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UPDATE (Pakistan): Hateful policies of inaction by the state result in the brutal death of a young man from the Pakistan's minority Hindu community

February 23, 2007

URGENT APPEAL GENERAL URGENT APPEAL GENERAL URGENT APPEAL GENERAL

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Update on Urgent Appeal

23 February 2007

[RE: UA-015-2007: PAKISTAN: Three more persons disappeared after their alleged arrests by secret agents in Sindh province]
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UP-023-2007: PAKISTAN: Hateful policies of inaction by the state result in the brutal death of a young man from the Pakistan's minority Hindu community

PAKISTAN: Abduction, killing, impunity to religious militant organisations, no protection to minorities.
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Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the case of 23 year-old Mr. Gareesh Kumar who is from the Hindu minority in Pakistan and was kidnapped on 17 August 2006 (See further: UA-015-2007). We regret to inform you that Mr. Kumar's body was found dead on the outskirts of Hyderabad District, Sindh province on 6 February 2007. The other two persons who went missing along with the victim are still missing and it is believed that they will soon meet the same fate as Mr. Kumar. It is alleged that an Islamic extremist group named the Hizbul Mujahideen, who are engaged in a holy war within Indian Kashmir, are responsible for the abduction and murder. On 4 February 2007, when six members of the militant group were detained, they confessed that they had abducted Mr. Gareesh Kumar in revenge for the Hindu people occupying Kashmir. Despite the confession of the six militants, the leader of the group still remains free since it is believed that he is in patronage with Pakistan's military government. Although the Hizbul Mujahideen was officially banned in 2000, they still operate in parts of the region. The Pakistani government continues to ignore the struggle of its Hindu minority population and should be held responsible for their inaction in securing the freedom of the murdered victim and the abductees still missing. 

UPDATED INFORMATION:

On February 6, 2007, the mutilated body of Greesh Kumar was found at Kotri on the outskirts of the Hyderabad District in Sindh, after it was pointed out by the arrested militants. The parents could only identify the body by the shirt the victim was wearing since different parts of his body had been detached including both hands and the head. The body was also covered in a chemical substance that made if difficult for the family to identify the body. Hizbul Mujahideen leader Mr. Sohail remains at large and is believed to have the support of Pakistan's military government.  He currently lives at the Pakistani-Indian boarder town of Kunri in the Umer Kot district.

Meanwhile, the arrested militants were not apprehended in the same city but were arrested from different cities of another province of Punjab, mainly from Faisalabad. This is where Hizbul Mujahideen has its training camps and organises its fighters to engage in a holy war against Indian held Kashmir.  

BACKGROUND:

On 17 August 2006, Mr. Greesh Kumar, who had recently graduated with a degree in electrical engineering, was arrested and kidnapped by four perpetrators including one in a police uniform named Mr. Asghar from his flat at 4, 2/F Amir Terrace, Market area, Hyderabad, Sindh province. The four individuals arrived in a white double cabin jeep followed by the red Toyota, the same vehicles used in another abduction of two Hindu's named  Mr. Cheetan Kumar (45 years-old) and Mr. Gordhan Das alias G.M. Bhagat (55 years-old) from the Umer Kot district in Sindh province.

The whereabouts of the other two victims remained unknown.  Mr. Cheetan Kumar was abducted in the same manner as Mr. Greesh Kumar by eight plain clothed armed men from their house at Bajeer Mohalla, Umer Kot district, Sindh province at around 6:45pm on 17 July 2006. He was abducted in a white double cabin jeep bearing registration number GS-0162 which was waiting outside the house. A red Toyota car without a registration number allegedly followed the Jeep after the victim was abducted. 

Mr. Gordhan Das, also known as G.M. Bhagat, was reportedly picked up from a barbershop located on the opposite side of the Sessions' Court of Umer Kot district in Sindh province in September 2006. Since then his whereabouts remain unknown. He was also abducted by undefined men who came in the same white jeep that was followed by the red Toyota. These vehicles are well known to local people for being used in cases of abduction and disappearances.
It is believed that both of these persons who belong to the Hindu community may face the same fate as of Mr. Greesh Kumar. The government of Sindh and Government of Pakistan have still not made any progress in either of their disappearances.

The AHRC condemns this brutal murder and the Pakistani government's continued policy of inaction when a member of the Hindu minority community is victimised. The AHRC demands a full and independent investigation into this case and urges the government of Pakistan to take legal action against the leader of the militant organisation allegedly responsible for these criminal acts. 

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write the relevant Pakistani authorities and demand justice for this victim.  Please ask them to fully compensate the victim's family and demand that the increase their effort in finding the remaining two abductees.  Also, please urge them to take immediate legal action against the leader of the militant group Hizbul Mujahideen. 

