Partial lifting of ban on politics is not nearly enough: HRW
Thursday, 13 September 2007
New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said the caretaker government's (CG) decision to partially lift the ban on political activities in Bangladesh is not nearly enough to address widespread restrictions on basic freedoms and human rights abuses.
HRW Asia advocacy director Sophie Richardson said this in a statement issued in New York Tuesday, reports UNB.
"The idea that politics is banned in a democracy is bizarre. If the Bangladeshi authorities are serious about restoring democracy, they must fully end the ban on political activities", Richardson said.
"Politics is not a sport that can be played only in an indoor arena", she said.
Richardson said the partial lifting of the ban would only allow a political party to meet to discuss internal party reforms in the context of the Election Commission's proposal for electoral reforms.
Referring to instructions on indoor politics, she said parties will still be required to inform the Dhaka Metropolitan Police in advance about all meetings. A maximum of 50 party members will be allowed to attend each meeting. The ban on all other political meetings will remain in force in the rest of the country.
Under the Emergency Powers Rules 2007, those who violate the restrictions face prison terms of two to five years as well as fines.
The HRW expressed concern over the emergency rules that undermine basic due process rights.
Under the current state of emergency, it said, the government has restricted political and trade union activities and prohibited the media from publishing anything that can be considered 'provocative'.
The HRW said a large number of offenses have been made 'non-bailable', meaning that many detainees face indefinite detention without trial.
"Bangladesh's emergency laws have created an atmosphere ripe for torture and mistreatment, which has been widely alleged by victims and family members", the statement said. "Human Rights Watch has confirmed these allegations in cases that it has investigated", it added.
The HRW stated that freedom of press has also come under assault.
Even as the CG announced that it would make the state-run BTV an effective, autonomous body, it pulled the country's only privately owned 24-hour news channel off the air, days after it warned the channel not to broadcast footage of recent student protests.
"The government should make the same commitment to ending human rights abuses that it has made to fighting corruption", Richardson said.
HRW Asia advocacy director Sophie Richardson said this in a statement issued in New York Tuesday, reports UNB.
"The idea that politics is banned in a democracy is bizarre. If the Bangladeshi authorities are serious about restoring democracy, they must fully end the ban on political activities", Richardson said.
"Politics is not a sport that can be played only in an indoor arena", she said.
Richardson said the partial lifting of the ban would only allow a political party to meet to discuss internal party reforms in the context of the Election Commission's proposal for electoral reforms.
Referring to instructions on indoor politics, she said parties will still be required to inform the Dhaka Metropolitan Police in advance about all meetings. A maximum of 50 party members will be allowed to attend each meeting. The ban on all other political meetings will remain in force in the rest of the country.
Under the Emergency Powers Rules 2007, those who violate the restrictions face prison terms of two to five years as well as fines.
The HRW expressed concern over the emergency rules that undermine basic due process rights.
Under the current state of emergency, it said, the government has restricted political and trade union activities and prohibited the media from publishing anything that can be considered 'provocative'.
The HRW said a large number of offenses have been made 'non-bailable', meaning that many detainees face indefinite detention without trial.
"Bangladesh's emergency laws have created an atmosphere ripe for torture and mistreatment, which has been widely alleged by victims and family members", the statement said. "Human Rights Watch has confirmed these allegations in cases that it has investigated", it added.
The HRW stated that freedom of press has also come under assault.
Even as the CG announced that it would make the state-run BTV an effective, autonomous body, it pulled the country's only privately owned 24-hour news channel off the air, days after it warned the channel not to broadcast footage of recent student protests.
"The government should make the same commitment to ending human rights abuses that it has made to fighting corruption", Richardson said.