Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Panel for fair trial of Myanmar detainees

Special Correspondent

The Hindu, March 07, 2007

Rights activists shocked; Government alleges they are "gun-runners"

NEW DELHI: A newly formed Solidarity Committee for Burma's Freedom Fighters has demanded that 34 Myanmarese "freedom fighters', currently detained in a Kolkata jail, be given a fair trial and treated in a humane manner.

Nandita Haksar, a lawyer, who spoke on behalf of the committee, told presspersons on Tuesday that the charge sheet against the 34 had been filed some six-and-a-half years after their detention in February 1998.

According to her, the prosecution would begin presenting its case in a Kolkata court on March 21. On its part, the Government of India, which arrested these men in the Andaman Islands back in 1998, has claimed that they were "gun-runners."

Writing in a publication entitled "Why are Burma's Freedom Fighters Imprisoned in India?" the Indian National Army (INA) veteran, Col. Lakshmi Sehgal, said she had been shocked to learn that the 34 had been lodged in the Andamans since 1998.

"They were at first held in Campbell Bay where their conditions of detention were totally in violation of basic norms of human rights. Later, they were shifted to the jail in Port Blair where they were denied all amenities... " Col. Sehgal wrote.

"We are aware that the case is in court and we do not wish to interfere in the judicial process. However, it has been brought to our attention by Burmese leaders in India and Indian human rights activists that these 34 men present in Presidency Jail [in Kolkata] are indeed freedom fighters," she argued.

According to Col. Sehgal, it was, indeed, an irony that Myanmar's freedom fighters should find themselves in an Indian jail.

"It is also very sad indeed that these men should be treated so badly in the jail in West Bengal. In fact, these men agreed to the transfer of their case from Port Blair to Kolkata because they had faith in the people of Bengal."

A December 15, 2006 West Bengal Government order that these accused not be allowed to move out of their prison since they had close links with "various terrorist outfits" was rescinded following public pressure on January 3, 2006.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

we, the entire people from Arakan,Karan and Burma extend our heartiest thanks and congratulations to all of the members of Solidarity Committee for their greatest noble cause in saving the precious lives of 34 courageous Burma's freedom fighters imprisoned in Calcutta in Solidarity with freedom and democracy Movement in Burma in its the most difficult time in the history. Those freedom fighters were arrested and their six top leaders were murdered by their own friends Indian Army because of only their(freedom fighters) deep belief in India Government and people of India. God knows the truth that those freedom fighters are the best friends to the Government and people of India. The event will be the most wicked murder case against the National leaders of Arakan and Karan as well as against the freedom and democracy movement in Burma by their most reliable friend India in the freedom history of the world if justice and truth are prevented and hidden.
On the other hand,our hearty congratulations again to our many great friends of India, for their courageous great heart in this very important juncture.
We must overcome one day. Arakan, Karan and Burma must be freed one day.Long live Solidarity and freedom!

Anonymous said...

As an Arakanese freedom fighter, I really thanks members of solidarity committee members who assisting our Arakanese freedom fighters who are presently in Calcutta presidency jail. It is very shameful for India National Army and government as India is biggest democratic country all over the world. But we strongly believe that All the Indian People are democracy and freedom lovers and will stand on truth to early release of our Arakanese freedom fighters.

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