The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in India.
Brief description of the situation:
According to the information received, on November 17, 2008, at about 4:30 pm at Langol, near the Lamphel Police Station, Imphal West district of Manipur, Mr. Konsom Rishikanta, 25 years old, was shot dead with two bullets on the chest and one on the neck. Mr. Rishikanta was found blind folded, his hands tied behind, and his mouth gagged with a piece of cloth.
As of issuing this urgent appeal, the motives and identities of the gunmen remained unknown. However, the Observatory fears that Mr. Rishikanta’s extrajudicial killing might be linked to his human rights activities, as Mr. Rishikanta used to denounce human rights violations committed by both the government and armed opposition groups in Manipur.
Furthermore, it is feared that members of State forces may be involved be in Mr. Rishikanta’s extrajudicial killing as the spot where Mr. Rishikanta was found dead is a highly secured area with members of State forces controlling all the three entry points.
The Observatory expresses its deep concern about Mr. Konsom Rishikanta’s extrajudicial killing, and urges the Indian authorities to order an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into his assassination, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before a competent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the penal sanctions provided by the law.
The Observatory also recalls that India was elected as a member of the Human Rights Council in 2007 for three years, and has committed, in this regard, to "uphold the highest standards of promotion and protection of human rights"[1].
Action requested:
Please write to the Indian authorities and ask them to:
i. Take all necessary measures to guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity of all human rights defenders in India;
ii. Order an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into Mr. Konsom Rishikanta’s assassination, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before a competent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the penal sanctions provided by the law;
iii. Guarantee that adequate reparation is provided to his relatives;
iv. Put an end to any act of harassment against all human rights defenders in India;
v. Comply with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, in particular Article 1, which states that "everyone has the right, individually or collectively, to promote the protection and fulfilment of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels", as well as Article 12.2, which provides that "the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually or in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration";
vi. Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international human rights instruments ratified by India.
Addresses:
· Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi 110004, India, Fax 91 11 233 82365/ 91 11 237 11 772
· Shri. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, Prime Minister’s Office, Room number 152, South Block, New Delhi, Fax: + 91 11 2301 6857
· Shri. Shivraj Patil, Union Minister of Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, 104-107, North Block, New Delhi 110 001 India, Fax: +91 11 2309 2979.
· Justice K. G. Balkrishnan, Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court, Tilak Marg, New Delhi -1, Fax: +91 11 233 83792, Email: supremecourt@nic.in
· Justice Rajendra Babu, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of India, Faridkot, House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi 110 001, Tel: +91 11 230 74448, Fax: +91 11 2334 0016, Email: chairnhrc@nic.in
· Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur, Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Babupara, Imphal, Manipur, India, Fax: 91 385 222 1817, Email: cmmani@hub.nic.in
· H.E. Mr. Swashpawan Singh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative to the United Nations (Geneva), Rue du Valais 9, 1202 Geneva, Tel: +41 22 906 86 86, Fax: +41 22 906 86 96, Email: mission.india@ties.itu.int
· Mr. Dipak Chatterjee, Ambassador, Embassy of India in Brussels, 217 Chaussée de Vleurgat, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Fax: +32 (0)2 6489638 or +32 (0)2 6451869
Please also write to the diplomatic representations of India in your respective countries.
***
Geneva - Paris, November 27, 2008
Kindly inform the Observatory of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of human rights defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
Tel and fax: FIDH : +33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 / 33 (0) 1 43 55 18 80
Tel and fax OMCT : + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 (0) 22 809 49 29
Email : Appeals@fidh-omct.org
[1] See OP9 of General Assembly resolution A/RES/60/251.