Statement Of Bhrpc On The Terror Attack On Mumbai

OFFICE OF THE

BARAK HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION COMMITTEE Rongpur Part-iv (Near Uco Bank), Silchar - 9, Cachar (Assam)

FOR EQUALITY, A human rights organisation of the nature as is contemplated under Sec 12 (i) of the JUSTICE Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 and registered under AND PEACE the Societies Registration Act, 1860. E-mail: [email protected], FAX- 03842-263592; WebPages: http://bhrpc.net.googlepages.com

Ref. No. BHRPC/

Date: 28/11/2008

Dear Sir/Madam, Bellow is the text of Press Statement of BHRPC on theTerror Attack on Mumbai for immediate release. Waliullah Ahmed Laskar Liaison Officer, BHRPC Rongpur Part-IV, Silchar-9 Assam, India Cell: +919401134314

Statement of BHRPC on the Terror Attack on Mumbai Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), a human rights organization based in Assam, expresses its shock and awe at the barbarity and sheer audacity of the terrorists who attacked Mumbai, the commercial capital of India on 26 November, 2008 and killed more than 195 innocent people, inflicted injuries on about 375 persons including police officers, security forces and armed forces. Each and every member of BHRPC empathizes with the near and dear ones of those killed and martyred and wishes speedy recovery of those injured. BHRPC salutes the dedication and spirit of fearlessness which drove the police and security force members to encounter the ghastly death squads of terrorists to save the lives of people and eventually sacrificed their own lives and embraced martyrdom particularly by Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad Chief Hemant Karkare, senior officers Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar, National Security Guard Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Havidar Gajendra Singh and other members of police and security forces. BHRPC appreciates the professionalism, meticulous and deliberate actions shown and taken by security forces which, it seems, are able to avoid collateral damage to some extent. BHRPC condemns these dastardly insane cowardice acts of terrorists in the strongest possible terms. This is not only an attack on the people of India but also an assault on the human civilization in the form of sophisticated urban gorilla attack unseen in the world hencebefore. The persons engaged in the execution, it seems, are religious fanatics by no means but trained in highly sophisticated modern urban warfare. The persons and organization/s who/which are involved in financing, planning, supplying logistics and actual execution of such heinous attacks have no respect for human existence, human values, human rights and they are the enemies of themselves. Undoubtedly they all should be brought to book and dealt with according to the law. The development of terrorism into such a form has become possible, BHRPC thinks, to some extent due to the politics of terror played in both international and national levels. The time has now come for the world leaders to stop the politics of terrorism, hate campaign and jingoism. The humanity is confronted with a very serious menace in the form of terrorism. It needs to be encountered seriously, Contd. to next page

OFFICE OF THE

BARAK HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION COMMITTEE Rongpur Part-iv (Near Uco Bank), Silchar - 9, Cachar (Assam)

FOR EQUALITY, A human rights organisation of the nature as is contemplated under Sec 12 (i) of the JUSTICE Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 and registered under AND PEACE the Societies Registration Act, 1860. E-mail: [email protected], FAX- 03842-263592; WebPages: http://bhrpc.net.googlepages.com

Ref. No. BHRPC/

Date: 28/11/2008

objectively and unitedly keeping in mind that basic civil liberties and human rights of individuals can not be curtailed. It has been seen that in countering terrorism the state often succumbs to the design of the terrorists by failing to respect the human rights of the people. When this happens the terrorism triumphs because the state itself does the act of terror. More over, failure to respect human rights creates breeding ground of terrorism. Efforts of politicization and communalization of terrorism has also been seen in India. This is ominous for the country as well as the world. Terrorists are the worst criminals and their activities don’t serve to advance the cause of any community. They do use religious and communal terminology but only for the sake of tactical reasons. The time has now come for the politicians and policy makers of the country to wake up to the menace and stop blame game. The nation needs to be united and fight the terrorism calmly and maturely. There are talks of the need of a stronger terror law. The question is, BHRPC thinks, how effectively the existing laws are enforced and not the necessity of enactment of draconian laws like the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). The existing legal provisions in India in terms of toughness are enough. Rather there are some laws which are draconian and proved counter-productive such as the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958 and its other variations. These laws violate human rights and provide breeding ground to the terrorism. The understanding of terrorism has to be changed because it is no longer a ‘law and order problem’. It is a question of security of the nation and safety of the citizens. New laws, indeed, need to be passed for the establishment of a federal investigation agency for investigation of terror offences throughout the country. There should be an independent commission like the National Human Rights Commission for supervising the investigations of the federal agency. A specialized force for fighting terrorism and conducting rescue operations should be formed or the National Security Guard should be expanded having permanent presence in every state. The new laws should also provide means for the enforcement of the rights of victims of serious crimes and violations of human rights and international humanitarian laws as recognized in Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law, 2005 and Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, 1985. Issued by 1. Neharul Ahmed Mazumder Secretary General, BHRPC E-Mail: [email protected] 2. Dr. Prasenjit Biswas Director, Research & Studies Division, BHRPC E-Mail: [email protected]