By TCN News,
Guwahati: A delegation of Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) met United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Ms Margaret Sekaggya on 14th January 2011 in Guwahati and apprised her of the situation about human rights in Barak valley.
As part of her official visit to 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 drew 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 area by the authorities sitting at Dispur and Delhi 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, the BHRPC officials presented some cases of harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders working in the valley and beyond.
According to Waiullah Ahmed Laskar, Information Officer, Barak Human Rights Protection Committee, 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 (III) 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.