat has been informed by reliable sources that despite a directive from the National Human Rights Commission (No. 21296), on the 16th and 17th January 1997, the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation Ltd with the help of the Arunachal Pradesh Police destroyed sixteen Chakma houses at the Mpen village. On January 21st 1997, the Forest Corporation officials destroyed the houses that were re-built by three of the sixteen Chakma families. Furthermore, the Forest Corporation officials transported all properties of the damaged houses transported and auctioned them off at a Miao market in Changlang District on 21 January. Although no violence was used during these recent evictions, the International Secretariat continues to be concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the above mentioned persons because of what would appear to be regular harassment and torture of the Chakmas and Hajongs in Arunachal Pradesh. The International Secretariat must express its grave concern that the authorities may resort to the use of violence during further evictions. Action requested : Please write to the Indian authorities urging them to: i. take immediate measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the all those threatened by the forced eviction; ii Bring an immediate end to the forcible eviction the people of Mpen and take urgent measures to resolve the situation in accordance with the supreme court decision and the National Human Rights Commission directive (No. 21296 ; iii. rebuild the accomodation of those persons who have been evicted from their homes.and provide compensation for their lost belongings iv. open a full impartial inquiry into the all the events and allegations of violations of fundamental rights, identify all those responsible and bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and /or administrative sanctions provided by legislation; v. guarantee in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and international standards. Addresses: The Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Gate No. 6, South Block, New Delhi 110 001, India. Fax : + 91 11 301 9817 Justice M N Venkatachaliah, Honourable Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, 9, Sardar Patel Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi 110 001, India. Fax: 00-91-11- 334 0016 Mr Gegong Apang Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar Arunachal Fax: 00-91-11-0360- 22439 Mr D C Mishra Chief Secretary State Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar Arunachal Pradesh Fax: 00-91-11-0360- 22446 Geneva, 11 February 1997 Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your repply. Ben Schonveld Projects Manager OMCT-SOS-Torture Fax 4122 733 1051 Ph 4122 733 3140 OMCT is: l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture The World Organisation Against Torture http://www.omct.org/