To support this appeal, please click:

Sample letter:

Dear __________,

PAKISTAN: Hateful policies of inaction by the state result in the brutal death of a young man from the Pakistan's minority Hindu community

Name of the victim: Mr. Gareesh Kumar, son of Sispal Das, 23 years, electrical engineer by profession Flat at 4, 2nd floor Amir Terrace, Market area, Hyderabad, Sindh province
Names of the perpetrators:
1- Sohail son of Balim, resident of Kunri town, Umerkot, District,  Sindh- absconding
2- Javed,a Burma national, residing in Karachi, Sindh.
3- Ali Asghar, resident of Toba Tek Singh, Punjab province, a police man
4- Tahir Mannash, resident of Faisalabad, Punjab province
5- Mohammad Ali Adnan, resident of Faisalabad, Punjab province
6-Shahid Hussain Minhas, resident of Faisalabad, Punjab province
7- Rashid resident of Karachi, Sindh province.
All of the alleged perpetrators have been arrested except the leader of the group Mr. Sohail.
Place of Incident: Outskirts of Hyderabad District, Sindh province
Date of Incident: 6 February 2007

I am writing to condemn the brutal murder of Mr. Gareesh Kumar who is from the Hindu minority in Pakistan and was kidnapped on August 17, 2006. I have learned that Mr. Kumar's body was found dead on the outskirts of Hyderabad District, Sindh province on February 6, 2007. I am also deeply concerned over the government's handling of the case since the leader of the alleged group that is responsible for the death remains a free man. 

While I am shocked and outraged over this discovery, the other two persons who went missing along with the victim are still missing and I am worried that is they will soon meet the same fate as Mr. Kumar. I have heard that an Islamic extremist group named the Hizbul Mujahideen that is engaged in a holy war within Indian Kashmir are allegedly responsible for the abduction and murder. I also know that on 4 February 2007, when six members of the militant group were detained, they confessed that they had abducted Mr. Gareesh Kumar in revenge for the Hindu people occupying Kashmir. Despite the confession of the six militants, the leader of the group still remains free since it is believed that he is in patronage with Pakistan's military government. 

According the information I have received, on February 6, 2007, the mutilated body of Greesh Kumar was found at Kotri on the outskirts of the Hyderabad District in Sindh, after it was pointed out by the arrested militants. The parents could only identify the body by the shirt the victim was wearing since different parts of his body had been detached including both hands and the head. The body was also covered in a chemical substance that made if difficult for the family to identify the body. Hizbul Mujahideen leader Mr. Sohail remains at large and is believed to have the support of Pakistan's military government.  He currently lives at the Pakistani-Indian boarder town of Kunri in the Umer Kot district. Meanwhile, the arrested militants were not apprehended in the same city but were arrested from different cities of another province of Punjab, mainly from Faisalabad. I have heard that this is where Hizbul Mujahideen has its training camps and organises its fighters to engage in a holy war against Indian held Kashmir.

I am also very concerned for the safety of the two abductees who have not been found.  Mr. Cheetan Kumar was abducted in the same manner as Mr. Greesh Kumar by eight plain clothed armed men from their house at Bajeer Mohalla, Umer Kot district, Sindh province at around 6:45pm on 17 July 2006. He was abducted in a white double cabin jeep bearing registration number GS-0162 which was waiting outside the house. A red Toyota car without a registration number allegedly followed the Jeep after the victim was abducted. 

Mr. Gordhan Das, also known as G.M. Bhagat, was also reportedly picked up from a barbershop located on the opposite side of the Sessions' Court of Umer Kot district in Sindh province in September 2006. Since then his whereabouts remain unknown. He was also abducted by undefined men who came in the same white jeep that was followed by the red Toyota. These vehicles are well known to local people for being used in cases of abduction and disappearances.

I am deeply concerned that these two people who belong to the Hindu community may face the same fate as of Mr. Greesh Kumar. The government of Sindh and Government of Pakistan have still not made any progress in either of their disappearances. 

I therefore urge the Government of Pakistan to immediately increase their effort in finding the remaining two abductees. I also urge you to take immediate legal action against the leader of the militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, namely Mr. Sohail. I also ask that you provide compensation for the victims' families and make every possible effort to aid and provide security to the minority Hindu community within Pakistan.  

Yours sincerely,

__________________

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Muhammad Wasi Zafar
Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights
S Block Pakistan Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 920 2628
E-mail: minister@molaw.gov.pk

2. Mr. Mohamad Ali Durrani
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Email: infominister@infopak.gov.pk

3. Mr. Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao
Federal Minister of Interior
Room#404, 4th Floor, R Block,
Pak Secretariat
Islamabad (Pakistan)
Tel: +92 51 9212026
Fax: +92 51 9202624
E-mail: minister@interior.gov.pk

4. Mr. Justice Sabih Uddin
Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92-21-9213220
Email: info@sindhhighcourt.gov.pk

5. Chief Secretary
Government of Sindh
Chief Secretariat,
Karachi, Sindh province,
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 21 921950
Fax: +92 21 9211946
Email: cs.sindh@sindh.gov.pk 

6. Secretary (Criminal Prosecution) SGA &CD Department
Government of Sindh,
Sindh Secretariete
Karachi,
Sindh Province
Pakistan
Email: secy.cpsd@sindh.gov.pk

7. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Supreme Court Building
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92-51-9213770
E-mail: registrar@supremecourt.gov.pk

8. Secretary Local Government and Katchi Abadis
New Secretariate
Government of Sindh.
Karachi, Sindh
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 21 921 1921
Fax: +92 21 9212977
E-mail: secy.lg@sindh.gov.pk 


Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)


Document Type :
Urgent Appeal Update
Document ID :
UP-023-2007
Countries :
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Extended Introduction: Urgent Appeals, theory and practice

A need for dialogue

Many people across Asia are frustrated by the widespread lack of respect for human rights in their countries.  Some may be unhappy about the limitations on the freedom of expression or restrictions on privacy, while some are affected by police brutality and military killings.  Many others are frustrated with the absence of rights on labour issues, the environment, gender and the like. 

Yet the expression of this frustration tends to stay firmly in the private sphere.  People complain among friends and family and within their social circles, but often on a low profile basis. This kind of public discourse is not usually an effective measure of the situation in a country because it is so hard to monitor. 

Though the media may cover the issues in a broad manner they rarely broadcast the private fears and anxieties of the average person.  And along with censorship – a common blight in Asia – there is also often a conscious attempt in the media to reflect a positive or at least sober mood at home, where expressions of domestic malcontent are discouraged as unfashionably unpatriotic. Talking about issues like torture is rarely encouraged in the public realm.

There may also be unwritten, possibly unconscious social taboos that stop the public reflection of private grievances.  Where authoritarian control is tight, sophisticated strategies are put into play by equally sophisticated media practices to keep complaints out of the public space, sometimes very subtly.  In other places an inner consensus is influenced by the privileged section of a society, which can control social expression of those less fortunate.  Moral and ethical qualms can also be an obstacle.

In this way, causes for complaint go unaddressed, un-discussed and unresolved and oppression in its many forms, self perpetuates.  For any action to arise out of private frustration, people need ways to get these issues into the public sphere.

Changing society

In the past bridging this gap was a formidable task; it relied on channels of public expression that required money and were therefore controlled by investors.  Printing presses were expensive, which blocked the gate to expression to anyone without money.  Except in times of revolution the media in Asia has tended to serve the well-off and sideline or misrepresent the poor.

Still, thanks to the IT revolution it is now possible to communicate with large audiences at little cost.  In this situation there is a real avenue for taking issues from private to public, regardless of the class or caste of the individual.

Practical action

The AHRC Urgent Appeals system was created to give a voice to those affected by human rights violations, and by doing so, to create a network of support and open avenues for action.  If X’s freedom of expression is denied, if Y is tortured by someone in power or if Z finds his or her labour rights abused, the incident can be swiftly and effectively broadcast and dealt with. The resulting solidarity can lead to action, resolution and change. And as more people understand their rights and follow suit, as the human rights consciousness grows, change happens faster. The Internet has become one of the human rights community’s most powerful tools.   

At the core of the Urgent Appeals Program is the recording of human rights violations at a grass roots level with objectivity, sympathy and competence. Our information is firstly gathered on the ground, close to the victim of the violation, and is then broadcast by a team of advocates, who can apply decades of experience in the field and a working knowledge of the international human rights arena. The flow of information – due to domestic restrictions – often goes from the source and out to the international community via our program, which then builds a pressure for action that steadily makes its way back to the source through his or her own government.   However these cases in bulk create a narrative – and this is most important aspect of our program. As noted by Sri Lankan human rights lawyer and director of the Asian Human Rights Commission, Basil Fernando:

"The urgent appeal introduces narrative as the driving force for social change. This idea was well expressed in the film Amistad, regarding the issue of slavery. The old man in the film, former president and lawyer, states that to resolve this historical problem it is very essential to know the narrative of the people. It was on this basis that a court case is conducted later. The AHRC establishes the narrative of human rights violations through the urgent appeals. If the narrative is right, the organisation will be doing all right."

Patterns start to emerge as violations are documented across the continent, allowing us to take a more authoritative, systemic response, and to pinpoint the systems within each country that are breaking down. This way we are able to discover and explain why and how violations take place, and how they can most effectively be addressed. On this path, larger audiences have opened up to us and become involved: international NGOs and think tanks, national human rights commissions and United Nations bodies.  The program and its coordinators have become a well-used tool for the international media and for human rights education programs. All this helps pave the way for radical reforms to improve, protect and to promote human rights in the region.